Thursday, November 17, 2011

Hibernation Sounds Good To Me!

The bears have the right idea.  As soon as it gets cold, they go to sleep and stay that way till spring thaw.  That's what I feel like doing today.  It's our first real snow of the year (winter weather warning issued last night).  Today is a grey, windy, snowy, blustering day.  Not a day to venture outside unless you really have to.  Not one of our pretty sunny snowy days, but just cold and ugly.  I wouldn't mind except for the fact that Lloyd is out of town - in Arizona no less - and I'm going to have to go out when/if the snow ever stops, and shovel the walk and driveway.  It's the law!  I don't want to be fined.

Anyway, so far today I've done two loads of laundry, vacuumed, dusted, made the bed, tidied my scrapbook room, answered emails, played a few computer games and packed.

In reply to your unspoken question, Lloyd is in Arizona on a retreat with his staff.  In his case, the retreat consists of a lot of golf with his boss, as well as organizing the retreat sessions.  He has such a hard life!  To be fair though, he's staying an extra week after the retreat is over and I'm joining him on Saturday morning and we'll spend a week together at our place down there.  Then he's coming home and I'm staying another week and Mickey is coming down to join me for that week.  When Mickey and I go down, we take a few scrapbook projects to work on so we have something to do between shopping, sightseeing, and lazing by the pool.  Unlike our native Arizona friends who insist that you don't go swimming in the winter, we do.  That's why we had the pool put in.  If the air is a bit chilly, we just crank the water temperature up to 85 and enjoy.

By the time I'm back here up north, it'll be December and maybe then I'll feel more in the Christmas mood.   I love Christmas time and the music, shopping, excitement, etc. but this year I just haven't been able to get into it.  I can't even listen to my favorite radio station these days.  They're calling themselves "Edmonton's feel good Christmas station" and since Nov. 12 they've gone to the 'all Christmas all the time' music format.  Not to be a grinch, but isn't that a bit early?    I don't mind the stations doing all Christmas all the time if they wait till December to start it.  I love Christmas music, but I'm going to be sick of it by the time December starts if I listen to that station any more.  Bah! Humbug!

Anyway, that's where I'm coming from today.  Here's a picture a friend sent me.  I've actually seen this animal bridge.  It's quite amazing.


This bridge was built across a highway outside of Banff, Alberta, because the highway interfered with the animals' natural crossing and they were being hit as they tried to cross the road.  The bridge runs parallel to the highway bridge, just a bit lower.  It didn't take the elk long to figure out what it was for. If you can't read the signpost, it's pointing right to Calgary and straight ahead to Lake Louise.

Hope you're having a warm, cosy day today.

Pat

7 comments:

TARYTERRE said...

I'm with you. Let's HIBERNATE. Where's the cave? I don't envy you there alone with the snow and the task of shoveling. Pace yourself. It's great you're going to Arizona to get away from it for a while. Have FUN. We're thinking about visiting our daughter there later in the year. I'm crazy about the Christmas music. Our local stations won't start playing it here until Thanksgiving Day. And I could use a Little Christmas sung by Angela Lansbury right about now. Take care.

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

It sounds like you are going to have a busy few weeks. It's nice you have some place to get away to. The first flakes of the season are falling here this evening. I don't expect much but still it's snow and I am not ready for it. I really do hibernate in the winter as I don't go out much at all unless I have to.

Bev said...

Glad to see the bridge being used! I wondered how often they were used!...Well Arizona is warm...90 today:)..but we have to come home...next week...

mickey said...

Shovelled twice with DH today. Rather enjoyed it! I've always liked shoveling. I am especially looking forward to our week away in Arizona! It's always so lovely there -warm weather,relaxing salt water pool, delicious restaurants and shopping at Kohls!

Granny Annie said...

Hibernation is such a great idea. I am definitely ready after going out yesterday morning to feed the animals and feeling the beginning bite of the bitter cold.. Suddenly it dawned on me that I'm not far away from having to trudge out to the barn, fighting the elements (like snow and ice). Not looking forward to that. Tis the season when moving to town looks pretty good.

Magpie said...

Okay, I'm here trying to post a comment and all I can do is be fascinated by your guest map thing. It's great! I'm glad you all are headed down to sunny Arizona to enjoy some of our warm weather, but swimming? You are wild and crazy Canadians. :) I thought I might recommend another series of books. They're e-books only and are written by John Locke. They're the Donovan Creed series and are hysterically funny and warped all at the same time. I normally wouldn't recommend that someone read books out of order, but I started with "Saving Rachel" and I think you might want to too. Travel safely and I hope the Christmas mood strikes soon, but I agree...way too early for the Christmas music.

Anonymous said...

Hibernating sounds good to me - although I wouldn't mind a trip to Arizona to swim in your pool! I think I would throw the radio out of the window if I was subjected to wall to wall Christmas music! Stay safe and warm in the snow.