Nature’s Lent

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Alberta, boredom, Calgary, changing seasons, choice, cycling, Diana Schwenk, Life's like that, living in the moment, longing, lonliness, reflection, rest, stillness, summer, waiting, winter

Winter makes me question all sorts of choices I’ve made. It passes slowly, each day seemingly the same as the one before. The alarm goes off while it’s still dark out. I drink coffee, shower, dress, get in my car and go to work. I come home, eat, watch some TV, go to bed, maybe read a chapter or two. The alarm goes off while it’s still dark out.

It’s a low time for me, a time when nature sleeps beneath the snow. I reflect on the past. I think about the things I could have, should have done differently. I mourn what is lost. I let go of things I can’t change, things that aren’t important. I re-prioritize. It’s a time when I feel as though something is missing. A time when I long for something else, when I long for summer.

But this year before the spring, in January and February when it felt like I could not take the dark, stillness and cold anymore, or the day-in, day-out sameness, it occurred to me that maybe that’s the way it’s meant to be. Maybe it’s what allows me to start again with a fresh perspective.

It’s nature’s lent. A time of rest and reflection and yes, a time of maddening boredom too. A time to long for the sun’s warmth, and yet, somehow, the perfect springboard to an all-the-more enjoyable summer.

And I do love summer. And this past Sunday’s afternoon bike ride was well worth the long wait!

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~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

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My Big-Girl-Snow-Pants

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200 words, adapt, Alberta, Calgary, Canada, changing seasons, cold, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, dress in layers, Life's like that, snow, winter

A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water.

Carl Reiner

Well it’s finally here.

I won’t be bringing a book, or note pad to go sit on a bench in the park to read or write while sipping a Grande half-sweet white chocolate mocha any day soon. And it will be months before I’ll be jumping on my bike to ride Calgary’s pathways.

There’s no more denying it.

There’s no more deciding not to wear socks, or not to dress in layers, or wear a warm coat. Winter is here and there’s nothing I can do about it. I just have to put on my big-girl-snow-pants, lean into the north wind, grit my teeth and plow through it. I don’t have a choice.

Yeah, yeah, I know some of you are excited about winter. You’ve been looking forward to sledding, skiing, snowshoeing, igloo building, icicle licking and whatever else you do in winter.

As for me… should you need me, I’ll be indoors, wrapped in a cozy blanket on my favourite chair, sipping hot chocolate and watching reruns of Island Life.

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

How do you feel about winter?

Fall in Calgary #NotTooShabby4October

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Alberta, Calgary, Canada, changing seasons, community, compassion, courage, Diana Schwenk, fall, Homelessness, Hump Day Chronicles, life, living in the moment, love, summer, Tourist in my own city, winter

Warm as summer on my skin but fall on the ground on 4th Street SW, Calgary AB Oct 10, 2015

Were it not for the leaves changing colour and the trees dropping their leaves, I’d have thought it was summer in Calgary on Saturday.

These are the fall days I hope for. These are the moments that make me forget we’ve already had snow.

These are the type of memories that carry me through the long and cold Canadian winter.

I hadn’t been out for a good walk in quite some time. As luck would have it, I had some errands to run and the weather was glorious.

I started out with a light jacket that almost immediately found itself tied around my waist.

A man passing in the other direction said to his companion, “Whoa, it feels good to be in the shade,” when he found temporary relief from the sun in the shadows of the tall buildings on 17th Avenue.

17th Avenue closed at 8th Street for the Thanksgiving weekend. The work needs to be done, but local businesses can’t be too happy about it.

After picking up most-delicious-looking pastries at Sourdough bakery and stashing them in my fridge so I could bring them with me the next day for Thanksgiving dinner, I headed downtown to run some more errands.

Volunteer, Heather agreed to pose for this picture – Thank you Heather!

Something was going on at the Lougheed House.

I went to investigate.

A temporary Firefighters museum was set up in honour of Fire Safety week.

Among other things, I learned that if a building is grounded, a lightning rod can be more dangerous, than helpful.

A photo of a photo of a firefighter…

A gas mask from the good ole days…

Old tools that kinda remind me of old dentistry tools I’ve seen…

At Central Memorial Park checking out the free book they gave me at the Firefighter’s museum. And YES, I’m wearing flip-flops!

After I’d completed my errands downtown I headed back home. It was so wonderful to feel the sun on my face and arms. I stopped often to shoot more pictures.

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The changing seasons remind me of the changes and transitions that happen in life.

Some are good, we welcome them and if we have any sense at all we enjoy them while they last.

Others test us, chill us to our very souls, make us wonder if we’ll be strong enough to get through them. But even these pass and leave us amazed at how strong we can be.  And if we have any sense at all, we learn from them and bring forth new growth.

~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

If you live in Calgary, did you get a chance to hang out outside this past weekend? What was the weather like in your city? What’s your favourite season?

May your joys make up for your sorrows

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200 words, Alberta, Calgary, Chateauguay, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, fall, happy, joy, life, photos, Quebec, sorrow, summer, Tourist in my own city, winter

I never get tired of the blue sky – Vincent Van Gogh

I grew up in Chateauguay, Quebec. Summers were humid and stifling hot. It was hard to sleep at night.

Winters were brutal. The bitter cold and snow were made worse with months of dark skies overhead.

Autumn was my favourite season – Indian Summer in all its glory – warm days and cool nights. Maple trees bursting in colour, more brilliant than any summer flower.

Autumn made up for it all

Calgary has a dry climate – Thank God! But summers are shorter and cooler. Winters seem to drag on forever. Over the years, I’ve seen it snow in every month!

But no matter the season, Calgary has the most sunny days of any other city in Canada.

330 of 365 in fact – and this means days upon days of blue sky.

Calgary’s blue skies make up for it

Even in winter, we are blessed with summer sky most days..

Carl Saffron building, Calgary AB

Old City Hall, Calgary AB

View from Hope Street, Calgary AB

Where you choose to live and why, comes with its high points and low points. No place is perfect.

In the same way, life comes with its share of joys and sorrows.

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

May your joys always make up for your sorrows

Bostonians accept their fate as Canadians

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Alberta, Boston, Calgary, Canada, chinook winds, climate, Hump Day Chronicles, living in the moment, snow, snow blizzard, Tompkins Park, weird weather, winter

Aww we love you Bostonians! ❤

I cannot believe the weather Boston has been having!

It seems they just finish cleaning up snow when another snow storm hits.

Here in Canada, Manitoba has seen temperatures as low as -36c/-33f.

New Brunswick and Nova Scotia are dealing with snow banks that are 2 meters/7.5 ft. high.

Montreal has seen the longest stretch of cold weather in 80 years.

But we’re not seeing anything like that here in Calgary.

It’s as if we’re in a protective bubble. On the weekend it did snow, but the snow melted on Monday as temperatures rose to 13c/56f – unbelievably unseasonal!

Please forgive me. Don’t be mad.

I’m not trying to be insensitive – honest!

This is not the norm for Calgary. And if Bostonians have accepted their fate as Canadians, then Calgarians are embracing their fate as Californians.

5th Street SW, Calgary AB

Just look at that blue sky! Can you see the sun’s reflection on the high-rise in the distance? There’s got to be some snow somewhere, right? So I continued on in search of snow.

Mission Crossing, Calgary AB February 2015

And there it is, I found snow. These two snow banks in front of Mission crossing have got to be almost 2 ft. high!

17th Ave, Calgary AB

A coat? Nahhhh. 17th Ave, Calgary AB

Drinking coffee outside. Calgary AB February 2015

 

These musicians gladly consented to having their picture taken. Tompkins Park, Calgary AB Feb 2015

I know it doesn’t seem fair. We’ve been quite fortunate this winter.

But don’t you worry, March is typically our heaviest snowfall month; that ought to make the skiers and snowboarders happy.

And to tell the truth, I’m ready for some snow!

~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

 Maybe you should be considering a trip to Calgary for a break from winter?

What If Something Good Happens And I Miss It?

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200 words, Alberta, Calgary, Canada, changing seasons, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, Fear, happy, joy, living in the moment, winter, worry

“You cannot protect yourself from sadness without protecting yourself from happiness.” ~ Jonathan Safran Foer

A shorts-wearing Canadian, Calgary, Alberta – Jan. 24, 2015

Today it’s supposed to be 16c, that’s 61f!

I haven’t been outside yet, but just the thought of going outside on a warm January 25th lifts my spirits several rungs up the ladder!

I get so excited about warmer temperatures.

I’m not the only one, yesterday it was 10c/50f and some of my countrymen even wore shorts.

It occurs to me that in not one, but two previous posts, I have been bracing myself for  I-can’t-feel-my-feet-and-hands-my-lips-are-frozen-to-my-teeth-and-it-hurts-my-lungs-to-inhale-the-air kind of days; worrying about something that hasn’t even happened.

I wonder how often I do that in everyday life.

They say that 90% of the things we worry about never come to pass.

How often do I worry about imagined future sadness and failure and strive to protect myself from it? And when I do so, how often does it rob me of joy in the now?

Do you find yourself doing the same thing?

~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~

If you need me, you know where to find me; outside and happy in the NOW

Blue Monday

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#BlueMonday, 22 Minutes, Canada, Diana Schwenk, humour, Hump Day Chronicles, life, living in the moment, winter, yoga

I had never heard of it before a couple of days ago, but this past Monday was Blue Monday. Usually occurring on the Monday of the last full week of January, Blue Monday is the most depressing day of the year, at least so says a 2005 press release from holiday company Sky Travel.

I’m not sure I felt any bluer than my usual winter blues on Monday. As a matter of fact, near day’s end I was cheered up with a sunset that looked as if the sky was on fire. Seen below as viewed from my balcony.

You know what they say, Pink sky at night, a sailor’s delight – even here in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains!

I have to admit that January and February are usually my toughest months to endure. By this time I’ve usually had it up to my armpits with winter. And to top it off with the proverbial cherry, we’ll soon have I-can’t-feel-my-feet-and-hands-my-lips-are-frozen-to-my-teeth-and-it-hurts-my-lungs-to-inhale-the-air temperatures!

Although shorter daylight hours and colder temperatures can bring us down here in the Northern Hemisphere, Smitty over at Logos con carne would remind us that the days are indeed getting longer now, so hang in there!

And take courage my northern hemispheric friends, the same geniuses who brought us the most depressing day of the year, also promise us the happiest day of the year. (Some time in the third week of June)

Until then, perhaps you would benefit from some chillaxing Canadian yoga as brought to you today by our nation’s beloved satirical News show 22 Minutes. You won’t regret watching! 😉

~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

How’s winter panning out for you? Were you extra down on Monday?

I know my post is late today and here’s why…

Tags

Alberta, Calgary, Canada, chinook winds, Hump Day Chronicles, joy, life, living in the moment, winter

A summer sky on a wintry day in Calgary AB – January 2015

It’s been cold here, let me tell you!

And when I say cold, I mean holy-moly cold – cold enough that I didn’t even venture out for two days.

But it’s only the beginning of January so I know it’s going to get worse.

Holy-moly-cold will soon seem like a heat wave in comparison to the I-can’t-feel-my-feet-and-hands-my-lips-are-frozen-to-my-teeth-and-it-hurts-my-lungs-to-inhale-the-air kind of cold that’s still to come!

And that’s why today’s Chinook was such a lovely reprieve from the cold.

I’m no expert, but from what I understand, a Chinook happens in Calgary when the warm winds come from the west, leaving the precipitation in our neighbouring province of British Columbia on the other side of the Rocky Mountains.

These warm, dry winds can change the temperature in Calgary from the minus 20s to above zero temperatures in a matter of a couple of hours.

It’s what we look forward to every winter!

Today’s Chinook won’t even last the whole day. By early evening the winds will be coming from the north and we’ll be back to holy-moly-cold.

So naturally, I had to spend time outside while it’s warm…

…and that’s my roundabout way of explaining why my post is late today.

~HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

It occurs to me that this wintry post can also serve as an analogy for the difficult times in life. Hard times are like holy-moly-cold winters, so we need to take full advantage of life’s Chinooks when they come, treasuring each and every moment. 

 

 

What to pack in your backpack when visiting Calgary

Tags

Alberta, Calgary, Canada, Diana Schwenk, Hump Day Chronicles, living in the moment, summer snow storm, weird weather, winter

When I first moved to Calgary I was told by locals if I don’t like the weather I need only wait five minutes.

I remember writing a letter to my parents that said dressing in layers is the way to go in Calgary.

Wear shorts and a T-shirt and carry pants, a hoodie and a jacket in your backpack. That way, no matter what the weather throws at you, you can dress or undress accordingly.

Most recently, as if right out of a Stephen King novel, Calgary had its first snowstorm.

The day before it was 22c (72f) and I was whooping it up with friends at a barbecue.

Then on the very next day, I woke up to -1c (30f) and several inches of snow.

The trees were still in full leaf and completely green – no fall colours yet.  Wet and heavy, the snow broke boughs from at least 80% of Calgary’s trees. It is costing The City millions to clean up. What an eerie sound it makes when whole parts of a tree rip from the trunk and crash to the ground.

A summer snowstorm – what a shock to the system!

I am happy to say that things are feeling like summer again and it’s 25c (77f)

Thankfully, I had the wherewithal to take pictures every day or two so I could share this phenomenon with you!

Sept 8th – My street. We experienced highs of -1c/30f and lows of -11c/12f

Sept 10th – Tree at ATB on 17th Avenue

Sept 10th – Somber lady waiting in a bus shelter on 17th Ave.

Sept 10th – my street

Sept 11th – across the street. It started to warm up (11c/52f)

Sept 14 – Tree at ATB (22c/72f)

Sept 14 – shirtless guys playing frisbee

Sept 14 – my street. Same angle as first picture!

Sept 15 – Within blocks of my place, debris everywhere. 24c/76f

 ~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

What’s the weirdest weather you’ve ever experienced?

The Blizzard…and I’m not talking Dairy Queen

Tags

Calgary, Canada, cold, Diana Schwenk, helpful, Hump Day Chronicles, snow blizzard, winter

A few years back I bought a long, down-filled coat that zips, then buttons, then snaps closed. It cost me a pretty penny. As soon as I bought it I felt guilty about spending so much money. In the time it takes me to put it on, I’m usually overheating and need to rush outside to cool down. It is the warmest coat I’ve ever had. It only ever gets cold enough to wear, maybe, three weeks a year.

Gusting winds and heavy snow

When the blizzard, a potent mixture of moist air from British Columbia and an icy north wind, came in on Monday, I blessed the day I bought that coat!

Even with the coat, the strong winds blew icy snow into my face that burned like tiny embers from a fire. It’s cold!

I’ve been thankful that I don’t have to drive in this weather. It’s hard enough to walk! Some highways were closed down. And the town of Strathmore set up an emergency shelter and took in many stranded motorists.

The City of Calgary has quite the snow removal job ahead of them. One lady compared it to trying to clean the kitchen while the blender is running with the lid off. In some outer parts of the city, while they wait for city crews to show up in their neighbourhoods, people are shoveling each other out and those with 4-wheel drive are helping others get their vehicles out of snow banks .

It doesn’t surprise me though, as with the flood, when the poop (in this case snow) hits the fan, Calgarians seem to move into action!

The average temperature for this time of year is -1C (30F) The last couple of days we’ve been reaching lows of -30c (-22f) with the windchill. Although the cold temperatures will be sticking with us for the next several days, the storm has moved south to Montana (you’re welcome) before it comes back Canada way at the Manitoba border.

~ HUMP DAY CHRONICLES ~

So how’s your winter going?