Brrrr...

Hello Everyone,

It's warmed up to -23C and I finished my coffee by the time I got in to work. I wore my snowboard pants and overall was quite comfy. What a storm we had!

Friday - office shut down at 3. Shovelled sidewalk when I got home. Shovelled again late that night (with Jerry)

Saturday - Jerry & I shovelled once. Keith was off to BC so we had a vehicle to drive. Glad it was a truck and we went to Home Depot. None of the residential roads were plowed (and none will be in Calgary - it's "not in the snow clearing budget") and a couple feet of snow on the road. Drifts were higher. Temperature dropped into the minus teens.

Sunday - Jerry did a quick shovel. Back to Home Depot for more things. Temperature now down in the minus twenties.

So we stayed at home and got a whole bunch of stuff done. Home Depot had pantry storage units (3 shelves, 5' tall) for really cheap so we picked up one on Saturday for our board games/puzzles and another one on Sunday for our canned goods and extra food storage. We also picked up some extra shelving and odds and ends. Lots of organizing and the house feels a lot more put together

We also got a Christmas tree! Jerry was going to give me a fresh-cut tree but we decided to get a real tree (in a pot). It's a Norfolk pine and permanently lives indoors. Including the pot, it's about 4' high and it's quite pretty. Not strong enough for full ornaments (and it needs daily misting) so we're going to put on tinsel and a couple light ornaments. My sparkly larger ornaments are hung by thread from the livingroom curtain rod. It looks rather pretty and festive. We'll decorate the tree next weekend but I have the rest of the decorations up around the house. I hope to create decorating traditions based on the Advent Sundays. And Jerry has given me free rein with decorating.

1st - outdoor lights get turned on
2nd - indoor decorations
3rd - tree decorated
4th - not sure yet, probably involving baking or a get-together with friends.

I'm very excited about the tree since it is pretty and can stay in the house year round (sans decorations). It will grow bigger but probably only a foot each year. We have our presents around the tree and so far Mike has ignored the tree. He generally leaves Christmas trees/ornaments alone. We wrapped up a bird feeder for him that attaches to the window. It likely won't get warm enough until after Christmas anyways to get it put up.

So, I think there's a chance of no neighbourhood party. Next weekend is opening weekend at Castle and Jerry may be heading down there. I likely wouldn't so he can have a guy's weekend out. As fun as it would be, the idea of sharing a trailer with a bunch of smelly, beer drinking carnivore men is just not my cup of tea. Especially since it would be a great weekend for a bunch of baking.

Jerry's getting the hang of shovelling snow. I usually do it when I get home but he was feeling energetic on the weekend. Since he spent his winters in Arizona and his landlord has always been responsible in the past for snow clearing, he didn't have much experience. I found it rather amusing since he technique is a bit off but he is getting the hang of it.

Have a great day!