Sunshine and Santa

♪♪  Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high ♪♪

I have been finding myself either silently singing or humming this John Denver tune quite often these days for it seems that  Manitoba is experiencing one of the sunniest Novembers in my memory.

Yes, it is most certainly colder than July or August (although not that much if you compare this past summer) but usually, come November, any thin slice of warmth and sunshine is such a gift… and we have had days of it.. with only more in the forecast for the coming week.

This makes me very happy, happy, happy.

Fore, it seems that no matter what the day holds… if the sun is shining, the livin’ is easy (as least in my books) :-)

This past Saturday was the perfect example.   The plan for that morning was to meet with “The Girls” for brunch at one of our favourite haunts, the Transcona Golf club.  Don’t let the name confuse you.. it is not a fancy dancy place.. but it is a place that usually serves a good breakfast and will keep the coffee flowing for the two to four hours that we sit and gab.   (I kid you not… a three to four hour brunch is the norm)  :-)

Anyway.. I arrived early.  The days are quite short this time of year so the sight of the early sun gracing the frost covered greens had me pause and pull out my ‘point and shoot’.

So pretty!!

After brunch / lunch, with the frost now gone, the sky nothing but blue and plenty of sunshine on my shoulders, I  headed out to shop and then home for  a quick walk with the dogs.

My schedule was tight.  The plan was for me to meet with the kids and grandkids that evening to take in the Santa Clause parade.

This parade is a big event here in Winnipeg and especially big this year with my grandbabies about to have their  first experience with Santa.  The weather could not have been more perfect… mild, with no wind.

We all met at BJ and Paul’s.. bundled up the kids and walked from their home to the parade route just over the Provencher Bridge.    As we turned on to Provencher  Avenue, we merged with other parade goers heading in the same direction, many pushing bundled kids in strollers, or pulling two or more munchkins in wagons.   It was a happy walk. :-)

Our timing was near perfection.  We had just placed the strollers in the front seat position, when the first float started towards us.

The “little ones”, I am sure, had no real idea what was going on.. but they sat through the entire parade, munching on snacks with their moms and taking in all the hoots, bells, and lights.

After an hour, or so, of standing in the same spot, the night chill did start to settle in some.. but no one could have asked for a better night for the celebration of lights and Santa.

As the last float passed, the parade crowd quickly  dispersed and we joined the many now heading for home, fingers a little cold, noses a little red, memories tucked away in a warm and safe place.