Spring has obviously sprung in Winnipeg... and much earlier than other years. Last year was wicked, apparently, with serious flooding, extended periods of snow and ice, and no real spring or summer other than a few nice days. The good weather came in autumn. So this year we're experiencing a delightful start to the non-winter time in Manitoba. The river is clear of ice, but still high. The geese are honking loudly every morning as I arrive near my work building -- there are a few pairs nesting on bulding roofs (good luck to the babies), and they make their presence known. There are green shoots everywhere. The city is efficiently removing the winter dust and grit, so things aren't quite as dusty as a week ago. I saw some daffodils blooming yesterday when Kallista, Nicole and I went walking in the evening. And we've been hearing the woodpeckers announcing their presence with their search for food.
Last week, driving kids home from either rhythmic gymnastics (Nicole) or Honour Choir (Kai and Gabe), we saw a large flock of pelicans heading north along the Red River. There are some pelicans that hang out near our cottage in a little marshy area near a place we call Pelican Point, and they're great to watch. The flocks swoop as a group when they fly, and they can be quite high as they ride the wind currents on their way to open water. Once the rivers are open, the birds appear on their migration north. New friends told us that they also see bald eagles along the river, so we'll experience some new bird life here in our new neighbourhood in Winnipeg.
The pollen count is high, so anyone with allergies is reacting. The big poplar tree on the south end of our yard is dropping buds and pollen everywhere -- when you stand quietly outside, especially when our little four-legged friend is being urged to have a last bathroom break before bed time -- you can hear them dropping like rain drops or ice pellets. And in the morning I have to brush the yellow dust off the van windows... those winter ice/snow brushes are handy! The poplar tree is tall and strong. Its smell takes me back to my teenage years because we had a row of them along the side of our house. So we make another transition into the new season, and meeting new neighbours, getting to know our new area. We only lived here for 4 months before we left, so now is the time to make new friends and figure out the ways of the new 'hood.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
Spring folly... Easter weekend
With thoughts of a gorgeous walk along Lake Winnipeg we set off on the morning of Good Friday to drive north to Victoria Beach. We wanted to have an outdoor fire, roast a few wieners or smokies, enjoy the fresh air of the bush, introduce the dog to the wonders of VB, and generally "warm" up the cottage, which we haven't been in since the fall of 2008. It's still standing, we knew that. Glenda and Mike kept it in shipshape order, with some more repairs and renovations, including finishing off the inside of the porch. This is at the end of a week of sunny, warm weather, with temperatures up in the high teens.
Just in time for the long weekend, a Colorado low swept into the province, bringing high winds (up to 90 kph), driving rain full of sleet and hail, and much cooler temperatures. We sure had our day at the "beach", but had to go in to the fire to warm up. No sun to be seen. Pelting sleet on the beach. There were a few hardy seagulls flying around, and there was lots of open water at the shore, which was quite amazing considering 2 years ago the shoreline was ice and snow until late May. Turns out the wind pushed all the ice to the western shore, piling up to 10 metres high at Winnipeg Beach.
It was great to get back to the fire in the cottage, and a bit disappointing to have to leave. But there's no running water until mid May, due to the possibility of pipes freezing, so it's just not set up for a longer stay. Although we plan to do it next winter, once a few more baseboard heaters are installed. Then you can melt a few buckets of snow/ice and use that for dishes, toilet flushing, and whatever else you need to get by for a few days.
The dog was quite exhausted by the fun of walking along the beach -- a lot to sniff and chew. She needed a rest. We played another round of Blokus and headed back to the city, listening to an amazing story on audio CD -- Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book. This one is set in an old graveyard in an English city, and a small boy is being raised by the inhabitants after his parents and sister are murdered. Great history and great adventures.
Just in time for the long weekend, a Colorado low swept into the province, bringing high winds (up to 90 kph), driving rain full of sleet and hail, and much cooler temperatures. We sure had our day at the "beach", but had to go in to the fire to warm up. No sun to be seen. Pelting sleet on the beach. There were a few hardy seagulls flying around, and there was lots of open water at the shore, which was quite amazing considering 2 years ago the shoreline was ice and snow until late May. Turns out the wind pushed all the ice to the western shore, piling up to 10 metres high at Winnipeg Beach.
It was great to get back to the fire in the cottage, and a bit disappointing to have to leave. But there's no running water until mid May, due to the possibility of pipes freezing, so it's just not set up for a longer stay. Although we plan to do it next winter, once a few more baseboard heaters are installed. Then you can melt a few buckets of snow/ice and use that for dishes, toilet flushing, and whatever else you need to get by for a few days.
The dog was quite exhausted by the fun of walking along the beach -- a lot to sniff and chew. She needed a rest. We played another round of Blokus and headed back to the city, listening to an amazing story on audio CD -- Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book. This one is set in an old graveyard in an English city, and a small boy is being raised by the inhabitants after his parents and sister are murdered. Great history and great adventures.
Monday, March 22, 2010
River Ice
The Red River is flowing again. It's an earlier spring than "usual", whatever that is. When it melts, the ice jams up along the bends and under bridges, and makes a gorgeous sound when it starts to move. It was solid enough to skate on just a month ago. I love the carnage of the breaking ice, and occasionally a tree, or a piece of someone's dock, or other debris gets caught.
The crest of the river is on its way north -- this river is odd in that it flows north, away from the melt. It would be safer if it flowed south and the later melting season in the north would mean less flooding. But a quirk of glacial re-arrangement means the Red flows north, and the melting waters from the south get caught up with ice that hasn't yet transformed into water. The crest is expected in Winnipeg on April 6, but the expectation is that it won't be as high as other years, including 2009.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Kallista
Meet the new member of our household! I think she's grown at least 1/3 more than when we met her and brought her home. Lots of eating, and lots of... running, playing, getting to know us. We are a bit overwhelmed at times, but we all have our skills. Kai is a master of grooming... the dog lies down and takes it, instead of biting the hand and brush, as she does to me. Nicole likes to pick her up -- must be good for that upper body strength as the dog grows. Gabe is up early in the morning and takes her out for her first pee of the day (the outside one, that is!!!).
I am basically the individual she imprinted on for some reason, so she follows me around like a slavish little fan... a bit annoying, but entertaining. Doglike devotion. Undying love. I hope I deserve it. Today she discovered the wonders of the good barbecue smells, when Tom fired up the barbie for the first time back here. Warm day, gusty winds, time to fire up the barbie to celebrate the onset of spring. And the real sounds of spring showed up last night when I was out with the dog before we went to bed... two honking geese flying overhead.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
The Bottom of the Birdcage...
Winnipeg in spring is like the bottom of the birdcage -- grit and sh*t. The sand that has beend dumped on streets and sidewalks for months to decrease the effects of winter is left behind when the ice and snow melt. And we're having an earlier start to spring than usual. With a few days to go before the official start of spring, it's almost all melted in the city. Temperatures have been above zero for days now, so the snow piles are disappearing. The other debris left behind, other than all the trash which people dump, is doggy doo doo. Thus the effect of being at the bottom of the birdcage.
The City is starting its spring clean up earlier this year, so hopefully we won't have as much dust blowing around as could be possible. The rivers are starting to break up... some spots on the Red near my work place are now open water. But the big ice chunks still will be moving by, which is always a spectacular sound and sight. Other spots are slush and rotten ice, with water filling the gaps of ski and skating trails. You know it's almost over when the buds start swelling on the trees, and bits of green show up beside south-facing walls. And dandelions will be here soon to cheer us on our way. Fargo (400 km to the south) is dealing with its flood surge this week. Here's a blog to check out: Fargo Flooding
To add to our fun, we have introduced a new member to our household. Kallista the dog, named after a little town near Ferny Creek. We wanted to remember Australia in some way with the name of the pooch -- names like Adelaide, Alice (for Alice Springs) were tossed around, but Kallista fits. She is 3 1/2 months old, an apricot-coloured standard poodle. Bouncy as... still working on the toilet training, but our goal is to pick up the debris, not to leave it to melt all over the city. The kids are coping remarkably well -- I'm the one who is a bit stressed out about it all, but that's probably because I'm not sleeping very well right now. Too much to think about? Or worry about? Don't know which one it is, but the effects are not fun. Oh well -- it's happened before and will abate again. Could even be the dreaded hormones, which always have a way of rearing their effects.
Regardless, we are hearing more birds starting to think about their own expanding households. And daylight savings time has intruded on our morning light, so we'll have to wait another month before we get the morning light again. But standing out in the yard with Kallista in the early mornings is gorgeous -- crisp, frosty, fresh. And the evening walks are fun instead of being wickedly cold.
The City is starting its spring clean up earlier this year, so hopefully we won't have as much dust blowing around as could be possible. The rivers are starting to break up... some spots on the Red near my work place are now open water. But the big ice chunks still will be moving by, which is always a spectacular sound and sight. Other spots are slush and rotten ice, with water filling the gaps of ski and skating trails. You know it's almost over when the buds start swelling on the trees, and bits of green show up beside south-facing walls. And dandelions will be here soon to cheer us on our way. Fargo (400 km to the south) is dealing with its flood surge this week. Here's a blog to check out: Fargo Flooding
To add to our fun, we have introduced a new member to our household. Kallista the dog, named after a little town near Ferny Creek. We wanted to remember Australia in some way with the name of the pooch -- names like Adelaide, Alice (for Alice Springs) were tossed around, but Kallista fits. She is 3 1/2 months old, an apricot-coloured standard poodle. Bouncy as... still working on the toilet training, but our goal is to pick up the debris, not to leave it to melt all over the city. The kids are coping remarkably well -- I'm the one who is a bit stressed out about it all, but that's probably because I'm not sleeping very well right now. Too much to think about? Or worry about? Don't know which one it is, but the effects are not fun. Oh well -- it's happened before and will abate again. Could even be the dreaded hormones, which always have a way of rearing their effects.
Regardless, we are hearing more birds starting to think about their own expanding households. And daylight savings time has intruded on our morning light, so we'll have to wait another month before we get the morning light again. But standing out in the yard with Kallista in the early mornings is gorgeous -- crisp, frosty, fresh. And the evening walks are fun instead of being wickedly cold.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
New Skates
How thrilling to have a new pair of skates. I have always loved ice skating, and treated myself to a new pair of skates this year -- combined birthday and Christmas money, which was waiting for me when we got back -- thanks mom! Last Sunday Gabe, Kai and I took the new skates (and their slightly used ones) out on the Red River Skating Trail for a spin. In our absence, Winnipeg re-invented the river trail, and set up a massive competition last year with the Rideau Trail in Ottawa, to handily win the title of longest river trail in Canada.
The groomed trail winds 8.54 km from the Hugo Dock (Osborne area) on the Assiniboine, flows east toward its junction with the Red, and continues south and east along the Red River to the bottom of Hay St., the street that crosses Baltimore -- the Churchill Dock, at the foot of Churchill High School (Nicole's new school). The Forks Corporation is responsible for much of the maintenance and promotion, down to using a vegetable oil powered Zamboni to make sure the trail is as smooth as can be given its outdoor setting. A lot of fun -- beats skating round and round in an arena, although that has an allure of its own. I remember going back to the Hans Brinker story, thinking about skating on the Dutch canals, and wishing for the same. Childhood memories of skating on the local creek, my cousin's pond, and the lagoon by the Lake at Firelane 1. Best of all, Nicole, who has had a challenge balancing on skates, recently received the gift of a pusher designed especially for her by the Rehabilition Centre for Children in Winnipeg. It's a hot red colour, and lets her feel confident with her ability to move around on two thin little blades. Cheers to the Rehab Centre.
Vegetable Oil Powered Zamboni
The groomed trail winds 8.54 km from the Hugo Dock (Osborne area) on the Assiniboine, flows east toward its junction with the Red, and continues south and east along the Red River to the bottom of Hay St., the street that crosses Baltimore -- the Churchill Dock, at the foot of Churchill High School (Nicole's new school). The Forks Corporation is responsible for much of the maintenance and promotion, down to using a vegetable oil powered Zamboni to make sure the trail is as smooth as can be given its outdoor setting. A lot of fun -- beats skating round and round in an arena, although that has an allure of its own. I remember going back to the Hans Brinker story, thinking about skating on the Dutch canals, and wishing for the same. Childhood memories of skating on the local creek, my cousin's pond, and the lagoon by the Lake at Firelane 1. Best of all, Nicole, who has had a challenge balancing on skates, recently received the gift of a pusher designed especially for her by the Rehabilition Centre for Children in Winnipeg. It's a hot red colour, and lets her feel confident with her ability to move around on two thin little blades. Cheers to the Rehab Centre.
Vegetable Oil Powered Zamboni
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