Spring

I've spent most of my adult life living on the flat prairie.

Saskatchewan

The weather is cold half of the year with sub-zero temperatures from November until April.

The spectacular Rockie Mountains - near Banff

Such is the life for most of us hearty Canadians.

But now I'm living in a place where it rains in the winter and the grass gets softer and greener.
Some trees lose their leaves but others keep them all year.  There are even some palm trees growing here.
After spending a few days in cold, bleak, snowy Winnipeg I returned to find snowdrops and crocus blooming. I haven't seen crocus since I lived in Montreal in my youth!
Spring has sprung in January!

Purple Crocus

Snowdrops

A new year!

That's me with 'Santa' and 'Mrs. Claus'

Performing our family's song on Christmas Eve

I had a lovely Christmas break in frigid Edmonton. I really had forgotten how cold it can be!

But the people there are very warm and make up for the blowing snow and -35C temperatures, especially our family.

Dinner with Don and Yukola - Keith's parents

We always have Christmas Eve with my daughter Andrea's in-laws  -  a jam packed evening of song, Santa and silliness!
All the kids were over for a pot-luck Christmas dinner. The food and company were great!

Christmas dinner with all the kids!

My daughter needed a new car as her 1994 Ford Aspire was about to expire in the cold weather. It was either new tires or a new car and we all agreed she needed an upgrade. She and I searcheds around and found a good one, almost the same as her sister's car!

Stef's "new to her" car

I'm now back at the warmer and wet coast. Everyone at work this week was sharing what they did on their holiday break and lamenting how quickly their relaxed state has dissipated.