Flash freeze

This has been an unusual winter. We had a month of deep freeze weather followed by two months of freeze and thaw. Flash freezing has occurred several times. When I was a child, I have a vivid memory of what I believe to be a flash freeze and the conditions my family faced one night. Two archival photos on-line recently reminded me of the event.

We lived with my Dad’s father in St. John’s from the time I was born until I was three. Then we moved to Maddox Cove, next door to my mother’s family. The photos show images of Petty Harbour, a neighbouring community, in the 1950s, which is part of my memory.

We had a car at that time and one Sunday, went to visit my grandfather in St. John’s. That evening, on our return home, it was icy. I imagine a mild winter day when the water is running and then the temperature drops. A flash freeze is the result. 

We drove through Petty Harbour and rounded the point of land on the road to our home in Maddox Cove, just a mile away. A few minutes later, Dad came to a dead stop. My three year old self in the back seat became aware of a discussion my parents were having about the dangerous road.

Snow had melted from the mountain on the left side and ran over the road which was positioned above a cliff. This road would be equivalent to a cow path by today’s standards. We had stopped by the Big Gulch, and on the passenger side of the car, we could look down into the gulch, where the waves broke over the cliffs, sending spray skyward. The headlights shone over the ice surface which sloped towards the gulch. I don’t remember a guard rail in place along that treacherous road but I imagine there was a fence like the one in this photo.

No wonder I was scared.

There were no studded snow tires but Dad had chains in the trunk. Somehow, he and my mother put chains on the tires. Dad steered our car as it crept over the ice with the chains sounding like jingle bells. At least that sound was comforting. I remember the sense of relief when we drove past the danger. 

The images of the gulch and the ice are as vivid to me as if they happened yesterday. I wonder if my father, who would have been in his early thirties at that time, ever had second thoughts about driving home over that treacherous road?

Red shore

Burrs

There aren’t any branches or leaves. All that remains is a knotted mass of burrs on what is left of a tree. It has long since shed its youthful beauty. Unlike any other gnarled tree we have ever seen in our treks on Prince Edward Island, this one is covered in burrs. Usually there are one or two burrs. 

This tree tests imagination.

One can only imagine the stress this tree endured. Was it from fungi, bacteria, viruses, insect activity, animal activity, weather, human damage or a combination of any of these factors? Even the twigs are affected.

This tree makes me wonder how stress affects our bodies.

What are our burrs? Are they loss of sleep, lines on the face, gray hair, weight gain or loss? Are they even more insidious such as damage to blood vessels and heart from high blood pressure due to stress hormones? We each handle stress in our own way but there is potential for body damage. Unlike the burrs on this tree, most of us don’t show the stress as readily. 

Or do we?

What a difference a cloud makes

Cloud cover has a huge impact on light. This is especially evident at the harbour in Summerside this time of year. Ice and snow make a white blanket which reflects the light filtered through the clouds.

A overcast day recently had deep blue gray cloud cover. It reflected blue off the white frozen surface of the harbour. 

Another day, white clouds barely covered the sun and the surface of the harbour reflected silver.

Then there are those days without a cloud in a sunny sky, like this one last April. The sea and sky became one.

Perfect.

The break

Could it be? Are these the first signs of the spring thaw that will release the harbour from its winter blankets of ice and snow? Will the strengthening sun, offering its twelve hours of light now, be enough to offset the colder temperatures at night? Will the harbour soon break free again, released from its winter prison?

We pondered these questions as my husband and I walked along the shoreline this past week. Close to shore, there is open water in several areas now. Short days ago, the shoreline was frozen solid, exhibiting footprints of adventurous humans and animals, such as foxes. 

Now only the fool hardy would attempt to traverse anywhere along this shoreline, as slush is obvious in places. It is a hopeful sign to us who have felt trapped for months, prisoners to the gray light and bitter cold. 

We are waiting for the sun to release us now, sentence over for this year. Time to make plans for the days of light!

Besides, the geese are back!

Peek-a-boo

Being five

Caitlin, our granddaughter, is turning five. She is a tiny girl, capable for her age and loves to dance. 

Caitlin enjoys games, crafts, stories, puzzles and all the little girl things of the day, such as Shopkins. She adores her older sister, Sylvie, 

and is a awesome big sister to baby Owen.

She also loves her best friend Elliotte.

Caitlin was the baby of the family for four years but has been the middle child for nine months now. It is easy to be eclipsed by your siblings, especially when you are the quiet one. Since the baby receives lots of attention and the older sister is a verbal fireball, Caitlin had to re-establish her position in the family this past year. While her mother has been on maternity leave and as the oldest child at home during the day, Caitlin has blossomed and found her voice.

Her grandfather and I love alone days with Caitlin. We do activities she enjoys which include feeding the animals along the boardwalk. Having time when she alone controls the activities and makes the decisions such as where we’ll have lunch, are times she loves.

Every now and then, Caitlin says something you know she’s thought about for a while. Of her little brother she said, “He’s a nice boy but he’s too little.” Owen cannot play with her yet. 

Caitlin has empathy in abundance. Her sister was dressed in a costume for a special day at school and excited about the costume and the event. Caitlin, watching the scene, said to her mother, “I am so happy for Sylvie, Mommy.” 

This sweet little five year old has a special place in our hearts. Happy birthday sweetie! We love you to the moon and back.