Snowy Vancouver

I live in Vancouver and we generally get lots and lots of rain over the winter. We get very little snow.

This year is very different. I heard it is due to El Nina. While I was away in Kenya in November, a Vancouver friend told me that snow had fallen shortly after I departed on my journey.  I think it was November 17th or thereabouts. That is extremely early snowfall for us in Vancouver.  The snow didn't last but it has snowed several times throughout the winter. Of course this is unusual too.

I was out this past Friday for a walk and we had another fantastic snowfall which I was able to capture as I had my digital camera with me.  You can't really tell from but there was quite a bit of snow on the ground after snowing for several hours.  We are expecting more snow this week.

I heard on the news that the local ski slopes will have great skiing well into April. I don't ski so that doesn't thrill me but I know it makes skiers happy and if the snow remains on the slopes that's fine with me.

I don't mind the snow so much especially if it isn't wet and mushy.  Wet and mushy snow makes a problem for proper footwear to keep your feet dry and warm.  Some people here wear colourful galoshes or rubber boots but I've never liked to wear them  myself and I don't think they can keep your feet warm unless you wear thick socks. 

If there is a lot of snow I do worry about the elderly people and the disabled.  Or anyone who has a harder time getting around even with a mobility aid. Walkers and wheelchairs can get stuck in the snow and make it harder for people to cope.

Another problem is that it should be warmer indoors than it is outside. At my place it is always cold and the electricity costs are very high. I do wear long sleeves plus a sweater, plus socks and wool lined slippers and then I still have to cover up.  Some of the newer homes in Vancouver are not made for cold weather that is for sure.

I stayed out until after dark and took this photo of the snow falling as I sat and looked up. I thought it was very pretty. I don't like cold weather and too much snow and ice for very long but I do think they make pretty pictures *wink.

One more for the road and the photo album, lol

I hope you enjoyed this short tour of my world.

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Sunday Happenings

Today was a bit of a lazy day. With the cold weather and snow we've been having, I'm finding myself cold, even indoors and not up to doing a whole lot.  I'm only just over my cold but not back to normal routines and I have a busy week ahead.

I did some relaxing and a little laundry, tried to read my book, The Girl With a Pearl Earring and watched the Oscars with one eye though I missed all the key award presentations, lol. I got busy making a lentil concoction and some bread for dinner, as well as some blueberry muffins for breakfast.

This pot is filled with about 3 cups of lentils and twice the water and some sea salt.  Once this mixture boiled and the lentils were softening, I  added: one peeled and chopped sweet potato, several leaves of chopped kale, 6 chopped roma tomatoes, one half of a large red onion (chopped) and a big spoon of aged miso (probably about 4 tbsp.) for flavouring.  I cooked this all down until the water was all evaporated and the lentils were nice and soft.  This dish was accompanied by a ground beef/red onion and soy sauce dish, a side of brown rice and some bannock bread.  This was all very tasty and filling and hit the spot on a cold day. For a change there are lots of leftover lentils and rice to eat through the week. I've also frozen some lentils.

I also made these jumbo blueberry muffins for breakfast.  I guess blueberries count as being blue ;-) I've made these before and you can find the recipe here.  Sorry there is no longer a photo on the original post. It used to be on my hard drive but that was several computers ago!

I started another cleanse. I liked the one I tried in January.  Read about it here.  But I felt I needed a slightly longer cleanse and this one is for 30 days. This will spur me on to eat better also.

I hope you enjoyed your weekend and wish you a wonderful week ahead!

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