Easter Ice Storm

We had an ice storm last week that left the region in its grip for almost three days. Some homes were without power for longer than that, but most of us were barely inconvenienced. On market Saturday, we drove north of the city and admired the trees shrouded in ice along the Conestoga River. By mid-afternoon, the sun finally broke through and temperatures rose above freezing. Rainbow crystals loosened and then fell from the branches in a euphony of shattered ice. By evening spring had overtaken winter once again.

I have a few movies I like to watch during the Easter season. One of them is the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005). Winter retreats when Aslan arrives and, standing at the fast flowing river with the ice cracking around me, I felt I was in the story.

The birds and the sun assure me that spring is here and another season of life begins. 

Cold as Ice

Ice buildup at Webster's Falls, Hamilton, Ontario

A strong high pressure Arctic air mass pushed down from the north this weekend protecting us from the bad snow storms south and east of the Great Lakes. Along with very cold temperatures, we enjoyed bright sunshine and clear skies. We have so little snow that winter boots are not necessary in the city but they are needed for warmth if you are outdoors for any length of time. I bundled up in several layers of clothes and actually went to a store to buy a warm winter hat this weekend. Hats are not my favourite accessory and I usually manage with just the hood of a jacket if the wind bothers my ears. But this cold demands some extra precaution.

Webster's Falls

The Niagara Escarpment winds its way around the Niagara peninsula, through Hamilton and Milton and north through Orangeville up to Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron. We are in easy driving distance of many sections of the escarpment. Many creeks drop over the limestone cliffs creating picturesque waterfalls. Niagara Falls is the most famous escarpment cascade, but there are many others worth visiting. I heard about the ice formations at Tiffany Falls in Ancaster near Hamilton and set out to visit it on Saturday. It is the only area waterfall where ice climbing is permitted. The falls are about half a kilometer in from the road and I made it two thirds of the way before sheer thick ice on the trail slopes made me turn back. I watched three people in a row fall hard while trying to walk on the ice. I did see one climber on the ice as he made his way up the falls.

Ice Climbing at Tiffany Falls, Ancaster Ontario

The Dundas Peaks have several spectacular waterfalls and the Bruce Trail allows safe viewing access. Webster Creek falls 30 metres over the escarpment and nearby Tews Falls drops 41 metres into the Spencer Gorge. The trails were easy to walk because of the lack of snow yet the cold air turned the spray from the falls into interesting ice shapes.

Deer along the Bruce Trail

The Escarpment is home to many wild animals yet the urban sprawl of Southern Ontario is encroaching on it in many places. Iroquioa Heights Conservation Area is bordered by new housing developments, an expressway and big box stores. The deer population has grown and the animals have no place to go outside the park. They have become used to human contact and look for handouts of food from people who use the trails. I came across three deer and expected them to run as I approached. Instead, they came toward me expectantly but I had nothing to offer them except sunflower seeds. While this was a interesting experience for me, it is not a good situation for the deer.


I like old cemeteries and the plot of the Webster family is near the falls of the same name. Old epitaphs were often written as moral lessons and warnings to the living and George's tombstone is a good example. He was a young man when he died but he is not forgotten as his grave is viewed by all who walk this section of the Bruce Trail.

Come near my friends and cast an eye
Then go your way prepare to die;
Learn here your doom and know you must
One day like me be turned to dust...

...or on this winter day, be turned to ice!

MY WORLD TUESDAY

Summer is Here!

Summer is officially here. Yesterday was a day of celebration in our community;- summer solstice, Fathers' Day, National Aboriginal Day and the city's annual Multicultural Festival. The temperature outside reached 80F (27C) for the first time this year and high humidity made it seem even warmer. Canadians consider this hot weather but many of the people at the festival have come from countries where 80F would be considered a cool day. We visited the various booths set up in a large, sunny field and joined a long lineup for a drink of icy cold, fresh lemonade.


These ladies, originally from Turkey, had an efficient assembly line going as they filled large cups with ice, syrup, freshly squeezed lemon and fresh berries. We sat in the shade and sipped our drinks as we watched the festivities around us. It seemed like representatives from the entire globe had dropped in for the party as people in colourful ethnic dress moved in the crowds.


This lovely young woman from Kenya was a story teller and shared some of the oral traditions of her culture. Tales of children and elders, life and death, animals and nature were narrated in a musical tone and rhythm that is so African. This section of the festival was called "Latitudes" and stories from many countries were shared with young and old alike under the trees. Story telling is no longer significant in our culture but it was very popular with the audience who applauded the participants warmly.

After a rest it was time to go back into the sun and check out the good food that was being served.


Greek gyros made a perfect hand held meal and for a couple dollars more, you could get a container of delicious Loukoumades, Greek honey dumplings for dessert. These are the Greek answer to Timbits and they were warm and delicious. If you wanted something even sweeter, you could try various types of baklava or some hand churned ice cream.

Summer is the season for parks and festivals and outdoor fun, not a season to be locked in air conditioned rooms. Of course I say that from a Canadian perspective where hot weather isn't all that hot and unpleasant.

Click here for more My World posts from around the globe.

Old Man Winter Says Goodbye

One of our daughters arrived in Canada last week for a visit. She now lives in Mexico and as I drove her home from the airport she was disappointed that there was no snow. I pointed out a ski hill that still had some snow on its slopes even though there was not enough of it for skiing. After all, this was the first of April. But April Showers sometimes partner with the cold North Wind to produce Spring Snow.

And this is the end result;-plenty of heavy wet, "snowman" snow. At least it doesn't last very long. I have seen snow here in late April and even into May.


We had to travel to Toronto to complete some business today and the winter driving was not much fun. Toronto had rain rather than snow and the CN tower was shrouded in grey clouds. The trip was successful and we drove 100 km home into snow and cold winds blowing off Lake Huron.

Now it is time to shovel, make that final snowman and say goodbye to Old Man Winter for good!

Click here to see more My World posts from around the globe.

Farms and Barns in Mennonite Country

My husband and I drove north of the city on Saturday to get maple syrup from a local farm and to buy some fresh citrus fruit that had just been trucked from Florida to the Orange Barn in Millbank. From Elmira to Millbank is Old Order Mennonite country and travelling the roads is a trip back in time in many ways. Wide shoulders along the highways are for horse and buggy travellers and they are frequently seen. Tidy mixed farms with large farmhouses and gardens feature colourful barns and outbuildings that brighten the dull March landscape.

Several farmers were spreading manure on their fields with horse drawn spreaders and curls of smoke from sugar shacks could be seen rising from many woodlots. We had hoped to see some maple sap collected but the temperatures were well below freezing in the morning so not much was running today. School aged children wrapped in blankets sat at the end of laneways beside small tables which displayed maple syrup, maple candies and maple butter for sale.

Earlier this week a fire destroyed a furniture business on an Old Order Mennonite farm in this area. No one was injured and no livestock was lost, but damage was estimated at $150, 000 dollars.

Pictures and text from The Record

These pictures were in our local newspaper and the destruction of the building was complete. The Mennonite community moves quickly to help a neighbour rebuild after such a loss. We passed the farm and dozens of buggies were parked at farms on both sides of the road.

A large new foundation had been dug and the new building was well under construction only two days after the fire. Some motorized construction equipment had been hired for the excavation. We were there just before noon and the men were taking a break for lunch which was being served at the farm across the road. I hope to go back early in the week to see what progress has been made.

The Mennonites have a strong social network with support and provision for members in the event of illness or other loss. They will also come along side neighbours who are not of their faith who have had a barn fire and rebuild for them in the same way. Many of them do not enrol in our public health care system and if hospitalization is needed, the $1000 and day bill is covered by their community.

There are many other generous people in our world who are quick to help out when they hear of a need. But it is easier to give money than to leave your own work at a busy time of year to help a neighbour. With these Mennonites, many hands finish the job quickly and everyone is back to their own business in record time.

Follow this link for more My World posts from around the globe.

March Musings

March is such a messy month with melting snow, mud, mist and muted monotone landscapes. Local trails look less than inviting at first glance but are worth exploring as little changes can be seen every day.

This Saturday the first male Red-winged Blackbirds were heard and seen in nearby swamps. Local birding lines reported several sightings as people noted with pleasure the first of our returning spring birds. By next week we should see Robins in the neighbourhood.

Our year round birds are singing a different tune as they mark their territories and begin the nesting season. Male Cardinals whistle from treetops and perch conspicuously in posts and branches. The pouring rain did not deter this bird in the least.

A pair of White-breasted Nuthatches circled a tree trunk rapidly then darted about in an aerial dance.

And here is my first chipmunk sighting of the spring season. Our squirrels have been out on all but the very coldest days, but these cute little rodents have been in hiding since last November.

March... a mixed month where we have spring one day and winter again the next. Here's hoping that Mother Nature's teasing will soon be over and spring decides to stay.

Follow this link for more My World posts from around the globe.

March Transitions

"If March comes in like a lion it will go out like a lamb", so the old saying goes. Last year we had a big snowstorm on March 1st so the lion qualities of the day were unmistakable. A lion is fierce, strong, and can be frightening, and some of what I saw around here yesterday fit that description.

The temperatures were frigid and a strong wind blew out of the northwest. The windchill values ranged from -12 to -27 C yesterday even though the temperatures under the sun were -5 to -18 C. The Horned Larks were pecking in gravel on the sunny side of the road while the other shady side of the road still had snowbanks. Horned Larks are everywhere in the country right now but are journeying north to nest.

Another winter bird, the Rough-legged Hawk was hunting over recently exposed fields north of the city. Near Hawkesville ON we saw at least three pair of these Arctic hawks who have over wintered in the area. Like the Bald Eagles and Snowy Owls, these raptors will be headed much farther north by the middle of the month.

The legs of these large hawks are feathered all the way to their toes. Along the roadside, two of them hunted from hydro poles and I crept along the shoulder in the car to try and get a picture. As soon as I got near, they would fly to the next pole. I didn't want to aggravate them in their hunt for food so settled for one mediocre picture.

The March rivers are fearsome and the flood plains are littered with large pieces of ice as the waters broke through during a spell of mild, rainy days last week.

Near the hospital, the trails are inaccessible and huge chunks of ice have toppled signs and trail head markers.

I have not seen this much ice debris here for a long time. Many large old trees along the river here have been splintered and toppled like matchsticks by the ice.


The March lion is definitely on the prowl!

Follow this link for more My World posts from around the globe.

Winter Has My Permission to Leave

"Why, what's the matter,
That you have such a February face,
So full of frost, of storm and cloudiness?"
William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing

It is less than one month until the vernal equinox and the first day of spring. Winter started in earnest around the middle of November and we have endured three full months of its icy grip. Another February storm came our way yesterday and the northeastern part of the continent is now bracing for a very large snowfall.


Many of our worst storms come at the end of the winter season but we know the snows will not last forever. We were wondering if we could teach Dakota how to push the snow shovel, but he did not show the least bit of interest in this type of work. I think he would have been a perfect sled dog with his thick coat and love of the snow.


Walking along a trail just before the snow started to fall, I noticed that colour is beginning to appear in the bush as the sun gets stronger. The dogwood branches are red, the willows are becoming more yellow and the evergreens stand out against the blue sky.

Maple sap being cooked down to syrup at Winterlude

It will soon be time to enjoy the first crop of the spring season as sap starts to run in the sugar maple trees. Mild sunny days and cold nights are needed for a good harvest. Soon we will notice curls of smoke rising from sugar shacks on local farms and the time will come to look for the first pussy willows.

"If we had no winter,
the spring would not be so pleasant."
Anne Bradstreet

Follow this link for more My World posts from around the globe.

January Horse Auction

In the last post I wrote about our winter visit to the St. Jacob's Market, the largest year round farmers market in our region. The Ontario Stockyards are located on the premises and livestock are auctioned here several times a week. On the last Saturday of the month, a horse auction is held and many Old Order Mennonites are in attendance. In September I posted pictures here of the horse auction when the market was at its autumn peak and appeared far more colourful.


On this cold, grey day, the men were gathered to try out horses that were for sale. Mennonite children attend parochial schools until grade eight and can legally leave the educational system after this to work on the farm. One high school in the area does offer courses related to farm management for OOM teenagers, but relatively few take advantage of it. The teenaged boys are included with the men just as they were in general society a few generations ago. You are a child or you are an adult in this world.


The mini "chariot" was hitched to a number of horses and taken through the parking lot for a test drive. It was a test of the horse and not the cart and I saw the same pleasure in the men's faces as one would see when a man takes a sports car out for a drive.


This past month, a large Walmart store opened next to the market. To me, this seemed like an inappropriate intrusion in the rural atmosphere, but the OOMs were enjoying the store very much. In the picture above you can see the new covered parking space for the OOM buggies.


I seldom see a horse and buggy in the city any more as the traffic has become heavier. These people will take an intercity bus for essential visits to town. But this modern retailer is situated at the city limits and is set to attract these people who undoubtedly like a bargain as much as the rest of us.

Follow this link for more My World posts from around the globe.

Winter Camping Anyone?

Guelph Lake Conservation Area is a popular camping spot between May and October and is now closed for the season. The grounds are accessible though and you are welcome to sit on the bench overlooking the frozen lake. At the nature centre, three shelters are set up for the students who come here on field trips.


I posted a picture of this snow house last week, but recent snowfalls have made the walls thicker and the entrance smaller.


Behind a cedar hedge is a tent, a straw shelter and a protected fire pit. The students are asked which would be warmest in the winter;- the snow, straw or nylon tent. They are permitted to climb in and out of them in order to make a decision about the preferable accommodation.


If you were to try winter camping you could also go ice fishing on the lake. These brightly clothed fishers were trying their luck in the cold without the benefit of an ice hut or propane heater. No one here has to fish for survival or live in a small outdoor shelter. But it does make me think of the effort it took to survive our winters in centuries past.


The birds liked the straw hut best and when I approached it a number of them flew away from its surface. Seeds (or insects) were likely present in the bales of hay. I also am amazed at their ability to survive cold days and long, colder nights for so many months of winter.

Winter camping is not for me, but I do know what material to choose for a shelter if I was forced to spend a night in the cold. Which would you choose?

Postscript... The best insulated shelter is made of....STRAW! Next is the ice house and then the tent. But if you had that sub-zero rated sleeping bag, you could stay in any of them safely. I would knock on the door of the house next door that has central heating. :-)
Follow this link for more My World posts from around the world

Snow Angels

We have had a lot of new snow this month. Only one storm brought excellent packing snow which is heavy to shovel but is necessary for building snowmen and snow forts. With very cold temperatures, the snow becomes lighter and blows around easily in the wind. This is the kind of snow that prompts some people to throw themselves backwards on the ground and move their arms and legs to make a snow angel.

I don't know what prompted the first person to make a snow angel but wonder if mammals have some inborn biological urge to roll around in the snow. We were out in Old Order Mennonite country on the weekend looking for the Snowy Owl and came across this farm where several big horses were in a field near the road.

On a side note, I found the house itself very interesting as three very different structures were attached together making a large, likely multi-generational family residence. There was no electricity to the houses or the barn.

All five horses were romping in the fresh snow and one by one they dropped down to roll in the icy flakes. It was very comical to see these big animals on their backs kicking their legs in the air for the apparent fun of it. Soon they were all covered in white except for their eyes as they continued to run around and play.


Our dog acts the same way. He loves fresh snow and rolls in it over and over again. The Becka took this 15 second video clip of Dakota in the snow on the deck. He left his imprint all over the place and whether it looks like a dog angel or not is up to the imagination. All I know for sure is that snow makes this old dog act like a young pup.

Do you know why animals act this way?

Thank you for stopping by to read about some animals in My World. Follow this link for more posts from around the globe.