It Glistens
Just one more thing...(and yes, I realize it's ironic that I can only find things to post about now that I not going to use this journal any more)...those of you who have known me for a while have become accustomed to hearing me moan and whinge at this time of year about the perennial lack of snow in Vancouver.
Not this year.
On Tuesday night/Wednesay morning this week we had a substantial snowfall. The TV weather said 4 cm; the backyard said 6 inches. Now, that has happened before during the week before Solstice and/or Christmas, getting my hopes up for a traditional White Holiday, but somehow it always warmed up and we had rain and green in time for the Big Day(s).
Not this year.
The temperature has stayed well below 0C all week, and though it hasn't snowed again, the snow that did fall has stayed around. It isn't normal moist Vancouver snow; it's very dry, light, fluffy, Eastern Canada (Ontario) snow. That means it's easy to brush it off your car, and easy to drive on it, once it's packed down tight.
And this year, not only is it going to stay for Christmas, but we're getting more. And more. It started snowing about half an hour ago, and it's very, very cold here right now, going down to -12C tonight. It's going to snow all night, and all day tomorrow, and then off-and-on right up until Christmas Day. I let the dog out into the yard for the last time tonight just before I sat down to write this and noticed something that I haven't seen for probably 35 years.
Snow that falls at this temperature glistens. Just like the songs say, there are bright, tiny diamond sparkles all over my backyard. Over the years, I must have forgotten all about that, and put it down to wishful thinking and creative license by lyricists. Our normal, wet snow doesn't glisten. It's white, but it's flat white. There are no sparkles.
There are a number of other things that haven't gone quite right for the Festive Season this year...but this makes up for a lot.
Cheers,
Dub ;o)
Not this year.
On Tuesday night/Wednesay morning this week we had a substantial snowfall. The TV weather said 4 cm; the backyard said 6 inches. Now, that has happened before during the week before Solstice and/or Christmas, getting my hopes up for a traditional White Holiday, but somehow it always warmed up and we had rain and green in time for the Big Day(s).
Not this year.
The temperature has stayed well below 0C all week, and though it hasn't snowed again, the snow that did fall has stayed around. It isn't normal moist Vancouver snow; it's very dry, light, fluffy, Eastern Canada (Ontario) snow. That means it's easy to brush it off your car, and easy to drive on it, once it's packed down tight.
And this year, not only is it going to stay for Christmas, but we're getting more. And more. It started snowing about half an hour ago, and it's very, very cold here right now, going down to -12C tonight. It's going to snow all night, and all day tomorrow, and then off-and-on right up until Christmas Day. I let the dog out into the yard for the last time tonight just before I sat down to write this and noticed something that I haven't seen for probably 35 years.
Snow that falls at this temperature glistens. Just like the songs say, there are bright, tiny diamond sparkles all over my backyard. Over the years, I must have forgotten all about that, and put it down to wishful thinking and creative license by lyricists. Our normal, wet snow doesn't glisten. It's white, but it's flat white. There are no sparkles.
There are a number of other things that haven't gone quite right for the Festive Season this year...but this makes up for a lot.
Cheers,
Dub ;o)