Helen's Home World: winter

Showing posts with label winter. Show all posts

Thursday, February 20, 2025

Snow Daze

Well it's February and my FaceBook memories tell me that we often have lots of snow. And this year has been no different; between 13 Feb and 16 Feb, we received 69 cm of snow. For those who aren't metric, that over 27 inches of snow. Officially, we got 32 cm on Thursday, 13 Feb and then 37 cm overnight on 15 Feb and into Sunday, 16 Feb. It was the most snow over four days in 17 years. I shoveled the driveway three times on Sunday, did the side yard twice and the back deck once and I'm sure we had more than what the City reported on the 16th. A 5 cm difference is only about 2 inches and given how deep the snow was when I went to shovel, it was a lot more than two inches extra.

The picture above was taken on 14 Feb, the day after the first storm, then the City had managed to keep the sidewalks and trails plowed. The City couldn't even keep up with the wind blowing the snow around and filling in the sidewalks during the last storm. The picture below shows the trail through the park on 17 Feb, the day after the storm, and the next picture was taken on 20 Feb with the trail through the park finally plowed.

I'm sure glad to have snow removal service. I still have to shovel for the dogs and clear the edges of the driveway but I don't have to figure out where to put all the snow from the driveway. My neighbours still shovel and the snow banks on their driveway are so high they can throw it up anymore.

During the storm

Back yard

Trail for the dogs

I have to admit that the snow does make things look pretty even though I'm not much of a winter activities kind of person. Good thing is that the days are getting longer and the temperatures should start getting above freezing. March can be bad for snow storms too, but at least in March you know that it will soon melt.

I'm hoping we won't have too many more real big snow days this winter. Summer is coming though, we've booked two camping trips already.

Sunday, December 24, 2023

Silent Sunday - Merry Christmas

Cumberland Heritage Village Museum

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Wordless Wednesday

Thursday, February 4, 2021

Winter Walk

Today was a perfect winter day, sunny, no wind and temperatures just above freezing. It's supposed to get really cold in the next couple days and then I hate to even take the dogs for a walk around the park so I decided to get out for a good long walk today.

We went the Cumberland Heritage Museum. The museum is closed right now but you can walk around the grounds and there are dog-friendly trails in behind the museum. We did one circuit around the museum grounds then walked part of the Wilson trail.

As you can see only Liam looks at me when I take a picture. I wonder how long that will last. I had forgotten to bring any treats so had nothing to get their attention.

I haven't walked any of the trails completely, I don't like to go too far when I'm on my own. Today I was just going to walk around the field where they had groomed the trails but ended up walking along Wilson trail by the creek that runs behind the museum property.

I think the dogs enjoyed the walk, they learned quickly to stay on the trails or flounder in the snow. There were a few people there already when we arrived, even some with dogs. Luckily all the dogs we met were friendly but only one had a good recall. I keep all of mine on leash. Next time I go, I should bring the long line with me so Teddy and Liam can run a little bit.

Monday, February 13, 2017

Winterlude

A few friends and I went downtown on Saturday evening. It's Winterlude here in Ottawa, the mid-winter festival and at Confederation Park they always have ice sculptures. We went to the mall first and had a bite to eat in the food court, first time I had been in it since they renovated over two years ago now. Then after eating we walked over to Confederation Park; it's a short walk, only about 5 minutes from the mall.

We had a wonderful evening, not too cold for a Canadian winter. It's also our nation's 150th anniversary of Confederation so some of the sculptures were along that theme.

Obviously the first sculpture is a Canada 150 sculpture reminiscent of our flag. The second sculpture has a map of Canada on it. That might be a little hard to see but it's there. The third sculpture is of the Vimy Memorial. That battle in WWI was the one that defined us as a country separate from the United Kingdom.

These sculptures were in the park but they also have an ice sculpture competition and those sculptures are located in what they call the Crystal Garden.

Surfer

Mermaid

Peacock

Inuit fisherman

Twin faces

It's pretty amazing to see what they can carve out of ice. The contestants come from all around the world. It's funny to see that many of the carvers come from countries that we would consider to be warm, no even hot countries. Just how do they get into ice carving?

Dream Weaver

Magical Dancer

Thor

Carousel

Go to the link below to see all the ice sculptures that we saw.

Ice Sculptures - Winterlude 2017

After standing in line to see all the sculptures, our feet did start to get cold so we decided to head back home, some us by car and others, myself included by bus. It was an inexpensive short evening out but it did get us out of the house and gave us a chance to catch up with each other. There will be other events here in Ottawa for the 150th that we plan to attend. Hopefully a few others that couldn't make it this time will be able to join us.

If you haven't been to Ottawa, summer is a wonderful time to visit but so is February with Winterlude. There's the ice sculputres, skating on the canal, a snow maze and castle, dog sled rides in Jacques Cartier park. Not to mention taffy pulls and, of course, one has to have beaver tails.

Confederation Park

Rideau Canal Skateway

Ottawa at night

Confederation Park and the canal

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

I Jinxed It

I jinxed it with my post about where is winter. Well, it came with a record breaking snow fall for a single day. It took me two and half hours to get home; it normally takes an hour. And I still had to park out on the cross street and walk home. I went and got the car later after I had done the driveway and the road at the end of the driveway too.

2 February 2016

Can you see Beckett in the picture below? When I finally got home I let the dogs out, Beckett is the black blob down by the fence. See the wicker deer, you can just see the back of the feeding deer.

16 February 2016, 2:30 pm

Keltic did not want to make trail, he tried twice to go down to the back of the yard but then did his thing right where he was.

16 February 2016, 4:30 pm

The snow kept falling and at about 4:30 pm you could no longer see the back of the feeding deer. I figure that's about 2 to 3 inches in a couple hours.

This morning I went out and did trails for the dogs. One good thing is that this snow was all powder and there wasn't really any wind to compact it so it was pretty easy to snow blow. Keltic tried to make a trail to the fence himself but only got about half way there.

17 February 2016, 10:30 am

See the height of the walls on the trails, compare that to the first picture. It's been a crazy winter. And it's supposed to get warmer and rain on Saturday.

17 February 2016, 10:30 am

Monday, February 8, 2016

Where is Winter?

February 2016

Not that I want to jinx it but we've been having quite a weird winter. We had no snow in December at all, then January was quite reasonable in terms of the temperature and the amount of snow. I only had to use the snowblower three times so far this winter, although I did shovel a few times too. Last week we had temperatures that reached double digits 11C (that's nearly 52 degrees F) so most of the snow we had melted. After the picture above was taken we had rain and then freezing rain so it's pretty slippery out. Now when we go for walks we have to stay on the sidewalks and roads, no more Frisbee in the field until there's some soft snow.

January 2009

The second picture is from 2009, the deck is somewhere under all that snow. That usually is pretty much more normal for the amount of snow we would have by late January or early February.

Beckett playing Frisbee

Keltic watching the fun.

Monday, February 17, 2014

Mish Mash Monday - Making Trails

Keltic decided to make some of his own trails to try and get a non-existent squirrel. I looked carefully, there was nothing up the tree but some dried up leaves still hanging on the branches.

Breaking trail, if you enlarge this picture you can see Keltic is pushing up powder.

Made it to the tree.

Sniff, what's that I smell.

Is there something up there?

I'm sure there's something up there.

Nothing... back to the game.

Google + added snow to one of the pictures we posted last time and turned it into an animated gif. Isn't that cool! Just like a snow globe.

Agility Blessing

May the tunnels not have too much suction,
May the course be fun and fast.
May your dog not stop to say "hello" to the photographers they pass!
May the table not be too slippery,
May the chute house no scary beasts,
May all the yellow parts be touched with one little toe, at least
May the wind be always at your back,
May no bars fall on the ground,
May the A-frame have no stop sign on the top,
May the judge's whistle never sound.
May your dog obey all correct commands,
And ignore the ones that are wrong.
May your heart be light, your feet be sure, and the bond with your dog grow strong.
At the finish line, may great joy abound, regardless of your score,
You have your dog, your dog has you, and who could ask for more?

Written by: PJ Hughes

What is a Title!

Not just a brag, not just a stepping stone to a higher title, not just an adjunct to competitive scores. A Title is a tribute to the dog that bears it, a way to honor that dog, an ultimate memorial. It will remain in the record and in the memory for about as long as anything in this world can remain. Few humans will do as well or better in that regard, and though the dog himself doesn't know or care that his achievements have been noted, a Title says many things in the world of humans, where such things count.

A Title says your dog was intelligent, and adaptable, and good natured. It says that your dog loved you enough to do the things that please you, however crazy they may have sometimes seemed. And a Title says that you loved your dog, that you loved to spend time with him because he was a good dog, and that you believed in him enough to give him yet another chance when he failed, and that in the end your faith was justified.

A Title proves that your dog inspired you to have the special relationship enjoyed by so few, that in the world of disposable creatures, this dog with a Title was greatly loved, and loved greatly in return. And when that dear short life is over, the Title remains as a memorial of the finest kind, the best you can give to a deserving friend, volumes of praise in one small set of initials before or after the name.

A Title is nothing less than love and respect, given and received, permanently recorded.

Written by Sandy Mowery, Wisconsin

The Last Battle

If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this -- the last battle -- can't be won.

You will be sad I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.

We have had so many happy years,
You wouldn't want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please, let me go.
Take me to where to my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end

And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree
It is a kindness you do to me.

Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do;

We've been so close -- we two -- these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

Author Unknown

Beyond the Rainbow

As much as I loved the life we had and all the times we played,

I was so very tired and knew my time on earth would fade.

I saw a wondrous image then of a place that’s trouble-free,

Where all of us can meet again to spend eternity.

I saw the most beautiful Rainbow, and on the other side

Were animals of every sort as healthy as could be!

My own tired, failing body was fresh and healed and new

I wanted to run with them, but I had something left to do.

I needed to reach out to you, and tell you I’m alright

That this place is truly wonderful,

Then a bright Glow pierced the night.

Twas the Glow of many candles shining bright, strong and bold

I knew then that it held your love in its brilliant shades of gold.

For although we may not be together in the way we used to be,

We are still connected by a cord no eye can see.

So, whenever you need to find me, we’re never far apart,

If you look beyond the Rainbow and listen with your heart.

Do you think the time is right?

May I say goodbye to pain filled days and endless lonely nights?
I've lived my life and done my best, an example tried to be.
So can I take that step beyond, and set my spirit free?
I didn't want to go at first, I fought with all my might.
But something seems to draw me now to a warm and living light.
I want to go, I really do; it's difficult to stay.
But I will try as best I can to live just one more day.
To give you time to care for me and share your love and fears.
I know you're sad and afraid, because I see your tears.
I'll not be far, I promise that, and hope you'll always know,
That my spirit will be close to you wherever you may go.
Thank you so for loving me. You know I love you too,
And that's why it's so hard to say goodbye and end this life with you.
So hold me now just one more time and let me hear you say,
Because you care so much for me, you'll let me go today.

I Loved You Best

So this is where we part, My Friend,

And you'll run on, around the bend.

Gone from sight, but not from mind,

new pleasures there you'll surely find.

I will go on; I'll find the strength,

Life measures quality, not its length.

One long embrace before you leave,

Share one last look, before I grieve.

There are others, that much is true,

But they be they, and they aren't you.

And I, fair, impartial, or so I thought,

Will remember well all you've taught.

Your place I'll hold, you will be missed,

The fur I stroked, the nose I kissed.

And as you journey to your final rest,

Take with you this...I loved you best.

-Jim Willis

The Price We Pay

There is a cycle of love and death that shapes the lives of those who choose to travel in the company of animals.

It is a cycle unlike any other.

To those who have never lived through it's turnings and walked it's rocky path, our willingness to give our hearts with the full knowledge it will be broken seems incomprehensible.

Only we know how small price we pay for what we receive; our grief, no matter how powerful it may be, is an insufficient measure of the joy we have been given.

Suzanne Clother