Dawn

Good morning everyone!  How is this new year treating you?  To be honest, it has been rather stressful on my end.   We are moving again and until a couple days ago, we hadn't selected a new residence.  The details are not yet finalized so I won't divulge any thing more here but I feel the stress lifting and am so grateful for that.  

On a brighter note, this was my view first thing this morning!  Isn't it gorgeous!!!!

It was near -40 Celsius with the wind chill this morning!  Right now it's about -24 Celsius and I don't know what it is with the windchill factored in but it's not very windy so that's good!

It's a cooler week than last where we set records for north America of +8 Celsius.  It was warmer than Phoenix that day!  On the plus side, it will be cold for the Ice on Whyte Festival that begins the 25th of January.  Perhaps this year we will even explore the icy wonderland!

Have a terrific week everyone and keep the home fires burning!

Warm winter days and hoar frost photos

The first photos here were taken when it was relatively warm, before Christmas.  

 

Christmas saw average highs of -20 Celsius and lows in the negative 20's with windchill bringing it as cold as -39 C. 

 Hoar frost is so beautiful!  These trees were lightly touched by the frost, but the last three photos were taken by my husband in the Bonnyville/Cold Lake area where the hoar frost was thick and beautiful.

How's your weather?  Today we expect highs around -4 which is downright balmy!!  Where's the sunscreen?

Moose on the Loose

My husband has had two run-ins with moose in just over a year.  Be careful when driving in remote country areas.  One of these just might be considering crossing the road the same time as you!

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?

It's over.  The paper, the ribbon, the bows...all thrown out...discarded.  Gifts unwrapped.  The meal, the preparations, the time spent with loved ones....has come to pass.  It's hard to believe when you really think about it.  All the time spent shopping, preparing, baking, wrapping....and it's done.  The hilight being the time spent with loved ones and the look of surprise and joy when they unwrapped their gift.  Mostly, though, for me it is an occasion to ponder on the greatest gift of all.  The gift of a saviour for all of us whose birthday we celebrate on Christmas.  

The new year, for us, means a lot of changes.  Some good and some difficult.  It also means some resolutions are to be made, especially by myself.  I am seeking positive outlets for stress and physical activity is the one that looms like a giant for me.  So many benefits result from beginning and sustaining fitness goals so I am putting that right near the top of my list!

As for New Year's Eve, we may spend it with friends.  An invitation has been extended so we likely will drop by.  I'd be just as content sitting at home watching movies, really.  What are you doing New Year's Eve?

Christmas Greetings

We shall be staying home this Christmas and having the kids here, or most of them anyway.  It's forecasted to be in the negative twenties celsius over the Christmas holidays so we will stay in, listen to Christmas music, play games, indulge in some goodies, coerce my daughter to play the piano, light the fire and enjoy one another's company.  Some long distance calls to loved ones we wish were with us will follow.

Hope your Christmas celebrations are joyous.  Merry Christmas everyone and the best of the new year to you and yours.

Shirley @

The Gardening Life

Spring is Near at the Greenhouse!

The Root Seller

The Root Seller would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy new year! After today we will be closed until Jan 2nd!

In the last week of January our spring cuttings come in and we start seeding! Spring is near in the greenhouse world!  (Facebook post by a local greenhouse here in Edmonton)

I LOVE IT!!!  There is nothing like being in a greenhouse in late winter to brush away the winter doldrums!  Ahh, the memories, the scents, the feel of soil in my hands.  Some days I really miss it.

It's Officially Winter But It's Been Winter-like For Almost Two Months!

December 21st came and went and the world continued on.  All the media attention about the end of the Mayan calendar was unfounded, just as most of us supposed.  The best thing about December 21st is it is the shortest day of daylight hours, meaning from here days get longer!  It is also the winter equinox in our hemisphere.  For almost two months now, I've been calling the season of fall "winter" because we received snow shortly before Halloween and it has stayed.  It will be with us for what seems like an extraordinarily long period of time...well into April, likely even May.  

We do have four seasons, really, but three of them seem incredibly short in comparison to the duration that winter-like conditions linger here.  All the more grateful I am to see the first buds of spring, the first robin, and the green grass.

In the meantime, here is a glimpse of our forecast.  Perhaps you will feel sorry for me or just grateful that you live where you do.  In either case, a brief hello from you will certainly provide a cheery note to an otherwise cold and grey winter day.

Cheers!

Current Conditions

 

-17 ^°C

Observed at:

Edmonton City Centre Airport

Date:

3:00 PM MST Saturday 22 December 2012

• Condition:

  Light Snow

   

  Pressure:

  102.9 kPa

   

  Tendency:

  falling

   

   

  Visibility:

  15 km

   

  Air Quality Health Index:

  3

   

• Temperature:

  -16.7°C

   

  Dewpoint:

  -20.9°C

   

  Humidity:

  70 %

   

  Wind:

  ENE 18 km/h

   

  Wind Chill:

  -26

   

•  

• +More info

Forecast

 

Today

• -17°C
•  
•  

Sun

• -19°C
• -19°C
•  

Mon

• -21°C
• -24°C
•  

Tue

• -21°C
• -25°C
•  

Wed

• -21°C
• -24°C
•  

Thu

• -17°C
• -23°C
• 30%

Fri

• -10°C
• -21°C
•  

Issued : 11:00 AM MST Saturday 22 December 2012

Today

Periods of snow. Amount 2 cm. Wind up to 15 km/h. High minus 17. Wind chill minus 25.

 

Tonight

Periods of snow. Amount 2 to 4 cm. Wind up to 15 km/h. Low minus 19. Wind chill minus 28.

 

Sunday

Snow ending late in the afternoon then cloudy with 60 percent chance of light snow. Amount 2 to 4 cm. Wind up to 15 km/h. Temperature steady near minus 19. Wind chill minus 29.

 

Monday

Sunny. Low minus 24. High minus 21.

 

Tuesday

Sunny. Low minus 25. High minus 21.

 

Wednesday

A mix of sun and cloud. Low minus 24. High minus 21.

 

Thursday

A mix of sun and cloud with 30 percent chance of flurries. Low minus 23. High minus 17.

 

Friday

Sunny. Low minus 21. High minus 10.

 

• +More info

Historical Data

Yesterday

 

Max:

-14.1°C

Min:

-23.3°C

Precip:

0.0 mm

 

 

Normals

 

Max:

-7°C

Min:

-18°C

Today

 

Sunrise:

8:49

Sunset:

16:17

Sinnamon Lights Music Box Dancer

Christmas Decor Ideas From Greenland Garden Centre

This video was posted in 2011 but I just found it!  There are some spectacular and simple ideas for enhancing your decor for Christmas.  Enjoy!

Christmas Tour at Greenland Garden Centre (2012)