Flash freeze !

Yesterday we had a good dump of snow, after which the temperature rose and we received a good dump of rain.  Then we had a "flash freeze" and the temperature went from above freezing to 10 C below in short order.  This sort of weather is a bad thing if you need to get out of your driveway or travel anywhere.

This afternoon I put on my sweat jacket, my warm coat, my waterproof over-pants, my lined mitts, ear muffs and neck scarf and then fitted the "cleat grippers" over my boots, and gingerly walked Wendy and Trey up to the corner park.

It was worth the effort.

I took 155 photos.

And whittled them down to ten or so favourites.

There was a crust on the snow and I broke through a couple of times.  As I was walking I noticed that one of my "grippers" was missing.  I retraced my steps, found it, looked down and the OTHER "gripper" was gone !   Every time I'd break through the crust and take a step, one of the damn grippers would remain behind in the hole !

Every time I wanted to take a photo I had to take off my mitten.

Within minutes, the hand that was bare was freezing and screaming to be returned to its mitt.  I'd blow into the mitten to help my poor fingers defrost when I stuffed my hand back in.

Since this only happens once or twice in a Winter, I always marvel at how the ice coating changes my World into a rather magical place.

Expect delays ... and Pirates !

Maritime Race Weekend saw lots of runners in the Passage for 5k, 10k, half and full Marathon races. ...

You can't say we weren't warned.

My friend Mickie was running in the 5 k on Friday evening and her partner, Amy was going to take photos.  Did I want to meet up with them ?

"Sure", I said.  "I'll meet you near the start area."

Want to take a guess how THAT worked out ?  

After scanning a thousand or so faces, and realizing that I wouldn't be meeting up with my chums, I reconciled myself to enjoying the race on my own.

And I did.

Participants and spectators were encouraged to dress up in keeping with the Pirate theme.

I was really impressed with the costumes folk came up with. 

Family and friends came out to show support for the runners.

And ... "THEY'RE OFF !"

The setting sun cast its orange glow on the runners.

Yep.  She ran the 5 k in a "boat" !

Along the route on Shore Road, encouraging signs, cow bells and cheering watchers urged the racers on.

And what better way to celebrate the end of the race than with fireworks ?

Almost makes me want to lace up the running shoes and get out there.

I said ALMOST.

The broom outside my door ...

An old-fashioned straw broom stands outside my front door, next to the recycling containers and the bowl of dog toys.

However I don't think I'll  be using it for a few days as it has been commandeered for another purpose.

Hundreds (nay, perhaps THOUSANDS) of teeny, tiny, eensy, weensy, baby, Yellow Garden Spiders are using my broom as a nursery.

They cluster together (for warmth ? security ? comfort ? ) until some jerk human gently blows on them...

and then they scatter as fast as their microscopic legs will allow.

Some of them run an inch.  Some run as much as two or three inches, before,  like "drones" separated from the Borg collective, they feel drawn back to re-join their little cluster.

But rather than being  "Seven of nine", our little wayward drone,  might be "237 of 460",  as egg sacs can contain up to 1,200 eggs.

 I can't imagine the logistics involved in planning their family reunions !

Where the uck-fay is Spring ?

It's April 28 and I'm feeling sorry for myself.

I'm sorry that Spring really hasn't arrived yet, and sorry that I seem to be succumbing to the nasty flu that is going around.  My flu variation involves too much sleeping, foggy head, achy body parts, boredom and a couple of stir-crazy dogs.

To cheer myself I thought I would go through some older Springtime images from Aprils past and post them here.   HOWEVER, rather than cheering me, that just made me feel worse !   What I found was that this year's plant growth is two weeks behind last year's !  The forecast still is not presenting a lot to live for.  One nice day followed by many drizzly, cold, windy days.  

So instead, I'm going to show you what else I found in April 2013's photo folder -- Kittens !!!  Kittens are a sure fire cure for whatever ails you, and since they're now over a year old, this post also serves to show how "the girls" have grown.

Charlotte & Clara

I adopted Charlotte and Clara a year ago.  It was a foolish and impulsive decision.  As "rescued", abandoned kittens they needed a home.  "I have a home" I thought without really thinking.  So I brought two kittens into a home that already had two cats and three dogs !

Roswell checks out newly arrived Charlotte

Wendy and Trey being intimidated by a scary kitteh !

Roswell is a pretty casual baby sitter.

Boxed and ready to go.

Some cats are easier to box than others.

Bookends kittens keeping Roswell warm.

We're starting to call them "The Girls" rather than "The Kittens" .

Sigh ...

Clara !

Charlotte, Sooki, Wendy and Trey

Two questions:

How did I get to this age without learning how to control such impulses ? 

and

Can I change ?

"Kittehs" !

I'm a sucker for kittens.   But to be fair, who isn't ?  

All I did was offer to clean the litter boxes, and spend some time with the new kittens at the cat-rescue-lady's house down the street.  

Damned if I didn't adopt two of them.

May I introduce you to sisters,  Clara (on top) and Charlotte.

The dogs were incredulous at the new arrivals.

"Make the kittie move.  We want to go downstairs."

"Kittehs" can be scarey !

The many moods of Hartlen.

As you know, I live very close to Hartlen Point, and often walk there with the dogs.  I love that the same place is different every time I visit.

The scenery there changes not only with the seasons, but also with the time of day,

as the tides come and go.

I love how fog smooths the edges of the world and traps the scents and sounds.

Things appear so much sharper on a bright winter's day.

The ocean can change from rolling, 

   to flat, as the winds ease.

It's a special place.  

And I'm not the only one who thinks so.