I Embrace Winter - Sort Of

                               Please click this link for book and purchase information

This winter, I've had the opportunity to attend Winterlude in Ottawa, Canada, the seventh coldest capital city in the world, according to WorldAtlas. Rather than huddle indoors, Ottawa region residents embrace the season each year with a festival spanning three weekends in early February. The focal point is the world's largest skating rink, running 7.8 km. along the Rideau Canal from downtown to Dow's Lake recreational area.

My husband and I stayed near Dow's Lake. When the Skateway opened, we headed out to the lake, eager to glide along the ice. We hadn't skated in ten years. I laced up my skates, took a step  - and retreated to the bench. Ice is slippery. Skate blades are too thin the for support. I don't want to fall and break a bone. My skating career ended, I consoled myself with a Beavertail. These pastries, sold at shacks on the canal, are fried dough in the shape of Canada's national animal's tail topped with anything imaginable. I usually get the Killaloe Sunrise, with cinnamon, lemon and sugar that brings out the flavour of the dough. The calories keep you warm in winter.

Hazelnut spread, peanut butter and Reece's Pieces on a Beavertail. As a true Canadian, I want to try maple someday. 

  

Beavertails Mascot at dragon boat races

Other highlights of Winterlude include dragon boat races on the frozen lake, snow slides in a park on the Quebec side of the river, and an international ice carving contest. Ottawa's fickle winter weather played havoc with the sculptures this year. A mild spell a few days after the carving competition ruined the ice statues' delicate features.

A carver at work on downtown Sparks Street. 

Sound travel tunnel on Sparks Street.

When I wasn't outside 'doing' winter in Ottawa, I worked on my murder mystery novel-in-progress, set in winter in my home town of Calgary. My victims go for a walk on the coldest night of the year and are struck by a hit and run driver. The wife is killed and the husband is seriously injured. Was it an accident caused by icy roads or intentional? Paula, my sleuth, asks the husband why they were out on such a miserable night. He answers that they love the silence when no one else is around, the exercise in brisk air, and the shimmering street lights on snow and bare-limbed trees. But for him and his wife that night, embracing winter turned deadly.   

                                                                  Night view from my Ottawa bedroom

Snowmageddon by J.C. Kavanagh

The Twisted Climb - Darkness Descends 

Voted BEST Young Adult Book 2019

We Canadians believe ourselves to be a hearty bunch - and with this week's record-breaking snowfall in multiple cities, we are living proof of its truth.

Take for instance, Kanata, Ontario. It's located about 23 kilometres (14 miles) north of Canada's capital city of Ottawa. Since January 1, Kanata has been inundated with approximately 147 centimetres of the white stuff - that's almost 58 inches - and add to that record-breaking temperatures of -40 Celsius with the wind chill factor (which is about the temperature when hell freezes over). Yes, Canadians are a hearty bunch!

And still, the city of Ottawa holds its very successful Winter Carnival, where participants can skate on the ice-covered and very beautiful but cold, Rideau Canal. There, you can buy your favourite Beavertail and partake of the sloppy sugary confection that Native Indians used to call 'Pigs' Ears.'

The famous Canadian 'Beavertail' confection, a deep-fried, doughy delight sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. That's me (below) enjoying the pastry on the Rideau Canal.

How much snow is too much snow? 

My daughter on her driveway in Kanata, Ontario.

Then there's my home, about 90 minutes northwest of Toronto. We didn't get the snow accumulation like Kanata, but we got a good dumping.

The path to the bird feeder

The laundry stoop

Me clearing the driveway for the umpteenth time in my best Jawa-look.

(Jawa is a fictional creature from the Star Wars movie series)

A Jawa creature from Star Wars.

Umm, a snowman creature

I still love the outdoors, the cold, and yes, even the snow. Just a Canadian, eh?

Enjoy your environment, wherever you are!

J.C. Kavanagh

The Twisted Climb - Darkness Descends (Book 2)
voted BEST Young Adult Book 2018, Critters Readers Poll
AND
The Twisted Climb,
voted BEST Young Adult Book 2016, P&E Readers Poll
Novels for teens, young adults and adults young at heart
Email: author.j.c.kavanagh@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/J.C.Kavanagh
www.amazon.com/author/jckavanagh
Twitter @JCKavanagh1 (Author J.C. Kavanagh)