Nothing good ever happens when a story starts with the words “best laid plans” does it?
So, best laid plans. Okay. We booked a four-day skiing break in our usual location in the Laurentians, in Quebec. We planned our meals, made lists, packed, didn’t forget to bring the cooler for the frozen tourtière I’d made at Christmas, or the wine, or snacks. On Friday morning, Hubby loaded the ski stuff, the suitcases, the food, and me into the truck, and we set off. Me in my new hand-knit hat. See below.
We knew it would be cold. Really cold. But our booking could not be changed. I mean we could cancel it, but we’d lose our points, so we figured we’d just go.
Besides you can’t fight Mother Nature. Right?
You just have to go along to get along. As our Prime Minister kind of said in Davos the other day. Of course he was talking about a completely different situation, and, in fact, saying the opposite of what I’m saying. That the days of going along to get along are over. Bravo, Mr. Carney. We’re all very proud of you. Check out his speech on YouTube, if you’re interested. If you’re Canadian, I know you’ll know all about it.
But I digress.
Anyway, Hubby and I packed our very warmest warm stuff. Extra layers. Extra mitts. Even packing our neoprene face masks that we used to use for downhill skiing. And have in fact used once in the last few years when we’ve been here at Lac Morency and Mother Nature was being a bit nasty. See below. Circa 2018… I think.
We arrived late yesterday afternoon. We checked in, and after some skidding and wheel-spinning, rear-end switching about (of the truck), and some cursing (by Hubby), we made it up the steep hill to our condo. Nothing like a steep, snow-covered hill with a sharp turn at the top, folks. “Oh, for some sand. My kingdom for a bucket of sand!” I almost said, but demurred. I knew that Hubby would not appreciate my Shakespearean quips at that moment.
Then we had a nap, a shower, and a lovely meal… tourtière, salad, red wine, Hubby’s famous Lady Ashburnam pickles, and TimTams for dessert. TimTams cookies have long been our dessert of choice when we travel and stay in self-catering accommodation. We were introduced to them in Australia in 2003 and are always thrilled when we find them in grocery stores.
On Saturday, we would ski, we promised ourselves. Ha.
Overnight it was extremely cold. Hubby went out twice in the night to start the truck so it wouldn’t freeze. “I think I’d forgotten what -30C feels like he said.” Then the pipes froze in our end unit. Trickles of water out of all the taps. Jeeze, I can’t remember when our pipes last froze. Well, not our pipes, technically, thank goodness. A worker came this morning to unfreeze them.
I’m sure you know where this is going. Here’s what I did this morning instead of skiing. Wearing multiple layers, I should add, because the unit is old and, although charming, it’s drafty. See below. Unfortunately you can’t see the book I’m reading. But I’ll tell you about it another time.
Tomorrow will be a bit warmer with a temperature of -20C at 11:00 a.m. when we’d usually be skiing. With no sun, and some wind, and the promise of snow by mid-afternoon. Monday, our last day, will be the warmest, with over 20 cm of snow predicted. Cross-country skiing when it’s snowing heavily is not fun. You can’t see where you’re going, and the fresh snow stops the skis from sliding well. At least it stops my skis. So, it’s pretty much blind poling, sticking, and slogging. Ugh.
Hubby reckons that it’s not worth staying for the duration if it means driving home in a snow storm. Not for a possible ski tomorrow and a probable icky ski on Monday. So. We’re leaving sometime tomorrow. Best laid plans, as I said.
If we can squeeze in a ski and a coffee and snack at our favourite trail-side coffee shop in the old Ste-Adèle train station (see below) in the very early afternoon tomorrow, we will. If not, if it’s too bitter to ski, we’ll make tracks for home.
We’re off to dinner later at the on-site restaurant at Auberge du Lac Morency. The food there is always amazing. And the lodge is lovely, and old, and cosy. Originally built in 1932. See below.
We’ll walk down the hill to the lodge to dinner. Hubby’s not risking a hair-raising drive back up the hill in the dark. Mother Nature is still raging, what with the polar vortex and all, and it’s -25C right now. So, for the first time in history I am wearing ski underwear under my faux-leather pants. I’m also wearing my new cashmere sweater, over a base layer and under my long down coat with a hood. With a heavy scarf. And a toque. It’s winter in Quebec. Everyone wears long underwear, big coats, and toques to dinner.
When we return, having imbibed the three- course table d’hote, and some wine, and having walked off some of the calories trudging uphill in -25C, I’ll be well ready for my pyjamas, my book, and bed.
So, I’m going to close now. My iPad is acting wonky. The internet reception is fussy in the cold. Please forgive the inclusion of a couple of old shots. But, you know, if I took photos on the trail tomorrow, if we actually get to ski, you’d not be able to tell them from the old ones. My ski-wear is old, and except for a new toque bought a few years ago, is the exact same as in 2018, or 2022.
Best laid plans being utterly unreliable, as we know, we may get a ski in before we head for home. But if not. Ah well. There are so many troubles in the world this week, who can moan about an aborted ski trip, eh?
We’ll see what tomorrow brings.
Pray for -15C. Ha.
See you next week. 😊
46 thoughts on “Best Laid Plans vs Polar Vortex”
I’m writing from the south of you, envying your thoughtful and strategic leader, regretting his necessity, and mourning the unnecessary dead.
Listening to sleet in the laughably warm 26 degrees, feels like 9.
Just finished Gilead, by Marilynne Robinson, and grateful for bookclubs that select wonderful books I likely never would have gotten to.
Grateful also for yours and hubby’s pluck and sorry for the dashing of your plans. (Tell me, was “yours and hubby’s” grammatically correct? What is that? A compound possessive?
Thank you for writing and continuing.
Thanks, Kristin. “Yours and Hubby’s” totally correct. 🙂
I think I read Gilead a while ago and loved it. But I better look that up to be sure.
Ah weather, while we swelter in a heatwave, have the drift of bushfire smoke everywhere even in the city in southern Australia, in Canada you are freezing! It seems extremes are becoming the norm. Sorry your skiing holiday has been thwarted but at least you had a book to distract, not to mention Tim Tams.
The speech by your PM and his fortitude in giving it has been widely publicised and much admired here. The latest remarks by the orange one disparaging the soldiers of other countries including ours, some of whom gave up their lives, are unforgivable and won’t be forgotten.
Certainly a lot of reaction to that comment by President Trump of other nations participation in Afghanistan. Lots of soldiers and soldiers’ families here in Canada and elsewhere who would dispute his view.
Flipping heck Sue . You Canadians are so tough , including Mr C who we have watched with admiration. I hesitate to comment on the US online , it just brings out the ranters but the air is often blue in our sitting room . All over the world decent people are looking on in horror .
I’m thinking of you now , heading home . I love snowy scenery but after our trip to Scotland when we were marooned by ‘ the beast from the east ‘ some years back we realise the dangers & don’t take any chances . Have a safe journey & take care of yourselves.
We were disappointed to have to abandon our plans…but that’s life, and winter. Ha. When we walked down the hill to dinner it was so cold my nostrils were freezing and sticking shut …haven’t experienced that in years. Stu said his face was cracking. Coming back was worse. We tried to hurry but were so full we kept getting stitches in our sides. Oh, the drama, I tell you! Next time I won’t have dessert.
do your shoes have skate blades on them? I live in the south, even tho we have snow right now, and have never seen shoes like that.
I wasn’t sure if you were joking or not. Those “shoes” are cross-country ski boots. The metal bar inside the groove you can see is to hold my boot onto my ski-binding. 🙂
Sue,I’m so sorry that your ski weekend was different than planned
Snow in the countryside and on hills is the only one I love,but too much is too much,even for experienced athletes like you both.
Such a beautiful colour of your new hat-it suits you perfectly
Soooo curious about the book you’re reading 🙂
Huge respect for your PM
Dottoressa
I was surprised that my hat matched my turtleneck so well. Fashion serendipity. The snow in Quebec was beautiful, but it was so cold that I couldn’t take my mitten off to take photos.
Thanks to Mark Carney (I read that he wrote the entire speech himself).
Very glad he spoke the truth. The trampling of civil rights and human rights in my country is horrifying. People dead. A great sadness.
Regarding the weather: we live in California and are suffering from the opposite of you: no rain over much of the state for all of January. .
Read a remarkable book: Charlotte Wood -Australian, Booker Prize shortlisted: “Stone Yard Devotional”.
Safe travels home.
Seconding your recommendation of Stone Yard Devotional!
Thanks, Mary. I have put my name on the library list for Stone Yard Devotional. It must be popular as there’s several months wait. 🙂
This reminds me of living in St. Cloud Minnesota the winter of 1972. My husband and I moved there since my husband was hired as a computer analyst and we were transferred to Minnesota for the winter. Oh, lucky us! It was -30 F. in the winter! Yikes! I had never been in such cold weather before. I swear when the temperature recovered and got back to O Fahrenheit. we thought we should ditch our coats because it was so warm!
Funny… but around here when it gets above freezing we haul out the spring coats too.
Oh, I should also add that now we are retired and live in Florida and it will be 80 degrees F. today! lol
Il y a toujours des situations qui échappent à notre contrôle.
C’est la vie !!
Je rêve de neige et d’un froid sec !
Nous allons partir vers les montagnes début février rejoindre des amis …
Mais en Provence,il fait gris et doux .
Les bourgeons se gonflent de vie …
Nous avions cependant l’habitude d’un ciel lumineux nettoyé par le mistral , entre mauve pâle et bleu .
Et nous sommes noyés dans la grisaille…
Here’s hoping the grey skies don’t last too long, Celia. 🙂
I haven’t read your blog in a while— not at all intentionally as I always enjoy your fashion and book posts. Even without skiing, it looks like a charming getaway. Bravo Mark Carney, indeed! Many of us in the US feel the same, but we are stuck with three more yrs of chaos. Lucky the Canadians who landed such an eloquent, smart leader.
We’re very happy with Mark Carney at my house. Welcome back to my blog, Jeanne. 🙂
And here in West Texas, I am unhappy with 15 degrees. You win!
Ha. Great comment, Linda. 🙂
Writing from Philadelphia where we are in the midst of our biggest store min a decade. Not as cold as Canada. But daunting for the Mid Atlantic. And yes, Bravo to Carney. This is what leadership sounds like, and this is how it makes you feel. Canadian or not.
Storms all over the place it seems this week. Toronto was buried yesterday.
Sue, I love your blog for the same reasons I love to read good books fiction or non-fiction. It takes me away and paints a picture of something I would not otherwise have known.
As an American, I am embarrassed and horrified to find our country in this situation. As an individual I can only protest, vote with my dollars, and call Congress. Congress needs to find their heart and courage to take care of asshat. That is their job.
There is many a day now, that as a first generation American, I wish my parents had stayed in Canada after they married.
Thank you for continuing to blog.
Jean
Oh, you are most welcome, Jean. Thanks for the kind words.
Mother Nature always wins and it’s wise to respect her whims.
Your prime minister is also worthy of our respect and exemplifies what a great many of us are longing for in the US.
We hope for that for you too. 🙂
Hi Sue, so sorry your trip didn’t work out. Canada is really being whalloped by winter this year. A couple of weeks ago the weather warmed up here in Alberta so we finally headed up to our cabin west of Edmonton. And guess what? Frozen pipes! We had drinking water but you have to melt a lot of snow for everything else! Since we were only going to be there a few days we decided to just go home rather than have someone out to thaw them. Sigh. We’ll try again in Spring!
Melting snow for water takes a heck of a lot of snow, and work, doesn’t it? I think you were wise to head back home.
Oh, what a shame, Sue! I know you both really look forward to that ski weekend. Sounds as if you managed to enjoy some cozy downtime and luckily you’re both happy readers, but still a disappointment. Hope by now you’ve made it safely back home (and that there’s not too much snow-shovelling to do before you can get the truck in the driveway!!). xo, f
No, we arrived just as the snow was starting. Lots of it out there this morning, though. 🙂
This American cheered your PM’s masterful and much-needed speech, and envied the leadership your wonderful country enjoys. Hoping you and Stu have made it safely back home and you’re enjoying your book by your own cozy fire.
We did, thanks, Susan. And thanks for the kind words.
Yes, you Canadians are tough! It’s hard here to imagine such temperatures.
I really thought your PM nailed it with his speech…a perfect example of how to respond to a bully.
So pleased you like Tim tams but I thought I’d tell you that we’d never call them cookies!😉
Uh oh… do you call them biscuits?? 🙂
Yes, usually bickies/bickies/bikkies (?)…I don’t think I’ve ever written the shortened form!
Adding my kudos to Prime Minister Carney!
Thanks. 🙂
your prime ministers speech made the news in australia and was very much admired. our leaders have been a little too circumspect in their response for the majority of australians but we live in hope they will grow more of a spine. the situation in the US is appalling and almost unbelievable.
on a lighter note im glad you enjoy tim tams. i make up hampers for my family in england and scotland at christmas and the tim tams are always a raging success. they cant buy them there at all.
we are having the exact opposite weather to you – its going to be 44 degrees in melbourne tomorrow. i think i prefer your end of the polar vortex!
Oh we love our Tim Tams. And no the new versions… only the originals for us.
P.S. At least with extreme cold you can bundle up. Not the same as extreme heat.
I’m so sorry you had to abandon your ski trip but better to be safe. We’ve just been watching the news on tv of the storms in USA and I expect yours will be worse.
We just seem to have had weeks of rain so now have mudslides, bridges washed out and roads closed along with nine people dead so far.
Bravo Mr Carney! I listened to his speech on line and it gave me hope that things might improve eventually.
Oh no… our big snowstorm was minor compared with your storm. Hope your friends and family are okay.
That’s pretty darn cold! And any outdoor activity in those temperatures, with wet snow blowing in your face isn’t a good time. We’ve been living with lots of cold and had quite a storm this weekend (hours and hours of shoveling and snow blowing), but not those bitter temperatures. I’ve visited Quebec several times in winter and remember that cold.
It seems that we might have another one coming next weekend, this time coming off the ocean. It could be a messy Nor’easter. My fingers are crossed that it will veer off to the right and head into the ocean instead of toward us.
I hope that you have sunny weather at home and good conditions for skiing.
American here … Mr. Carney’s speech was impressive! Especially so in contrast to the moritifying words of our supposed leader. I could go on, but I’d rather focus on lovely things. So sorry to hear about the unexpected change in your plans … but it sounds like you and Stu are resilient and make the best out of situations! Glad you are home safe. It’s been severely cold here and schools haven’t been in session in days. Hoping for better weather and better days for all of us!
I would gladly trade sub-sub zero temperatures for the sanity of life in Canada as opposed to the horrors of what is happening south of your border.
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