Last night's stiff winds brought in a much colder atmosphere than that which prevailed yesterday. But although yesterday's temperature was higher than normal for this time of year, it was windy and damp, and heavily blowing flurries of snow were incessant. As soon as the shovelling was done, it had to be repeated since the snow kept accumulating faster than we could clear it away.

And my husband offered to clear the driveway of one of our neighbours who was facing a dilemma of having to pick up his son at the bus station, but unable himself to use his mechanical snow thrower because of problems with his shoulders. So, on top of clearing out our own driveway, and walks and backyard to enable access to our two little dogs, the job of cleaning another drive was assumed by my husband.

It was the only way our neighbour would be able to exit his driveway with his car, because the snow was piled so high, so there was little other option. No other neighbours, most busily clearing their own drives, made the offer to be helpful to Mohindar. Since he is our friend, it was left to my husband, at 75, to do double-duty.

When we left the house later in the day on our weekly food shopping expedition, driving was treacherous, the roads were slippery, despite having been ploughed and sanded and salted. Traffic was heavy, nonetheless, people feel compelled to get out and perform their normal activities, despite the awkwardness presented by the weather.

There were ample accidents reported; some casualties, no fatalities in this area, thank heavens. Overnight, the snow finally stopped, and the skies cleared, bringing that anticipated cold snap. We've now got clear, blue skies, and are well muffled with a heavier snowpack than we've had thus far this winter.

The trees are well burdened with snow, and will remain that way for awhile. Exceedingly lovely to observe. Last night my husband went outside to unburden some of the lower branches of the largest pine on our property, freeing them to spring back to their normal height. One of the branches had been smothering the columnar lights.

First thing this morning, looking out at the front of the house, we saw that the dreaded municipal plow had been by again, scraping packed snow and ice off the road and onto cleared driveways, and the foot of our driveway was once again barricaded with large chunks of snow and ice. With the new ambient temperature, it would be frozen in place, and difficult to move.

But when my husband ventured out after breakfast to tackle the snow-packed barrier he discovered it had already been mysteriously removed. The culprit was obvious; Imran, back from his Toronto trip, returning the compliment that had fortuitously cleared his father's drive the day before.