Vanishing Sun

Whether the weather be fine,
Whether the weather be not,
Whether the weather be cold,
Whether the weather be hot,
We'll weather the weather,
Whatever the whether,
Whether we like it or not
~Author Unknown

The clouds rolled in, the sun vanished and the wind and snow flurries have returned.  YUCK!  

Fire and Ice

Painting with some steel wool light tonight!

Exposed

Between the winter winds and the warmth of a chinook, the snow has more than settled!  What was once buried and holding the deep snow, the canola stubble is certainly looking rather exposed now.                                                                                              

Be Still ...

It's hard not to convulse with shivers when the temperature plummets from +6C down to -15C plus a nasty windchill!  Yes, the wind howled all night, the arctic deep freeze pushed our chinook to the wayside but we did wake to beautiful sunshine!  

Finished

After a morning hockey game, we returned home determined to help the boys finish their 2nd igloo!  We managed to 'transfer' a great deal of snow in a short time period but the end result was 'Igloo #2!'  Its amazing how 'wise' you become after building the first one and how much faster the second one can be built!  The boys are hoping to build an adjoining igloo to this one but I think we are going to have to wait for some fresh snow!

Icebergs and Igloos

Another balmy day with a high of +6C!  Yes, the snow was melting and the icebergs were beginning to flow ... on my sidewalk!  The perfect conditions for starting another igloo!  Haha!  Yes, the boys and I ventured to the top of our knoll and started making 'Igloo #2."  There is still potentially 2-3 months of winter left ... perhaps we will make an igloo village!  

We have the weekend to finish off this one!  Have a great one everyone!  

Tawny Hues

Welcome, winter. Your late dawns and chilled breath make me lazy, but I love you nonetheless. 

~Terri Guillemets

It's not a chore to get up and out the door when there is so much beauty to take in!  

Frosty Abstracts

Hmm ... Old Man Winter returned with a bit of 'chilly bite' but after a dull grey morning, he dredged our world with frost!  As the afternoon breeze picked up, the atmosphere surrounding this old prairie was raining diamonds!  

Not exactly what I was hoping to accomplish but then explaining to the equine crew and having them execute my plan was somehow quashed and replaced with their own strategy!  That strategy involved raising their eyebrows and keeping their heads hung while basking in the sun!  Haha!  I can't blame them for that!     

Shades of Winter

The color of springtime is in the flowers; 

the color of winter is in the imagination. 

~Terri Guillemets

With these beautiful spring-like temperatures, the snow is certainly settling and its difficult to not want the shades of winter replaced with the shades of spring!  Wanting and dreaming of anything but the colours associated with winter however, ALWAYS ends up with a spoonful of winter reality!!!  Its as if 'Old Man Winter' says "You can run but you can't hide!"

Sun, Frost ... GLORY!

It is the life of the crystal, 

the architect of the flake, 

the fire of the frost, 

the soul of the sunbeam. 

This crisp winter air is full of it. 

~John Burroughs

I know, the weekend is over but it was certainly difficult to resent the arrival of a Monday morning when it emerges with such elegance!  Its amazing how a bit of frost and some delicious rays of sunshine can make the stark trees of winter dance with radiance!

Daily Dozen

Happiness flutters in the air whilst we rest 

among the breaths of nature.  

~Kelly Sheaffer

Keeping to fellow blogger, Tammie Lee's 'Numen' challenge, I could't resist capturing an image of this herd of 12 mule deer bounding across one of our native pastures this afternoon.  I often feel like so many people dismiss the prairie landscape as a place of beauty, often quoting it's "barren" nature.  Hmm ... perhaps "barren" when viewed with a quick glance BUT streaming with rich wildlife and diversity when gazed upon!!!  Something to ponder when looking 'over the fence!'

Numen ...

"The spirit of divine power presiding 

over a thing or place."

Fellow blogger, Tammie Lee is participating in and extended the challenge to others to post and share something in the spirit of the word 'numen.'  The challenge is throughout this weekend.  So, in the spirit of the word numen ...

This little Downy Woodpecker sends the spirit of 'numen' echoing throughout our yard with each lil' knock!  

Under the Full Moon

A beautiful night for a walk in the moon light!  Have a great weekend everyone!

Moonlit

The night walked down the sky 

with the moon in her hand.  

~Frederick L. Knowles

I love a Winter's full moon on the prairie!  That shimmer on the snow is like a dreamy ocean and if you stare at it long enough you can almost half expect a sail ship to appear in the distance, just breaking the horizon!  

Chinook

There is nothing like a big ole' Chinook Wind to put some 'spring fever' in your step and blowing snow in your face!  Yes, the +6C was a sweet bonus ... however, the 100km wind gust warning was not!  I found it interesting to note that around the same time last year, we were also graced with some 'balmy' temperatures!  Of course, they went to the wayside quickly!  I wonder what the remainder of Winter 2014 will bring?

Drip, Drip ... Drop

A quick snap just before I headed off with the boys to their hockey practice.  Any day in January that includes snow melting off my roof and the formation of icicles is a good winter day in my books!  Let's hope these mild temperatures last for a few more days!

Mrs. Nutty

Meet my friendly neighbourhood 'White-breasted Nuthatch' (Sitta carolinensis).  Trying to take photos of her is like trying to catch a missile in a spider's web!!!  Although not the best, I did manage to capture her in true 'Nutty' Nuthatch form ... UPSIDE DOWN!  Yes, Nuthatches forage upside down!

Quiet Time

It doesn't seem like it happens very often around here but yes, once in awhile I can actually catch somebody enjoying their own 'me time' and taking in a good book!  

Finito!

The Chinook wind blew and the temperatures soared to +3C!  A perfect day to finish off the final touches of the Boys Igloo!  We worked until dark again but the entry way is complete!  We have some serious budding Igloo Architects on hand!

Let it snow and let it blow ... this igloo isn't going anywhere until the Spring!  The Boys will have many more winter days of fun!

Snap!

Nothing fancy, just a quick snapshot as we drove the boys to their Friday night hockey game.  Have a great weekend everyone!

The BackUp

My intentions were not to share yet another porcupine image with you.  However, the grand hopes for an Aurora display sadly fizzled to the wayside!  Boo Hoo!  So ... "Mama Porcupine" it is!  She is often out eating when I am feeding the cows and yes, I do find her to be rather intriguing!

Winter Waves

As you scan this old prairie, the wind has certainly sculpted the landscape into a rough, choppy sea of white waves!  

Ho Hum ...

It was one of those 'blah,' flat-light, grey winter days, in which it felt colder than it actually was!  Feeling a bit uninspired by the landscape, I couldn't resist another 'porcupine' capture!  At least he was out and about trying to enjoy the day!  

Winter in the Hay Field

A quick snapshot while choring late this afternoon.  Happy Monday Everyone!

Lip Smacking Good

Enjoying their grub on a sunny BUT cold afternoon!  

Sifting ...

Brew me a cup for a winter's night.
For the wind howls loud, and the furies fight...
~Minna Thomas Antrim

The calm before the storm OR in this case the 'breeze before the gale force winds!'  As the sun dove behind the horizon and the temperature reached to anchor itself around the mid -20's, the snow was beginning to drift and sift across this prairie land.

Rounding the Corner

With the temperatures set to plummet once again, the girls rounded the corner of the stubble field and headed back to the corral!   These roller coaster temperatures (-2C one moment and -25C ... make that -36C including the windchill, the next) do not impressive people nor critters!  

Snow Depth

Hmm ... judging by the girls, the snow is getting DEEP!  The boys think the hounds need snowshoes as well!  LOL!

Blasting in the New Year

Thanks to Uncle D and Auntie J ... the boys were able to 'BLAST' in the new year with not only their old rockets but with new ones as well!  This is their 3rd year of launching rockets on New Year's Day to celebrate new beginnings!  

The boys and their Dad put on a 'blasted' good show for the neighbours and myself!  We hope you had a great day with family and friends celebrating the New Year!  Cheers!