snow

I’m back in Alberta for a few weeks. It is January. Hence, I am shoveling. Last week, graders took the deep rutted ridges from the street and piled them like mini mountain ranges alongside the curbs. Then the big yellow snow pushers came back to scrape out paths so that citizens could get vehicles from their driveways into the newly cleared street and vice versa.

On this mild day in early winter, the snowfall is still perched lightly on the bent blades of grass. It won't be like this for long but today the snow is ornamental, a decorative addition to the world, and not unattractive. A fresh white fluff over dark earth.