Winterlude 2025

This is the Official Website for Winterlude 2025 - but that’s a real mouthful when referencing on-air during my radio show, so I figured I’d make a quick ‘highlights’ page for those who wanna know!

Winterlude is MOSTLY FREE - Week 1 is from January 31 to February 2. Week 2 is from February 7 to 10 and Week 3 is from February 14 to 17 (Family Day).

There are three MAIN Winterlude sites in Ottawa/Gatineau. They are:

• Sparks Street; sculptures, music and light show, sugar shack, parliament light display

• Byward Market; carriage rides, farmer’s market, synthetic rink,

• Snowflake Kingdom; tubing, maze, intro to skiing/snowboarding, obstacle course, drone shows

Here’s how you can access the sites via free SnoBus shuttle which operates:

BLUE CIRCUIT (between Robert-Guertin Park-and-Ride and Jacques-Cartier Park/Snowflake Kingdom) on Saturdays from 9am to 9pm, Sundays from 9am to 6pm

RED CIRCUIT (between Snowflake Kingdom to Sparks St.) on Saturdays from 10am to 5:30pm, Sundays 10am to 5:30pm and Family Day Monday (Feb. 17) from 10am to 3pm.

Rideau Canal Skateway is NOT part of Winterlude’s official programming but it’s been a great season for skaters so far, so I wanted to include it!

There is Winterlude themed programming (not free) at both the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau and the Museum of Nature in Ottawa. The Winter Jazz festival is also on at the Arts Court Theatre (not free).

photo by Amy Volume, Sparks Street, Ottawa

Website Overhaul

Please let me know if anything seems wonky or inaccessible as I am currently updating this website. I’ll make any major changes and/or minor adjustments by mid-March, so stay tuned for recovery pics from me as well as new photos to show off some changes at the lake.

This season, I will entertain the idea of nightly rentals of my cabin (two night minimum) in May, September and October. If you’re interested in a little (or a lot) of rest and relaxation: click here! During Peak Season (June, July and August) I will continue to only rent by the week, Monday to Sunday.

While I am no longer personally sharing to Instagram, I will continue to publish content to the Windmill Cottage account. I encourage you to connect with me via e-mail, or drop a comment right here in my blog!

Thanks for stickin’ with me.

the New Twitter

Yesterday afternoon, I spent a few hours purging my Instagram site. Our messages, if you’ve ever messaged me, are still there and you’ll still be able to follow me. For a long time, I’ve felt uncomfortable using Social Media; does it give more than it takes? I’m not so sure anymore… As my kids approach the age of being interested in it, I find it more and more important to focus on real friendships and real, in-person engagements when possible; go outside and ‘touch some grass’, you know? As motosocial season starts and/or as I return to in-studio work/life, I may share content to the ‘gram but at this time it was just a way for advertisements to try and reach me. No thanks.

I am giving Bluesky a try and you can find me here. It’s like Twitter (before Twitter died) and that’s because it was created by Jack Dorsey! He’s no longer a part of it - but this is microblogging at it’s finest; the user is in control of the content. I think I’ll hang out there for a little while!

17 Days Post Op: Scars

Today I was able to take a normal shower for the first time in a long time! The privilege of having the ability to bathe on your own is sublime.

I was also able to try on my new snowmobile suit (!!!) which will come in handy once moto season kicks up. You gotta have things to look forward to when you’re healing; a little carrot to spur you on.

While I cannot walk without my aircast plus a side of “I’m gonna throw up” pain just yet, I am starting to get some movement and independence back.

Recovery has taken longer due to a viral infection which is slowly passing. Energy is still very low. Pain when not walking is very manageable. I am also able to remove my aircast while lying down and when doing range of motion ankle exercises.

Won’t be able to drive any type of vehicle until the aircast is no longer needed. My new “big toe” structure needs to set in place so it’s onward and upward til my next check up on Valentines Day.

After my shower, I pat dry the incisions and poked around a little bit. I was taught with my last surgery to play with scars. Eventually, being able to pinch and pluck at incision sites/scar tissue helps that tissue return to almost-normal (lessens negative adhesive behaviours, irritability, etc.) sensation/function.

I didn’t go too touchy feely though as this is the first time I’m touching the scars and there is still some numbness in the toe so I don’t want to do any damage. Ankle is quite swollen, too. So It’s back in the cast for now. I’ll keep ya posted throughout this recovery period in case you or someone you know is going through something similar.

2 Week follow up - 4 weeks to go

Still dealing with the tail end of this flu. Typically, I’d get the seasonal flu shot + Covid booster but I didn’t this year as you’re not to get vaccinated pre-op and there was initial plans to book my surgery right around the time the flu shots become available. Hell, I haven’t been on my arthritis drug since Christmas, as you have to stop those meds (infection risk) pre/post op, til cleared to resume by doctor.

Surgery when you’ve got a crummy immune system is all encompassing. Plus, you work full time and part time. Plus, you’re a mother of two young kids. Plus, you’re in a domestic partnership where you've now become a third dependant! This is not me complaining, though in text form it might come off that way. This is me stating the ‘side b.s.’ that accompanies the main event: surgery!

The surgery went very well and I continue to sing the Ottawa Hospital’s praises. Ortho team FTW! This morning I attended my first post-op follow up. No x-rays at this apt. as it was just to check in and have my stitches removed.

I had two procedures done on January 9th. One to correct a toe deformity (plate and anchors in place) and the other to remove a bony growth from my ankle that was compressing some tendons and making walking very difficult.

Before the stitches were removed, I was very quickly visited by a resident who answered all of my Qs in a very warm, friendly and informed manner.

1. Physio? - To start pending progress report in 4 wks.

2. What causes extra bone growth and can I do anything to inhibit recurrence? - Nothing causes it directly, just the nature of my disease. Nothing can be done to prohibit recurrence, though it takes many years to form and become an issue.

3. When is it ok to resume normal activity; x-c ski, skate, jog; be MORE active than just walking? - Will discuss pending progress report in 4 wks. Focus on weight bearing for now in aircast.

4. Resume arthritis meds? - Hold off as long as possible as bone is still healing.

My 6 week follow up is scheduled for Valentine’s Day. I hope to hear that that plate is embedded. The form has been locked in. And I can get on with life! I also hope to have no f—-ing viral infections further impeding my ability to heal and function… it’s been very rough with my energy being non-existent as internal resources are being dedicated to healing this new hardware and incision sites. I don’t have any extra energy or cells to fight off infection, or contribute to a healthy and functioning immune system.

I have had to cancel last weekend’s part time work shift and my full time work hasn’t been 100% and I know that. I’ve been relying very heavily on my husband and kids to essentially do everything for me and cater to my bedridden ass. I’ve left my house three times in two weeks resulting in lengthy naps and zero energy… There’s never a good time to catch the flu but this, I can assure you, is one of the WORST times!

Getting healthy is going to be the BEST. Thanks for putting up with me & for your kind messages of support.