Winter and Christmas in Northern Ontario.

I'm homesick for Northern Ontario in the winter and at Christmas time. And my tummy is upset. And that makes the homesickness worse.

So today, I'm gonna show you what Northern Ontario looks like in the winter. And then I'll sit and look at the pictures wondering why I left this place in the first place, and I'll blame Stephan for dragging me out here. Not that I don't like it! It's just not...home. Plus, Northern Ontario has bass-fishing. Alberta does not. Alberta can never win. You don't know what you're missing until you've caught some bass and BBQ-ed it in foil with lemon juice, garlic, pepper and dill.......oh my gosh the deliciousness!! I die a thousand deaths with every bite, its THAT GOOD!

Anyways, I digress! Let me show you the beauty of snowy Northern Ontario. It includes things like hiking, ice fishing, and pond hockey. Be warned...there will be lots of photos. As always! (There's just too many to choose from, and I want to do it ALL today, not break it up!)

We get to play on the frozen lake

and make slides down the hill to the lake

the horses get to play too!

walking down trails, with lots of pretty views

The lake freezes over

and kids play pond hockey
and the huts come out for ice-fishing

Man, do I ever miss it!!

A letter

Dear Mother Nature,

I just love all this snow you've been dumping on this week (seriously Mother Nature, I'm NOT being sarcastic). And while I love the snow and I don't wish to complain (because I'm afraid you'll send a warm chinook wind to take the snow away), can I ask you to please please PLEASE send me some packing snow? The reasons would be two-fold:

1.) Packing snow means I could build a snowman, a snowfort, make a snowball.....that I WILL NOT throw at Stephan's head.

2.) Packing snow means kinda wet-snow, which means MOISTURE and HUMIDITY! My skin is sure taking a beating from the desert dry winters you have out here, its ridiculous. I have to moisurize 3 times a day, and my skin is STILL dry.

So, dear Mother Nature, SEND ME SOME PACKING SNOW!! Please and thank you.

-Jessica

Our first snowstorm!

Last night, it snowed! Inches of it! It snowed all today and it will continue to snow all week!!
WINTER IS FINALLY HERE!

I'm so excited! Sadly, its not packing snow so no snowman or snowangel yet. But I'm waiting, and ready! ...It may also have taken me longer to walk to work today because I was playing in the snow as I walked. Note to self, I should leave 10 minutes earlier for work tomorrow.

We knew this storm was coming, so I decided to do all my errands last night so I could stay at home tonight. WAY too many stupid drivers out there that could potentially hit my car. People forget how to drive in the snow for the first snow-storm. In fact, some people drive like they have never seen snow before. It never fails, every year. Same thing.

But boy, what a day today was! I walked to work, got inside and turned the alarm off. Then I discovered I had dropped my house keys somewhere! Either in front of the door, where I had gone to put them in my purse after locking the door, or when I had taken my cell-phone out of my purse to make a call on my way to work. I hoped it was the first situation. I had an extra set on my car keys, but sadly it didn't have a copy of my garage key (which means access to my car!!). Panicking, I called my boss and explained the situation, asking if she could come in to cover for me while I retraced my steps to look for my keys. Since I live so close by, she said I had permission to open the store late while I went to look for my keys. I never walked home and back so fast: 20 minutes and I was opening the store! And happily, I found my keys! I opened the store up about 15/20 minutes late, but easily caught up since it was quiet.

Thankfully I have such a nice boss!! I think some Swiss chocolate as a thank-you are in order!

Oh, and here are some pictures of winter I promised (I just snapped them quick from my back porch, so they are not the best):

GOOD MORNING!!

IT SNOWED!! Last night, all night...bunches and bunches of it!! FINALLY! And it's not supposed to stop. All week it is scheduled to snow, its nice and COLD outside! WOOHOO winter is here!!

I hope its packing snow...I want to make a snowman. Fingers crossed!

More updates on the snow, with pictures to follow, later today!

Happy winter everyone!! :D