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“Good Morning Folks!” You know you’re in Northern Ontario when the snowplow wakes you up before your alarm does…and it’s still dark at 7:00 AM.
Well, it’s another brisk morning here in the north, with the mercury sitting’ at a nippy -8.68°F (-22.6°C). It’s the kind of cold that makes a fella think twice…maybe even three times…before throwing’ off the covers and facing the day. And for the record, I’ve always liked Fahrenheit better…gives a feller a real sense of just how cold it is.
Today: Sun’s peeking’ out here and there, but don’t let it fool ya…it’s staying’ cold. High of 8°F (-13°C), but with that wind, it’ll feel a fair bit colder. Best to keep the long johns handy.
Tonight: Clear skies, but that just means the cold digs in deeper. Temps dropping’ to -7°F (-21°C), and if the wind gets to whistling’, you’ll know it. Might be a good night to toss an extra log on the fire.
Tomorrow: A smidge warmer, if you can call it that. High of 15°F (-9°C), but don’t expect a heatwave. The sun will be out, but that just means it’s bright enough to see how much snow still needs shoveling’.
Bundle up and keep that coffee strong, as winter ain’t letting’ go just yet.
Highway 522…well, I am beginning to see a bit of pavement showing through here and there, but there are still plenty of snow-covered spots hanging on, not quite ready to give up. That is pretty much the norm for this time of year, especially with the cold temperatures we have been having.
As for the folks around here, well they are handling it in true northern fashion. Some are out early, shoveling with a coffee in one hand and a snow shovel in the other, while others are standing at the end of their driveways, staring at the snow like it might just move on its own. And then there are those who figure if they wait long enough, a good strong wind or a kindhearted neighbor with a plow might just save them the trouble. That’s what I call smart thinking, doesn’t happen all that often though.
On another note, yesterday my wife and I had a busy morning cleaning up the snow from the day before. And let me tell you, it wasn’t the light, fluffy kind that you can just brush away with ease. No, this stuff was heavy. The reason being, the snow that fell came down in tiny flakes, and when those little fellas pack together, they turn into something as stubborn as a pile of wet sand. At least, that’s how it felt to us two old timers.
But no matter, we managed to get ‘er done. We finished up just before noon, and I have to say, by that time, we were more than ready for a hot cup of cocoa. Truth be told, we had that, then lunch, and then figured, why stop there? So we enjoyed a couple more cups of coffee for good measure. Some might call that a bit much, but hey!… We figured we earned it.
I also managed to spend the afternoon working on the flutes I’ve got on the go. Not a bad day, all things considered. Had a few bumps along the way, but after all these years, I’ve learned you gotta take the good with the bad and keep on movin’. And that’s exactly what I did…just kept at it, knowing some days you win, and some days you learn.
This Morning, after breakfast…thanks to my lovely wife, of course…I’ll head on out to the old woodworking shop and carry on with the day’s work. It’s a cold one, but with the stove in the shop cranked up and doing its thing, well, what could be better than that? Not much, if you ask me. There’s just something about that warm stove, the smell of fresh wood, and the sound of the tools that just makes a feller feel right at home.
You all have a great day!!
Until next time—keep your minds open and your stories alive! GW