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Somewhat ironic, considering Rachel Notley said “spring is here” last night.
Lyric Pieces (Norwegian: Lyriske stykker) is a collection of 66 short pieces for solo piano written by Edvard Grieg. They were published in 10 volumes, from 1867 (Op. 12) to 1901 (Op. 71). The collection includes several of his best known pieces, such as Wedding Day at Troldhaugen (Bryllupsdag på Troldhaugen), To Spring (Til våren), March of the Trolls (Trolltog), and Butterfly (Sommerfugl).
Here in Sunny Alberta, our seasons don’t quite match what the calendar might have you believe. So while it may be that it has officially been spring for some time now, the threat of frost up until last week kind of detracted from any sense of rebirth or new life. But this week’s forecast is full of double digit predictions. I feel we are finally catching up with the calendar. It’s time to bust out the short pants and sandals; pump up the tires on your bicycle; and, as always, enjoy some Vivaldi.
Oh Spring, you wily devil you, it seemed that you’d taken a pass this year. Recently with temperatures in the -20 (C) degree range and 23 centimetres of snow, it seemed like you had pulled up your tent stakes and, along with the warmer weather, taken refuge in the warmer southern climes.
Ah, lovely Edmonton, 3 days before the arrival of spring.
Now, gentle readers, we have improved. The mercury is valiantly fighting to get to a positively toasty 4 degrees centigrade above zero. Witness!
Note: You can see the pavement, massive improvement.
Thus today I switched from these:
These are my ‘stealth’ sandals, they look enough like shoes that I can avoid peoples opprobrium over what they consider to be ‘inappropriate’ footwear for the season.
to (hallelujah!) these:
Woo!
Spring has tentatively arrived in Edmonton. I say tentatively because the forecast calls for a more snow today for tomorrow. Too bad. :) I’ve put the nasty boots and nasty shoe-sies away, and that in my books, is a good day.
Good fortune smiles on the prairies as of late. Warm weather, yes folks, a mighty +5 degrees centigrade with similar temperatures for a whole week! It has led to a snow condition when driving which we like to refer to as ‘soupy oatmeal’. So as opposed to sliding around on ice, now we slid around on a mushy glorpy mess of snow, salt and dirt. Oh how lovely it all is!
Sadly, I actually mean it. Oatmeal snow is one of the first signs of spring here in the great white north. It is nothing but a fools hope though as it is January, and I can guarantee that we will return to Olde Man Winter’s icy embrace before the upcoming week is done (-30 is so refreshing after unseasonably warm weather).
I mention the warm weather because it also brings about another winter activity that brings me much joy. Namely, the removal of the packed down snow and ice that has been accumulating over the winter. It has been warm enough that the snow in the front service lane is coming up in satisfyingly big chunks. Over the last couple of days I have managed to clean out the all of the service lane in front of our house. There is something inherently pleasing about clearing away all that mess and see the bare concrete underneath.
It is a truth of urban dwelling, bare concrete = spring. Clearing the packed snow has made me much more happy that it should, but what the heck, it is good exercise and maybe even a little community minded as no one will get stuck in front of my house (at least until it starts snowing again).
bleatmop
Mystro
The Arbourist
Dead Wild Roses 
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