Musings on a Small Life

I know it's been a couple of weeks since I've bothered to post; there's not a lot to write about right now--not that I'm willing to put out in a public forum anyway! As you can see from the two snapshots above, we've had a good wallop of winter weather. First with snow and bitter temps, windchills in the minus 20s Celsius (I know, I know, it's been colder in other more westerly provinces!). Then with rain and freezing rain and more rain. So it's been messy, grey, gloomy, dreary, and dismal, and I'm feeling the effects of almost zero sunshine since what, October? Early November? On the plus side, we're on the right side of the winter Solstice and the daylight is increasing. Thank goodness! I have not been idle, though. I'm now booked for a trip west in early April to visit my dad. His wife will be away at that time, on vacation overseas with her sister. Apparently she had suggested (to Dad) that I come out and keep him company. So I will go for a ...

When it looks like this out, and when it's a difficult day otherwise, you need something to add a bit of cheer to the day! That's my neighbours' second car; they're using my driveway while waiting for a second parking spot to open up. I snapped this on the way to the bus around 11 AM today. The main roads were fine, it was just our complex (which doesn't get plowed as often as it should) and the sidwalks (most were impassable). So when I was in the grocery store, I picked up these, below, to add a bit of brightness to another grey day. I don't think they'll last long, given that they got a blast of cold weather while waiting for a taxi home, but even so, they'll at least brighten the weekend. I hope you find something to brighten your own day.

A smile to end your week, courtesy of my Pinterest feed. Have a wonderful day!

    Yesterday when I popped out to check the mail at lunch time, there were two police cars parked nearby, with other vehicles around, including a truck towing an open trailer. I assumed the renters, who have been a problem for years, were finally moving or there was yet another domestic disturbance.   Today, as I was heading out for a quick grocery run on my lunch, a locksmith van was waiting and the unit door was open, stuff piled around. I figured the tenants must finally have been evicted (under protest, hence yesterday's police presence) and were actually moving out.   However, when I got back an hour later, all this stuff was left piled up and there was a note taped to the front door. (I wonder--tongue in cheek--if it's a "condemned" notice, I didn't approach to read it.)  For 20+ years now, this rental unit has been a problem regardless of who has lived there. I don't know who actually owns the unit, but either they are hopelessly foolish (or optimistic...

Have a great day! (Boy, am I glad it was a short work week. LOL.)

I'm thankful for quiet places to walk, such as this path between the canal and the St. Lawrence River in Cardinal, ON. It runs right in front my aunt's flat, and goes for some distance, maybe a kilometer (?) before there's a break over the canal that you can't cross. The path does pick up a bit further down, but you have to drive to that spot to access it (from my aunt's). The first series of pics below were snapped on Christmas Eve morning, followed by the same pics on Boxing Day morning. Much lovelier in the sunshine!   The St. Lawrence River is on the left, the canal (out of sight) on the right). River on the right, canal on the left (looking back the way I had walked). Walking bridge over the canal, on the other side of the break. Not accessible from my spot. Zooming out, the little bridge is in the distance, middle of the image. This is the break over the canal, as it flows into the St. Lawrence. Another shot looking back, from the end of walking path. It was v...