Have a boo at an example of the text messaging that has been winging across the country between me and my two away-at-college darlings:

https://www.kellylmckenzie.com/wicked-family-weather-contrasts/
Wicked Family Weather Contrasts, what?

Note the delightful photo of our rabbit with a background of grass.  Wicked mommy sent that to her son (“I just want to see a blade of grass” and her daughter “I forget what grass looks like.”) Why? Because of this pictorial gem I’d received a moment earlier from my girl:

Winter icicles https://www.kellylmckenzie.com/wicked-family-weather-contrasts/
My children’s reality

Wicked Family Weather Contrasts

How big is that contrast? Well, I’m languishing here on the west coast of Canada where the current temperature is 8 degrees Celsius. My children are a handful of provinces over and their temperatures are hovering at -29 degrees Celsius.

In Farenheit language that’s a wicked family weather contrast of

46.4 F versus -20.2F.

Ok off to pick snowdrops and check on the rabbit. She’s not been outside lately due to all the rain we’ve been getting so I’d say she’s loving her outside life right now.

side view of brown rabbit outside https://www.kellylmckenzie.com/wicked-family-weather-contrasts/
This is grass M and H!

Sorry guys. Maybe you’ll see the real thing come May? Hope you got those boots glued, H.

snowdrops blooming https://www.kellylmckenzie.com/wicked-family-weather-contrasts/
My version of the white stuff

Enough about me and my wicked family weather contrasts. I’m curious about you. Grass or snow under foot at the moment? If you’d care to share, I’d love to hear.

*** Huge apologies to my Boston area blogging pal Donna. Feel free to print this out and throw darts at it!

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38 Responses

  1. Kelly, Your photos are actually giving me hope for Spring! It will arrive some day (though we may not see grass again in our yard until June or so). Meanwhile, the kids and I are playing new games, like “watch the neighbors climb onto their roofs to clear the snow,” and “count the houses that have dangerous icicles completely blocking their front doors.” Sending warm thoughts to your family!

    1. Grinning here over the concept of those games Donna. Brilliant. I love both of them. I thank you for the warm thoughts and will pass them on. Sending you some too.

  2. Cloudless blue skies as far as the eye can see. I am so looking forward to Autumn – my favourite season. I am not looking forward to today. Our temperature is predicted to be 100 degrees (38C) with 98% humidity. It’s not the temperature; it’s the humidity. I can take 100 or even 105 if there’s no humidity, but when you’re practically breathing water… Praise God for air-conditioning.

    1. Wow. Yes, I can see how you must be looking forward to Autumn Lyn. Humidity is a killer. Can’t imagine what 100 degrees with 98% humidity is like. Ouch. Is it hard to breathe sometimes?

      1. It sure is, Kelly. I’m an asthmatic, so I tend to stay indoors on days like that. It’s even worse if there have been bushfires. It’s not the trees burning that causes problems, it’s when houses are destroyed and all the chemicals and plastics mix with the humid air and smoke. They usually have a rush of emergency admissions to hospital. Thank God we haven’t had any really big bushfires near us this year, but Oct 2013 saw 196 homes destroyed. It took me until May 2014 to fully recover from the effects of the smoke combined with a bad reaction to the flu vaccine.

        1. Oh Lyn that is tough. My son is asthmatic and so I have an inkling of what you’re going through. But add in the houses and the chemicals and plastics. 196 homes? I cannot imagine the smoke. Add in a bad reaction to the flu vaccine and you must have been miserable.

  3. I just assumed that all of Canada was bitterly cold and covered in snow right now – shows how little I know about Canada even after your super informative posts recently!!!
    We have some snow but nothing like they have in the NE thankfully!

    1. Oh now that is too funny Kim. Really? I quite understand it though as don’t most of the weather reports state “cold weather coming in from Canada?” We get the pineapple express zooming up from Hawaii so our weather is often wet and mild at this time of year. Olympics 2010 was the worst. Whistler where all the downhill and cross country skiing took place was fine but they had to ship snow in for the local mountain where the ski cross happened. It was quite something.
      Your comment makes me think Katy and I should team up and do a post on weather differences. Hmmmm…

  4. Yes Kelly, we are so fortunate to live in this lovely utopia ! I saw people in shorts yesterday when we were out for a walk. So hard not to laugh at those poor folks in the east shovelling their snow !

    1. Oh I know Jane. Isn’t it true? We are so very lucky. Can’t help but grin when I remember our dog walks together though. Rain? More like downpour.

  5. Wow…that is a difference for not being too far apart! We are just now getting our very first snow of the season, so I have to say, that I’m kind of excited about it! The kids are outside now, sledding in the dark by the light of the neighbor’s four wheeler! Such fun times!

    1. Oh that is so much fun! My guys weren’t as fortunate to sled by the light of the neighbor’s four wheeler. It was usually pretty dark when we’d go and the only light other than the very dim street light was that from our flashes as we took photos! As for the distance of my two and me – I may have under exaggerated a tad – it’s a good 3000 miles. But same country!

  6. We had our first real snow of the season today. When I went to bed last night they were predicting 4-6″. We got the lower amount. It had all fallen by noon, and then the sun came out.

    1. Wow – that sounds like us Kathy. That usually happens to us too. However, this year we’re still waiting for our first real snow of the season. Enjoy! Hope it hasn’t all melted.

  7. Oh I love bunnies! What’s it’s name?
    It’s 70-something here in NorCal (I’ve fogotten what that is in Celsius, sorry! I’m not a good Commonwealther I know). It’s weather gone wild all over the world and honestly it scares me. But green promises of spring and early jasmines still make me happy 🙂

    1. Her name is Bonanza. We got her from the SPCA when my son was in grade 8 – 6 years ago now! She is a little love and I do feel so guilty that she doesn’t get more running around time. 70 degrees? Wow. That is lovely. I too am alarmed by the world weather craziness. It is so bizarre to have the local mountains shut here because of lack of snow. Would you normally be a bit colder this time of year?

  8. So ready for spring showers here in New England :-). Kelly, I’ll take that mud you’re complaining about over the snow so deep and weather so cold, my winter-hearty dog is calling “uncle” (she enjoyed pond swims at the farm in the middle of winter up until a recent move). Wait a minute – you being a canook and all, maybe that expression hasn’t made it up North (I’ve followed how challenged you are with US norms in recent blog posts – swims were in the Rochester NY area, now that you know where it is ;-))? Or maybe you’re too young :-). “Uncle” or crying uncle is a term once used in the US to express defeat. More fodder for future educational posts, no doubt.

    1. Yes to the canook and “Uncle.” Am familiar with both. Happily. Oh man I cannot imagine the snow being that deep or it being so cold. Truly a challenge for you all. This blog post of mine had my daughter googling “frostbite” and she suspects she has a mild case of it on her hands. Literally. And I now I’m off to google map Rochester …

  9. I’m so surprised your kids thought it was a great idea to attend college in Canada’s frozen east. Guess this means they’ll be looking for a job in Vancouver when they graduate! (And if so, that was very good planning on your part Kelly!)

    As someone who grew up near LA, I often stare at my surroundings (snow and cold here near Detroit) and think, “Everyone! There is a better way! Follow me!” and then the whole state picks up and moves south.

    1. Hahaha! A friend of mine has a daughter at the same college as mine and she said just yesterday that she suspects her daughter will try to get into Law at UBC. After reading my post yesterday my daughter googled “frostbite” and is now reporting mild frostbite on her hands. Literally.
      Lead on Katy – there is a better way!

  10. Oh Kelly – what a dose of eye and spirit relief your charming photos are! We’re still firmly frozen in Winter’s grasp and I’m beginning to think it may be August before I see a blade of grass poking out of the snow drifts. I charge you with enjoying your fabulous prelude to Spring for all of us doubtful we’ll ever get there.

    1. I am sorry Deborah and am starting to get a tad guilty about how beautiful it is here right now. I might even have to mow the lawn soon…

    1. Hahahaha! No you’re not alone Amy. My pal whose daughter is also in the snowy, chilly East says she dreads even talking to her about the concept of gardening …

  11. Freezing here. I live in an apartment with timed heat that goes off at night, so the place gets really frigid during the wee hours. I will be glad when spring comes.

  12. Snow here, but it’s not bad. Just freeeeezing cold. Tomorrow it’s going to be -5 degrees, and poor Nellie will not be getting her walk. Sending warm thoughts to your kids!

    1. How is Nellie when it’s pouring? Poppy just sits in the open doorway refusing to budge. If I need her to zip out for a quick pee I have to go out too otherwise she’ll just sit there. Thanks for your kind warm thoughts to my two. I’m sending some your way as well.

  13. Wow! Your grass is soooo green! I LOVE green grass and green trees. Here in MN not much snow but so very cold. I think it was -8* F (sorry but I have NO IDEA what that is translated to for you) Then with the winds, Brrr…

    Your bunny is so cute!

    1. Thank you Elda. Bonanza is a gem of a rabbit and I just wish she had more free time to run around. The grass in the backyard where the photo was taken is lovely however the grass in the front is in horrid shape. We have chafer beetles in this part of the world and the crows and skunks and raccoons delight in tearing up the lawns to get at them. -8 is cold! I grew up with F so I can well relate. Stay warm!

  14. Love the bunny and snowdrops photos Kelly! It has been mild in MT, but supposed to turn cold and snow this weekend. Sorry to read in the comments about your daughter’s hands – hope they are just frost-nipped, not frost bit!

    1. Thank you Susan! It is another lovely day here. I shall think of you as I sip my coffee and look at the weeds I mean snowdrops. Have to say I envy your snow – didn’t see any this year! Yes I too hope that M’s hands are frost – nipped…

  15. I’ve been weighing the pros and cons of super cold temperatures (Chicago) vs more snow than humans should be expected to cope with (Boston). I’m thinking that the cold wins this battle because it usually lasts a shorter period of time. I’m convinced that this snow will be around until July! Bottom line – your blades of grass take the trophy!

    1. I cannot imagine the amount of snow that has fallen in Boston, Mo. Looking out my window now all I see is green grass and green shoots popping out of the soil. Seven feet of snow with more on the way is mind boggling. I am thinking that the cold wins this battle too.

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