A snowy day off

Today's slate of fun events got postponed due to the snow and that's ok. We ended up reading at our favourite cafe (today's photo), eating amazing soup, and then seeing two (one and two, scroll down on the second one) very interesting exhibits at the AGW. I have lots of snowy scenes from today on Flickr but liked the warmth and serenity of this one. On a sort of related note, there is an interesting article from today's Globe and Mail (which is, by the way, featured in the lower left corner of the photo) about ventures like this photo a day blog.

Old Tulips

I bought these cut tulips two weeks ago. They're still hanging on and I think show a different kind of beauty every day. Sometimes we throw things away too fast.

Today's walk by the river

It's been snowy and icy here too. The springy melting sounds have vanished and the banks are thick with ice (more photos on flickr). There are, however, signs of spring in the dozens and dozens of canvasback ducks floating two by two down the river.   If you look closely, you can see them in the middle of the photo.

Icy Stairs

The temperature has been swinging between -15 and +5 C recently so you have to watch your step out there. I hope the birds are okay-yesterday there seemed to be cardinals and crows and sparrows and jays in every tree.

10 cms and still snowing

Before starting work this morning, I dashed out in this snow for a quick photo-snapping stroll.

ARTSCRUSHING

Found or maybe lost art.

Taking a break from theory

After a morning of reading theory, I escaped for a brief walk along the river. I took a number of photos (the rest will be on flickr soon).

Taking a break from theory: the movie

I was intrigued with the sound and movement of the water and ice and took a couple of short movies. I also wondered if it's possible to post a video from my camera so here's a test. Not exactly cinema but...

Tree(s)

Is this one tree or four?

Coffee with Alec

It was great to have coffee with Alec yesterday. Here is a coffee with Alec (well, his sleeve).

Hammurabi and the Other Fellers

Hammurabi, Solon and Moses appear relieved to have found a home at the Faculty of Law.

Bulbs in my house

Eternally hopeful, I was peeking beneath the snow a few days ago to see if my outdoor crocuses were inspired to venture out of the soil. Alas, they're wisely snuggled below the earth still. But here are my indoor crocuses featured twice before on this site and also, because I can't resist, a photo of the planter of bulbs sent by D's department on Wednesday night. We received them after a long, cold day. We both stood and silently marveled at them sitting on our kitchen counter, grateful for their springy loveliness and the kind thoughts behind them.

Batteries

Hmm. What are the odds that 3 sets of rechargeable batteries all fail to hold a charge at the same time? I am newly re-batteried and back at the photo-a-day challenge.

St. Martin of Tours

One of the many striking churches in the neighbourhood, St. Martin of Tours bears this depiction of the soldier/ saint (feast day November 11, is this a coincindence?). I was absurdly pleased to learn that this is the same Martin after whom the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields takes its name and that I hear so often on CBC radio: 'The Academy was so named after the various concert-giving societies or 'Academies' that had flourished in 18th century London and the famous church in which it gave its first concert on 13 November 1959.'

Forethought last August

I picked this lavender last August. It was warm and the sun was setting; I'd been weeding for a few hours and had just put all my tools away. Everything looked tidy and loved. I picked a few springs to dry for a February day when spring would seem light years away and I'd need a reminder of warmth and green.

It was rainy

so the camera stayed home on my various soggy outings. Here is my favourite coffee mug filled with its warm caffeine-y goodness.

London Normal School

The London Normal School just down the street is a magnificent old building that is currently being restored.

Crocus: who needs not a caption

Waiting

This faithful friend watched every single person going in and out of the Valu-Mart, until his beloved finally emerged.

Back at the DIA

Yesterday was the end of our first week back and we ended it with one of our favourite evenings: dinner and the DIA. I've missed the DIA so much I could have hugged it. It was serene and quiet and dark when we left. I liked the lines of the trees and white of the snow and then the hustle of the traffic behind.

Nice House

A lovely little house with real shutters, I think.

Village Books

A small bookshop with a pretty good selection. I'll be reading Anna Karenina soon.

Lollypop.

Lollypop. Oh lolly lolly lolly.

Crocus, Snow, Sun

Crocuses, to me, are the true harbingers of spring. Even though these are bulbs forced indoors, I'll take them as an omen. Here they are in my office: note the new snow outside, the sun and the wrappings that say "Breath of Spring."

How I pace

Winter hit Windsor the week before I left. Then I had two extremely cold weeks in Alberta and now it's hit us here in Windsor again (is it me?). It's been a long time since I've been cold for 4 weeks. Yesterday I spent 30 minutes waiting for my bus and I was the only person waiting outside. The 30 minutes of silent solitude was exactly what I needed and I enjoyed the cold. It made me feel alive and awake. I didn't realize until I saw my footprints in the new snow that I apparently pace in garland shaped loops.

Rose Cyclamen

While away I realized that I'd not brought a decent pen with me. I'm a firm believer that any task is better with a good pen and many a project has been revitalized through the purchase of a new pen. Now that I'm home I brought out my favourite ink. I'm not sure if I like the colour (Rose Cyclamen) or the bottle best. It is made by J. Herbin, a Paris ink company founded in 1670. I've been looking at the other colours today onlne and am in love with the names and the colours. I think I may try to procure a bottle of "Lie de Thé" soon.

14 days: 14 photos

I've just come back from attending a family emergency in Alberta. The days became a blur, especially with the extreme winter weather we were experiencing. I did take a number of photos and I offer you 14 of them for the 14 days I was away.

Photo 14: Home

Is it possible to miss one's coffee maker? I sure missed mine. Before the bad weather rolled in today, I ventured out for oranges, cheese, milk and bread. I came back with some flowers too.

Photo 13: Prairies of Alberta from Behind Glass

Over the past two weeks, the cold reminded me of what I don't miss about Alberta. Our drive to Camrose on Wednesday reminded me of what I miss acutely.

Photo 12: Prairies of Alberta from Behind Glass

Corb Lund's lyrics ran through my head most of this week
The prairies of Alberta, they ain't never hearda
The things that are keepin' you down
And the short native grasses don't care that the ashes
Of your dreams match their dry shade of brown

Photo 11: Coffee House as Brigadoon?

It's been a very rough few weeks and I was grateful we'd stumbled into this beautiful coffee house in Camrose. It was like Brigadoon. When I came in to buy my second fair trade coffee in less than two hours, the man working there laughed and said "Back again?" He had no idea how much an hour in his warm coffee house did for us.

Photo 10: Prairies of Alberta from Behind Glass

Photo 9: Prairies of Alberta from Behind Glass

This is my favourite section of the drive between Edmonton and Wainwright. I thought it was particularly lovely with the snow and blue sky.

Photo 8: Two Questions Answered

On the morning this photo was taken, two questions were answered for me. One from the night before: "Gee, where did I put that can of Coke?" Apparently I'd left it in the car overnight. The other, a general science type question: "I wonder what happens to a can of Coke left in a car overnight in -40 temperatures?" The attached image is your answer. For the record, it took about 3 hours for it to thaw into a slurpee like consistency.

Photo 7: Plugging in one's car

It's been a while since I've lived in a place where it's so cold you need to plug your car in. It's also been a while since I've lived in a place where people know what you're talking about when you talk about "plugging in your car." I'd also forgotten how many parking lots (like this one at the hospital) have outlets so that you can plug your car in. Once I thawed out, I felt a certain nostalgia for cold days of yore though perhaps it was hypothermia.

Photo 6: Icefog on the Highway

This was one of the -40 days.

Photo 5: Prairies of Alberta from Behind Glass

Welcome to Wainwright indeed. Taken from the car while waiting in the line at the Tim's drive through.

Photos 4 and 3: Two Views of a Drinking Cup

D's family was going through a number of boxes. I was fascinated by this drinking cup that D's mum or dad took with them to school. It collapses into a disk about an inch high. This is a top view and a side view when it's expanded.

Photo 2: Prairies of Alberta from Behind Glass

A neighbour clears a driveway with a bobcat.

Photo 1: Prairies of Somewhere from Behind Glass

The view from my flight west was magical with all the blue sky and white snow.

The View From Home Plate in Winter

There's a baseball diamond in London's Thames Park, just past the swimming pool. It looks like a nice place for a game, with the river nearby. This is just as the sun was going down behind those houses on the hill, so I wonder if the sun is in the batter's eyes during evening games? Depends on the time I suppose. H&D would know for sure.

Cardinal

It's always life affirming to see these beautiful birds, the Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis. Apparently both males and females sing, a lovely sound. It was a nice moment taking this blurry image: a big group of students stopped so I could take the picture, then smiled and walked on.