1000 Words

I have titled this post a thousand words because we left our camera in Saskatoon and since we know a picture is worth a thousand I will have to go with words as there won't be any pictures.

We left here Dec.19th for Christmas in Saskatoon.  Pat was able to get in a day at the office on the 20th.  The drive to work that morning acquainted us with a part of city life we never really experienced while living there.  We left at 7:25 with the car reading -34˚C to get  Pat to work for 8 am. It took half an hour to drive there and then my plan was to go back to Ian's stopping at the Lawson Heights Safeway on the way.  Well it was dark, I don't know the new Circle Drive roads by Cameco very well yet and a couple of missed turns had me exiting at Clarence and buying groceries at the the Cumberland Safeway shortly after 8. It worked out for the best. Cumberland Safeway was home for me, therefore familiar and as an added bonus there were only two of us in the store.

It was a wonderfully busy week, Friday pot lucking and discussions with the Slow Book Club,  Sunday a fantastic meal and carol singing at the Warrington Annual Christmas Party and Monday, dinner and Scattergories with Albert Ave. friends, the Balsevichs and Speeds. Christmas Eve was spent with Zachary's family and we experienced the joy of watching small children prepare for Santa's visit.  Some smart person has come up with a special fancy key that lets Santa come in your front door.  No worries about not having a fireplace!

Carmen had car issues while we were there (it wouldn't start) so Pat and Ian spent part of the 24th trying to figure out if it was the starter and Pat spent the morning of the 27th installing a new starter for her. It has been awhile since Pat has done much car work but the wonders of Youtube were put to use.

We left by 2:00pm on the 27th and made it home before the forecast storm hit.  Not a huge amount of snow but lots of wind to blow it around and harden it. Pat spent at least two hours on the bobcat the next day so we could get out.    

We had a few days of good weather in Saskatoon, even getting out for a little tobogganing with Brooke and Norah but the snowshoes we had taken did not get any use. 

It has been sunny, clear and cold since we got back.  I was sitting in my reading chair yesterday looking out the window.  There is a birch tree right beside it and yesterday it was full of ice crystals. The wind was blowing just a little, not enough to blow them out, but enough to make them sparkle and twinkle like jewels.  It was marvellous.  I don't think it would have photographed very well and my talents do not lean towards poetry but I hope I have conveyed just how magical it was.

We have a one day break in the weather today.  Forecast high -8 ˚C.  I haven't been out on my snowshoes for awhile and I wanted to take advantage of the nice day.  I went down the road and through the ravine on the road.  When I got to the other side I went into the pasture.  Well I had no idea how much it had snowed and the pasture had way more snow than the road.  I was lifting my snowshoes out of holes anywhere from 8-15" deep. Breaking trail all the time makes your thigh muscles quiver and once your thigh muscles start to quiver it is hard to get them to stop.  I passed a few depressions where deer had slept, they looked very inviting but I knew if I stopped to rest in one I would never get out.  I rethought my route and found some tracks that Pat had made early this morning.  Following them helped considerably. When I got back I collapsed on the step, waiting for my heart rate to slow and for my legs and arms to regain some strength.  I still had to get the snowshoes off and walk into the house.  Pat thought I was enjoying the day and took a picture with our old point and shoot but the card won't work in my laptop without an hour long update so you are stuck with the thousand words and no picture.

I have a latte and knitting as the next item on my to do list. We won't be back in Saskatoon until the end of the month so the next post will either be picture less again or be a long time coming.