Living in Winnipeg for most of my life one would think that I would be more tolerant of the winter experience. But the simple truth is, I am not. For me it is not so much about the snow as it is about the cold, and the ultimate ruler of the season, the north wind.
Too me winter often feels like a steep hill… January being the peak and then the plateau with February bringing just the tiniest semblance of a downward slope. By April, sometimes March (fingers crossed), I slide into Spring often landing gently, other times with an exhausted thud, always with a sense of relief at having made it through yet another one.
So here I find myself, wavering on the highest ledge and gazing with longing and more than a hint of anticipation at the downward trend.
Actually the past two days have provided a dramatic dip in the landscape that is my winter. Not sure on any of the scientific explanations, but a dominant southerly flow brought us an almost spring like reprieve with temps hovering at 0C and even slightly above.
My friend, Sparky, and I could not have timed things better. There could not have been a more perfect February day for a walk, a talk and a photo shoot.
Our destination: Fort Whyte.
Our hope: to see us some deer.
As it turned out… the only deer sighting was that of a white tail bounding from the trail into the brush, out of range of our camera’s lens.
But lots of other sightings were captured. Here are but a few.
click a picture for a larger view
It’s quite surprising how a small reprieve can be a boost to one’s moral. Even though the north wind has once more laid claim to the Manitoba prairie, the winter has lost some of that ‘never-ending’ feel.
