When you live in the Great White North, you never know what Mother Nature may throw your way. Case in point, Mother Nature and my home town of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
Two weeks ago, Thunder Bay received above seasonal temperatures. There were a few days in a row where the city reached temperatures as high as seventeen degrees Celsius (the average high temperature for this time of year is approximately minus two degrees Celsius). Most of our snow had melted, with only occasional dirty patches remaining in the shadows. Off came the warm bulky winter parkas and uncomfortable winter boots, replaced by light jackets or even t-shirts and comfortable running shoes. Birds were singing. A friend of mine had already spotted a robin. A few other people had already spotted some Canadian geese returning from their winter migration. Tulips in my front yard (which faces the south) were starting to pop up. People were venturing outside for some much needed vitamin D. Life was good, and warm. All that changed a few days later when weather reports began surfacing, warning Thunder Bay residents that a storm was developing in the United States and heading north, with our city right in the middle of it’s path. As luck would have it, for once the weather forecasters were right.
On Tuesday, March 15, 2016, temperatures started to drop below zero degrees Celsius, and by evening, it started to snow, and snow, and snow some more. All through the night the white stuff came down, heavy at times. By Wednesday morning, what you see is what we woke up to…a thick 35 cm blanket (more like a comforter actually) of snow. Back to the closets we went to get our warm bulky winter parkas and uncomfortable winter boots. No birds were singing this day, and not a robin or a Canadian goose was stirring. My poor tulips, well their fate remains to be seen. And vitamin D, who needs it…oh wait, I do!
I couldn’t help but think that the Stealers Wheel hit song from 1972 should’ve had the lyrics…Snow to the left of me, more snow to the right, here I am, stuck in a big pile of snow.
When I finally go to work Wednesday morning and had a chance to enjoy a delicious hot cup of coffee during my coffee break, I looked out the window and admired the view.
Even though this dump of snow was a pain in the you know what, once the shock of this winter storm had passed, along with all the profanity that went with it while we were clearing our driveways or driving to work, when one stopped and looked around, it actually looked really pretty.
Being old school, I thought to myself “I wish I had my camera”, but then I realized that I had my cell phone, so I ran outside and took some photos. I knew this winter wonderland wouldn’t last long once the winds picked up and the sun came out.
I only had a few moments to take these pictures before my coffee break was over and hypothermia set in…
and I enjoyed every minute of it.
Life in the Great White North…ya gotta love it, eh.
Beautiful photos! Stay warm up there!!