instant summer

Two weeks ago, when Alison was visiting, it snowed. Today it is +30 with a humidex warning. Crazy. But apparently this "isn't normal." That's what everyone said about the winter as well. At least a May heat wave can't be blamed on me. More than one person told me I'd brought Manitoba winter with me. As if I'd do that!

Cleo and I have been enjoying lots of time in the back yard. Things will be stupidly busy as of Monday so trying to relax a little on my last couple of days off. Her routine is: eat grass, throw up, lounge and occasionally show too much interest in a bumble bee. My routine is: find a shady spot and read books for pleasure, while keeping one eye on Cleo.

chowin' down!

april theme song

I know.... it's the first day of the month. And the last post was my March theme song. But Lucinda exactly expresses my feelings today. Winter, I dedicate this song to you.

I don't want you anymore
You took my joy
I don't want you anymore
You took my joy
You took my joy and I want it back
You took my joy
You took my joy and I want it back

march theme song

Had a different song queued up but then Karen sent me this. Believe me, I'm a lot less cheerful than Olaf. -30 windchill on my walk to work this morning... freakin' blizzard on the walk home. Singing In Summer through clenched teeth.

When life gets rough, I like to hold onto my dream
Of relaxing in the summer sun...

walking to work

windchill

no windchill

Guess which one represents my walk this morning... Both taken in December. Much more snow now but today was too cold to take my mitts off and snap a pic. So ya, if you guessed the pic on the left, you were correct.

holy crap

Hard to believe that just one month ago I was happily kicking 2013 out the door and welcoming 2014. Sitting cozily at home, eating chips, making resolutions, and thinking that the new year just had to be better. Silly me.

Let's get the weather out of the way first. Bloody hell. So... second coldest December / January on record. In those two months, we've had 21 days below -30 (not including the windchill). Almost 50% more snow than average. It's making everything else so much harder and I've turned into a very grouchy bear. And February is supposed to be cold and snowy. Ugh.

Then there's the job situation. Too much of a good thing. I start a new job at Deer Lodge Hospital library next week. Super happy to get the position but really, really sorry to be leaving Children's. So sorry that I'm going to stay on one day a weekend until my term is up at the end of April. And I'm staying at Silver Lotus. Not giving up that job until I have a permanent position (and maybe not even then because I really like it too!). So basically, overworking. Which under normal circumstances would be fine, but then...

The broken jaw. This picture really doesn't convey how much of a mess Rufus is. You can tell that his mouth is wired in a slightly open position. You can sort of tell that the left side is swollen. He's also drooling excessively and grooming his legs and chest like crazy to try and deal with it, which is making his skin raw. He won't eat so he had to be syringe fed this morning. And this is day four of a six week process. He's clearly miserable and there is only so much I can do to make things better. Going to pick up a couple of preemie t-shirts today and see if wearing one will help with the grooming. Picking up some chicken or turkey on the way home and will make some broth so mix with his food. Hopefully it will be more enticing. Other than that.... lots of love.

*sigh*

So.... 2014.... not really diggin' you so far...

38 degrees below zero (with the wind chill)

My shift at Silver Lotus was cancelled today due to the blizzard that blasted through the last couple of days. Loads of snow + frigid temps = no customers. I love working there but I'm very happy to have the day at home. Have spent an hour and a half shoveling and have at least another hour to go. Following the new NY mayor's advice.... getting low, using my knees. May have heard that advice a time or two before (right, mom?).

This afternoon is a Downton Abbey-a-thon. Re-watching the first three seasons (while knitting, doing laundry and drinking even more coffee) in eager anticipation of the start of season 4. Two more days!

Then noodles for dinner and back out to shovel. Possibly followed by a hot bath. Actually kind of a lovely day.

Here are a few random pics from the last couple of weeks....

Christmas Eve with O. and his family.

Downy woodpecker at my mom's feeder.

How the cats are spending the winter.

George Harrison, who goes home tomorrow.
Waiting for his person to fly in from NYC.

6 weeks into winter... 10 more to go?!?

"spring" has sprung-ish

Since I've been bitching so much about the weather lately, I thought I'd post a few pics to show that all is not horrible (even if it isn't as awesome as it could be)...

Garlic I planted last fall is coming up!

Ditto the fancy heirloom rhubarb.

The kitchen window is open for business.

Oh ya.... and Cleo has shed about half her body weight in fur, so it must be spring!

more freakin' snow

I'm going to change the name of this blog to Catherine Complains About the Weather. Jeez, man. More snow!!! I can't take it!!!!

Maybe it should just be Catherine Complains.... leave things open for mosquito season, should it ever arrive.

In any case, we didn't get hit as bad as Dauphin. They had 20 cm as of 10 a.m. with snow continuing throughout the day and overnight.  Hehheh. Always some small joy in someone else having it worse than you.

Tomorrow (that's May 1st, folks) is the 5-year anniversary of O and I moving into our house. We celebrate every year by taking a picture of ourselves in front of our humble abode. The weather is supposed to be *sigh* snow and a high of -1. I'm going to try my very best not to look miserable. Don't want to give the impression that our home is anything but happy. Because it really, truly is the place where my heart is.

flowers

Flowers at Jumilla Stories. Flowers in my inbox from Kana. These are my poor flowers but I'm not complaining.

Dianthus, doing their best.

Oh wait.... yes I am.

Winnipeg has apparently set another weather record. We've never gone this far into April without hitting +5. Go Winnipeg!!! Forecast for tomorrow is +1 with snow overnight, turning to snow/rain on Wednesday. But after that things start to look up. Which is great because our community clean-up is on Saturday. And I'm getting mighty sick of looking out the window at this...

Lexi's little buddy, Linus, wondering WTF?!?

april theme song

Going to make you work for this one. Go to the Great Lakes Swimmers page on CBC Music, then click on the Albums tab, then scroll down to Bodies and Minds, then click on List Tracks, then on When It Flows. *phew* But it's worth the work, I promise.

What a crazy 9 days! Good things, bad things but overall loads of upheaval. O came home from three months of treading the boards in Alberta. I actually got a job (one-year, .8 EFT term but not complaining). Our sewer came this close to backing up but thankfully we caught it in time. Had a big blow-out with my dad. Not my finest moment perhaps but I firmly stand behind everything I said (er.... yelled). Tomorrow I'm taking O to his long awaited knee surgery.

AND the weather has been brutal. -19 going to work this morning. -26 if you count the wind chill, which I do since I was walking straight into it. Sometimes a song called When It Flows is just what's needed.

When it flows from the fingers

And turns to stone

It shatters with the touch

Feel the air, breathe it in

Turn the corner, take the bend

Give or take the bend

It's a spiralling cork-screw path towards you

It's a sinking, twisted path from me to you

For a second I saw you so clearly (clearly)

For a moment I knew you so dearly (dearly)

I looked into your eyes and into your mind

You were laughing like a statue come to life

The subtle piano raindrops

The creaking of the buildings and their cellos

The wind was our violin

The sky was a symphonic mural of stars

Hiding behind perfectly placed clouds

Because everything is the way it is

And everything is perfect in their imperfections

And everything is placed the best

And it is now, and it is here

And tomorrow is another now

Waiting to happen

The roar of an action silences all the words

The cry of an accomplishment

Drowns the whimper of ten thousand words

And we live in our actions and our reactions

And we live in our actions and our reactions

defying winter

Perhaps I'm taking the wrong attitude....

I'm just bitching whereas Canadian Granny says, "No mosquitos today!"

Trying to picture my mom doing this and failing. Trying to picture anyone I know doing this and failing.

vernal equinox

I'm stalling. It is gorgeously sunny and as long as I stay inside, drinking the amazing coffee my sister brought back from Costa Rica, I can pretend that it is actually a nice day. And not minus 33 with the wind chill. With a big pile of snow to shovel. *sigh*

I can only stall for so long because my pooch really does need a walk. *sigh*

I have so many things to do indoors that it is easy to stay in my jammies drinking coffee. Like applying for more jobs, putting together a feedback form for the workshop last Friday, cleaning the house, eating cookies (thanks Mama!), listening to Q and trying to figure out how the new Ikea bathroom cupboard goes together.

But then there is this....

takemeouttakemeouttakemeouttakemeout

One more cup of coffee, then I'll put on long johns, parka, scarf, big mitts, toque, Sorels and we'll go. Happy spring, everyone! *sigh*

classic prairie winter redux

Where's Catherine?

We definitely have more snow than ever in our backyard. It may not look like more than usual but trust me, it is. Apparently 10% more than average. Most of the patio is covered, the snow is piled up against the fence (rather than in a big heap that the dog can run around) and I have made a wee path to the compost bin. Nice of O to choose this winter to go away and leave me with the shoveling. :]

Currently dealing with an ice dam that is causing a leak onto my bed. Sleeping in the living room until it is sorted out. And guess what I'm dreaming of whilst sleeping on the sofa bed? Spring.

pros and cons

Five good things about the frigid temperatures:

1. Yesterday I arrived at my house at the exact same moment as the Jehovah Witnesses. But because I was wearing my burka - er - parka, I was able to walk right past them without them recognizing me.
2. It's sunny! It's sunny! Hurray!
3. I like sleeping in socks with lots of heavy blankets.
4. Coffee tastes even better than usual when I have my hands wrapped around the mug.
5. Lexi enjoys winter and it is nice to have an enthusiastic companion when I head out doors.

Five bad things about the frigid temperatures:

1. My poor chapped hands. :[
2. It is nearly impossible to get out of bed in the morning, what with all those blankets weighing me down.
3. The wind really does a number on my eyes. And the constant tearing really does a number on my cheeks. Bought facial oil today!
4. Despite my enthusiastic companion, I don't really want to go outside. But because of her, I have to.
5. Our heating bill will be through the roof.

Aforementioned enthusiastic companion...

it was a dark and stormy day

Not much snow yet but the wind is howling and the temperature is dropping. The sun never came out and I haven't been able to wake up properly today. I can't imagine living in Iqaluit or someplace colder and darker than Winnipeg. It is definitely one of those days to fill your belly with something hot. May I suggest roasted parsnip soup? If you have the ingredients on hand, of course. No sense heading out in this. I don't have the ingredients; I have something better...... leftovers!

This soup seems complicated but it's really not. Roast the veggies, warm broth and cream (I used milk), blend. I found the immersion blender didn't work very effectively so I used a regular blender. And the parsley oil was really pretty but it didn't add much flavour. You can definitely skip it.

Yukon Gold Potato, Parsnip & Roasted Garlic Soup with Parsley Oil

Parsley Oil:

1/2    cup (125 mL) Italian flat-leaf parsley leaves
1/2    cup (125 mL) extra-virgin olive oil
Sea salt

Roasted Garlic:

2    heads of garlic, tops sliced off
Olive oil
Sea salt

Potato & Parsnip Soup:

1    tbsp (15 mL) melted butter
1    tbsp (15 mL) olive oil
2    lbs (1 kg) Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cubed
3    parsnips, peeled and cubed
2    onions, peeled, stemmed and quartered
4    cups (1 L) vegetable broth
1/2    cup (125 mL) heavy cream
Salt and pepper

Directions:

Parsley Oil:

Combine parsley leaves with olive oil in a food processor. Process until puréed and bright green. Let steep for about 1 hour then strain oil through a fine-mesh sieve, discarding solids and reserving oil. Season with a little sea salt then transfer oil to a jar with a tight-fitting lid.

Roasted Garlic:

Drizzle garlic heads with olive oil and a pinch of sea salt. Wrap tightly in aluminum foil.

Potato & Parsnip Soup:

Preheat oven to 400 F (200 C). In a large bowl, combine butter and olive oil, whisking to mix. Add next 3 ingredients and toss to coat. Place mixture and wrapped garlic in a baking dish; season vegetables with salt and pepper. Roast in oven for about 40 minutes or until vegetables are tender, stirring the vegetables halfway through the cooking time. Remove baking dish from oven. Place vegetable mixture into a large pot set over low heat along with broth and cream. Using an immersion blender, process until mixture is smooth, adding more broth if soup is too thick. When garlic is cool to the touch, squeeze cloves into soup. Using an immersion blender, process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste; cover and cook until soup is warmed through.

To Assemble:

Spoon soup into bowls then drizzle with Parsley Oil and some fresh cracked pepper. Serve immediately.

Serves 4

minus 27 (minus 37 with the windchill)

But it's not the weather that's making Lexi and I feel grouchy. Nope. We're totally prepared for the weather. The problem is that Alpha Dog has mysteriously disappeared. Lexi figured out that there is a gaping hole in the hierarchy when he didn't return home two nights ago and we've been battling for top position ever since. It's making me a bit crazy. Hoping she figures out that I'm the new alpha soon. Because I am. Hmph.

beautiful day

Frost, fog and big, fluffy flakes. Of course, that also meant no sunshine but nice to have a break from the extreme cold.

yesterday and today

Winnipeg and much of the prairies experienced what I like to call instant winter. The weather channel calls it a Colorado low. Whatever, the result is the same... heaps of snow in a pretty short period of time. Twenty heavy, wet centimeters so far and it is still coming down. Lexi loves it. I love it too, actually, though it feels a bit early for this sort of thing.

Hoping it doesn't put a spanner in my travel plans because I have +17 and partly sunny waiting for me. New York, here I come! Maybe.

The wind in your face during last week's blizzard. The awful sting of the cold, and you out there in the empty streets wondering what possessed you to leave the house is such a pounding storm, and yet, even as you struggled to keep your balance, there was the exhilaration of that wind, the joy of seeing the familiar streets turned into a blur of white, whirling snow.

Paul Auster, Winter Journal