Stratford Daily Photo is Ready

We woke up to EVEN MORE SNOW this morning, so our big task for the day was to get the driveway cleared out so that the friends we've invited for dinner tonight will have a place to park their cars.

I am so grateful to the neighbour who came by with his snowblower for the last, deepest part of the driveway.  Because lifting a shovelful of heavy, wet snow up over your head repeatedly, while a great workout, is just not much fun.

But it's now pouring with rain, so the weather's sorted.  I just have to do a bit of cleaning, table-setting, helping with cooking....

Oh, yeah!  We're all set!

Wishing a very happy Christmas to those of you who celebrate. 

I'm taking a few days off, but I'll be back January 1 for Theme Day.

 

Snow Day

No photographic tricks - that pile of snow really is taller than my husband!

Ludicrous Amounts of Snow

This could be the first time since 1971 that the entire country will have a white Christmas.  And, while, yes, it's a little exciting to think about, DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH SNOW THAT IS??!!!??!??

And, given the mountains of snow that are growing all over town (with more to come!) I'd like to suggest that we take this one as a given and start working on something even more noteworthy.

Like, how 'bout next year for Christmas, the entire country can have a job?

 

Stratford-Perth Archives

 

Right next to the courthouse is this lovely building - the Stratford-Perth Archives.  Beyond that is the jail.

Blizzard!

Can I let you in on a little secret?

Most Canadians (with the possible exception of winter sport enthusiasts) HATE winter.

I know, our reputation says otherwise, but truly.  Hate it.

Perth County Courthouse

Standing on the steps of the Stratford Public Library - there's a cluster of great old architecture right around here.

Sirkel Foods

A bright, friendly place to have a yummy lunch.

Stratford Public Library

One of my favourite places on earth (we're talking serious book habit...).

I'm Being Ignored by a Squirrel

We've had a thaw over the last couple of days.  The squirrels are out and hunting for food.

Zip In Market

Stratford is dotted with these little corner stores.  Most of them have been turned into homes.  The Zip In Market is still open for business.

The Neighbours Are Ready, Too

None of the other houses on the block have any lights.  Maybe they're thinking, "What's the point?  It's all been done..."

Bradshaws is Ready

Bradshaws sells great kitchen gadgets.  They also sell lots of other things for the home, but my husband is a chef, so we tend to make a beeline for the back of the store.

This picture is a little blurry because it was really cold when I took it.  It's hard to manoeuvre a camera while wearing mittens. 

But there was no way I was taking them off!

Moonlight

As I was leaving work tonight, I looked up and saw this. 

Which was nice, because prior to that it had been snowing.  And snowing.  And snowing. 

In fact, that was why I was called in to work.  The man who was scheduled to be there couldn't get out of his driveway for all the snow.

Sputnik is Ready

Christmas decorations are appearing all through town.  Sputnik has theirs.

Mid-Winter Thaw

When the sun shines and the temperature's above freezing, the laundry gets hung outside!

Dashboard Diva

Here's a pooch who knows how to get comfortable!

Circles/Spheres

It's theme day for City Daily Photo blogs; Circles/Spheres. 

If only I had thought to actually sign up!  Note to self: Do better.

 

Xis

Formerly a bank.  Now a boutique hotel, which seems to me to be moving things in the right direction...

Stratford Farmers Market

We were there this morning.  We'll have a lovely dinner at home this evening...

Sidestreet to Downtown

Note to self:  If you're going to blog about your hometown, you should take note of what street you're standing on when you take the picture.

Balzac's

Inside Balzac's Coffee Shop.  A warm place to make plans on a grey November afternoon.

Stratford Castle

Actually, it's the armouries building.  Built in 1905.  I do love those crenellations...

Puddles!!!!!!

The kind of weather that will drive us mad come April is greeted with glee in November.  It warmed up a bit today.  There's melting!

And puddles!!

And mud!!!

Just Steps Away

After I took yesterday's picture, I turned left and took this one.  Those are the shops and restaurants of York Street.

Winter in Stratford

Alan and I moved to Stratford nearly twenty years ago and I'm still amazed by the charm of this place.  And by the fact that this lovely spot is just steps from the great shopping and restaurants of downtown.

The New Stratford Farmer's Market

The new Stratford Farmer's Market opened here the week after Thanksgiving.  It's a great space, and much warmer in the winter time than the old one was.

The fact that it's more out of the way than the old one doesn't seem to be putting people off.  It was nicely crowded this morning.

 

Icicles

And then the sun comes out and the snow melts and we get icicles, which are one of the more pleasant aspects of winter.

Stratford Recycles

Heading home after returning a movie this morning, this is what I saw.

 

Patterns in the Snow

Can you see the tiny ripples in the surface of the snow?  It must've been windy while it was snowing.

I'll get out for a walk tomorrow and show you around the new neighbourhood....

After the Blizzard

We had a snowstorm this past weekend. 

The sun came out this morning.

HMS Razz -a-ma-jazz

 

In summertime, it glides along the river as a jazz band plays.

But summer's over.

And funding for next year is in doubt.

Wired

Blue skies and sunshine as I head into work.

Looking out a Window at some Windows

I just made myself a little dizzy with that title!

Bank of Montreal

It's fall here.  And though the days are still quite warm, the air has taken on the crispness of the season.  The sky can be so amazingly blue.  Everything looks so clear, almost stark against it.

Am I Late

Walking in to work, I pass by this building and its clock.  It's very accurate and lets me know if I have time to wait for the light or if I need to just plunge headlong into traffic.

Down by the Ducks

Just a few of the neighbours out for a Monday morning swim.

Busy

Laundry Day

I love the look of laundry drying on the line.

I hope the homeowners don't mind that their underpants are now all over the internet...

 

A Pretty Roofline

I walk past this as I head downtown.  So I decided to take a picture.

 

Stratford is Sad

With the announcement of the death of Richard Monette.

Flatiron Building

It needs a bit of love.  But at least it hasn't been modernized.

Sitting in the Car, Waiting for My Husband to Buy a Paper

Rooflines

I love the way the lines intersect.

The neighbourhood isn't as crowded as this picture makes it look...

The Old Prune

One of the many fabulous restaurants in Stratford, The Old Prune has beautiful gardens.  And yummy, yummy food!

Hot and Sunny

The kids started back to school yesterday. 

This is the what the weather's like today, after a very wet summer.

Morning Light

A patch of sunshine on the end of my driveway this morning.

The Skateboard Park

They practice and they practice and they practice.....

Wildflowers

There are a lot of formal gardens here in Stratford.  But every so often you see an abandoned piece of land, left to do what it pleases.

Two Health Clubs

There's the concrete bunker on the left and the one with the flowers on the porch on the right.

Which would you choose?

Stratford Train Station

We can hear the trains from our new apartment.  It's such a romantic sound.

Where would you like to go?