Weather for the Dogs (and their owners)

Posted on February 27, 2018 by Mama Cormier

…..spring like conditions continue in the Northern Hemisphere

The sun has come out and the temperatures have climbed well above freezing for more than a week now and it looks like will continue for another week or more. On Sunday my husband and I drove to High Park and took a nice long walk in the off leash area where dogs and their owners can walk, run and play. Earlier in the day I walked in the neighbourhood, where I also came across some dogs and lots of swans.

In High Park there were a lot more people and dogs and the walk was quite challenging due to the steep hill at the end of the walk. When you start downhill you know that at some point you have to go up again.

Is Spring Just Around the Corner?

Posted on February 20, 2018 by Mama Cormier

…..don’t get your hopes up

This past weekend we’ve seen warmer temperatures, thawing snow, rain and grey skies. Certainly signs that spring can’t be too far off but I’m sure winter is not finished with us just yet. Here are a few photos that might give you hope that spring is just around the corner.

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Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – Letter Z or Animals or People Snoozing

Posted on February 14, 2018 by Mama Cormier

….thanks Cee for hosting the Fun Foto Challenge

This week we can post any photo that has words with Z in them or shots of people or animals catching some ZZZs.

Blizzard Conditions

Zoo (then and now)

Me at the High Park Zoo in 1955

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The Toronto Zoo in 2017

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Catching Some ZZZs

Cee’s Which Way Photography – February 9, 2018

Posted on February 9, 2018 by Mama Cormier

…..thanks Cee for hosting Which Way Photography

It’s a snowy day in Toronto and there are two more days of it to come on Saturday and Sunday. In many places you can’t tell where the path begins or ends.

Cee’s Which Way Photo Challenge – February 2, 2018

Posted on February 2, 2018 by Mama Cormier

….thanks Cee for hosting the Which Way Photo Challenge

It’s Groundhog Day. Which way did Wiarton Willie from Ontario go? Back in his hole. Six more weeks of Winter for us. Ugh!!!!!!!!

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Not surprising. It’s freezing outside and the forecast calls for more snow this weekend.

A Square Evening in December – Our First Snow

Posted on December 11, 2017 by Mama Cormier

December 11, 2017

Walking tonight to get in my remaining steps I stepped into a winter wonderland. That may be a bit of an exaggeration seeing that it was really just a dusting of snow that was clinging to the ground but the evening was so serene that I didn’t want to stop walking. I took my camera with me and managed to capture some of the falling snow.

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Thanks to Becky B. for hosting Square Skies in December

Sure Signs of Spring

Posted on April 17, 2017 by Mama Cormier

….as recorded by my camera

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Another Bitter Cold Day

Posted on March 12, 2017 by Mama Cormier

….but lovely enough for taking photos

My husband has been suffering all week with a miserable cold and sinus infection, so when the dog barked non-stop to go outside and no one moved from their cozy chair in front of the TV I knew that I would be the designated dog walker for the day.

If I had to go outside I might as well take my camera and make the best of it. I bundled up, knowing that the temperature had plummeted to well below freezing and I tucked my camera inside my coat.

Now taking photos with a dog at the end of a leash is not easy but I did manage to take a few interesting shots close to home. I’m still experimenting with my macro lens and sometimes it’s very hit or miss but with a digital camera it really doesn’t matter. There’s no waiting for film to be developed and you can see immediately if the shot worked or not. In the photos below it’s difficult to see but I started tracking a couple of geese but as I got closer they flew down to the water.

Later in the day I had to pick up a library book so I drove and left the dog at home. I decided to park the car by Sam Smith Park after getting my book in hopes of getting a few more shots. The lake side was ice free but on the pond there was a thin sheet of ice across most of the pond. P1020948 P1020951 P1020952 P1020969 P1020971 P1020972 P1020981

After an hour or so of hunting around for interesting shots my fingers started to freeze. This is the one downside of taking photos on such a cold day. Wearing mittens is impractical and my leather gloves are fine when I’m moving a lot but they don’t do a very good job of keeping the cold out when you’re standing around, fiddling with dials on your camera. Keeping the camera inside my coat helped preserve the battery somewhat. Batteries don’t like the cold either.

Do you have any tips for taking photos on freezing cold days? I’d love to hear about them.

From Record Breaking Highs in February to Bone Chilling Temps in March

Posted on March 5, 2017 by Mama Cormier

….it was too good to be true….winter is still with us

In February we set records for the warmest February ever in Toronto and southern Ontario. People were wearing spring jackets, tee shirts and some brave souls wore shorts. In Toronto all the snow had melted but north of the city there was lots of snow and skiers were enjoying spring skiing conditions.

Every year our physical education teacher organizes two cross country ski trips for our grade 4 and grade 5 students. It is usually the only time I go skiing but I love it, so when I was asked if I wanted to go again to supervise the students I jumped at the chance. The first group went on the 22nd of February and the second group went the next day. Both days were exceptionally warm, 15 degrees celsius. Luckily Hardwood Hills had a lot of snow this winter so the base was good and the conditions were excellent.

I went on the second day so I was warned that I wouldn’t need heavy clothing. I packed three tops and extra socks. I’m glad I did because every time I came inside I had to change my top and socks because I was soaked through from perspiration. Many of the kids skied with only their tee shirts on. It was a beautiful day and the more I skied the more confident I became. My goal was to not fall. I’m happy to report that I met that goal and I skied the equivalent of 13 000 steps and 50 flights of stairs.

March 1st didn’t enter like a lion but by the evening the temperatures had plummeted from double digits above zero to minus zero in a matter of hours. Today and yesterday the temperatures went even lower to minus 13 celsius. The good news is that warmer temperatures are forecast for this coming week. The ice that formed along the water’s edge will give you some idea of just how cold the last few days have been.