Snowmen of 2010

The invasion continues. Even now in the rural areas of our fine land....

Southeast of Aylmer in a little hamlet we found this trio!

 

Standing guard, I think they were, on these people's lawn!

 

The biggest one called out to us: Hey! 

My names' Pete! 

(I think he was a bit of a pot head!)

 

The smaller one was a little goofie, rolling his eyes around like they weren't attached or something!

Is that a speaking hole in his throat or a slipped third eye?

I was afraid, I can tell you!

But Dick held my hand comforting me and then the obvious female of the troop spoke:

Halllooo! Take us to your leader!

And we high-tailed it outa' there... so sorry, we don't know the rest of the story!

Snowmen of 2010

On the south side of St Thomas, Ontario is a short cul de sac. Mostly mid 70's ranch style brick houses.... a quiet place... A nice neighborhood to raise a family in safety and comfort....


Imagine my horror to discover that the notorious Snow Family had moved in?
I mean sure... I've read about them in the newspapers... who hasn't? 
But to meet them in person? 

What's the neighborhood coming to! 

Call 911! Call the mounties! Call Somebody would you?

This was the meanest looking one. See? You can't even see his eyes!

Look! He's got that hat pulled way down over his eyes! 

Suspicious, don't you think?

The mother of the bunch is quite a piece too!

Is this a new trend in head gear or does she think this is summer?

 

Do I have to go shopping now to keep up? 

And then the child... Oh! The poor little thing!

So bow legged! Maybe they simply couldn't afford braces?

At least he has a muffler against the cold!

Hey Dick! Call the rental place for a steam cleaner and let's clean up this neighborhood!

On a more serious note: 

If any one wonders why I love and feature snowmen as I do?

They are sculpture. Pure forms of expression. 

And many of these snow people are the first attempts at sculpture by a child.

They are so wonderful and expressive and I love them all!

Snowmen of 2010

Daddy! UGGH!

Why did you sneeze on me! You've covered me all up!

Hey! I got some on myself too! 

Would somebody come and wipe this off!

I found these two on Sunset Drive, just south of St Thomas, Ontario.

Photos taken with my Nikon P90

Tobogganing

The rush of frigid air whooshes past and you scream with glee at the speed of your rocket! 

Steely strong fingers gripping the rungs, ropes, your friend's back! 

Eyes wide with fright. Tears freeze to your lashes! Who cares! 

You are a catapult. You are a space ship!

You are invincible as you hurdle down the incline! You are...

Tobogganing! 

 

Is anybody watching?

 

                                                                                   AAAAAGGGGGHHHHH!!!

 

Crash and burn! Yahoo! We have taken what this Canadian winter has thrown at us today and had fun!

The hill was steep and treacherous... 

Well, maybe not... Let's go again!

Pictures taken in Belmont, Ontario. January 10, 2010

A Snowy Canadian Sunday

A gorgeous sunny day and after such a long stretch of cloudy, gloomy days, we were all out to catch what little we could of winter's goodness. Dick and I in the truck for our drive and...

Several folks enjoying a man made pond in a park!

Dads and young 'uns alike dressed for the frigid temperatures and enjoying a game.

Sometimes the dad's took over: Catch me if you can!

And then, just when you thought he was being mean, he'd pass to one of the boys for the final shot!

This young man was getting tired!... But...

Gamely stood again to meet the challengers.

Some fresh recruits donning skates to join the fray...

 

One end was still open for beginners and figure skating. 

See? This is how you skate backwards?

But... it's lonely at the end...

Bah! They're not going to shoot it down here!

We were enjoying our usual Sunday drive today and happened across a winter phenomenon and I knew you'd all like to see too!
These were taken in Belmont, Ontario... just a small village that got sucked into a larger Municipality a few years ago when they amalgamated everybody in order to (what they called) save tax dollars. 

As Dick stood behind my shoulder while I snapped these shots, he regaled me with stories of how when we were kids, we of course wouldn't have dreamt of wearing a noggin saving helmet! Sometimes yes, he would get a pair of hockey gloves in a Christmas gift, but padding was usually a borrowed Sears catalogue and phone book stuffed down your socks! 

Snowmen of 2010

I'm going to share any snowmen that I encounter on my travels this Ontario, Canada winter. I'm delighted to start with these!

The stick arms on the little guy are so expressive waving to the bigger one.

 

 

These guys were found in Sparta, Ontario on a lawn. The bright blue of the hat just makes the white so vivid!

Snow Pictures!

A lonely Gazebo awaits the summer's sun.

Can't see it? Oh! Wait! Here you go!

I hope they never paint it! Somehow the peeling baby blue just adds to the charm!

Snow Pictures!

A snowy January Sunday in Ontario Canada!

The swirls of frosty white take your breath away, it's so cold! 

What do we do? 

Why! Go out for a drive to take pictures!

Port Bruce is located on Lake Erie's north shore and is a very small hamlet with only a few hundred houses. There's a couple of trailer parks and is mostly a summer place. We like to drive over and it doesn't matter what season, we'll always find things to look at.

This is the entrance to Catfish Creek from the Lake. High atop those bluffs in that center tree, you'll sometimes catch a pair of Bald Eagles!

Not today though... but we'll keep our eyes peeled!

A close up of the end of the wall. 

I could look at ice formations all day long!

Would you have a mind to rent one of these forlorn looking cottages?

Nice in the summer... BRRR! Too cold in the winter!

A buffet of snow cones served at the park today!

Snow pictures

Snow and some bushes with red berries!

 

What more could a girl with a camera wish for?

 

The graceful arches of the branches belie the sharp prick of the thorns.

 

Somehow they're a perfect compliment to the cottage above! 

 

This cottage is named High Point

Snow pictures

Driving home home from work I passed this clump of pine trees.

I can't imagine a winter world with no evergreens in it.

They make everything seem warmer somehow!

We finally got a real snow!

I took my new camera with me to work today and although it wasn't sunny, I think I got a few decent pictures for you on my trip home.

The sky is still threatening more!

Still some open water for the ducks and geese. 

 

So serene!

Rows of apple trees.

Still some picking to do!

The flowers all have hats!