snow II

The weather reports were indicating that we don't often get severe snow storms in British Columbia's lower mainland. Well, that isn't entirely true as you can see from these photos I took when I was living in Surrey (Guildford) near 104th Avenue and 148th Street. These were taken in the latter part of November of 2006. December of that year brought a great wind storm that damaged a lot of trees on the windward side of Stanley Park. Anyways, the snow, it started on a Friday and continued through the weekend. These images show the scene after the snow had stopped but before it was trodden upon.
There has been snow in the years after this one but not as much. I still remember the parking lot in the apartment complex being unploughed. It remains so and only the rain that came after washed away the snow but that took about a week. It was not so bad for us that walked and took the bus but those that had to drive, the parking lot was a nightmare! Feel free to comment and share your own stories! Have a good night, guys!!! - V

more snow pics

During my first year here in the lower mainland of British Columbia once I got settled I was living in north Surrey. Toward the latter part of November 2006 this snowstorm started on a Friday and continued through the weekend. When the snow had stopped coming down, I took these photos. So in addition to the one that I sent Jared, here are some more from the series. Shots are taken through the livingroom and dining room windows facing east plus another window facing north. When the sun came out, it made for a surreal sight.

I'll let the photos speak for themselves. Meantime, I did some research afterwards and learned that this is actually "normal" weather for this region. What has been the case for the last 50 years or so is actually above normal. That being said, the main roads were fine but side streets were not ploughed nor were parking lots. The apartment complex I lived in at the time never bothered to arrange for a plough and left the snow nature to melt. That took just over a week. People have no idea!

Back east in southwestern Ontario the main roads would have been cleared the first night and then the side streets would have been next. The streets and sidewalks would have been cleared within 2 - 3 days but then they have the equipment to move the snow, here they don't. It does look beautiful when untouched by man nor beast, so enjoy the pics. There will be more from the series at Haliaeetus, my other blog. I certainly welcome comments! - V.

snow then,none now

Back in December 2006 I allowed my blogger friend, Jared, over at Completely Naked to post one of my photos. This one is of a series of photos taken after a snow storm which started November 20 had ended. The snow was fresh and untouched by man nor beast. The camera is facing east, northeast and the sun is off to the south (right off the frame). The sun made its appearance through an opening in the cloud cover to the south of where I lived at the time in north Surrey, British Columbia. Its looks very pristine and surreal at the same time but the driving afterwards was terrible. The side streets were never ploughed (the city just didn't have the equipment) though the main roads were passible. What for me was "normal" where I came from back east, was a disaster here in the lower mainland on the west coast where such snow hadn't been seen in more that 20 years. This photos makes for an awesome Christmas pic. Sadly, this year we had a green Christmas. What snow we had (a dusting), melted in the rain that follow about two weekends ago or so. When I find the disk that has more photos from this series, I'll post a few more. Have a great festive season!!! - V.

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year! I slept in this morning until about 10 am and it felt good to have a full night's sleep as I normally get up about 5 am each workday morning. Obviously, today is a day off but I'm back to work tomorrow, Friday, getting up at the usual time.

We had some more snow over night, so this was the scene looking out of my bedroom window this morning (see pic above). I've read my emails and such. Now that I've done that, I'll take a shower and start my day. I guess it'll be lunch before I eat anything! Have a great day and an even greater year, 2009! More later.

View

This was the view outside my bedroom window this afternoon, minus the robin, of course! I didn't manage to get a shot of the bird in this photo. Perhaps another time. But all this reminds me, I should take some birdfeed with me to feed the birds at Lost Lagoon in Stanley Park. They must be starving! And I intend to take a special someone along to help, and he knows who he is!!! More to come!

Changing temperatures

This was the scene in New Westminster's Queens Park last Sunday and most of the week until temperatures changed overnight. It was snowing yesterday but that changed during the night. When I looked outside my window this afternoon, I could see water dripping from a Japanese maple outside my bedroom. A robin was perched on one of its branches. I managed to get a shot but the robin had disappeared by the time I showed up at the window again with my camera in hand. I'll keep you posted.

Friday evening I was turning off the Grundig radio I keep in the kitchen and turned off the power switch on the electrical cord when the switch sparked and a flash came out and blackened my finger. I guess I was lucky enough not to get a shock! I immediately unplugged the radio. This morning I checked to see if the radio was working but found nothing. The switch is gone at the very least and perhaps the entire cord will have to be replaced to get the radio working. There's a lot of history in that radio. I used to listen to shortwave radio back in the early 1970s with my brother and often spent hours on my own listening to radio stations around the world, such as from Radio Netherlands from Hilversum, or Voice of America from Washington, DC/USA, Radio Moscow, Radio Japan, Radio Australia from Melbourne, New South Wales, or Radio KUSW from Colorado/USA and so on. The furthest away station was one from a transmitter north of Perth, Western Territory/Australia where I caught a variety show early in the morning after returning home from work. The sound was so clear, as if it was from a station in the city where I lived. I continued to listen to the radio for years after my younger brother passed on. Like I said, lots of memories! Let's see if I can get this thing working again!!!

Meantime, I have been busy today sorting stuff and separating that which is to go to the auctioneer apart from that which I am to keep. Its a chore. More coming, including photos!

Merry Christmas - Frohe Weihnachten - Joyeux Noel

This afternoon I took about an hour or so to go on a walk over to nearby Queens Park. As you can see, the snow is coming down once again. There is also another snow warning out on the Weather Network from now through Friday. I've no idea of the amount but we'll have to see. Meantime, children are playing on a hillside in the park and if we remember back to our own childhood, we would have been out in the snow for hours with boundless energy!

The trees in the park had a fresh coat of snow on them. The photos would have been better with some sunshine but I guess that's not coming today. When the sun does shine, you'll see some bright photos but these pics give you an idea how much has fallen!

Next year's cones are ripening and waiting for a visit from bird and squirrels. These condos are near home, covered in fresh snow, as even more of the white stuff comes falling down. The lower photo shows the condos along McBride Blvd near home with Queens Park in the background. Enjoy the photos! There will be more!!!

Snow - lots of snow

Mac over at YOTD had a couple of comments concerning snow. Well, here are a few photos of a series I shot in November of 2006 (north Surrey) after a snowstorm. Since people are not used to such snowfalls in the lower mainland, some had a bit of a challenge to get through the week or so until the snow melted. That year I used the first photo in an email Christmas card and a blogger friend of mine in San Francisco, Jared at Completely Naked, asked me if he could post it in his blog. Its nice to see fresh, undisturbed snow! What makes these photos so surreal is the sun just starting to shine through a break in the cloud cover to the south. Since the sun is low on the horizon, it adds a certain something to the scene. Enjoy!