New year’s eve has come and gone. Cameron had a gig at the Casino in a faux cave or fabricated grotto. Most of the packed house was bent over, back to the boys, umbilical chord stuck into the machine (that chord that has to be slid into the machine) and unaware of the music. Neville Bowman on keyboards sang beautifully, Cameron delivered some complex, unexpected and interesting solos and Scott Gamble (appropriate name) was delivering like it was an enwraptured house.

The snow retains its shape as it falls off

After a really fun dinner party, I ambled over to the Casino to listen for a few numbers then headed home.

We awoke to a blizzard of sorts. It was a blizzard of those large, fluffy  musical comedy flakes. The air was soft and our cars were under there somewhere. We began another day of shoveling to find the sidewalk, the vehicles, the front steps. I like the opportunity to get out of the house and interact or connect with the neighbours. Sometimes my neighbour Sara shovels my walk, sometimes I shovel hers or my other two nearby neighbours. Even if we don’t see one another on that particular day, it gives me a chance to think about them and feel like I am contributing. I like that.

beautiful yellow shovel awaits

What I am really enjoying about this winter is the images that I am getting. Great photographic opportunities in this brilliant winter. We are also getting to work out as we shovel for two hours a day.

I love the way colors pop out of the snow. Things I usually do not see such as the color of the plastic protecting the wires on trees, the color of shards of dead leaves, rose hips, rowan berries. Beautiful, intense and bold pieces of color seem to be climbing out of the snow where the wind has brushed it away.

The kids play ground abandoned, the car stuck

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And that finally is the ugly part. Even if the car is stuck, even if that day it is better not to go out, I resist the urge to ask for things to be different. If it is too hot, too wet, too cold, too dry, too windy then now is never good enough. I am practicing thinking that now has just the right weather front. What ever is happening outside, okay dokay.

So I just look at -35 % in Calgary and find my bright yellow shovel and do except the gift of snow. The only ugly thing I have seen is my own scowl in the mirror when I decide to be angry about the weather. Scary face!!

The only thing that ever seems to be the same is when people continually say, “this is such unusual weather.” I have heard that comment a thousand times throughout the seasons. Maybe we need to do what we can for our world. But I also want to enjoy it on this stunningly beautiful new year’s day. Happy new year, everyone.

Even the broken stubs of limbs show in the snow

The snow flakes are so thick and large they look like mist

shapes and the sense of distance are emphasized

during blizzard in the park