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Ice Sculpture at Ice on Whyte Festival January 2014

Ice on Whyte Festival 2014

Wednesday evening my friend Kim and I attended the Ice on Whyte Festival here in town.  It was sooooo cold!!!  Standing still was not an option unless you were near one of the fire pits or indoors where there was a book reading for the anthology 40 Below.  (apt for the evening, though it wasn't that cold).  I don't know what the wind chill was but be assured there was one!

Here are some random photos I took that evening.  It's a fun annual event, especially for the family with a frozen slide in addition to the sculptures.  It was my first time attending and I'll definitely go again.

The Sun is Deceiving Today

While other bloggers like Three Dogs in a Garden are posting gorgeous gardens complete with lush greenery and blooming flowers, I am sharing a cool forecast and snowy gardens.  I think there's a balance in there somewhere, right?

Last week was pleasantly warm and had many of us here hoping for an early spring.  Mother Nature, however, decided we'd been spoiled enough and last evening kept us awake with howling winds.  Temperatures dropped across the board from a balmy +9 Celsius to a chilly -12 C.  As I write this it has dropped further to -14 with expected lows of -21 C overnight.  Brrr.  At least roadways have cleared significantly with the melting of the last few days.  No snow in the foreseeable forecast.  If it weren't for the windchill, it might still be a pleasant day.  The sun is shining deceptively bright.  It's a good day to sit by a sunny window and read.  That's where you'll find me today.

Have a terrific Sunday everyone!

Another Beautiful Day

We've been unseasonably warm after an unusually cold December but this I am loving, aside from the ice.  Looks to be another gorgeous day today with a high of 4 Celsius though quite windy.  

Hope you enjoy a wonderful Sunday.

Year 2013 in Reflection

Late winter (January/February) saw us move residence.  We now had a bare field in front and behind us giving us unobstructed views of sunrises to the northeast.  It was lovely until construction both in front and in back disrupted the views and the peace.  However, to my delight, a new family park began construction across the road.  Behind us, new housing developments.  A perfect excuse to get out of the house to explore!

As beautiful as winter can be, I yearn for colour and the sweet promise of spring so off to the greenhouses I went.  In the above photos:  Muttart Conservatory saw the blooming of Putrella Amorphphallus Titanum in April. Also in bloom was a daffodil garden comprising most of an entire pyramid and many other spectacular spring flowers.  I had to bring some of that intoxicating beauty home with floral arrangements.  

Nearby, as spring warmed the earth and our hearts, resident Canada Geese nested amongst the reeds at a local pond.  They were quite camera shy, would you believe it? 

When summer finally arrived (it was a late spring in 2013) I took advantage of the opportunities to be found including but not limited to riding segways at the river valley, watching the Dragon boat races, visiting gardens, watching the July 1 fireworks, attending the CariWest Festival Parade, visiting the Lois Hole Wetlands and berry picking.  A visit to the lake for a day with family was time well spent.

The garden adored the heat.

Then September rolled in and the warm weather persisted to our delight!  We made a trek to Jasper National Park (including the Columbia Ice Fields), Banff National Park and Waterton National Park where we spent time with our moms, a couple of the kids and their boyfriend/girlfriends.  We had a fabulous time!!  I miss the mountains so this was the best way to say hello to autumn and goodbye to summer.  See Waterton National Park, Where Have the Columbia Icefields Gone, and Rocky Mountain Highs.

The Festival of Trees took place over the last weekend in November.  Above is a small sampling of the beauty we enjoyed.  I've volunteered there previously and really miss doing so.  Working in retail at this time of year kind of zaps the energy so I just enjoyed visiting at leisure.  I dragged hubby along and we joined a couple of our sons and our daughter, with their respective companions, for a lovely evening of festive gaiety.  See Festival of Trees.

The beginning of December Devonian Botanic Gardens held their annual Luminaria event on what turned out to the coldest weekend so far!  Bundled up though, it wasn't too bad that evening.  You can visit my post here.

Candlelight Christmas with the McDades at John Walter Museum.

Above collage photos were taken at the John Walter Museum.

This little hermit actually got out and explored a little and it was fun!  Enough about me, how was 2013 for you?

Wishing you a spectacular new year of joy, peace and the company of those you love.  May adventure find you ready and willing!  I'm looking forward to visiting all my

 blogger friends in the upcoming year to share in your 

garden joys and your adventures.  

We're all in this together, we may as well enjoy it!

All the best,

Shirley,

The Gardening Life

Mosaic Monday