Not So Green!

Today is Saint Patrick's Day, the wearing of the green, for those so inclined. Alberta is not so inclined right now. There was a snowfall last night, heavy enough that the snowplows were out early this morning clearing our road. We live on a school bus route and it's usually cleared before 8 a.m.

When M. and I went walking the weather seemed lovely: mild temperatures (that's relative, of course), big, fat snowflakes falling gently down, and barely any wind. Later this morning the snow intensified, so our landscape is a beautiful, fresh white.

The sun came out in the afternoon, and there is a bit of melting going on. You can hear the roof draining through the downspouts. Our balcony thermometer reads +12º C, but that's on a brown, wooden post that has its back and side in the sun. The weather station at the airport is recording +1º C, so I guess the truth is somewhere inbetween.

I took some video of the snowflakes drifting down, but it seems my laptop doesn't want to recognize my video camera anymore. Thought I'd try posting a little video, but no cooperation there.

March 17 is my birthday, so we're celebrating today. Went out for dinner this afternoon, as we're used to eating our main meal at 1 p.m. When we got to the restaurant there was one other couple eating there, and later we had the place to ourselves.

Because I was born on St. Patrick's day, the doctor called me Patricia for a while. That wasn't my parents' choice. I was named Louise after my mother's favorite cousin who died when she was only 23, just before she was to get married. My Scottish aunt suggested Kathleen for a middle name, so that was chosen as my (Dutch/ American) parents' nod to the holiday.

I fooled around with the camera for a while, trying to get a good birthday photo as the Dear One is not a photographer. So here it is for what it's worth:

I'm grateful for my birthday, for each of the years that have been given to me, especially as my older brother and sister both died when they were only 45. I'm grateful for my good health, and I'm most grateful for the love of my Dear One and family.

This coming Tuesday I will be leaving for over two weeks for that hiking/camping trip with our older son. I won't be able to post during that time, but plan to take oodles of pictures. I'll be writing a log of the trip in a lovely little notebook given me by the women of the country quilting group. So long for now!