Last week we experienced a Chinook that brought the temperature up from -35° C ( -31° F) to -5° C (23° F), and I couldn’t stay inside any longer. I took my camera out and got to it.
10 Things I Love About Winter
- You can get away from the cold, but in a 100 year old house without air conditioning you can’t get away from the heat. The winter makes me thankful to be inside, always. I have blankets and a space heater at work. No matter how cold it is, I’m set.
- Everyone wants to talk to you. In the summer you can live in your own world. In the winter, that person making room for you in the bus shelter is a really big deal that directly impacts your quality of life. People talk more to each other – we’re survivors, everyone who is surviving is a friend.
- Everything is prettier after a snowfall. Light bulbs suddenly look dreamy, everything is quieter from the deadening effect of the snow. You can’t hear the city streets even though we live in the middle of a city neighborhood.
- Weight gain becomes relative because of the sweater buffer zone. Is it those chocolate croissants I keep eating? Is it four layers of clothing? Who knows!
- I can feel really amazing about myself when you don’t need the sweater buffer zone, which really, I shouldn’t rely on. But come on. My mom & mother in law are both awesome cooks. I can’t impose Skinny Bitch rules in their houses, I swear.
- You can survive any weather if you have a neoprene face mask (yep! That’s a picture of me in mine!), and bangs so your face doesn’t freeze as quickly. That’s right. Bangs are function AND fashion.
- Cuddling. I’m a cuddle hog, and any change to crawl all over Mister means I’m on it. The winter = I’m on it.
- You can watch people playing shinny, or walking to a local rink and feel like you’re in a Tim Horton’s commercial really Canadian.
- You have constant material for Twitter. I have a whole page of search results dedicated to “kyla, cold”. I’m trying to complain less, I promise.
- You gain appreciation for the summer like you can’t imagine. Summer in The Prairies is like vising paradise, our parks are full from May until November – every day. People start wearing shorts when it’s 0° C out and don’t stop until November. There are parties on decks, porches, at lakes and beaches – that whole half of the year is joy and celebration. And the other half is survival, shinny, and waiting.
And the unofficial #11? Anywhere you move after having lived in The Prairies for any length of time has you hailed as a hero.
The Chinook passed this weekend, so we’re back to Arctic weather – but it was a preview of spring I needed. Hope you’re surviving! February is the end of the worst of this weather, the start of my best friend living 5 blocks from me, and then soon after I’ll be turning 24. It’s going to be an amazing year – I just can’t wait for the thaw in the mean time!
How are you surviving winter? Any tips?
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
You forgot that the cold keeps the famous prairie mosquitoes at bay. This is one of my favourite posts. We complain a lot about winter up here in the Great White North, so it’s easy to forget the great things about it. Good job, miss.
I am so thankful that it’s going to be 64 here today. You just made me shiver! :)
“has you hailed as a hero”! I laughed out loud doll! It’s so very true. Wherever we go and tell people that we’re from AB, they always get this wide eyed look like they’ve found refugees or something! *smile* Stay warm – I’m a fan of carrying a hot drink everywhere and wearing J’s socks. xo
I love your pictures. I’ve actually never lived in a place where it snows or you need more than a light sweatshirt. I can’t imagine being excited to go outside because it’s only 23F. Oh dear…
This is so cute! I do love winter….just not ice storms!
Your preview of spring was 23 degrees F?!?!? The high here today is 50 and I’m refusing to leave the house because it is too cold! Today is the coldest day we’ve had this winter so far, haha! I can’t even imagine… You are a hero indeed :) And your pictures are lovely!
Talk about being all bundled up! Do you think you and the Mister will ever want to move to warmer climates?
I survive with a puppy cuddled up on my lap with a good book and a large mug of tea. Oh winter…
Your winter photos look so glorious! Over in here, we just have the typical dismal outlook with lots of rain.
I think that looking out of the window and seeing grey everyday is enough to make everyone grumpy, no matter how cold it is!
Summer is by far my favourite season!
I absolutely love the quiet after snow. We haven’t seen much here this winter, though we did get a few feet in December. To be honest, I kind of hope for more! As long as it’s not on a school day. ;)
oh I feel like such a baby for complaining about the inch of snow we got yesterday!
great photos – I love the first one
i must admit that you make some very valid points about the beauty of winter. what helps me survive this winter? the fact that i’ll be escaping it in march :)
I don’t do winter well at all. I’m a whiney mid-westerner, and our winters aren’t nearly as bad as yours.
Your reasons for loving the winter are exactly why I miss it! Oh Florida, why don’t you snow?
I embrace the winter. Well, I kind of have to since I am a city dweller with a dog (no backyard to let her roam free). In the winter, I love the crispness of the air. It’s like a cold glass of water on a hot summer day. Sure, it hurts sometimes, but it’s also so refreshing. Love it!
I don’t know how you do it! California has made me such a wuss. 40 degrees is the coldest I can handle.
So I can’t complain about our temperatures whatsoever. I will say that your blog has made me want to visit a place where winter is really winter, with snow, people enjoying it and knowing how to live in it.
Here in STL some of us know how to drive in it. Others fear it. Some still just disregard it and fly down the highway like its no big deal.
My tips for surviving winter? A good man for cuddling, a stack of good books, a gym membership, blankets and peppermint tea. I’m sure you knew all this already, though :)
Wow. Your post totally got me to stop feeling sorry for myself about Baltimore winters. They’re clearly NOTHING compared to Northern winters. I’m going to buck up and go outside and smile at some people and tell them I’m happy it’s winter now.
Well, maybe not now. When I leave the office.
The only way that I survive winter is with hot baths and cuddling with my 40 pound lap dog.
I always thought I enjoyed winter more than most seasons, but every time it comes around I long for sunshine. And that’s saying a lot for my fairness. Your pictures looked beautiful! I have been meaning to go out with my camera but haven’t gotten around to it in a while. Stay warm, missy!
Just getting back from driving home from work in a storm, you have made me realize that there actually are good parts of winter. I love your pictures.
This is beautiful. I love that community is created and strengthened by the weather. I suppose Austin’s version of that is meeting the same people over and over while running on trails–there isn’t anything to celebrate (like surviving!!), but there is still something about actively seeing people on a regular basis.
Seeing the positive aspects, hm?? Well, it ALMOST convinced me snow is a good thing ;)
Now, how do I survive my December’s/January’s/February’s ?? Well, since it’s extremely hot, I must go to the pool at the social club and hope I don’t get insolated. That’s how ;)
Now, ask me this on december when I’m in France and I’ll let you know.
I love these pictures, especially the first one. Now whenever it snow, my friends can count on me complaining but then going out to take photos. It happens
Uhhhh I hate winter. I don’t mind the cold weather as much as I hate the snow and ice. And wind. I hate the wind.
wearing shorts on 0 degree weather? WOW I will be freezing so badly..this is why I hate living in the tropic, bad immune system since we’re used to semi warm to warm weather..people all wrapped up in jackets and scarves here these days and it’s just 25 c outside..
That is the most amazing face mask! could have certainly used one in new jersey this week. Good for you for getting out and about, I’ll be hiding under the electric blanket until March.
That mask makes you look hungry for flesh. (I know… you are a vegetarian… but STILL!)