"Canadian weather - two days later"

Canada is experiencing a funny time of year weather-wise. You'll hear me laughing. I'm used to it.

Snow-covered chalets on Wednesday. Then a detour, to cold beer on Thursday. In the same back yard.

Oh, it's knee-slapper season!

Link to free rent, good neighbours

Photos GH

zoom w a view: "winter weather"

I'm getting a bit frustrated with the cold. Though this Canadian cedar birdhouse is holding up pretty well under the snow...

...the winter weather is keeping me out of the workshop most days, and a to-do list is hanging over by head.

Photos by GH

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Photo Study: "cold weather drives me"

What is it about cold weather that drives me to think 'road trip?'

I just don't know where to go.

Photos by GH

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Weather in Canada: "wear boots"

Latest weather in Canada:

Minus the lengthy report on radio or tv. This, from the back deck.

["Dot dot dash - fresh snow"]

["Piles on roof tops"]

["Icicles forming, milder air"]

Wear boots. Medium coat.

Photos by GH

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London Weather: "wear a ball cap"

Channel 10 threw so much information at me recently about the Arctic Deep Freeze on Tuesday and Deeper Freeze on Wednesday I couldn't remember a word of it. And I'm pretty sure I didn't hear what I needed to know.

What should I wear to the coffee shop?

 

["Here's a front, there's a vortex, everywhere there's weather..."]

So I looked out the window to check out my snow-covered birdhouse/feeder and noticed the squirrels were chasing each other.

["Squirrel playing tag, in scrubby tree top left"]

["Ready for hide and seek?" it says]

Must be milder. So instead of my toque I'll wear a ball cap. I was ready in 5 seconds.

Photos by GH

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London Weather: "red long john weather"

Here at London Weather we don't dress up for the TV audience. Weather is tops, wardrobe is bottom. That being said, today can only be described as red long john weather.

["Snow-covered weather station. Cold"]

["Not one squirrel on the roads"]

["Frost on the thingme. More weather-strip needed"]

["A lot more weather-strip required. Very cold!"]

It took me 10 seconds to figure it out, and that is 20 times shorter than most weather reports on the telly or radio.

Clues:

when I walked out to the weather
station my hands got really cold

though the fence rails are squirrel high-
ways not one fuzzy rodent was in sight

the deck boards and steps to the yard
creaked and snapped like old bones

Recommendations:

pull on your red long johns

wear hats, mitts, toques outside

Photos by GH

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London Weather: "more snow in AM"

A large birdhouse (and retired bird feeder) is used locally as a weather station. I check on it every morning before coffee, sometimes while I'm still in my cozy flannel PJs.

["So, what's the weather like today?"]

Here's what I see:

there's more snow this morning

it's a wintry day

it's January and cold outside

so cold squirrels are staying indoors
and not running the fence rails

birds are chipping at me from the spruce tree
and would like breakfast

if you're going out wear winter boots

mittens and scarf would be nice too

Stay tuned.

Photo by GH

winter scenes from Canada, eh (11)

We compost. Always will. But it fell to number two yesterday when my wife asked me to drop off the goods while snow was falling. I was just looking out for number one? Nope.

["Old gas can tells a story, i.e., conserve, compost"]

["Snowy pattern on composter's lid caught my eye"]

I first wanted to take a few photos of the top of the composter, then dispose of potato peels.

Photos by GH

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Please click here to view winter scenes from Canada, eh (10)

winter scenes from Canada, eh (10)

When I snapped these photos I was in Canada, outside my workshop, in my backyard, and (seconds away from chasing a thieving squirrel) down my back laneway.

Setting the stage seemed fitting.

Photos by GH

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Please click here to view winter scenes from Canada, eh (9)

winter scenes from Canada, eh (2)

On Sunday, one drift of snow on a fence rail started to curl, as if to defy gravity.

This morning, the curl is surely nearing it's breaking point.

Curly snow on the fence rail in the background fell moments before I snapped this picture.

Will any last until tomorrow?

Photos by GH 

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Please click here to view winter scenes (1)

the maples leafs, falling

Our leaves were raked, bags full placed on the curb. Then it snowed and a million more leaves hit the white surface. (Maybe a million point five).

["I should rake before the city trucks swing by"]

["Maybe I should hold off, just take artsy photos":

LEAF IN THE SNOW]

["Maybe I'll let the leaves stay where they are all winter":

LEAF ON THE SNOW]

I believed yesterday's snowfall was going to be a 'here today, gone tomorrow' situation, and that I'd be raking by 9 this morning.

Decisions, decisions. Should I rake now or wait for the snow to disappear?

Photos by GH

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Please click here to view the maple leafs

the maple leafs

We received a thin layer of snow last night for the first time during this fall season. I've noticed the cold snap has had one interesting consequence: Leaves have been falling all day as if loudly reminded they should be gone by now.

["My yard is covered with a blanket of maple leaves"]

["My neighbour's yard sports delicate ones... my favourites"]

Are your last leaves now on the ground or will they need one more reminder?

Photos by GH

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Please click here to read Winter 2013: I'm ready

Winter 2013: I'm ready

Officially, according to experts, the winter season begins December 21, part way through the evening news. Personally, winter begins with the first good snowfall, but only if it hangs around a few days and encourages me to wear my red long johns. While pulling them on I'll say, "This could be winter."

That being said, though I'm wearing long johns this morning, the jury is still out.

["I am ready this year. Deck chairs are stacked"]

["Gotta say, the 'hood looks good in white"]

["Snowy caps on the fence posts. Could be winter"]

Are you feeling winter in your bones? I think it's too early and this is a 'here today and gone tomorrow' situation.

Photos by GH

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Please click here to view memo: the weather turns 

memo - the weather turns (2)

plants are drooping. and under gray skies they seem forlorn.

with no bounce.

no hops in their steps.

photos of hop plants by gah

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Please click here to view memo - the weather turns

memo - the weather turns

I knew it was going to happen. There would come a day when winter's annual memo arrived at my door: "I'm not far off."

Leaves curled up in the corners of my deck chairs tell me fall is on its way out the side door.

I miss it already. You?

Photos by GH

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 Please click here to view bluebird house

good timing from Mexico?

A few days ago my younger son sent me a lovely seaside photo from Mexico, taken while he and a friend were walking to Bobo's for a beer.

["My, isn't that lovely"]

I opened his email after stripping off cold wet clothes, the result of setting up a sump pump in my backyard - during a downfall - in order to drain the swamp.

The colours of my son's photo reminded me of the wet fence edging my back deck, and a birdhouse that was standing in 6 - 8 inches of water in the yard. I dreamed of Bobo's and said, "Thanks a lot, son!"

["Why are my socks leaving a trail?"]

Rubbing it in, eh!

Photos by GH 

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Please click here to read 'oatmeal weather'

Zoom w a View: "Snow is back"

It doesn't take much more than a light dusting of snow to bring a smile to my face and a significant change to the appearance of the landscape outside my back door.

Thanks to global warming one can no longer depend on a smooth change of seasons. January ended with rainy weather, February began with strong winds, then a powdering of snow. I'll get used to the instability in time, and will keep a camera handy.

Photos by GH

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Climate Change London: "Squirrels are on the prowl"

I saw the thick thick layer of December snow this morning and raced for a pencil. I wrote: "Snow is on the spruce boughs, squirrels are on the prowl." Then I stopped because I couldn't quickly come up with a word that rhymes with prowl.

I also thought, when will NASA post the average global temperature for 2012?

According to their website, their monthly and yearly results are posted automatically and I'm predicting I won't see the 2012 result until mid-January. I know last summer was quite hot but that' might not lead to a "hot town, summer in the city" trend. And I've been told by members of the cold conservative circle that global warming is over ("If there ever was such a stupid thing", some will say) based on a cooling trend somewhere. So, NASA's yearly results will fill in more of the factual story.

Until then I'll enjoy the thick thick layer of snow and try to finish my latest poem.

Owl? Scowl? Towel?

Link to NASA for more climate change details that affect London.

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Please click here for more Climate Change London

London Weather: “Don’t look up”

Gray. Wet. Windy.

If you look up your lens will get drippy. A good day to putter.

Photos by GH

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If you’re relaxing on a sunny beach, let me know.

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