Ambling Ramblings #4: Patches of Sunshine

I have discovered the great pleasure that comes from curling up in a patch of sunshine on a comfortable bed, surrounded by a pile of blankets and pillows with a good book and a journal full of empty pages simply waiting to be written on. After Church yesterday it was time for a nap for everyone and my bed just so happens to fall in a patch of sunshine in the early afternoon so I curled up in it and read most of a historical fiction novel entitled 'To Have and To Hold' (which I would highly recommend as a novel well worth reading). 2 hours passed most pleasurably although my back had a few kinks in it from being curled up for so long!
There are many little footprints and other strange markings in the snow this morning from the squirrels who have been scampering about looking for food and chasing each other up and down the tree outside the kitchen window. It will definitely be a shock to the system to return to summertime weather on the other side of the world after becoming quite acclimatised to the snow and freezing weather. It can sometimes be deceiving to look out the window at the sun shining brightly but then realize that it is below freezing outside!

Ambling Ramblings #3-A Winter Wonderland

A breezy, snowy morning makes me very grateful for central heating, warm socks and the jumper (sweater) that Mum knitted for me!
The last 2 weeks have whizzed by, but have been full of fun and excitement. Being a part of a dear friend's wedding was a delightful experience and I loved every crazy minute of the preparation! The wedding was beautiful and it was 'warm' enough for us to get some photos outside.
My 'little brothers' in Michigan (I love having 'family' on all sides of the globe) have taken me out shooting in an effort to 'toughen' me up in preparation for a teaching career! I discovered that whilst I cannot shut one eye in order to aim, I can turn my left eye 'off' so that I can just focus through my right eye and hit 10/10 targets first try! Each day has been very busy (thus I haven't posted in a while) although I'm not sure what I've been busy doing!! I'm now a little bit further south than I was with more 'family' and having a marvelous time with old friends and meeting some new ones-I love being 'Auntie Naomi'!
I love how snow sits in the leaves of the bushes outside the window and fills the clefts in the tree branches. I saw 2 squirrels out the window yesterday as I was washing dishes :) They were scampering up and down a tree and chasing each other around in circles with their big busy tails swishing from side to side. I've also seen 2 deer, but not much other wildlife-I think it's all hibernating,which seems like an advisable thing to do-I may go and curl up with a book for a while and defrost my toes!

Ambling Ramblings #2 Extended: More things that I have learned about Canada and Canadians

I am continually learning and observing new and interesting things about this country to add to my list. Here is a continuation of the list from my previous post:
#7. In Alberta, Petrol is 102.9 cents per litre (which equates to almost the same thing in Australian dollars-Queenslanders, uproot and move to Alberta for cheaper fuel!!)
#8. Houses are very close together (I think it makes them feel warmer in the cold winters!)
#9. Because you can never have enough snow, they make fake snow for the ski and snowboarding runs
#10. At Christmas time, it is more common to attend a Christmas Eve service than a Christmas Day service.
#11. The Rocky Mountains are beautiful....at the moment they are snow-capped and absolutely stunning as they 'glow' in the sun
#12. Traffic lights are horizontal instead of vertical and the turning arrows flash
#13. Pedestrian crossings have a button that you push and a yellow light flashes signalling that you can cross (I was so confused to know when to cross the first time!)
#14. Tax is added onto purchases at the point of sale and not included in the price (and my poor brain cannot cope with all of the mental calculations!!)
#15. Ice and snow make the roads slippery which means that when you approach a 'stop' sign and brake, the car keeps moving forwards as it slides on the ice
#15. The food never ends at Christmas time-it just keeps coming! Starting with fruit bread for breakfast with cinnamon rolls, then on to mince tarts (fruit mince, so the fact that I have eaten one doesn't nullify my vegetarianism!), shortbread, nanaimo bars (a very Canadian slice), brownies, cookies and all manner of other goodies, moving directly into lunch, then back to the Christmas goodies, and then on to supper (dinner) consisting of turkey, cranberry sauce, potatoes, turnips, carrots, gravy, salad, corn and more (I think the table was groaning!) and then we return to the Christmas baked goodies with only enough time between meals to wash the dishes and boil the kettle for tea!.