Jan. 17 | Mama Cormier

…thanks to Sue W and Gerry C for hostting Weekly Prompts https://weeklyprompts.com/2026/01/17/weekly-prompts-weekend-challenge-journal/

Before Christmas I treated myself to a brand new journal. I purchased it at the Holiday Market from a lovely woman who makes these journals by hand. Each one was different, using a variety of papers and fabric. My husband gifted me a beautiful Lamy fountain pen so I’ve been experimenting with it in this book. To be honest with you I’m very bad at keeping journals going for more than a month but because of its small size I can see carrying it around with me and taking it with me when I travel. My goal is not to tackle it every day but to at least open it once a week or when I’m inspired to add something to it.

….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.

59436-F37-228-D-4-B7-D-A7-E9-8-E474-AB6-F6-DF — View from my snowy window this morning

DCBC9339-6-CA2-4951-81-DB-8-E195-AC03-DB5

6-E930-F20-6204-4-BAF-B48-C-6-EDBFB3-DB12-A — My husband clearing the sidewalk in front of our house

5-F17-BE9-F-D587-4-ACC-AF5-E-DE7-A497-B8560

85-F8-A043-A8-D3-4145-A837-12646-A405-E85 — Now that he finished our sidewalk we both moved to the other side of the street to work on our neighbours sidewalks

CB6-C1995-8402-4-D23-A3-A5-57506-BF94-D10 — I actually like shovelling snow

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.