The Wonders of Winter

Just as soon as November arrived, we had our first snowfall and I was so excited.

When I was a kid, I lived in Saskatchewan, and every year when winter got close, I’d pull all of my cold weather gear out and make sure it still fit.

I had really great winter boots with the felt lining inside. I had full snowsuits that kept me nice and warm. We didn’t mess around with the gear!

Snow Days Everyday

There was no way that anyone could keep me inside when it was snowing.

I was really fortunate that my parents sold snowmobiles, so I always had access to easy winter transportation. I was a passenger for a short while until I learned to drive, and from that point onward I was responsible for driving my own snowmobile.

In one home that we lived in on the outskirts of town, we could ride our snowmobiles right out of the garage into this big open plain. There were several different bowls that we would go to that filled up with powder.

We built snowpeople, and had snowball fights. We constructed forts that I could easily hang out and play in for hours at a time.

From about 9 years old onward, I was in charge of shoveling. It was a way for me to channel my energy, and to this day, I still enjoy it.

I even love being snowed in, especially where I live now. It happens almost every winter, and we always make sure we’re stocked up for a couple of weeks just in case. 

Putting Snow Onto Canvas

I love snow so much that when I was learning to paint, the first thing I wanted to learn was winter landscapes. It’s a challenge because this season is all about the absence of colour, and if you know me, you know I love colour.

My snow probably comes out more colourful than it should, but it’s a way of blending my two loves together.

Surviving winter is a whole sport for me, and it brings me joy every year.