
Category Archives: In the Neighbourhood
Waves + Freezing Temperatures = Ice Formations
Macro Monday – January 17, 2022
Yay, Yay, it’s a Snow Day
….first massive snowfall in over two decades
When I say first, I mean the first snowfall with 40 to 60 cm accumulation. Snow days in this city are rare and I remember as a kid and even when I was teaching we would dream of snow days. Buses were often cancelled but schools were open and teachers were expected to go to work. Many teachers who lived north of the city frequently couldn’t make it because the snow conditions were usually worse.
The irony, of course, is that today was the first day kids were supposed to go back to in-school learning.






As pretty as it was, the snow continued into the afternoon and major highways around the city were closed due to high winds, drifting snow and accidents. The message from city hall stresses staying home and staying off the roads. The high winds that are expected in the next hour or so will make the problems worse. I’m happy to stay home and glad that I don’t need to go anywhere. Even if I did I wouldn’t be able to get out of my driveway and when the snow ploughs do finally arrive they will probably push more snow in front of the driveway. No point in stressing. Enjoy the snow for the day.
Pink Clouds Before the Storm
….we’ve been waiting all day for the snow to start
A major snowstorm is heading our way. In fact it started about three hours ago and is suppose to continue all night and well into the morning. When I went out this evening for a walk I was beginning to wonder if the snow was actually coming because there were very few clouds in the sky. On my way back home, however, I noticed these amazing pink clouds in the western sky as the sun was setting.



Sunday Trees – January 16, 2022
Silent Sunday – January 16, 2022
Water, Water Everywhere…..To Call or not to Call?
…..I live next to Lake Ontario and on the weekend I saw this
Last weekend I went for a walk along Lakeshore Drive and I noticed that there was a person on the lake on a sail board. It was well below freezing and the wind was quite brisk. When I got to Rotary Peace Park I noticed that the surfer was still on the water but he seemed to be in the water more than on the board. He was clearly having trouble navigating the board to shore.


I started to get anxious because every time he fell he seemed to go further out into the lake. There was no boat near by and there were no supporters on the beach in case he ran into trouble. I watched for a long time, worrying that the longer he spent in the water the greater the risk of hypothermia kicking in. I was seconds away from dialling 911 when all of a sudden the surfer got back on the board and finally navigated his way back to shore.


What would you have done if you saw someone struggling in an icy cold lake in January?
Thanks to Jez for hosting Water, Water Everywhere https://jezbraithwaite.blog/2022/01/10/raindrops-on-a-leaf-water-water-everywhere-109/





















