Snow Day: Part Deux

If you will remember about a week ago Vancouver got a skiff of snow- a light dusting if you will- Friday however was the really big show- snow: part deux if you will! In fact it could have been a bonafide snow day in the eyes of many Vancouverites- it was just that much snow! By now it will most likely have melted and become a distant memory to many of us- but I thought I would share Miss Lo's and my magical snow adventure-AKA how it took us almost three hours to get to Granville Island!

  
        We had a bit of last minute Christmas shopping to do and so we set out for Granville Island early on Friday morning- we walked over to the closets bus stop to wait for the direct bus to the island- we waited and Miss Lo frolicked in the snow- we waited and our mitts became sodden- we waited and our toes grew numb- the bus never came. Not to bore you with all the details but we ended up walking from the closest sky train station to our destination. Once again with much thanks to serendipity what was just a run of the mill day became magical.

       One of the things I love most about Vancouver is that as soon as the snow starts falling folks disappear- aside from a few intrepid souls Miss Lo and I had the streets to ourselves- down through the slopes of Fairview we wandered down to the sea wall. making snow balls and playing along the way- enjoying how the snow becomes the universal equalizer- making all spaces clean and white. Aside from the occasional whir of stuck tires and the shrieks of school children on recess the air was quiet with the falling snow.

       We made finally made it to Granville Island- had our hot chocolate- bought our books and caught a bus home. By the time you read this the snow will be melted and life in this coastal city will be back to normal- but for one day we had this winter magic- a gift- perhaps just what we needed!
       

The Best Bits Of Fall

       Change was most definitely in the air this weekend- the sunshine carried with it an sense of urgency to get outside and enjoy it while you could- cause that sunshine- it wasn't sticking around too much longer. The air was soft and warm and there was a clever little wind taking with it the last whisper of Summer. The colour is what the most obvious marker of change- the trees starting to turn- our city finally changing from green to reds, oranges and yellows- Fall has most definitely arrived.

         In between massive amounts of work for both the Mr. and I we managed to catch a few of those last rays- Saturday on Granville Island and Sunday in our neighbourhood. This was a weekend of catching up- on housework, baking and actual paid work we were all very busy. The Littles enjoyed the relaxing and the "doing nothing"- building a fort in their room and playing Legos until we ventured outside. I think they needed some time "doing nothing" after such a fantastic and busy Summer- according to The Boy he misses his toys while he is at school- so they needed just such a weekend.

      Venture outside was a must- yesterday was too spectacular to miss- and I'm ever so glad we did because we woke this morning to a typical Vancouver morning- rain- low skies. I'm already missing the feeling of the sunshine on my cheeks- drinking coffee in the harbour- listening to the Littles throwing rocks- dogs barking- leaves rattling in the wind. This morning is a different type of perfect Fall day- the sort where you bundle up inside and drink endless cups of tea while doing puzzles with your four year old- yeah it's that sort of day!

         It seems as though yesterday was our last hoorah at Summer- last kick at the can- our carefree outdoor living days have drawn to an end. I'm finally OK with that- I'm Ok with settling into our routine and rain gear- I'm OK with baking bread on a Sunday morning instead of running out to a Farmer's Market. It's time to settle in for the long dark days of Fall- snuggled up in wool- waiting for the Solstice to hearken back the longer days- I'm Ok with that. Fall is a time of rest and we are all ready to rest.

P.S. yesterday was my Mom's birthday and apparently I am a terrible daughter- I thought of her numerous times through out the day but for some reason thought today was October 6- yup I did not call my own Mom on her birthday- what a jerk! So Happy Birthday Mom- I will call you later this morning! XOX