It was still snowing when we went up to bed last night. The landscape was a broad comforter of virginal-white snow. Shrubs and tree branches were weighted heavily, bowing with the pressure.  It was mild out, just at the freezing mark as it had been all day, and the snow was not dry and light, but dense and heavy. Irving was concerned about the sheet-metal top of the canopy over the deck. The manufacturer's instructions were that snow should not be allowed to accumulate over six inches in depth. At that point the height of the snow -- wet at that -- was twice the limit. 

We were tired and not prepared to do anything about the weight on the canopy as we trudged up to bed. At that point about 30 cm had come down. Another ten cm expected overnight for a total of 40 cm. Quite the snowstorm. In the morning Irving dressed early and went back out to clear the newfallen snow from the backyard walkways again. This time I got dressed too and did my share of the shovelling. And after breakfast out we went again to clear off the deck canopy.

 

 

Irving has a really neat, lightweight aluminum ladder that slides down to a fraction of its extended size; easy to store, easy to use, practical and efficient. He also has a 15-ft-reach roof rake that he uses to shove  snow off the canopy. It was still snowing, the temperature was still benign, the wind was light.

As the snow came thudding down off the canopy and onto the deck, I shovelled it off the deck onto the garden beds below. Heavy snow that had to be shovelled in layers.

 

I hate it when Irving goes up on a ladder, any ladder. So I hold onto the lower quartile of the ladder which though I know is fairly useless, makes me feel a bit better. Finally he decides the canopy has been satisfactorily cleared and down he comes. He sent me back indoors and he continued clearing away snow. I promptly went out to the front of the house while he was still out back and began shovelling the porch and the front walkways. The depth of the snow was amazing, but it seemed lighter in texture at the front than it was at the back of the house.

 

 

In the afternoon we hauled ourselves out once again, this time with Jackie and Jillie to get out for our afternoon hike through the ravine trails. Unlike years ago when after a storm it was left to us to break trail because so few people used the forest recreationally, now that they do, it was evident that many people had been out before us, the trails tamped down nicely. People pulling sleds made the trails good and even, so our tramp wasn't as arduous as it might have been otherwise.

 

The atmosphere was as close to perfect as possible. The snow was just finally tapering off, the temperature had risen to 1C, the wind was barely noticeable and the forest landscape was utterly enchanting. A total of 40 cm through the course of several days and nights completely muffles sound in the landscape and decorates it with a thick layer of frozen white fluff. Tree branches are bent low and you duck as you pass under. Touching one creates a waterfall of heavy snow.

The creek is open and running, itself the recipient of snow as well as some snow that might have melted given the temperature. The water is high and running wildly downstream surrounded by banks steeped deep in snow, trees bowing over. 

 

Only Gus, the Viszla, came by to visit; our timing synchronized. He suddenly appeared, having left his person far behind somewhere on another trail to tell us look, here's Gus, flamboyant in his new orange winter coat,  and he's waiting for cookies! We took note, welcomed him, provided said cookies and off he sped, back from where  he'd come. Evie came along too, to tell us how glad she was to see us. Jackie and Jillie appreciate her eating style; she crunches those large cookies in her big jaw and pieces fall to the ground where Jackie and Jillie pounce on them. Evie doesn't mind; far as she's concerned, finders-keepers.

 

 

By the time we finish our circuit, cross the last bridge, ascend our weary but exhiliarating way back up the last hill to street level dusk has entered, though even so it's only marginally darker than it has been for most of the day under snow-packed clouds. The street lights come on as we exit the ravine, and as we walk down t he street to our house and look up at the sky a narrow band of clearing sky can be seen, though the sun has already set beyond the horizon.

The coming storm was forecasted well in advance by Environment Canada, so we were well aware it was on its way.  Snow began falling just after midnight last night. And through the night it continued to fall. When I occasionally popped an eye open to glance at the bedroom windows they radiated light, the kind typically seen when it's a dark night and snow illuminates the atmosphere. A night when it's dark indoors and light outdoors, reversing the norm. Comfortable in bed, who cares ... we'd see all the glory in the morning.

And we did, snow clung thickly to all the shrubs and trees in the front garden and the backyard. Before that, though, Irving got himself out of bed, whispering to me to stay in bed and he would be shovelling out the walkways in the backyard for Jackie and Jillie. I did just that, snoozed comfortably while he was outside shovelling. Jackie and Jillie don't mind Irving out of bed, when I get out they leap to attention, so they snoozed too.

When I finally went downstairs with them, it didn't take much to take the measure of the snow. Wet and clinging, thick in height and heavy and still falling densely. Throughout breakfast it kept falling, and into the afternoon. In the early afternoon, looking outside, I realized that someone had shovelled our front walk and porch and the walkway going to the backyard. I knew it wasn't Irving, so it was obviously one of our neighbours. Likely Dan, our neighbour for the past 30 years. He started doing that last winter and it looks as though he means to continue. He is such a purely nice person, the very ultimate in civil decency.

I decided to bake chocolate cupcakes today, flavoured with rum. Took no time at all, then I kneaded up a yeast dough for dinner rolls I'll bake on Sunday to accompany a thick, flavourful vegetable-pulse soup. I had some laundry to finish up, the mattress cover, duvet cover and a few other things I had changed yesterday.

Although it was just before three in the afternoon when we set out for the ravine, we were met by a fairly dusky atmosphere, given the fact that it was still snowing and there was a very low cloud cover. It was windy as well, although the temperature hovered at the freezing mark, which accounted for the snow being wet packing-type snow. As we entered the ravine we noted with relief that others had been out before us, tramping down a narrow trail. 

We knew, from long years of exposure just how exquisitely breath-taking the landscape would be, but even so it tends to take your breath away with its beauty, each time you see it anew. Jackie and Jillie wore lighter coats, their rain- and snow-proof coats since it was so mild. They were delighted to be out in the snow. It's a rare dog that doesn't revel in the snow. We met only one other person, a man familiar to us, with his three dogs and that encounter was good for an interruption in our slogging through the snow, giving us a chance to gain our breath.

Ascending and descending long hills thick with newfallen snow is a physical challenge that winter snowstorms bring, courtesy of nature. As a workout that comes complete with a lovely landscape there's nothing quite like it.

It's hard to find a piece of good roast that's a decently small size for two people. So there's always leftovers. And the sirloin tip roast we had on Monday was just far too large. I refrigerated the slices we couldn't eat, and yesterday cut them into strips. I decided I'd stir-fry them, and began with garlic cloves, onion and shallots chopped and stir-fried in olive oil. When they were translucent and slightly browned I added cubed Yukon Gold potatoes and stir-fried them, then added the beef strips. The combination made a pretty good meal, served with green beans. But the truth is I don't really favour leftovers and to avoid them I try to cook meals that will serve two, once only.

I decided to change the comforter on our bed and today was as opportune a time as any, since all the bed linen was destined for the laundry. So I exchanged the medium-weight comforter for the winter one and that was a whole lot of fun. Takes quite a bit of energy to shuck a comforter out of its cover, and to do the same in reverse with a new one. But it's done, and it's just in time to greet an oncoming winter storm.

We're expecting between 15 and 20 centimetres overnight and into tomorrow. Not an awful lot of snow, but enough to finally put down a permanent snowpack for the duration of the winter. If it turns out to be too windy, along with the falling snow we might not even get out into the ravine tomorrow for our daily hike through the forest trails with Jackie and Jillie.

With that in mind, we took an extra long circuit both yesterday and today. Sunny yesterday, but the sky today was packed densely with those pewter-shaded snow clouds that always seem to promise an imminent snow event. We had a moderate temperature in an afternoon high of -2C, but it was also damp and windy. We didn't feel we had to really bundle up today, it almost felt balmy despite the wind.

The little snow we did have down has gradually worn away, so the coming snowstorm will be a timely event. Hard to believe, but we've had a deficit of precipitation so far for the past month and the current one. We were more than a little surprised, descending the first hill leading into the ravine, where close to the bottom two fair-sized trees lay across the trail. 

 We had noticed a few months ago that a large poplar had fallen partially over, its weight suspended on a companion tree a little smaller than its own size. Now, it's evident that the younger, slightly smaller in circumference tree could no longer sustain the dead weight of the fallen tree. The smaller of the two cracked about twenty feet up its trunk and both had fallen over, onto the trail. Glad that no one was about when that happened!

It was awkward and a bit of a challenge clambering over the tree trunks. Jackie and Jillie found them a surprising impediment; after all, trees are not supposed to be horizontal, and hesitated to duck under them, so Irving picked them up and dumped them on the opposite side. We had a good ramble through the trails. People we came across were of the opinion that it was a good idea to get out, mightn't be possible tomorrow. A thought that brought a happy grin to everyone's face.

Crossing the second bridge and ascending another hill we came across a regular hiker and he was carrying a smallish-looking, battery-powered saw. Powerful enough, he said happily, to make quick work cutting the trees to haul the trunks off the trail. That was halfway through our circuit. An hour later, on our return, the trail was cleared, the shorter pieces of the downed trunks dragged off the trail. 

This community treasure, held in gratitude by a good many people, has any number of regular users prepared to do what they can as joint stewards of this urban forest. By the time we returned to the 'scene of the crime' on our way back home, it was pretty dark, but more than light enough to take note of the gift of care that a community member left behind.

Our two little dogs wait every night to be tucked into bed and covered snugly for the night. And that's Irving job. I'm already in bed before him, reading before I fall asleep, but I cock my eye to watch the ritual. It begins when he lifts Jillie from the right/wrong side of the bed to the left/right side where she will nest the night through. Jackie is always in the right place assigned to him, or more correctly that he has designated as his own, perched in a slightly elevated place created by folding over the strictly decorative bed-top comforter to the foot of the bed. 

While he's adjusting their comfort zone and covering them, Irving keeps up a running commentary addressed to them repeating some of the day's events and their responses, as they listen carefully. I love watching this ritual because it highlights for me just how very much the boy who has been my constant companion since our early teen years remains in the man he became on the way to the present. The two puppies will remain in place all night, barely stirring. To us, it's a comfort that they're there, comfortable, companionable, content.

We've enjoyed yet another day of clear skies and full sunlight streaming through the house. I had prepared a number of cards to be sent out in the mail. One for my sister's birthday, two days before my own, though she's four years younger than me. One for my daughter-in-law's widowed mother, now 91, and three more for our boys, our daughter and granddaughter. The last three were depositories of Chanukah gelt in cheque form. We only had enough stamps for half the cards, so Irving's gone off to the closest post office.

I had bought, for the first time, a Swiffer product. I wanted something for the hardwood floors. They obviously don't get cleaned frequently, just dust mopped, whereas tile floors are washed weekly. The product is meant to be used with a stick, a kind of remote floor-washing implement I have no use for. I began by doing the exposed portions of the wood-strip floor in our bedroom. Not a big job considering the large Indian rug covering most of the floor, a rug we bought almost 50 years ago. As a trial run it turned out very well.

Then when I'd finished cleaning the bathrooms, we went off to the ravine for an earlier-than-usual afternoon hike through the forest trails with Jackie and Jillie. Not much wind in evidence, and full sun made it a pleasant enterprise. Made all the more so by the dogs we came across now and again. Not as numerous as yesterday's encounters, but representing a bit of excitement for Jackie and Jillie regardless. 

There was a small, jaunty French bulldog with his new winter coat. And a number of feisty large Labradoodles leaping about for joy at being let loose in the forest. And a few hounds puzzled by our two pups' ill-bred mannerisms, but willing to forgive and invite them to a play date. One of the hounds provided a little display of bravado, balancing himself on a long-fallen pine tree trunk that had come to rest years ago over a bit of a chasm under which runs a tributary of the main forest creek.

Irving renewed his vehicle licenses online a few days ago, and in today's mail there was the hard copy of his renewals. When he set out to make an appointment for the renewal of his driver's license, however, it wasn't quite as speedily completed. This is mid-December, but it won't be until the end of February that he'll be able to take the eyesight and written test for those over age 80. So he needs an extension, and awaits its arrival, to ensure he doesn't run into any trouble beyond  his birthday, awaiting his official driver's license renewal.

 

The Yorkshire pudding we had with sirloin tip roast for a change last evening resembled nothing so much as a lopsided hat. Thankfully, it tasted nothing like a hat. And just as thankfully Irving liked the asparagus we had alongside far more than I did. A sirloin tip roast, even a small one, is more than two mature adults and two little dogs can manage to scarf down at one go. So there's lots of leftovers, and making use of the leftover roast will represent a cooking challenge;  likely I'll end up 'stir-frying' it with onions and potatoes tomorrow. Tonight we're having pizza, so that's different enough.

 

 

We did the food shopping this morning. And were really surprised to see the supermarket we tend to frequent absolutely packed with shoppers. This store isn't usually all that busy and when we go out to do our shopping in the morning, it tends to be pretty empty. Not so today.. When our shopping was done with and we moved with our full shopping cart toward the check-out, none of the manual check-outs other than the express were open; only those where you service yourself electronically. The lineup at the cash express was impressive. And not in a positive way.

 

And then suddenly, we were beckoned to a cash that was in the process of opening. We streaked over and half the line streamed after us. The cashier was unbelievably efficient. A new cashier, not one we were familiar with and as a result not familiar with us, either, so we had to explain that the non-perishable food packed separately in a bag of its own was meant for the food bank. She whizzed the contents through in no time, repacked them into the bag and then processed our own food swiftly.

 

When we arrived back home, the usual pandemonium broke out with Jackie and Jillie, hysterical at our brief absence and curious as well about what Irving was hauling into the house from the garage. This time Jackie quickly forgave our absence and gracefully accepted all the tidbits Irving offered to them as he unloaded and put away the food with me.

The day was one of full sun again, but it also felt considerably colder than the registered -5C, thanks to wind and dampness. We dawdled over breakfast, read through the newspapers, did this and that and before we knew it we were into mid-afternoon and it was time to take Jackie and Jillie out for their daily tramp through the forest. Before the end of this week we should be seeing a more snow-packed forest with snow expected on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

 

We're still grateful for the snow we received several days ago; when though it snowed all day, not much fell in total, but its effect on the landscape was wonderful and much of it still remains on the forest trees, though it's wearing thin on the trails. This turned out to be one of those days when it seemed as though half the community must have thought it would be a good idea to have a leisurely hike through the forest. 

 

On a number of occasions, dogs familiar to us suddenly appeared, excited at the prospect of cookies, cozying up to Irving and even giving me enthusiastic kisses. One of the dogs we've been seeing on occasion lately was carrying about one of the thickest, good-sized pieces of fallen tree branch we've ever seen any dog busy with. It's this particular dog's passion, to find these huge pieces of wood and proudly prance about with them. He moves so quickly, racing up and down the trails, it's hard to keep sight of him. But when you do, it's impressive and entertaining.

 

 

 

Yesterday's soup at dinnertime packed a hot wallop of flavour. The jalapeno pepper I'd used along with garlic and leeks to  begin making the soup had been cut into thirds because of its size. I had used one third of it the day before when I made a vegetable soup. Yesterday's soup was a bean and vegetable soup. The dried peas and beans in the mix don't need overnight soaking; evidently they've been pressure-prepared, so they only need the cooking time of say, lentils or barley. I put in lots of cumin seeds, but they don't convey heat. The vegetable soup had not even a trace of heat.

 

But from the first spoonful yesterday's bean-vegetable soup that featured tomatoes and sweet potato as the vegetable base, was hot. Fragrant, good-tasting and robustly hot. Which didn't stop me from eating two bowls full, but Irving is more sensitive to that kind of heat than I am and he made do with a single bowl. The combination of beans and vegetables always produces an excellent result, maybe a little easier on the hot pepper, but I loved it.

 

We both had a productive day. Me, because I got through the cleaning in good time, and even moved the stove to wash the floor under it while I was doing the kitchen floor. We long ago put the stove and refrigerator in caster, but I wouldn't try it with the refrigerator, too large and bulky; the stove is easy to move. And Irving was downstairs in his workshop working to finish a stained glass door insert that he had in the works, almost completed and set aside for awhile.

 

The house was intensely bright with light from the sun today, not a cloud in sight. Yesterday's snow lay undisturbed, our normal cold temperatures ensuring it won't melt. Only the walkways in the backyard got shovelled  to make it easier and cleaner for Jackie and Jillie to be out and about. Despite which, nothing stops Jackie from plowing through the unshovelled areas, assiduously sniffing where wildlife has been in their absence.

 

It was four in the afternoon again before we had the opportunity to take the puppies out for a slog through the ravine, so by that time dusk had already set in, and by the time our circuit was done dusk had given way to the  dark of night. We came across some of Jackie and Jillie's friends and for brief intervals it was cookie-party time.  These days, when we exit the forest and walk out into the street all the street lights are on, as well as peoples' Christmas decorations. A cheerful atmosphere prevails.

 

My Hewlett-Packard desktop is just managing to creak along. It's about fifteen  years old, and extremely fatigued. From time to time it goes into an existential fit leaving me certain that it's ready to be replaced. And I dread the prospect. It's a comfortable machine, and it's been a reliable friend over the years. The last week it's gone into a slow tizzy. Last night was the culmination of a breakdown. It more or less froze and I was unable to use it any further, in the middle of writing an article for one of my blogs. 

I shut it down 'illegally' since it wouldn't respond to being shut down properly. And then I closed off the current (flicking off the circuit breaker) to let it rest completely through the night hoping that might help. It did. Seems the computer has 'repaired' itself temporarily. This happens from time to time, though I guess it's still on borrowed time.But I do appreciate the fact that this machine, old as it is, has a built-in capacity to do repairs on the hard drive. And I wonder how long that will last...?

 

It seems contrite today and is doing its best to oblige, so really I have nothing at all to complain about. It has worked so hard over the years, beyond commendable. I wonder how long it is before people allow their old machines to give up the ghost and replace them. And I imagine it wouldn't take much. I do have another, back-up computer about seven years old, an all-in-one that I use occasionally as an alternative. And the last while it too has slowed down and become somewhat balky. It enabled me, however, to complete that blog posting. But I spent so much time waiting for the other to get over its fit, it was time wasted and we ended up going to bed far too late. Which means at the other end of the night, we woke up too late in the morning.

 

And when we did, a very nice surprise awaited us, snow gently falling. Before too long it had altered the landscape immeasurably, taking it from dark, drab grey to bright white. Much appreciated. And so, in the afternoon we dressed in outerwear meant to withstand wind, cold and snow. Since we woke late and were late leaving the breakfast table (melon, banana, French toast, sausages, coffee and tea) I was later doing the usual household chores, and so by the time we exited the house it was already four o'clock.

 

What a pleasure it was to view every surface covered with snow. Not much snow, but it's a start. With more to fall overnight, we'll come away with a bit of a snowfall, since it's also snowed all day, but not voluminously. The hillsides were a little slippery but manageable. And we felt comfortable with little wind to blow the snow around. I wore a heavier winter jacket that Irving had brought home for me and it was far more comfortable than the one I wore yesterday under which I had two sweaters and was still cold.

When we peeled the puppies' boots off after returning home, their legs were encased in snow and a bit of ice, over the boot tops. But their heavy winter coats keep them snug and dry and they were more than ready for their afternoon vegetable salad, their own special little tradition.