Spring? Are you here??

On my walk through Whitemud Creek Ravine…

Shoulda written this one earlier, but it’s been a busy week. Went to Arizona last weekend for three days. My sister and bro-in-law bought a condo in Scottsdale in January, and Sharon and I flew down for a quick polish and pimping up of the place. A righteous mission which we pulled off with speed and style, thanks to Walmart and Home Depot.

I can’t say enough about the desert landscape. This is the second time I’ve been to Arizona. The last time was in the late nineties. It’s still full of saguaro cacti and old guys in white sneakers, but I was newly impressed by the copper hills and ease of living. (Also breathing. No -28C temperatures.) This is February man, hard to believe. The summer in Arizona is as brutally hot as our winters are brutally cold, but now, it’s mild and lovely. The air full of birdsong. Maybe it’s the quick transition from a snowy climate to summer temperatures, but the audio in Scottsdale was surprising, and as enchanting as the visual. Right outside of the condo is a tree with hummingbirds. Hummingbirds!! I’ve never seen a live hummingbird. They have a distinctive voice, and their trill was an almost constant the entire time we were in residence. I finally learned a few simple operations on my new camera (like turning it on) and was able to take close-up shots of the hummingbirds, both at ‘home’, and at the Desert Botanical Garden, a mini-paradise on earth, comparable to Butchart Gardens in Victoria, but with fewer flowers and more spikes.

We spent Monday morning wandering the trails of the garden. It was early, but the sun was out and the sky was blue. We were joined by a birding society, and rather appropriately, many, many birds. No lizards, as it was too cold for them at 18C. I was amazed by the variety of cacti and other succulents, as well as the art. Strange, organically inspired installations, and some giant (and awesome) reproductions of Giuseppe Arcimboldo’s fruity paintings in the front part of the garden. As much as a desert garden can be, this place was lush. Like everywhere it seems, the trees were full of birds, many of whom were sitting on top of the cacti. How, I don’t know. At one point Sharon and I were looking at a hummingbird in a bush, when it suddenly flew over to us, literally just a few centimeters from our faces, and then disappeared from the air in a lightning fast manoeuvre not unlike an alien spaceship departing Area 51. I was so surprised, I gasped, and of course, my camera stayed tucked in my pocket. It was too quick to snap a shot anyway, but I  was amazed to be stared down by such a crazily beautiful, exotic bird.

We also came across a bunch of monarch butterflies. This even caught the attention of the binocular-sporting birders just a few steps away. I would have thought they’d be in Mexico by now (the monarchs) so either they are still migrating, or they are on their way back north. It was an amazing sight in a day of amazing sights.

Aside from where we were, it was just so nice to be back in shorts and sandals. I enjoy winter, but it’s exhausting. All that heavy clothing and boots, just to keep from dying when you step out the door. Even today, although it’s nice and I am about to take the dog for a walk, I miss the swaying palm trees and the warmth. Spring is still so far away. Noticeable spring that is…with green grass and flowers. On the other hand, we northerners are never in need of Scorpion Be-gone, which according to the downstairs neighbour in Scottsdale, is a must. Nope. No scorpions.

Scottsdale temperatures (Feb 2 22C, Feb 3 18C, Feb 4 22C)

Back in my favourite place today. Last week and this coming week too. Cat-sitting for my Mexico-vacationing sister. Last year at this time, I was dog and cat-sitting, but sadly, Eddie, the IQ-challenged whippet passed away, so now it’s just Lucy the orange cat and Jack the black cat. On this bright, sunny Sunday afternoon, I walked through parts of Rossdale, Skunk Hollow, Mill Creek, and Louise McKinney Park. It took almost two hours. I’m not sure if it would have taken me this long a year and a half ago. I’ve lost a significant chunk of my fitness living (temporarily) in south Edmonton. I know I’ve said this before, but I’m almost unrecognizable to myself. My appearance hasn’t really changed, well maybe a little, but it’s how I feel in my skin. Less physical, less connected to the outdoors. There have been bonuses…walking with the dog for instance. Nothing beats a walk with a dog, but walks now seem extraneous to my day, not a part of it, like working and eating. I identified as a walker, and now it would be a fraud to say this, at least in my interpretation of the word. This will change. It has to change. Moving back to Mill Creek/Strathcona in the spring will mean a return to the best part of my ‘old’ life.

Nothing has changed in this part of the river valley. Not really. It’s beautiful, as always, especially against the blue sky and heaps of sparkling snow. There’s a new staircase on the hill up from Skunk Hollow. Such a resonant part of the river valley. Glad to see the rails on the staircase will not impede my ability to steal lilacs in the spring. The river is covered in snow. Unlike last year, where large areas flowed with black water, the river is frozen solid. I went to hear Oprah Winfrey talk last Monday (awesome) and she remarked that not until she saw a photograph did she realize there is a river belwo below the MacDonald Hotel. It was a very snowy, awful day. Not Edmonton at it’s best, unlike today.

My legs feel sore, but I feel infinitely better having walked along my trails, which is exactly how they feel.

3:30PM/-4C

I shoveled today. Up and sideways. Mostly up. I strolled through Southgate, jumped over my budgetary boundaries, bought the second season of The Tudors, and hoisted Henry VIII over my shoulder. I leapt across a snowbank in the parking lot. Back and forth in varying degrees of difficulty, to the fridge, the washer/dryer, and the television. I downward-dogged to pet a dog, and cat-napped a purring cat. Bench-pressed three cups of coffee (with cream), and raced through the last few pages of Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. I did a series of crunches, mostly peanut M&M’s, followed by two (maybe more) repetitions of lime and chipotle-flavored nacho chips. I flipped a tab on a Diet Pepsi and guzzled a litre of water.

It was a sunny, bone-chilling day. An inside day. A day to keep calm, listen to Kate Bush, and eat peanut M&M’s.

-24C

Under the weather with a bad case of the Colonblowro Virus since Wednesday, so today, feeling much better, I took advantage of the window of sun in the afternoon to take myself and the dog for a walk. Not a long one, a little bit less than an hour, but enough to feel enlivened by the fresh air and bands of blue sky. Down the powerline and as far into the ravine trails as Maggie’s bare paws would allow. Overhead, lots of waxwings flying in lockstep looking for fermented berries. Met up with a couple of border collies, one of whom looked sorely disappointed to discover that Maggie was no sheep. Sorry boy, just a mix breed shepherd in search of rabbit poop.

2:30PM/-10C