I’m back for a 4th year of Changing Seasons – a monthly blogging event that celebrates the changes in our world throughout the year.
Depending on where you live, weather certainly can play a huge part in those changes, but so do all the other activities going on in our day-to-day lives – obstacles, victories, or simple survival.
Thank you to Max at Cardinal Guzman for giving this feature life for the past 3 years, and to Su Leslie at Zimmerbitch for picking up the torch from Max. Perhaps this year you’ll consider joining in too. You may discover a texture or pattern to your months that you never knew existed.
For many of us, the weather has been THE big event this month, dominating a lot of blogging space. In my corner of the world, January has been a roller coaster ride of frigid cold, followed by a teasing melt, and then back to Arctic conditions.
It hasn’t been a pleasant month for outdoor activities.
Perhaps it was just as well that I had a busy month of obligations that often kept me house bound, but in spite of that, I still managed to brave the cold on more than a few occasions.
The following photos are some of my winter time adventures this month.
I haven’t played with the colour on these photos. Life really has been a landscape of white with flat greys and browns, even on the sunniest of days. Any spot of colour discovered in this monotony would jump out, begging for a photo.
I’ve had a full month making new memories, and the month isn’t even over yet.
Later this week I’ll be reporting for jury duty. Either January will end in mind-numbing boredom as I kill time in the pool of potential jurors, or it will be an interesting blog-worthy experience. Who knows?
In the meantime, winter is here to stay for a couple more months, and Theo says to let him sleep until spring.
Winter and snow are definitely not good for outdoor activities, Joanne. However, who doesn’t love a winter wonderland like that shown on your pictures?! 🙂
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With the right clothes, winter activities can be a lot of fun, but generally I find that when it’s REALLY cold, there’s not much enjoyment being out there for very long.
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I love that «Bluffers Park on a “mild” day». Excellent. 🙂
This year I’m participating in the challenge too! Hehe
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“Mild” is a relative term, isn’t it? That day it had been ‘mild’ compared to the brutal temperatures we had earlier in the month.
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Thank you for a glimpse into your wintery world – it is very much different for me as I am on the equator in Singapore, so I love peeking into winter wonderlands!
P/S I found you through Su’s The Changing Seasons post.
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Hi – thank you so much for visiting and commenting!
As much as I grump on occasion about winter and the cold, I have to admit there is a lot of beauty in it. Thanks for seeing that too 🙂
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We complain about the heat & humidity a great deal as well, so maybe it is really a case of grass being greener on the other side! That’s one of the joys of our WordPress International Community – we have so much variety and diversity, it allows me a peek into so many different places & cultures!
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I think Theo’s got the right idea. 😀
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We could learn a lot from a cat 🙂
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So glad I met you over at Su’s. Not at all sure how I missed meeting you at Max’s. Fabulous shots, especially the river scene 🙂
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Thank you! I’m not sure how I missed this comment … I guess the fact I’m late is better than never.
This must mean you are also doing Changing Seasons. I’ll have to hop over and check it out 🙂
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Missing comments is easily done 🙂
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brrr and wonderful photos – the Toronto one is my fav here (and the cat – purrr after brrrr)
and best wishes on jury duty
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hehehe – “purr and brrrr”. I wish I had thought of that one 😀
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🙂
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Oh, it all looks Soooo… cold! The first photo with the ice on the tree is amazing, I remember your monthly visits to the lakeside and how much it changes. I think Theo has the right idea about how to spend the winter.
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Oh Jude, it WAS cold. For the last few days we’ve been enjoying relatively mild temperatures, but the cold is returning overnight.
Theo has been enjoying this temporary reprieve and spending as much time outdoors as he can, but he’ll be back to curling up in a warm spot before long!
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I’ve enjoyed following you each month. I’m happy to know that this blogging tradition is going to continue. Maybe, after I finish adding a monthly dose of positivity to the world [#WATWB], I’ll try this blogging challenge. In the meantime, I’ll groove on your photos.
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Thanks Ally 🙂
… and feel welcome to jump in any time!!
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Wonderful winter photos Joanne. Global weather seems extreme on both sides of the world so your snow and ice is a cooling contract to our hot summer.
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The contrast in our worlds is definitely striking. I’m not sure I could handle your intense heat though.
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Tasmania is the coolest part of Australia. We get a few over 30 days, but usually with a breeze. Temperatures on the mainland are more extreme. I couldn’t cope with those either, so won’t be visiting Daughter, SIL and grandson in the next few summer months. I’ll wait until April or May autumn months.
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This is one of the things I find interesting about your half of the world. You head south for cooler temperatures – we head north 🙂
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Splendid photo selection 🙂 Very fond of ice skating, cat, and frozen branch. Truly lovely. And the weather is sorta the thing here, too!
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Thank you 🙂 Today is fog, fog, and rain … not good for taking photos, unless you’re good at taking photos of fog (which I’m not).
I know you don’t like Tuesdays, so I’ll say Happy Fogday.
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Fog > Tuesdays! Thanks!
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The snow looks beautiful! It looks like a wonderful set of monthly winter adventures. My sil love Fireball. I have tried Scottish whiskey in SCOTLAND and still find no love for whiskey. lol.
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I enjoy the odd glass of whiskey or scotch – either neat or on the rocks – but I can’t say I’m a huge whiskey fan. I did however discover bourbon while visiting Louisville a few years ago. Given a choice of the three, I would pick a good bourbon 🙂
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You have been one busy woman this month including taking some great photos. That first photo screams WINTER. 🙂
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There’s been no escaping winter this year, so I’ve been making an effort to embrace it. It’s not always been easy!!
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My fave is the snowshoeing photo. After 38 years in Ottawa, I’ve come to love winter. Really love it. The quiet colours, being housebound and forced to spend hours reading instead of grocery shopping, learning to x-country ski and skate, loving good winter clothing that keeps me warm and dry. I do also sometimes wish to be a cat and curl up in a warm spot and wait it out. But not today. Today I like winter.
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Today it was easy to love winter because your face didn’t freeze off when you stepped outside 🙂
I’m trying to learn to like winter. I think I’m getting closer … and having the option to do nothing really helps 🙂
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The photo with the deer is my favorite, oh no, all of them!
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Thanks 🙂 There is just something about seeing deer that makes me smile 🙂
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Jury duty – oh my. Here in California there are two seasons: brown and green. Right now we’re in green! Only white if there’s fog… I must admit I sort of miss the snow sometimes.
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It’s taken a while to do an attitude adjustment, but this winter I’m really starting to appreciate winter for what it is – a different kind of beauty.
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Wonderful pictures, Joanne. My viewing went like this:
The ice is my favorite.
The deer is my favorite.
The bike is my favorite.
The cat is my favorite.
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LOL! Theo will always be MY favourite 🙂. Trying to get a decent picture of him though is like you trying to get one of MuMu.
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He’s a cutie.
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[…] Joanne at My Life Lived Full […]
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That first picture is my favourite – it’s amazing, though i’m sorry you had to suffer for your art! Well, it’s my favourite apart from Theo, of course. I’d like to hibernate too.
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We can learn so much from cats. I really do like their attitude 🙂
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Thanks for being part of The Changing Seasons Joanne; your January looks like it was made for whiskey and hot chocolates.
These are lovely images, and good on you for braving the cold. I particularly like the shot from Bluffers Park, and the snow-covered bike. The Big T will be envious; he quite fancies cycling in snow. Wow on the jury duty thing! I don’t know whether to wish you a boring week or an exciting one. My dad was a juror on a murder trial and it was in equal turns fascinating and distressing.
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Thanks so much, Su. I’m happy to back 🙂
I haven’t decided whether I would like a boring or exciting tour of jury duty. On one hand it would be a new experience, but I know I should be careful what I wish for!! I’m leaning towards preferring the boring 😉
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Yeah; I totally get that. Hope it works out ok whatever the outcome.
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I can barely imagine you having a dull day, Joanne. You find something worthy of notice every day, it seems. Lovely photos, but they made me cold. Brrr. I need to start a fire and make myself some hot cocoa. I hope jury duty is fascinating!
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Thanks Diana. I’m hoping for early dismissal so I can roam around downtown looking for something interesting 🙂
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May the fire in your heart keep you warm – a battle I’m sure, but just remember the inner fire … Gorgeous photos! Thank you!
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I like that imagery of an inner fire 🔥 I think I need to remember this when the going gets tough!!
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As much as I like to see a little snow now and then, you just made me grateful to live further down where the snow melts in a day or two. But, wow, great photos and good for you for getting out there in spite of the weather. Fireball whiskey would definitely do the trick after being out in frigid temps.
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We use Fireball purely for medicinal purposes 😉
We’ve had to cancel another hike today – this time because of rain. It is wet, soggy, and foggy outside.
With temperatures hovering around the freezing mark, the risk of black ice makes the thought of driving rather unattractive … not to mention getting wet in the rain 😕
Sadly it means we are now off the trail until March when Helen returns from vacation.
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That looks cold. I’ll stay inside with kitty and hot chocolate.
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I would have thought that your time in the Arctic would make the cold familiar to you. Wait … THAT’S why you’d rather stay inside – because you know! 😉
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I LOVE these photos, Joanne – especially the one of the bike in the snow…and the one of Theo!
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Thanks Donna. I think I’m getting better at “seeing” the small things around me 🙂
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Very nice photos, in my view. I’m pretty surprised you haven’t been called to jury duty in 25 years. Out here we get a summons at least once a year. Either we have more criminals, or your criminals are better at not getting caught.
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I know many people who’ve never been called – and yet my son was called last year for the 3rd time, and he’s only 32.
Getting summoned to the jury pool is one thing, but getting pulled into a trial is another.
We’re certainly not crime-free, but generally, I think our overall crime rate is much lower. Just looking at the murder rate alone, last year Toronto had 63 homicides in a population of 2.8 million. In comparison, Los Angeles had 271 in a population of about 4 million, and Chicago with a similar population to Toronto, had a staggering 650 homicides.
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That’s quite an interesting comparison. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is due at least in part to stricter gun laws in Toronto.
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I would have to agree with you.
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Theo looks comfortable. 🙂
The first picture is breathtakingly beautiful. What a great shot! Character building trips are the best. I had to smile when I read it. Fireball Whiskey (whatever that might be) sounds like a good choice.
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I recently bought a new duvet and our bed has now become a favourite spot for Theo to sleep. He seems to sink into the down 🙂
I’m assuming you are familiar with the Valentine candy cinnamon hearts? That’s what Fireball Whiskey tastes like – cinnamon hearts with an extra kick 🙂
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Sounds interesting, I will have to try it.
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That first image of the tree is stunning! I’ve been craving snowy landscapes but, haven’t yet been able to get to the snowy mountains. You’re images are egging me on! I hope to get up to the snow this week-end. Until then I’m with Theo!
Won’t that bike rust in the snow?
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That bike is definitely going to rust in the snow. I’m always a bit puzzled when I see an abandoned bike like this. I can’t help but question why.
Nature creates some magnificent ice sculptures, but it was also very slippery and it made walking rather treacherous. That was the 3rd time in one week I wished I had a hiking pole with me. Mental note – leave one in the car!!
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Jury duty? Yikes! I’ve been called once. Bring a book. When I went I was still teaching and I got a lot of marking done in three days. I never did get called up just to be turned down. Apparently teachers are very seldom chosen to be jurors.
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I figure I will be getting a lot of reading done too.
Coincidentally, my husband was called last week and he was there for only 2 half days. I’m hoping I have that kind of luck!
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You captured the beauty of winter which is something I don’t always appreciate. Great pictures.
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Thanks Kate. Winter does have a pretty face … but then it can turn ugly really fast 😉
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If I could reach through my computer screen and cuddle up with Theo, I would. Despite the bitter cold you’ve been experiencing, you managed to have some adventures and take some great photos… all is not lost! Good luck with jury duty. I seem to get a new summons almost annually, the day after my grace period is up.
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Theo is a cuddle bunny too! I often have to resist the urge to lie down with him.
I haven’t been summoned for jury duty in about 25 years. It’s funny how some people have never been called, and others get called every 3 years.
I just don’t want to get selected for a jury trial!
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Nice set of winter pictures. I must admit that we have yet to take the camera out this winter…it has been way too cold.
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I admit I haven’t been out for long in the worst of the cold temperatures. Even 30 minutes can feel like forever.
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Whenever I am feeling overwhelmed by the oppressive heat in the tropics (which is most of the time), I am going to come back to this post to cool off. Just a look at that icicle filled tree, the skating rink, and all that snow brings my mind back to the winters of my childhood. The images are so vivid I can actually feel the chill. Only 58 days, 05 hours, and 20 minutes until Spring 🍃🌸🍃
PS – Theo is adorable
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I do the same thing in the heat of summer! … I try to channel all those cold days when I couldn’t quite get warm. It makes me miss winter – ironic, isn’t it?!
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I totally get it. The only place I’ve ever been where I was not wishing for different weather on most days was during my 5 months stay in Hawaii. Paradise everyday.
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Oh yes! Although I spent only a couple of weeks in Hawaii, I learned quickly why people call it a paradise … because it is.
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Great shots, Joanne ~ but it looks a tad “chilly.”
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Oh yes – it was a ‘bit’ chilly when I took those photos. It’s ‘mild’ now, but we have freezing rain coming for the next 2 days. Oh yay {she says sarcastically).
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Few people see much beauty in a winter landscape. You managed to do it convincingly with your fine set of photos.
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Thank you so much. That’s high praise 🙂
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I have to google “fireball whiskey”. LOL.
TransCanada Trail looks very nice. I think I would like to be there when it’s above 25 degrees 😉
Have a great evening.
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I just googled it too. I had no idea it was a Canadian product. I just assumed it was ‘universal’ 🙂
… but it’s a great drink for cold temperatures 🙂
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I’m with the cat!
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My cat has THE. BEST. LIFE.
I might be a bit jealous 😉
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You’ve managed to make winter look really beautiful Joanne!
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Winter IS beautiful … when you’re warm 😉
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The photos are beautiful, Joanne. Thank goodness for fireball whiskey! Theo–what a cutie he is.
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Fireball whiskey is the best. It makes me all warm and fuzzy 🙂
… and Theo is my baby ❤️
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