We are in the midst of the coldest winter Toronto has experienced in 20 years. It has been beautiful at moments and treacherous at others. The snow brings changes to our landscape is many ways. Snow makes the city a little quieter...it's like a layer of sound insulation has been thrown on the streets. However, with snowfall comes loud snow plows and snow removal machines; beeping and scraping all through the night. Last weekend we took a hike through our lovely local ravine to see what changes we could find. How had the snow altered the landscape of our familiar ravine. I've put together a collection of images showing what our ravine looks like in the summer and what it looked like on the day of our winter hike. 
Beautiful, right? Being in the ravine in the winter was like being in a whole new ravine. We searched for animal tracks...we could see where animals had used the logs to cross the creek and other spots where they had not. We were quite certain that every little hole in the snow was the entrance to an animal's warm winter home. We were amazed to see that the little creek was still running strong, in spite of the freezing cold temperatures. I especially loved the way that they snow sat softly on the top of all the fallen branches and logs. It looked like someone had come along with white paint and carefully brushed white paint only on the top of each branch and log. Magical.
Now, it's time for the party. Since I am dreaming about warmer weather I thought I would feature a few warmer weather outdoor play posts this week. A girl can dream...
Cuddles & Muddles & Muddy Puddles had fun in a simple outdoor kitchen
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Charlotte says
I absolutely love those side by side pictures! I want to do the same now for each season to compare them at the end of the year 🙂 x
Jen says
Thanks. I really want to do this again in the spring and in the fall. It was a lot of fun putting together the pictures.
Coombemill says
Lovely to see the changes with the season and to explain this to the children. I love their curiosity for all things new, yet familiar to us adults.
Jen says
It's amazing how radically different our seasons really are. Thanks so much for stopping by.
Salma says
I miss Toronto. I love your shots of the ravine as well...takes me back. Hiking is awesome.
Emma (My Little 3 and Me) says
How lovely to see the seasons side by side like that! I too am dreaming of warmer weather...just around the corner I think.
Kierna says
It looks so magical - we had a great snowfall in 2010 & I remember that quietness that descended everywhere - it is kind of special isn't it.
Leila - Mud Mud Marvellous Mud says
Wow! They look like completely different places. It is so lovely to be able to explore somewhere throughout the seasons and see it change. I have to admit I am a tad jealous of your snow, all we have had is rain!