Enough with the Bing Crosby already, Christmas is over

[Warning: Picture-heavy post. Includes tussling cats in compromising positions.]

Someone's been listening to Bing's "White Christmas" a bit too much--okay a lot too much--because we've certainly had a white Christmas with a vengeance.

I was out both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, took lots of snow snapshots. I don't think we've had this much snow, this early, since winter 2008/09. In recent years we've been getting our snow in January and February, so this already is nuts. Three storms in less than a week, I think.

Christmas Eve--and yes, it was cold!

Christmas Eve night and early Christmas Day brought yet another snowstorm. We must have had 15 - 20 cm of snow, most of it in my driveway. 

I couldn't get through to a taxi on Christmas Day morning, so headed out on foot. None of the side streets had been plowed and I walked for over an hour on the messy streets to my destination. (I could say it was uphill and into the wind, but that would be pushing it, though it was windy.)

 Lots of people were getting out with their snowblowers!

  Back at home, there was more shoveling to do.
I don't have any more room to put the snow!

 The spots on the snapshots are from the blowing snow.

 Our little back space, filled in.

The boys had a good Christmas Day, I think. They got a new ESS scratcher, a new wand toy and catnip balls from my mom, their "grandma". Of course they indulged in their Christmas Day wrestling match.

 It was draw. They both just gave it up.

Today, Boxing Day, has brought sunshine but more bitterly cold temps. I headed out to participate in the Canadian tradition of Boxing Day sales (akin to Black Friday in the U.S.). I didn't get a lot, because I've already ordered everything under the sun online, but I did get cat food on sale at PetSmart (great deal), a Christmas centrepiece from Michael's for 70% off, and two pairs of winter boots from Mark's Work Wearhouse. 

I'm hoping the boots will turn out to be reasonably comfortable. My current snow boots are from Walmart and are too big--I can't walk properly in them, even with thick socks, I just shuffle along. And because they're big, they rub at my heels. Not a comfortable experience. However, I had to go to a size 8 in the Mark's boots, as I've discovered they run small. (My foot size is 6.5D, and usually a size 7 in winter boots works well. Not in this case!)

Both are rated for -25C, which is about what we need right now!

Then some kitty, who shall remain nameless, couldn't stand to be confined anymore and did this:

 Derry had more sense and stayed on the back step. You can see "some kitty's" tracks in the snow!

 Derry watching "some kitty" and no doubt thinking his brother was crazy.

 Yeah, "some kitty" wants in now!

So that's a run down on the past few days! I hope everyone has had a good holiday, but if not, take a deep breath, it's over and done with for another year.

I'll be getting together with family friends from the "old country" later this week (i.e. family friends from Gaspé, QC). Somehow I don't think I'm going to get to any of the little projects I had in mind to do over the holidays.  :-)

Well, no matter, soon enough it will be back to work reality and the uncertainty of a new director, revised job (mine) and an unknown future. So I'll just take this time and enjoy myself and eat, drink and be merry.

Peace to All Beings.