This is not what we signed up for when we retired to Paradise.

While we can get snow in December and occasionally a skiff in January, this is the time of year when we should have green grass and buds coming out on the trees.   A week ago there were regular golfers going by behind us.   The local stores had trays of primula annuals out for planting.  I went on a great hike in the mountains last Wednesday with our hiking group.

But it all changed.  In the last 5 days it has been snowing, and and in the last 24 hours, a full 12″.  The good part is that the temp is about -1 C and there is no wind so it is in the pretty category, but it wreaks havoc with the roads and  sidewalks (plus the suckers that bought trays of primulas last week and planted them.)

I have had lots of opportunities to take out the snow blower to clean driveways and sidewalks (earning bottles of wine from neighbours) but this is not what we expect at this time of year.

Funny story… I was clearing the sidewalk all the way down to the condos at the end of the street (for the fifth time in a couple of days).  Dog walkers use the sidewalk all the time.  I was stopped by a guy who assumed I worked for Crown Isle golf course and thought it was great that they cleared the sidewalks.  When I told him I was just a neighbour with a snow blower, he just looked at me oddly and shrugged.

Still it is pretty.  By the way, the hedge in the picture is 2 feet high and all you see is the top 8 inches.

dsc_0002