Yesterday... and Today...What a difference a day can make!

Just the day prior at Rumble's Mill... just a dusting!

Winter Traceries

The Old Manse

Snow festooned Birch

Looking westward up Mill Street West

St Andrew's Presbyterian Church

The Old Hillsdale Lockup....Jail

St Andrew' Steeple

Late Afternoon Light on Mill Street Residence

Yesterday morning it was dreary and rainy... with most of the dusting of snow that had made Christmas 2011 in Hillsdale almost entirely gone. It was these conditions that seemed to quickly dampen the festive spirit which had prevailed for that special day.

I had to take Liam and Bryn into Aurora... an hour's drive distant to do his evening shift at The Cineplex-Odeon Theatre... and Bryn to search out Boxing Day bargains. We left around 1:00 pm to insure his being there on time and with some "wiggle room" to spare. The rain quickly changed to snowy slush as we pushed southward on 93 Highway and by the time we were half way there it was beginning to snow quite heavily.

I quickly dropped them off and headed back towards Hillsdale... stopping only top pick up a few necessary groceries. By the time that I reached the Barrie area... still about a half hour south of Hillsdale... the roads had become treacherously slick and slush covered. It was not a pleasant trip the rest of the way home. I arrived back home around 5:45 pm... the trip requiring almost triple the usual time required to make the two way journey.

At bedtime... it was quite evident that the 2 cm estimated snowfall target predicted by Environment Canada had long been surpassed. Upon waking this morning there was almost 10 inches of powder snow on the ground... on top of the 2 cm of slush predicted. Nasty! Numerous collisions were reported all along the route I had taken... clear down into Toronto and westward to Southwestern Ontario.

This powdered snowfall adhered to the already wet branches of the trees... the grasses and fences everywhere in the village... transforming the landscape and residences into a lacy...winter faeryland. Between the frigid cold... the strong gusting wind and the marshmallow dominated features of the landscape... it was too much to paint up... but not too much to record and enjoy on a walk!

I ventured out around the village this afternoon to take some photos to share with all of you... who don't have this in your climate. I will say nothing further... except to underscore a few words from a Christmas favourite... that I'm sure you will all know. Walking in Hillsdale in the northwesterly wind this afternoon was very cold.... -15C with a windchill 0f -25C. But it truly was in every way like..."walking in a winter wonderland!" I think these jpegs say so too!

I am sending these snowy pix to my SoCal friend Marian Fortunati to enjoy.... and borrow for Canadian winter subject matter... should she wish to do so! Anyone else motivated ... get a shovel and dig in!.... Be my guest!

Good Painting in 2012 to ALL!!!