The dreamy optimist

Windy lives in a cozy orchard treehouse with her chickens clucking nearby
Windy loves flying her red kite and snacking on toast and jam
Windy is cheerful, kindhearted and a helpful friend

Q & A with Windy 
by Welly Mudd, Weather Magazine

We visit with Windy in her comfortable treehouse home, high up in a pear tree in the middle of her orchard. On the kitchen table is a neat pile of brightly coloured paper and a mug of pencils.

Q Windy, what is your favourite season?

A Oh, that's really hard! I guess...the fall. The trees in the orchard turn beautiful colours and it’s time to pick fruit and make jam. 
 

Q Let's say you were on a desert island, what 5 things would you bring?

A I would bring:

1. Paper: origami, kraft paper…all kinds.
2. String.
3. Pencils
4. A really good pair of scissors.
5. Old Al, for sure. He's the owl who lives here in this pear tree. He wouldn't mind living in a palm tree. And he could deliver postcards to my friends. 

Q What do you like to do on a Sunday morning?

A The chickens [who live in the orchard] and I sleep in and then they come up to my treehouse for toast and jam. We play — outside, if it's nice out. Then they help me hang out the washing. After it's all tidy and quiet, I like to look out the window and daydream until it's time for dinner. 

The thoughtful musician

Sunny lives in the city with his guitar
Sunny loves hearing the music in everyday sounds
Sunny is a quiet soul who finds joy in the rhythm and beauty of noise

Q + A with Sunny
by Welly Mudd, Weather Magazine

Sunny greets me at the door of his City apartment with a quiet, "hey,". He's wearing jeans, and black-and-white striped t-shirt, but glancing at his feet I notice bright yellow socks. He offers me a bowl of cereal (Rice Krispies — he likes the sounds they make) and we make our way to his room, where some Bach is playing on the record player. We sit on bean bags, eat our cereal and I begin the interview.

Q Sunny, what's your favourite season?

A [quietly] Summer.
 

Q OK.... Let's say you were stranded on a desert island. What 5 things would you bring?

A My guitar, a Rolland TR-808 drum machine, my records, my record player and... [more quietly] Windy.
 

Q What do you do on a Sunday morning?

A I like to lie in bed for awhile and listen to all the sounds of the city. You can tell what the weather is like and what time it is, just by listening. Like...the garbage truck always rumbles through the alley at 7:30. And if it's rainy, everything sounds muffled. If it's snowy, everything sounds quiet.

Q What if it's a sunny day?

A [smiling] Then all the noises are extra loud. And it's a great day.

The enthusiastic scientist

Spring lives in the city with her close-knit family
Spring loves being prepared and solving tricky problems with her friends
Spring is outgoing with a sharp eye for details, she’s a scientist at heart

Q & A with Spring
by Welly Mudd, Weather Magazine

Q Spring, thank you so much for talking with me this morning. My first question should be easy for you. What is your favourite season?

A The most optimistic and cheerful one, of course. Spring!

Q Of course. Now let’s say you’re stranded on a desert island. What 5 things would you bring with you?

A Well, I do love to be prepared. Let’s see measuring tape, flashlight, magnets, beakers, and probably my roller skates for fun. If there was no pavement to ride on I could transform them into a trolly or pully system.

Q What a great idea. You’re always so industrious, but what do you like to do on a Sunday morning?

A Oh, I love Sunday mornings. All the family is together — all my brothers and sisters and my mom and dad. We all snuggle together in mom and dad’s bed for a while, then we do something fun together, like a board game, or going to the park.

Q Thanks so much, Spring.

A Come back any time.

The playful outdoorsman 

Jean-Cloud lives in a tent by the seaside with his best friend, Foggy the dog
Jean-Cloud loves sailing adventures and a bowl of his favourite muesli
Jean-Cloud is always-entertaining; a lovable, clumsy friend

Q & A with Jean Cloud
by Welly Mudd, Weather Magazine

After a short boat trip I arrive at an idyllic seaside campground. I’m expecting a warm welcome from my enthusiastic host, Jean Cloud, but all I can see is a tranquil camp fire and some socks drying on the line. Suddenly I notice from among the birch trees, there’s a rustic tent that at first appears to be walking and is now hurtling towards me. With an “ow” and a “plonk”, the tent misses me and collides with a tree. Out falls Jean Cloud and his dog Foggy. “Phew, thank you Foggy.” “Oh, you must be Welly.” It appears Jean Cloud got tangled in his sleeping bag and Foggy has helped him out.

Although Jean Cloud seems unphased by the excitement, I delve straight into our interview to avoid any awkwardness.

Q So (awkwardly), Jean Cloud, I am wondering, what is your favourite season?

A Oh, I know this one. Winter. No, wait. Spring. No. Summer. Wait, when’s the best sailing (looking toward Foggy who appears to raise his eyebrows)? Yes, Yes, the Summer.

Q Yes, the summer is great for sailing. And I was also wondering, just to let our readers in on some of your favourites, what 5 things would you bring with you to a desert island?

A Oh, well. Foggy. Check. My boat. Check. Tennis rackets, hiking boots, pocket knife. Check. Marshmellows. Oui, Oui, (that’s French for yes) that should be all we need.

Q Perfect! And lastly, how do you like to spend your Sunday mornings?

A Ah, Sunday morning. Foggy and I stay in our sleeping bags a little later than usual, then we light a camp fire, have a nice bowl of my favourite meusli (and a doggy treat for Foggy, of course), then we head out for a nice paddle.

Q Thanks so much Jean Cloud.

A Come back anytime.

the Bookish twins

Mild (boy) & Mellow (girl) live together in the city
Mild & Mellow love storytelling, books and delighting in imaginative wordplay
Mild & Mellow are always ready to capture the moment with their cameras and journals 

Q & A with Mild & Mellow
by Welly Mudd, Weather Magazine

Entering Mild & Mellow’s apartment is so inspiring. There’s a cork board with all of Mild’s most recent photos pinned to it and there are books and more books, on every subject, pilled high in every direction. The biggest book on the very very top of the biggest pile, is a book about the seasons.

Q Mild, I see you have a very large book on the seasons. Do you think you have a favourite?

A Truly Welly, the Fall is mine. Short days, cool air, and poems to rhyme.

Q And Mild, what do you think you might bring if you could only bring 5 things with you to a desert island?

A On an island, you see, my sister with me, all I really need is my camera, my book and a comfortable tree.

Q And how does a Sunday morning look like at your house?

A After a puzzle, some tea, and a snack,
We often sit, back to back,
Reading to each other, just to keep track.

Q Mellow, I see you have a very large book on the seasons. Do you think you have a favourite?

A Honestly, Welly, the Autumn’s for me — the colours, the leaves and the library.

Q And Mellow, what do you think you might bring if you could only bring 5 things with you to a desert island?

A An island, you say? A good read and my brother is all that I need. Although a notepad and pencil would certainly be helpful.

Q And how does a Sunday morning look like at your house?

A After a puzzle, some tea, and a snack,
We often sit, back to back,
Reading to each other, just to keep track.

Q Thanks so much Mild & Mellow.

A Come back anytime.

The crafty cooks

Snowy (big sister) & Chinook (little sister) live in a log cabin in the Winter woods

Snowy & Chinook love their dear friend Tulip the Buffalo, crafting and cooking (especially pancakes.)

Snowy & Chinook are busy exploring their wintry home, with Snowy the capable leader and Chinook the playful little sister. 

Q + A with Snowy
by Welly Mudd, Weather Magazine

The first time I see Snowy, she is standing very still outside her cabin in the wintery woods. I am just about to shout "Hi", when I see that she is listening carefully to a gentle rustling. Soon, a fox peers out of the trees and she leans forward, opening her hand to give him something to eat. I look closely — it is a little hand pie (I find out later it is cheddar and cauliflower). She pets the fox and puts her nose up to his. Just then, I drop my bag and the fox, startled, darts back into the snowy trees. Snowy, seeing my embarrassed expression laughs quietly, helps me pick up my notebook and pencils, and invites me inside.

Q Let me get my questions organized here...ah! First question: what is your favourite season?

A [softly] Winter.

Q If you were on a desert island, what five things would you bring?

A I'd like to bring Tulip, our buffalo friend, but she might be unhappy if it's hot.

So:
1. A picnic basket full of lemonade, berries and pies...and some ice to keep it cool.
2. My special watercolour pencil crayons.
3. A big blanket.
4. My sewing basket.
5. Chinook’s doll, Lemon. Otherwise she'd be sad.

Q What is a Saturday morning like for you?

A Usually it begins with Chinook jumping on my bed and then... [laughs] well, I jump on her bed and then...we make our beds, put on our sweaters and socks and spend the morning in the kitchen making pancakes. We make a big stack, so there are enough for Tulip. This weekend we're going to do chocolate chip pancakes with cinnamon and whip cream.

Q & A with Chinook
by Welly Mudd, Weather Magazine
 

Q Hi, Chinook. By the way what is a chinook?

A Ah! Everyone asks me that. It's a warm wind that blows everywhere after winter already started. It confuses everyone. They are thinking, "is it summer already". But no! It is winter. [She laughs]

Q Well, Chinook, what is your favourite season? 

A Winter.

Q OK and —

A No, fall.

Q OK, great! So, next question, if you-—

A No...spring. Summer....

[Suddenly, Chinook puts her hands on both my shoulders and looks at me very solemnly]

 All seasons are important. My favourite season is...all of them. 

Q If you were stuck...if you were stuck on a desert island. What 5 things would you bring.

A I can count to five. Eight, actually.

1. My sister, Snowy
2. Tulip our buffalo.
3. Lemon, my doll
4. My super long yellow ribbon that I found under the stairs.
5. Popsicles. Probably 100 Popsicles. Even a thousand.

Q  A thousand! what flavour?

A A rainbow of all fruits.  

Q What is Sunday morning like in your house?

A Well, It is morning, right?

So we get up and...and we get up!

Are we done now? Would you like to draw with me? I will do a picture for your story if you want!

Q & A with Tulip
by Welly Mudd, Weather Magazine

Not far from Snowy & Chinook’s cabin, I walk carelessly out into the snowy field. I reach the top of a small hill and can look down to a tiny frozen pond where Tulip the buffalo is admiring his skates. I know they are a new birthday present and she looks very happy with them. As I approach I see her wink at me to join her beside the ice rink. She’s a very peaceful, warm and comforting presence. I remember why she’s the girls’ best friend.

Q Hello again, Tulip. So glad to see you and what a beautiful day for a skate. Do you think Winter is your favourite season?

A Hmm. My coat is pretty wooly, so as much as I love wandering in these fields when they are full of flowers in the Spring, I think you’re right, I’m a lot more comfortable in the Winter. I do so love the crunch crunch crunch of snow when you walk in it. I love snow. I love Winter.

Q That makes a lot of sense. And just out of interest, what 5 things do you think you would bring with you to a desert island, if you knew you’d be stuck there for a while?

A An island? How exciting! I’d bring Snowy & Chinook, of course. Oh, I can’t wait. How will we get there? Should I bring my umbrella?

Q Yes, maybe. And my last question for you today, Tulip, is what do you like to do on Sunday morning?

A I usually start with a yummy pancake breakfast with Snowy and Chinook. Chinook sometimes puts on too much syrop, and Snowy doesn’t like it when I flip them into my mouth with the spatula, but her pancakes sure are delicious.

Q Thanks so much Tulip.

A Come back anytime.

Foggy is Jean-Cloud's dog. *woof*