Saturday December 19, 2009-Getting Out in the Cold

Well, I tried walking this morning. It took me longer to get dressed for the cold than the time I was out. There was a north wind that was bone chilling.

However later in the morning it warmed up so Gordon and I headed off to the Arboretum. The parking lot was plowed and the snow was packed down in trails from people walking there so we didn't have to slog through the snowbanks.

Pretty snowy trees in the Arboretum


Kids on toboggans and plastic having fun on the hill

Snow trail



After that we found one road that went part way into the Experimental Farm.

Red barn in the Experimental Farm



Then it was off to Hog's Back. This spot is always so pretty in any season.

Rainbow at Hogs Back Falls

Dressed for the weather

Icicles


After we got back this afternoon, I helped Nancy wrap her Christmas gifts. I don't often do that anymore so I'm out of practice. I need to learn some new techniques!

Friday December 18, 2009-Cold Weather

It was -30C (-22F) this morning. I'm thinking there's not gonna be much walking done this winter! It was a bright sunny day but that usually means it's colder than if it was a cloudy day.

After breakfast, I had some things to get and Gordon was driving so we were away before 10 a.m. We made a few stops and ended up at the Hazeldean Mall where Gordon could have coffee while I shopped. We were home around noon. There's no way I want to have to go to a store this weekend if I can avoid it!

We also stopped at Andrew Haydon Park again for some photos.

Windmill in the snow

A park scene

Mostly bare trees




This afternoon I finished the book I was reading by David Baldacci. I had stopped at the library earlier this week so I have about 6 more to read over the holidays.

Not much else new here, just cold weather and that's getting old really fast!

Thursday December 17, 2009-Merry Chirstmas to All!

Since Christmas is upon us and I wasn't in the mood to send Christmas cards this year, I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I don't think we're going to take our regular Christmas photo this year either. Our Santa hats are packed away in the RV and it's way too cold to go outside in shorts & t-shirts for a photo. Today is -20C (-4F)with a windchill of -30C (-22F) but it's bright and sunny! I wasn't even going to think about going for a walk this morning!

So my activities today consisted of reading and napping.

Gordon did go out for a drive and to take some photos but I slept through his leaving.

Today's photo is one Gordon took of the Watson's Mill in Manotick, Ontario when he was out for his afternoon drive.

Wednesday December 16, 2009-Walking on a Trail

Again, it was cold this morning and getting much colder tomorrow so no walk today.

After breakfast, we did, however drive to a little park, specifically Ravine Park not far from us and walk on the trail there for a bit. It appears that the trails within the city (they join one street to another going through green space within the city) are plowed so it makes it far easier for walking.

These mallards must have been awfully cold in this water today.

There are a couple of these little bridges along the trail going over the Upper Carp River.

Upper Carp River - I'm surprised it hasn't frozen yet. I guess the water is moving too fast.

Part of the trail

Gordon has been reading up on macular degeneration and read that carrot juice and raw kale have a lot of lutein in them so today we went in search of both and found them without much problem. I tried the raw kale and it's not bad at all. I had heard it was bitter. I loved cooked kale when I was a kid. My mother always put a cream sauce on it.

This afternoon I coloured my hair, no more roots!

Tuesday December 15, 2009-Birthday

Today is my older sister's birthday! Happy Birthday, Betty!

I had a short walk this morning. It's really hard to walk on slushy snow and they hadn't plowed the street from the snow on Sunday. They finally did that tonight. They plow the mains streets right away but residential streets are last on the list!

We had errands to run this morning. One of them was to get the signed forms and questionaire back to the Immigration lawyer.

When we were finished we stopped and got some more snow photos. You're all going to be sick of them by the time April comes. I know I'm pretty sick of snow right now!

Here are the snow photos from today





And one of the sun trying to peep through the cloud cover

Monday December 14, 2009-Eye Doctor

I didn't go for my walk again this morning as we were getting ready for the housecleaner lady to come and Gordon had an eye appointment this morning too so we got ready for that.

While Gordon was at the eye doctor I went for my walk around the neighbourhood. I'm very familiar with that area as my first condo that I bought was only a couple of blocks from where I was walking. Gordon and I used to walk all over the Cityview area when he first came to Ottawa.

One of the streets right behind the mall where the eye doctor is

Snow on the trees

Lots of snow - they didn't plow the side streets after yesterday's snow

More snow on trees


Gordon got good news and bad news at the eye doctor's. He has the beginnings of cataracts but they aren't nearly ready for an operation yet but he also has the beginning of macular degeneration. Macular degeneration runs in his family. So the eye doctor recommended he start taking Vitalux. So the bad news is that he has these problems, the good news is they've just started so hopefully the Vitalux will delay the progression. My sister, Betty also had the beginnings of macular degeneration a few years ago and the Vitalux has stopped it's progression.

After that we came home for lunch and to rest for the remainder of the day.

It was about 0C (32F) for most of the day today so it was pretty warm for this time of year.

Sunday December 13, 2009-The Christmas Tree

I didn't walk this morning even though it was warmer than usual. Just lazy!

By about 11 a.m. it had started to snow and it continued through the daylight hours. We were forecast to get 5 cm. (a little over 2 inches).

This afternoon we decorated the tree. It is a beautiful tree, nearly 9 ft tall. That took most of the afternoon. (Photo by Gordon)


We also decorated a little deer that Nancy had as well. Unfortunately my camera didn't do so well on the deer.

Sunday December 13, 2009-Making A T-shirt more Girly!

Some folks on the rv-dreams forum have been asking about how to adapt a T-shirt to make it more feminine. One of the rv-dreamers that attended a rally put on by Howard and Linda sent me these photos. Maybe some of you crafters can figure it out from the photos.



Good luck!