Hoarfrost Magic

There is nothing quite as beautiful

As a frozen winter scene

At times with proper moisture

Hoarfrost crystals can be seen

It’s like climbing into another world

As thick ice forms on everything

Nothing else is quite the same

As what these crystals bring

Beauty beyond anything else

Forms on the world around

Gathering up and clustered

Just like a frozen shroud

There’s a stillness in the air

When Hoarfrost crystals form

The quiet world is engulfed

From this beautiful winter storm

So if you are so fortunate

To see the hoarfrost magic

Grab your camera and capture

Nature’s icy antics!

-Marilyn Lott

Sunshine on my shoulder

 The sunrise this morning was brilliant and clear.

We opened the curtains wide to let the yellow light in;

warming the house and making the day seem full of promise.

Treading New Paths

While in principle, snowshoeing is merely walking with wide and awkward aluminum or wood platforms attached to your feet, it completely changes the way you travel through an outdoor space.

When the world is covered in deep drifts of snow, the potential paths are unlimited. A snowshoe-er does not have to stick to a pre-existing path, or follow a logical route, but rather can forge on in any direction, through drifts of any size. Want to tackle that giant overblown drifted hill? Go ahead! Want to mogul through the bush, around trees and over small shrubs? There's nothing stopping you except the width of your snowshoes getting stuck between tree-trunks.

I've commented many times on how much I love Nose Hill Park for the sense of natural peace it brings. When, over Christmas, B and I had the time and energy to head out there, to our delight, there was several feet thick of snow lying on the ground--and uncommon event for Calgary. So in the afternoon sunshine we headed out, up over the hills and across the sections of open plain. Through the deciduous forests and the sections of deep brush.

We encountered coyote, porcupine, mice and deer, all thriving in this wilderness park in the middle of the city. The only animal that seemed concerned about our presence was the mouse--probably because we could have stepped on him without noticing. The others seemed not to care that we were sharing their habitat. Who are these crazy galumphing beings who make their own trails? Why are they taking the path of MOST resistance?

I can't say that snowshoeing is a quiet venture, wherein one can spend time philosophizing on the greater ideals of the world. It's hard work, and the heart pumps and blood rushes and breathing is heavy. But when you stop (to catch your breath) and survey the world from your solitary vantage point, with the late afternoon sun shining and very few other individuals braving the elements to join you, the world is truly beautiful.

181 Days

Calgary revels in Olympic glow

Calgary revels in Olympic glow

More Calgary Olympic pride. Can I help it that it makes me all choked-up and warm and fuzzy?

Sharing the Flame

Last night, B and I went downtown to be a part of the festivities surrounding the arrival of the Olympic torch to Calgary.

I've always had a love for the Winter Olympics, starting with the 1994 Olympics in Norway, where for some reason I was cheering for Switzerland.
During the 1998 Olympics in Japan, for a gym project I had to make a scrapbook of information about each Canadian medalist and his or her sport, which only served to get me more excited about winter olympic sports.
While I haven't paid as much attention to more recent Olympics, the fact that they are held this year once again in Canada means they're a lot easier to get excited about.

It really was exciting to be a part of everything last night.

To join the hordes of people milling around downtown, all smiling and waving flags and wearing red or 1988 Olympic toques and coats or 2010 Olympic clothing.

To see the big flame on top of the Calgary Tower lit, presiding over everything, even though it has long lost its stature as the tallest building downtown.

To hear "his worship" our mayor Dave Bronconnier sidestep the host's gushy and annoying question about Canadian spirit, pointing to the crowds of Calgarians as proof of unifying Olympic spirit in our city.

To sing O Canada with everyone, albeit collectively slightly off-key .

To be told that 50% of the Canadians going to the Vancouver Olympics live and train in Alberta.

To hear that an estimated 20 000 Calgarians turned out last night and that Calgary's torch relay festivities were the biggest across Canada.

And to remember that Calgary is the only other city in Canada to have hosted the Winter Olympics.

Yes, I am proud to live in Calgary, uncool though it may be to buy into the uncritical excitement. It was fun to unabashedly be a part last night. I'm ok with being dorky like that. I like that we have an Olympic Plaza downtown.. I think that being the host of the 1988 Olympics symbolizes the energy that our city has contained in the past, and the legacy that event continues to bear.


On a side note, trying out olympic sports have been on my "bucket list" of things to do in life for ages.
I'd like to try bobsledding but unfortunately, that won't be happening any time soon--at least not while I'm pregnant. :D
Trying speed-skating at the Olympic Oval--"the fastest ice in the world"--was also on my to-do list, but we did that last Valentine's Day and it was every bit as exhilarating as I had anticipated.

Flame fuels Olympic passions

Flame fuels Olympic passions

There will be more to come on our experience of Olympic pride in Calgary later, but for now I just wanted to post the link to the Calgary Herald article. Makes me pretty proud to be a Calgarian, when 20 000+ people show up to see the torch run into Olympic Plaza--apparently the biggest torch relay gathering across Canada. I got all choked up as we walked downtown with the flame on top of the Calgary Tower visible across the city, and with so many people turning out---many with 1988 Olympic clothing and paraphernalia--to cheer and sing O Canada and witness the arrival of the flame. It was a lovely thing to be a part of.

God's Colours

Yesterday's sunrise was truly one to behold.
Neither the spectrum of colours on a computer  or camera
nor the biggest pack of Crayola crayons
can contain the palette God uses to paint a sunrise.
What a miracle it is to see God's creative expression visible in planet earth.