In the last week the temperature started dropping and with Equinox on Monday the days will rapidly become shorter.  The change has snuck up on me, it is like the seasons just switched all of a sudden.

It was minus 17 this morning when I went outside, and there was a light dusting of snow blowing at 45knots.  Like pins and needles you can feel the snow flakes hitting your face and getting driven into the gap at the top of your boots or any open pockets.  A week ago it was kind of fun, now, not so much.  When I got back inside this morning my face was all numb and when I reached up to touch it, there was water covering it; tears streaming from my eyes, a wildly running nose and melted snow all over my cheeks.  I felt like a bag of frozen peas that had been sitting on the counter for a few minutes and started to collect condensate.  I am more in love then ever with my big black goose down jacket, complete with coyote fur collar…… I know I shouldn’t be, because it is so against my beliefs to wear fur and even the down pushes my limits…… but it is so warm……. maybe principles do have a price but I have seen vegans down here wearing the down and fur jackets, so I guess I am not as compromised as some….

Anyway with the change in weather has also come dramatic differences in the landscape the sea ice is starting to form.  I never knew that ice had so many stages, at home you get water from tap, put water in ice cube tray and put in freezer, vola

ice.

Here there are loads of different kinds of ice, the first to form was the Frazil ice which makes the sea surface look a bit oily and if you look closely you can see the little bits of ice sitting just under the surface of the water.

Then after Frazil ice comes greasy ice, sort of like an ice slurry that you would put your beer in for optimal cooling.  The greasy ice is easier to see because it makes the water look all matt and gloomy.  There has been greasy ice in the Harbour now for the last 10 days and it is getting gradually thicker every day.  Then it is gone in a couple of hours when the winds pick up and blow it away.

My favourite kind of ice though is pancake ice, it is pretty and looks like big lily leaves floating on a river.  I kind of expect to see a frog or dragonfly landing on a piece.

Who would have ever thought that ice could be so interesting???