Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Minus One Million

This is for you, Baerg girls!

Folks, I know I just wrote a post about the delights of this Jack Frost time of year and law, I do enjoy the warmth of the inside of my house. Alas, girls, today it is so cold that when you walk outside goobers in your nose start to freeze your nostrils together. For you all who are telling me of living in states where it's in the 70'S! right now, I'd like to invite you up to the great white north. You'll enjoy your stay in a bleached land where we will submit you to a short lesson on surviving the cold and then we'll send you out to start our vehicle. Your lungs will smart as you walk, when you come in your legs will itch from the cold, and getting ready to go outside will be a 15 minute effort.

I heard a report today that Calgary (just over 60 miles away) registered as the coldest place on Earth, except for a lovely resort place in the Antarctic. Our thermometer was reading colder than Calgary! What?! It was -36 degrees Celsius, or for you cats south of the border that is -32.8 degrees Fahrenheit.  Throw in some icy wind and you have a recipe for a hibernating momma.

I guess we're lucky here in Alberta, what is the need for Botox and all those other ways to look younger? Our faces simply freeze in place and our cheeks are nice and rosy preventing any need for blusher. Be wary not to make any rude faces or have a look of shock on that mug when you walk outside-that is what might be preserved forevah (or at least until Summer!)

I lumbered out the back door to snap a photo with my husband's boots on and realized the drifts were higher than the boots, which were up to my knees. I snapped the photo and wanted to wrap myself in a full body hot water bottle. I was envious of my daughter's fleece pajamas with the feet included and thought about looking for a pattern for myself.

It is no joke that we live somewhere where there have been students who have come to school on snowmobiles to take their diploma exams. They are infamous and dedicated students, it's too bad they failed, but we knew they couldn't see out of their balaclavas.

It's also a semi dangerous time of year, not for the frost bite or the bad roads, but for our marriages. Running to the back door to greet your husband with a kiss can be a hazardous task. Who can tell any of these rural Alberta men apart, they are bundled up so much? So, before you plant a wet one on the man who appears at the door, make sure it's not a neighbour who has had a break down.

Tonight, with the stove a blazing, I'm painting signs for the Little Prairie Baby shop, be warned though folks, I am not too sure how the outcome will be. Holding a paintbrush with your mittens on is proven difficult.


26 comments:

Cathy Brian said...

BRRRRRR!!!
Our thermometers were at 2 degrees Fahrenheit with the wind blowing and who knows how cold that made it. at least when it snows here it snows horizontally, no Joke! the wind blows the snow to who knows where and the most we get is 3-5 inches on the ground. Usually it's just an inch. ahhhh, I LOVE Winter!

Grace @ Sense and Simplicity said...

Oh my, poor you. I hate that nose-sticking weather (that's what I call it), although I do love the squeaky snow you get when it is really cold. Love your photo.

Crystal said...

Thats awesome!! Totally true too!
We were only at about-27C today for a high, so I guess it was warm here?

sue said...

cheyanne you say it so right!! love winter and the coziness it brings!! i chuckled at how you say to watch out for those neighbor men who just need a hand out of the ditch and show up at your door!! and aside from the blog...thank you so much for the pkg you dropped off for me!! you're so sweet!! lets do coffee soon...

Sherry Sikstrom said...

My hubby has a mustach ,I let him come in a thaw out a little before I kiss him hello, sorry but those icicles are coooollllddd!

Anonymous said...

I love it, Chey! I am coming "home" in 2 weeks from tomorrow... Coby & Spencer are both talking about playing in the snow at Grami's house! Coby told Papa tonight that we have a "puddle" of snow on our cement pad!! :) Our snow all blew away today... So, I am looking forward to the Alberta drifts... xoxo

Julie Harward said...

I am having the same weather as Cowboy mom...because I live 10 minutes away from her! LOL It is cold...Happy Thanksgiving you little mitten painter! ;D

NaomiG said...

That picture is awesome. :-) I love it. I love the cold--but I've never experienced THAT much cold before--it's 5 degrees here right now, with a low of -5 expected tonight (Farenheit). It's amazing how breathing in it just sucks the air right out of you.

Grandma K said...

perfect description of the cold! and cold it is.....

one good thing about these temperatures, -10 feels warm!

Keep warm!

LadySmith@CashmereandCarrotSticks said...

Reminds me of my visits to my Dad's when he lived in Minnesota. It is a cold like no other. People leaving their vehicles on while eating their dinners ... heated garages ... and yes, frozen boogies in the nose for sure. Takes your breath away ... literally. Cuddle up.

Missouri Gal said...

Yes Cheyenne but along with those 70 degree temps in Missouri; come tornado watches. We are way above average down here and are under a severe weather watch for night and snow/sleet for tomorrow.
Where you live is very pretty and I do love the snow! The stories you tell sound so warm and inviting! I'd trade you summers in a heart beat!

The Polka Dot Closet said...

Cheyenne,

I get it, I live on Orlando now and it was 84 today, but I use to live in Minnesota and loved to go fishing in Canada. I had forgotten the frozen face and nose hairs until you mentioned it...YIKKES I don't think I miss it. you asked on Remodelaholics where I got the vanity from, It was either Home Depot or Lowes I can't remember, but I do remember I paid under $200 for it. I don't know if you have the big box stores in Canada?

Carol

Becky said...

Beautiful picture!

I cannot even fathom cold like that. My MIL, who does NOT like cold has been complaining all week that we might be in the 40's on Thanksgiving! That must be why she lives in Texas. :)

Jenn Jantz said...

aaawesome picture. this post made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside :)
yes.yes. I know that it HAS been 70 degrees here lately...but today it was 36. and it slowly climbed to about 45.not too cold but not warm either. well yes.whatever!!!
love- the 4th Baerg girl :)

Cartoon Characters said...

NICE photo!!!!! Love it! :) I remember those freezing cold days when I lived for a time in Regina Saskatchewan - my second year of college! I heard that about Calgary being the second coldest place on earth....I have rellies there...my nieces and nephews... :)
It was cold enough here for the past 2 days...in the Vancouver area... minus 13C....and the wind blowing was trying to take our roof off! :)

You have to be Canadian to appreciate a nice cold winter. I love it!

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

My teeth are chattering just reading this post! Your blog is beautifully done, so glad you wandered over to mine! I'll enjoy following along...

BridgeEtta said...

I can always tell my cowboy (it's the size of his nose). But it sure is/was miserable.

Anonymous said...

Oh my word... now I feel like a weenie. We've had 19 degree mornings lately, and the high's have *only* been in the 50's. ;)

Anonymous said...

that is way way WAY to cold for me! I barely survived 17 degrees F. At least you won't need botox. ;)

Colleen said...

Awww, Canadian cold...of all the things to get nostalgic about!:)
This is a great post...I think honestly people who haven't experienced real prairie cold can't understand it! Where I live now people tell me that -5 here is "exactly" like our -35 weather at home because of the wind...and in my head I'm thinking what? We get wind too and sorry but wind doesn't make your temperature go down 30 degrees!!:) LOL I just smile and nod now mostly...;)
Enjoy cozy winter days!!

Tara said...

adorable...i love picturing you running and kissing your bundled up hubby...and the fleece pjs too.

Sara said...

That is a beautiful picture! Can't imagine being somewhere it was that cold! I definitely wouldn't mind having some temperatures under 60 here!

Shirley said...

Beautiful photo, and this post made me chuckle. I spent plenty of winters in Alberta and know exactly what you're talking about.

Anonymous said...

I just added your web page to my favorites. I like reading your posts. Thanks!

Unknown said...

Gotta love Canadian winters! Or not. I love your writing style!

Michelle said...

I can't even imagine that kind of cold! I thought it was bad because it was 7 degrees Farenheit here this morning!

But I do think your snow is beautiful! I grew up in the "snowbelt" and while I'm sure even there we never got the amounts of snow you are used to, I miss having snow on the ground all winter long!

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