I know that many reading this will be confounded that winter continues here, you may have buds on trees and daffodils but winter hasn't given up here. I appreciate more than I can say Canadians complaining about weather, it makes it bearable and in some ways it is the biggest test of just "letting go and going with it". In the face of snow, ice and repeated shovelling, you have to build a strong core, in more than one way! Now I am just swirling along with high winds and snow white outs. We know Spring is coming but this is what we see in the land they call Canada. Enjoy the icy pictures and be glad for the signs of spring.
That would be "coming home to roost" around 5 pm at the begining of the month
and taking flight
Maybe they knew this storm was coming. This is a near white out
The friend visiting is a Junco and they are known as the "snow bird", as in they tell you that is is cold enough for snow and so are our version of the winter robin. Funnily enough they are actually the same size as a British Robin and actually the colouring could just be the winter version!!! Mono chromatic version. I love these guys, they are very sweet and are ground feeders and so they jump back and forth on the snowy ground to get the seeds or what ever up to eat. They just have a friendly air. They just make me happy
AS for this guy Mr Red wow. Cardinals are a hoot and during the snow storm this chap was out and about. They are quizzical and also ground feeders and so you get to really see their personalities. This one was so funny. I literally had nothing to do, so I with my companion Bella (yes the cat) sat and watched the Cardinals antics
It was quite windy and although this is a terrible shot, I love the hair askew and just the fluffy wind blown feathers.
He really was looking at us, yes that is a human and cat you are seeing, your eyes are not playing tricks on you!
The other cat was doing this in the meanwhile
This particular storm brought ice and all the trees were covered and of course sidewalks and roads too.
But this snowy scene was lovely
Nothing like a smoking chimney to evoke cozy
But the work has to begin and we need to clear that path.
The ice has been the story though. This blue spruce is frozen solid and I'm not kidding literally, frozen like a sculpture
Pom poms add some colour
This is the spruce again. That ice is amazing, this is a real study in ice
Hats on
These leaves haven't made it but it is nice to know that we have seasons, you can forget that mid winter
I made it out for a brief walk
These are completely glazed in ice and for me it was time to get back in doors
That would be an ice outline
Who needs decorations when you get this outside the front door. What caught my eye though is the lines in the ice as it has formed, running horizontally.
This shows it even better
Sparkly and beautiful
They are magnificent
We made a run for the city. Toronto is pretty cool. Love the owl on the side of the building.
There was also an ice carving festival on that weekend
Truly cool
This was welcome colour
Lots of street art
Amazing galleries
Interesting mixes
Fabulous lights in this supermarket
Love this guy
Think that could be angry kitty!
They are also had a light festival on
This is in the old distillery district, a world heritage site, no less!
We found the wonderful ROM (Royal Ontario Museum)
Totem pole so high in there
Beautiful mosaic ceilings.
and dinosaurs
Pretty brilliant stuff!
So many buildings but yeah blue sky
Night time was cool too.
I spied this building, that is a mural on the building.
Smokey night sky from the heating vents
I love the juxtaposition
How about that for a sculpture
That's the CN Tower. I managed to get a photo of this without buildings but it is surrounded...
Like in this shot I took when we were driving in and the sun is going down. Through the trees you can see the tower
Back home there is more ice
This bush got some ice treatment
Just amazing what frozen water can look like
Yes and some more
That isn't water where the icicles meet the ground that is more ice....
This isn't a pretty shot but just really to show how the ice is all around the perimeter of the roof line
Even outside furniture doesn't escape
And the grasses are made into a lattice with the ice weighing them down
But really hard not to be impressed
The sky was that blue that day
And onto the favorite, snowflakes
All shapes
and sizes
Just truly stunning
This is my favorite though, ice and snow flake together and the detail on them, so delicate and intricate. You can't believe that forms naturally, well I can't.
This is the River Avon in Stratford, Ontario. Frozen solid
I took this picture in Stratford this last weekend, and the building in the middle is what intrigued me. It has a steep sloping roof and huge windows and is so thin!
This part of the River Avon has some melt. This has movement of the flood mechanisms that are in place
Leaving Stratford Ontario back to Kitchener and the fields and sky were amazing
The snow on the fields has frozen over, creating this lake scene of ice
All ice and it truly glitters
And this is good morning to me...that is the path and another blow of snow... I am told that apparently in 3 weeks we get a snap spring. Really, pretty much looks like mid winter to me. Enjoy your sun and spring flowers...For me I keep buying spring flowers, I currently have a lovely droopy bunch of tulips. What ever it takes!
