Sunday Trees – 380

Posted on February 25, 2019 by Mama Cormier

…thanks to Becca Givens for hosting Sunday Trees

Snow Angel

Posted on February 21, 2019 by Mama Cormier

…I’m glad that someone is getting joy out of this crazy weather

Actually seeing this angel brought me joy and it brought back memories of me as a kid doing the same thing in freshly fallen snow. I saw the children who had probably made the angels with their parents when I was walking through the park to catch more ice designs with my camera. It was a bit treacherous because beneath the snow was slick ice. I had visions of falling and sliding down the banks into Lake Ontario. I saw another photographer out looking for interesting shots and he was walking very gingerly over the ice as well.

We had lots of rain last night. Could this be the end of winter? I doubt it but we’re getting closer and closer to spring.

Wordless Wednesday – February 20, 2019

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Is There an End to This?

Posted on February 19, 2019 by Mama Cormier

….more snow in the forecast for tomorrow

I can’t believe that I was lamenting about having no snow back in early January. Now it just keeps coming. The upside is that when the sun shines you can tell that spring can’t be too far off. The snow starts to melt but overnight it freezes and the next day it’s like an ice rink on the roads and sidewalks.

Yesterday, during one of those sunny periods I got outside and started to chip away at the ice on the driveway. I think I was outside for two hours. I also walked down to the park and took some photos of the lovely ice sculptures made by Mother Nature.

Wordless Wednesday – February 13, 2019

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Nature’s Ice Sculptures

Posted on February 3, 2019 by Mama Cormier

….with the spike in temperatures this weekend I’m not sure how long these will last

Unlike parts of England where they are already contemplating spring, we will certainly see more snow and ice and low temperatures. Right now we’ve gone from an Arctic Vortex to above freezing in a matter of days. It’s not very pretty out there with all the slush and run off from the snow banks. Fortunately I went out on Friday and found these beautiful ice sculptures along the shores of Lake Ontario just a couple hundred metres from our house. The ice is created when the waves hit the rocks and come up over the banks onto the trees and bushes.

It’s rare for Lake Ontario to freeze but you can see the ice flows close to the shore in some of these photos and yes those are swans out on the lake. Most of them have their heads nestled close to their bodies under their wings.

Silent Sunday – Feb. 3, 2019

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Sunday Trees – 377

Posted on February 3, 2019 by Mama Cormier

…thanks to Becca Givens for hosting Sunday Trees

What a Week!

Posted on February 2, 2019 by Mama Cormier

….plumbing woes are finally resolved

This time last week our plumber came to check out our sewer drain because we had a bit of backup coming through the basement drain. After scoping the pipe and cleaning up the build up in the pipe he informed us that the break this time was on the city side and we had to give them a call. In the meantime we were probably okay to use the water sparingly.

On Monday we finally got through to the city and within a couple of hours workers appeared at our door. Again they scoped the pipe from inside our home and then decided they needed to do it from the outside. In the meantime, however, the storm of the season was upon us and despite efforts made on our behalf no one would be able to come until the snow was cleared the next day. A potential problem with the gas lines meant that the gas company had to make a trip and check first to see how close the sewer pipe was to the gas line.

On Tuesday the gas company arrived to determine where they had to drill and the next day, on Wednesday they came back with their massive trucks and started drilling into my neighbours driveway to see where the pipe was situated. The good news was that the gas lines were a good two feet away. Now the city could come and dig up the broken pipe and replace it with a new one.

On Thursday a city truck arrived and again the drain was scoped and the extent of the damage was determined. We were classified a number one priority and a crew would arrive within 12 to 24 hours. That meant that they could come in the middle of the night. Later that day they checked in on us to see if we could hold off until Friday morning. We had gone this long without a shower or doing laundry so we figured a few more hours wouldn’t make much difference.

Yesterday, the street was blocked off and the work began in earnest. It was fascinating to watch. We just kept reminding ourselves that they knew what they were doing and we need not worry but the pounding and drilling throughout the day was quite disconcerting.

When the weather improves the city will be back to repair my neighbour’s driveway, the sidewalk and the street in front of the house. For now I can get to a week’s worth of laundry. I just had a long hot shower and washed my hair. Heaven!