Snow storms and weddings and covid - oh my!
It’s 2022 – a new year and, so far, it has been interesting to say the least!
First and foremost, I want to send a huge thank-you to everyone who supported my small business by visiting the studio or my website for their holiday gifts. We were pretty busy leading up to Christmas, especially as I was also working on 5 custom sweaters for my niece’s wedding on January 7th, 2022. The groom, groomsmen and my brother were all decked out!
The wedding and reception were to take place in Ottawa. Then, on the Monday before the wedding, the venue cancelled – they were not comfortable hosting either the ceremony or the reception with the new Covid restrictions in place. After a few tears and a bottle of wine (or so I’ve been told), the crew was on the phones trying to find a place to host the ceremony. I absolutely must give a shout-out to the Strathmere in North Gower (a short drive outside of Ottawa). Not only did they offer a room for the ceremony and a room for the bride for the evening before the ceremony, they comped it all! They could have asked for the moon and received it. Instead, they graciously gave the bride, groom and family the very best wedding present possible.
First and foremost, I want to send a huge thank-you to everyone who supported my small business by visiting the studio or my website for their holiday gifts. We were pretty busy leading up to Christmas, especially as I was also working on 5 custom sweaters for my niece’s wedding on January 7th, 2022. The groom, groomsmen and my brother were all decked out!
The wedding and reception were to take place in Ottawa. Then, on the Monday before the wedding, the venue cancelled – they were not comfortable hosting either the ceremony or the reception with the new Covid restrictions in place. After a few tears and a bottle of wine (or so I’ve been told), the crew was on the phones trying to find a place to host the ceremony. I absolutely must give a shout-out to the Strathmere in North Gower (a short drive outside of Ottawa). Not only did they offer a room for the ceremony and a room for the bride for the evening before the ceremony, they comped it all! They could have asked for the moon and received it. Instead, they graciously gave the bride, groom and family the very best wedding present possible.
The first real winter storm here on PEI started at just about the same time as the wedding ceremony in Ottawa! From Friday afternoon until Saturday morning, we received about 40 cm or 15” of snow. A lot for sure, but not record amounts. It was the 100+ km/hour winds that made everything so treacherous – whiteouts and huge drifts. Friday night as I lay in bed, the winds were so strong that the pitcher and bowl on the bedside table were rattling. And so many homes lost power. We were very, very lucky. Our power blipped for a moment but remained on. We did lose internet for a few hours on Saturday morning – but your pipes don’t freeze and burst if you don’t have internet. So many Islanders were in a far worse state. But kudos to the folks at Maritime Electric who worked like crazy to restore power to everyone as quickly as possible in some pretty awful conditions.
(Photo courtesy of Blomidon Farm – where’s the laneway?)
On Saturday, we were not yet ploughed out so I strapped on the old snowshoes and attempted to make my way to the studio. As I was cresting a big drift, I must have stepped on the back of one of the snowshoes. When I tried to take a step, I face-planted into that drift! I managed to get one foot back under me but, for the life of me, I couldn’t manoeuvre my other foot into place. So, on my hands and knees, I made my way back to the steps of the house. By the time I got there, my fingers were so cold that I had a hard time getting the snowshoes off my feet. No visit to the studio that day!
On Sunday, we still had not been ploughed out – and that is when I discovered that the gentleman who had taken care of clearing our long drive and the path to the studio had retired. Oh no! Numerous phone calls, texts and e-mails to friends resulted in a number of recommendations. We were lucky enough to find someone who was willing to add us to their winter snow clearing list of clients! They swung by today and I breathed a sigh of relief.
On Saturday, we were not yet ploughed out so I strapped on the old snowshoes and attempted to make my way to the studio. As I was cresting a big drift, I must have stepped on the back of one of the snowshoes. When I tried to take a step, I face-planted into that drift! I managed to get one foot back under me but, for the life of me, I couldn’t manoeuvre my other foot into place. So, on my hands and knees, I made my way back to the steps of the house. By the time I got there, my fingers were so cold that I had a hard time getting the snowshoes off my feet. No visit to the studio that day!
On Sunday, we still had not been ploughed out – and that is when I discovered that the gentleman who had taken care of clearing our long drive and the path to the studio had retired. Oh no! Numerous phone calls, texts and e-mails to friends resulted in a number of recommendations. We were lucky enough to find someone who was willing to add us to their winter snow clearing list of clients! They swung by today and I breathed a sigh of relief.
(Photo looking out from the spare bedroom towards the studio)
That doesn’t mean that there was no shovelling to be done. There was a mountain of snow deposited at the base of the studio steps. And, of course, the deck at the studio needed to be cleared so I could open the door. Between the storm and the milder temperatures this morning, there was a good crust of ice on top of the heavy, moisture-laden snow. That certainly was quite the workout – but at least I didn’t need to strap on those snowshoes.
Even though there is a nice path to the studio, we still can’t host our “Ewe Love to Knit” nights. With 320 new cases of Covid-19 announced today, we are being told to keep our circle of contacts small. We are scheduled to get our vaccine boosters mid-month. I am keeping my fingers crossed that, by month-end, Omicron will be tired of visiting PEI and we can once again gather together for some knitting fun and chatter.
That doesn’t mean that there was no shovelling to be done. There was a mountain of snow deposited at the base of the studio steps. And, of course, the deck at the studio needed to be cleared so I could open the door. Between the storm and the milder temperatures this morning, there was a good crust of ice on top of the heavy, moisture-laden snow. That certainly was quite the workout – but at least I didn’t need to strap on those snowshoes.
Even though there is a nice path to the studio, we still can’t host our “Ewe Love to Knit” nights. With 320 new cases of Covid-19 announced today, we are being told to keep our circle of contacts small. We are scheduled to get our vaccine boosters mid-month. I am keeping my fingers crossed that, by month-end, Omicron will be tired of visiting PEI and we can once again gather together for some knitting fun and chatter.
To say the least, 2022 has certainly been off to an interesting start! The one word that I hear over and over again about 2022 is “hopeful”. May I wish you a happy, healthy and safe 2022 and, of course, happy knitting!
Shared from a Facebook Community Group entitled "Artist Quote of the Day"
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