December delivery

 It seems a bit backward talking about last year when we are enjoying a whole New Year but I have some December photos to share and so here we are December 2022. 

We had quite the variety of weather, that was the biggest story ending with a whallopper 23rd and 24th. It was a lot to deal with. We faired well compared to some and since then all our snow has gone, apart from the rare stubborn spot, we see green now. This is a strange thing for us and I suspect that by the end of January it will be a very different story.

For now it is green grass and murky white skies. And so a quick look back

Tree beginning its journey! This actually looks quite small...

It was a pleasant drive but slow return with the tree

But I so appreciated the blue sky day

A walk in the woods with the sun going down

and the leaves clinging on

Love this effect when the sunlight lights the tree tops. It is beautiful and uplifting

This office building I find intriguing with its squares of light and in the dusk those black trees are a great contrast

Our street view, ready for the Christmas Season

I noticed all those fruits from the Gingko are still there

The birds and squirrels will be most pleased

I like the different doors about the town and their wreaths

Rather nice and understated Christmas nod here

and this one is just fun

Waterloo square is ready too and the ice rink is up

we are in for the snow!

and it really did. The roads were a mess

And there is the splendid tree. It was our best ever tree in Canada!

Little library covered in snow!

Rather interesting cloud forming like smoke from a chimney stack. It is really highlighted by the setting sun. I also like the hint of pink clouds from the skies to the right

Then the ice storm came! It is super hard to really show this effectively. But everything became coated in ice. 

Trees and bushes take on a lacey look

Every single pine and any surface is totally coated

It can appear pretty but is lethal to drive in or even attempt walking. So all my pictures are taken from the safety of indoors

As you can imagine this weather can lead to power lines being brought down. We were lucky and didn't loose power

And the birds were happy for the new feeder

I enjoy seeing the skaters on the rink. Although I am not a skater! It does give a jolly feel

Then more snow

The roads are a complete mess and this is the 23rd of December. We are almost at total shut down. This is the main road through Waterloo uptown.

Near white out and the tower loom in the swirling snow

Its quite the scene. I love the orange in this picture, a pop of colour

Time for me to head home from the shop! The weather is the worst I have driven in!

But home again and the night sky is up lit by the snow! Seems like daytime out there

Mr and Mrs Cardinal stop by

and my Christmas tree outside looks particularly season appropriate

This is a nuthatch on the left and an American Robin on the right

This speedy guy in the snow is a Junco. He is on the right bit blurry but you get the idea

The cardinals really do bring some colour

More snow and winter early sunrise. This is a wet and heavy snow in time for Christmas. Luckily we have nowhere to be

Isaac and I head out for a snow show while the snow is here. We spot a bit of blue!

You can see that the snow came this way. But it left this weird effect, I thought rather like skeleton trees.

And a rather impressive sun set

The colours are lovely

Really a nice backdrop for the pine that manages to hold on in the back yard behind our house. He looses branches but is still there!

and into the City between Christmas and New Year. They have no snow

The famous CN Tower

Now I saw this and thought that looks like a person walking. I know their head is weird. But what can you see?

Bella's favorite place for the duration of the season.

Happy New Year and all the very best for 2023!

November and beginnings of Winter

 So here we go winter seems to be upon us and in Canada we start with a snow storm but looking back on the month it is amazing the variety of weather that we have had

The first thing with November of course is the throw to the kerb for poor old pumpkins!

Quite a lot of work goes into these

Some more appealing than others!!!

We get some lovely evening skies. I like the two birds way up high!

Such a bright day

and a little chickadee 

Black squirrel! He looks a little annoyed at me

The leaves are really piling up! These have to be gone before the snow comes. Spoiler, they didn't remove them in time!

The gingko was an amazing show this year and they dropped beautifully

What really stunned me was the fruits on the trees

Totally  ladened with fruit, just never seen anything like that

Bright colours are still about. Just so rich

And then a slight drop in temperature and the leaves off this gingko have dropped

And this maple too, dropped an absolute carpet

But night after night we got the lovely pink skies

Still with a little bit of autumn colour and that lovely pinky glow

Love these pompoms on the trees

I especially like the yellow leaves hanging on

Beautifully contrasting with this white house. Think the house is from the 20's

OOh that's a mean pumpkin. He was put up a tree!

I have never seen a yellow one carved before and these guys haven't yet made it to the kerb

Now that's a riot!

There's that lovely little white house again and an amazing cloudy sky. 

Literally ripples of pink across the sky, that really is a rare sight

At this time of year, this cotton candy plant (Milk weed?) are just floaty and delicate

A bit if an oasis in our city

Such a magical place

River windy

and a low sun. I am making the most of that

Then winter!

My poor snoopy pumpkin

This maple leaf looks like it is trapped in ice. It was caught under a big layer of slushy ice

This picture was taken at night in front of a church with help of a street light. The yellowed windows and the yellow leaves catching my eye

So many animal tracks in the back garden

Soon the snow has gone and we have bright blue skies again

Berries on plants

But we all know that there is more snow to come. November was rather lovely in the end and now we are into December we huddle up a little more and find cosy spaces. 

For now my little choir are a point of light. They brighten those dark mornings. It's just a few more weeks and the days will start to be longer!