A week ago today the ground was still brown and the daytime temperatures were usually a degree or two above zero (freezing point on the Celsius scale).

The next day it snowed, not much, just enough to make the ground white. Then the temperatures started to fall. Monday morning it was -28°. Yesterday we had our first blizzard, an Alberta Clipper, that left snow that needed to be shovelled, at least 15cm.

Our two youngest cats have never seen winter before and were too impatient to wait for us to shovel the steps. They floundered out through the snow in front of the door, across the front step, down the steps, across to the side door where they took shelter under the step. Eventually one ventured out and came in when I opened that door. The other stayed there a bit longer, then floundered back to the front step and came in. They haven’t felt brave enough to go out again, but our older cat went out once the front step was cleaned off.

It was nice not having to shovel snow or worry about snow on the roads. But we have been suffering from drought for several years and it seems best just to say:

It’s about time!