Snow followed by Bitter Cold

 We got a bit of snow last month. It was so unseasonably warm all through December but then January came through!

The forest always looks so pretty in the snow.

While we were out in the windows, I checked on my old cars... 

They look beary cool in the snow.

The snow covers up a multitude of defects and makes what remains look... strangely wonderful.

It's still not super cold though... so not sure how long the snow will stick around for.

The lake isn't frozen over and not sure if that will happen this year...

But it sure is pretty in the snow!

***A Few Days Later***

OK... I spoke too soon about no cold weather!!!

A polar vortex slid down into Canada, covering Alberta, Saskatchewan and part of BC. We are on the fringes of it so it's "only" -10C with -20C windchill. Brrrrrrr...

Our green onions look a bit sad. But they should be OK... claws crossed.

We still have a bunch of beets in the ground, but the cold should just make them sweeter!

We hope... There are some that are almost as big as my head (or bigger).

Will have to pull some and see!

The nasturtiums held on for sooo long but... this cold has definitely killed them off.

Still... we had nasturtiums blooming in January...

The greenhouse says it's only -5C (which is about 20F) it looks like... 

It might be a tad warmer in here or... it might just have warmed up this afternoon.

Hope you all are keeping warm wherever you are (or were!). Brrrr...

The cold does make pretty frost crystals on the windshield!

Stuffie 2022 Winter Olympics

 Hullo!!! Soooo... you know how in his Christmas cards, Sandy was doing the snow incantation?? Well... it worked... in spades... This was taken on the morning of December 24... just a few inches on the ground but...

The flakes are falling fast and furious!

Which is perfect.... because we have a beary big announcement to make!

And the flakes kept coming... this was Christmas Day evening... Mama had already shoveled the driveway three times!

And... there we go... more snow!!!

Never question the the power of Stuffie Intentions! Let's get suited up!

First though... we are going to measure the sled... it is 15" from tip to toe... and 12" from the bottom to the top of the wood bit... Got that?? OK... let's go!

Alrightee... we are ready...

Ooohhh... ahhhh... normally we get our big dump of snow in February.

Cocoa is not sure about this... having much less in the way of winter garb than a certain well-kitted out little bear!

Carry me????

OK... we are out in the mass of snow... the question is... how deep is it? Is it deep enough for winter sports??

It's hard to tell... let's drop the bear in...

Wait!!! No!!! Not me!!! Drop in the sled... sheesh....

Errr... OK then... the snow is probably 14" deep....

Definitely deep enough for winter sports!

And luckily a stuffie can sit on the snow without sinking in...

See, Cocoa, not so bad, eh??? ....

"It's cold!!!"

Right then... this snow is very fluffy... could we have a bit of shovel work?

There we go!!! Crazy deep snow!!!

Seeeeee... beary deep....

And now... the announcement you've all been waiting for... (Wardrobe change!!!)

STUFFIE 2022 WINTER OLYMPICS RULES:

1) You can enter up to 3 different events per stuffie household. For example, skiing, skating, sledding (bobsled or luge or skeleton). Or create your own unique category!

2) Send your photo entries via email to littlecanadianbear (at) gmail (dot) com

3) Entries must be received by Sunday February, 20, 2022 at 11:59 pm PST.

4) Gold, silver, and bronze medal winners will be awarded!

And... don't worry... if you don't have snow.... just make your own snow! 

Yeah... peanuts... paper... shredded paper... anything works!!!

Right then... athletes... choose your category and start training!!!

Woo-hoo!!! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!! (Watch out for those stuffie snow incantations!)

The IceMouse Commeth...

 Hullo! My goodness... we got winter in a weekend! It snowed lots on Saturday (our previous blog post) and then it snowed even more on Sunday! 

Now... Cocoa hasn't really seen a lot of snow (none, actually)... soooo he wanted to make a snow mouse...

"And... I want the ears on it!!"

Right then... first a body... "Is my tummy really that big??" and then some feet and arms... and a head...

It's a bit smaller than a real mouse but... we'll run with it. Now... for the ears.

Whaddya think??? Not bad, eh?

I think that's a pretty darn good likeness if I do say so myself...

We couldn't find any tiny pebbles for eyes so made do with a few little dirt crumbles...

And... we can't forget the most important part (after the ears)...

The tail!!! It looks a bit nibble but then... Minnie the cat did nibble a bit on Cocoa's tail...

There we go... one snow mouse made to order!

And it just keeps snowing! Even though it's only around 0C... more snow came on Monday too... Good thing I've got so much winter gear!