I just don’t quite understand people who’d prefer this:
to thirty below zero Celsius. I just don’t get it.
For those of you who aren’t Prairie Canadians, let me define some terms. Thirty below is very cold. Thirty below is also incredibly dry. Here on the Canadian Prairies, when it gets to be thirty below there is very rarely any wind at all. Sun dogs shine in a perfectly clear blue sky (it’s too cold for clouds). It’s easy to dress up for that kind of weather. A few layers and you’re good. The primary point of this whole little rant, however, is that there is no snow. It’s too dry and cold for snow at that temperature.
Right now, we have temperatures just below freezing, cloudy skies, a strong wind blowing the dampness right through anything you can wear, and it has snowed at least ankle depth each of the last few days. Areas around us had blizzard warnings and closed highways.
All around us I hear people happy that the cold snap is over. “Finally some nice weather!” they say through teeth chattering in the damp chill. “Great to have the warm weather back!” they shout across to me between grunts as they heave shovel-loads of wet snow off their driveways.
Bah. Gimme the deep freeze any day.
I dream fondly of the day when I can task my (not-)soon-(enough-)to-be strapping teenage boys with the snow clearing tasks. After all, that’s the reason I wanted boys*.
*Not really**.
**Well, sorta not really.
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I LOVE this. We are Ontario-dwellers now, but I spent all my growing up years in Selkirk so I well remember those “too cold to snow” days. When I tell these folk out here that, they just don’t get it. Thanks for reminding we what winter used to be like. I’m really enjoying both of your posts. Nice to hear about another Canadian Homeschool family on these blogs.