Winter Carnival is over. 

It survived Covid 19, a Polar Vortex and some vandalism. Two of the ice sculptures were smashed two nights before it began, but a local who had worked with the specialists was able to partly repair one and the ice blocks of other, a cowboy on a rearing horse, were turned into a mini Boot Hill. Lynne and John Young picked me up on Wednesday evening to drive through Polson Park and look at them. It wasn't what Ed Sullivan would have called, "A Really Big Show!!!", but it was an admirable effort. The group organizing the carnival this year was an enthusiastic bunch. They deserve a lot of credit. I went for a walk in the park this Tuesday morning just in time to watch the wrecking crew level the sculptures. It would have been fun to watch them slowly melt but I guess the city was afraid of litigation if someone got crushed by a heavy block of ice.   

A night shot of one of the ice sculptures

The smashing of the train

Geese walking awkwardly on the glass flat ice of Lake Okanagan during last week's Polar Vortex freeze. The lake had been ice free until then. 

We had a bit of snow last night. When I woke this morning and looked outside it was sparkling in the sun. I couldn't resist going out to shovel for the first time this winter. Ama, a teenage neighbour has been doing it. She does a fine job, but is not given to early rising, so after I had finished, I phoned and told her mother not to rouse her early because I had done it myself this time. It was an easy shovel, but I was happy that my back didn't ache at all after. It was still sunny, so I went for another first in a long time. I walked to the Black Rock and back, still very little pain. Then at 1:00pm I went to sort books until 3:00. Wednesday's are busy days. 🤪

But I'm really encouraged because this is the most I've done in one day with the least pain since November 26. 

In keeping with the Covid forwarding of laughs, I end with one of the funniest I've received lately.