Like so many Canadians, I used to grumble my way through the winter months. I no longer do that, in fact, I actually now look forward to our winter season.
Much of my “winter attitude “ changed in my early 30’s when a group of my girlfriends decided we should take ski lessons. What a hoot!
Looking back, I give credit to those ski lessons for teaching me that, in order to truly enjoy our Canadian winters, it is necessary to invest in some proper winter attire. Denim jeans & a light jacket just don’t cut it in sub zero temperatures!
There is truly nothing more beautiful than a sunny winter day with freshly fallen snow.
This past weekend, we were gifted one of those days. When I woke up & looked out the window, Mother Nature had created an absolutely gorgeous canvas overnight, and she was begging me to come out & play.
I could not refuse her urging.
Although skiing isn’t currently an option here in Ontario, due to our lockdown status, getting outside & enjoying the fresh air certainly is!
And so I met up with a couple of friends to hike a nearby trail, an activity still considered doable and safe.
Breathing in the sunshine and fresh air was exactly what I needed, as was the company of good friends. A reminder of how very vital it is to continue to connect with the people in our lives who matter most.
As we hiked deeper into the trail, Mother Nature reminded us at pretty much every turn, that there is still so much beauty in the world to behold.
After completing our hike, we grabbed a few blankets from our cars, a nice bottle of raspberry cider I had brought along, and sat for a wee bit discussing life and the importance of enjoying these simple moments together.
No matter where you happen to live on this planet, I encourage you to get outside, even if it means you have to add a few extra layers. The reward in doing so far outweighs the effort it sometimes takes to drag our butts out there.
Trust me, it is good for your soul!
Cheers & hugs,
L💛
Life After 50 
It absolutely is, Lynn, even if it’s only to share that interesting looking cider you have there. 🙂 🙂 Cheers, m’dear, and a healthy happy 2021 to you and yours.
The cider is delicious Jo! Cheers to you and hopefully a much more enjoyable 2021!💕
A wonderful time indeed!
It sure was my friend!💕
Beautiful photos!! Thanks for sharing Lynn and thank you for reminding me how beautiful winter can be…..when it’s mild. 😉
Thanks JD! Girl, get those layers on!😂
Although I’m glad I don’t live where it snows, I still appreciate the beauty of a fresh blanket of whiteness. Your hike looked wonderful! I can’t think of one time that I’ve regretted getting out in nature… no matter how cold.
I so agree Janis, sometimes we need to convince ourselves to get outside but once we do, we always feel so much better. Thanks so much for visiting!💕
Lynn, beautiful photographs! Reminded us of the days when we lived in Chicago and would take our two dogs out in sub zero temperatures to the forest preserve and find a sunny spot to sit in the fresh snow while watching the dogs run and slide on the frozen pond.
Raspberry cider? Yumm that sounds delicious.
Totally agree that embracing the seasons and getting out into nature is the best thing one can do. Grateful to our dogs for making us go out on days when most “normal” people would stay in and thought we were crazy. And yes, the clothing is essential. I had a ridiculously warm pair of 100 percent fur lined pants that Ben picked up somewhere in France and with those and a jacket etc, did not even feel the cold.
Beautiful photos. Especially the pine needles.
Peta
Always so lovely to read your comments Peta and I can’t think of another person who totally immerses themselves in their beautiful surroundings, no matter what the weather!
The raspberry cider is from a local cider house just north of us & it is delicious!
No wonder Ben is such a dog whisperer, sounds like you & he have had years of experience.
Thank you for visiting my friend, hope you are both loving & living life to its fullest 🤗💕
Nice photos of your outing. We used to cross country ski when we lived up north. Happy wintering in 2021!
Cross country skiing is a wonderful way to enjoy the trails in winter! Sure hoping for more days like the one described in this post🤞
Dry and cold is good. Grey, wet, muddy and windy is not. Sadly we don’t get many of those sunny cold days, but I know what you mean.
Very true Jude. It has been rather damp here the past few days, I much prefer the snow!
Love it.
It was pretty beautiful Dwight!
I loved this post! Beautiful photos! It has been several years now since I skied down a mountain. It is a wonderful thing…even in the bitter cold. Once you get moving, you do warm up a bit, and you must dress for the weather. Great reminders here for a life well-lived, pandemic or no pandemic. We must connect with the people we love and care about. And, there is nothing like fresh air to clear your head and give you a better perspective. Happy New Year! 🙂 Keep ‘playing’ in your winter wonderland…you are blessed!
Thank you so much Linda, it was such a beautiful day! We are keeping our fingers crossed that we will get some sort of ski season in but who knows at this point.
Finding ways to connect with friends & family has been so vital to my well being through all of this. I truly am very blessed! Have a wonderful day!💕
It really was pretty with the fresh snow and your pictures are lovely – especially the pine branches.
I like your idea of bringing a blanket. We routinely have ‘refreshments’ after a hike and it can be quite chilly, especially as the body starts to cool down from the hike.
Thanks for the tip! Note to self – bring a blanket!!
Thankfully, I always have a couple of blankets in my car, mostly in case of emergency. They were put to very good use that day!🥂💕
I’m trying very hard to learn to like Winter! And this post was very helpful in that regard. I do love snow, both watching it fall and the beauty of a fresh snowfall. But mostly, once the New Year’s is over, I’m sort of done with Winter even though it is no where near over. One of the few silver linings of this pandemic is it has taught me that outdoor life can continue even in colder temps, we just have to bundle up a bit more! I have eaten on a restaurant patio when it was 38 degrees this year, which is certainly not something I would have ever done before. So, slowly and step-by-step, I’m getting there!
So interesting Ann how my love of winter has evolved over the years. I know how much some people truly struggle through this season but since I have embraced it with various kinds of outdoor activity, I actually now look forward to it.
Bundling up so that you are warm is definitely key! Love that you took the opportunity to dine outdoors in 38 degree weather. Clear winter nights can be glorious!💕
Your photos are beautiful. Our winters are dreary, muddy, and not as inviting as yours. I’m glad you’re embracing what you have right outside your door. Happy New Year!
Thank you Ally. For the past few days we have finally experienced some beautiful sunshine. It can make all the difference in the works in terms of how we embrace the day! Lovely to hear from you 💕
We are so fortunate to have these winter wonderlands to escape too. I agree that having the right clothing is vital to enjoying the experience. Good for you to get out, take some deep breaths and take in the beauty around you. Good for the soul any time but especially during these challenging days. XO
We sure are Sue. Wonderful playgrounds pretty much at our back doors. We are blessed indeed💕
Just lovely! I am a total lover of winter for the exact reasons you write about. Fresh! Clean! Energizing! I’m so glad that you had a good time.
LB, so lovely to have a visit from you! Mother Nature has been very kind to us recently, relatively mild days to be able to get out & enjoy. Hope you are well my friend💕
I once was an avid cross-country skier. Then came children. This winter, when I probably have more time to ski than I’ve had in years, has been a horribly snowless winter for us. So, I sit at home, listening to my wife gush about how much she loves this mild weather.
We have also had a very mild winter here to date, a few snowfalls but certainly not what we would typically have this time of year. It has been great for walking though! Are your boys still doing school virtually? I suspect if they are, there is not a whole lot of time to do anything! Argh!
Yes, the online school days are pretty hectic, but there are no extracurricular activities to take up the weekends.
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Thanks for including my post on your Monday walk Jo.💕
Lovely photos, especially the next-to-last one 🙂
Thank you so much Eunice, both for the visit & for taking the time to comment 💕