Winter in Nova Scotia

So, when we decided to move to Nova Scotia all our friends gave us the dire warning that they have winters there y'know. The fact that Nova Scotia has winters, rather than put us off, excited us as moving from the Lower Mainland in BC we were getting tired of the 2 seasons there - wet & dry. What we didn't have for winter was winter attire, something that we really didn't need in BC. This is our third winter in Nova Scotia now and I think we could happily say we are kitted out for whatever winter throws at us.
The first winter we were here we didn't have suitable boots (wellies don't do when its so cold), or hats. So for Christmas on our second winter we each got snow boots and snow shoes - not to be confused with one another! The boots have almost become a second pair of slippers as they get slipped on as soon as the notion to go out crosses our minds. Toward the end of last winter Philly bought this awesome aviator style winter hat which cocoons your head & keeps it blissfully warm, so for a birthday request I asked for one (red). So there we are all dressed up nice & warm and it only took 3 winters - or 2 1/2!
Our final acknowledgment to winter was to purchase an ATV with a snow plow attachment. Hand digging out our long drive was getting very old very fast. I was going to plow the drive myself today - usually Phil does it, but the battery is flat & I can't get at it to jump it - feeble as I am, so Phil will have to do it when he gets home - or jump the battery, I have to try & use the plow, it's not just for Phil to do.
It has snowed now for a few days - no great amounts, just enough to make the drive need plowing. I surprise myself & quite love Nova Scotia winters! This picture shows how long our drive is & hopefully you will appreciate hand digging snow isn't an option!

January 3rd 2010

Yesterday we had an amazing amount of snow. I don't think I have witnessed this amount of snow in one day before. I was supposed to get to work, but there was no way I could get out. The drive was full of snow and each time we cleared any part around the house, it filled up again as if we hadn't been there.
Today I had to go to work again, but as it rained slightly last night & the temperature had risen we thought it would be a simpler job. No chance. Because of the changes the snow was more solid and heavier to move. And it didn't seem as if it had reduced by any great amount.
Phil started plowing early and it took ages just to make an impression on the drive. Then we heard the snow plough come up the road & it did sound as if it was moving a lot of stuff. Had the plough not been up our road & we got cleared to our gate, we still could not have got out! It looks like we have luge runs every where with the snow walls on each path!
One thing we have noticed, when the snow has this amount of 'moisture' in it there is a blueness to the vastness of it. If we look into a crease in the snow it shows a delicate blue colour. But there has to be a lot of it to show this - and we have a lot of it.
The picture shows the snow at our door about 10.30 last night.