Feeling Good Monday-Weekend Wanders

     Finally a break from the deep freeze and pup and I were ready to explore. Our old haunts look different than November before winter took hold.It's a picture heavy post, and not really in a great cohesive order, but join me if you would like. 

Saturday we walked  at a local park that has water falls in several spots, and an interesting old railroad bridge, now a walking and bike path. 

A little bit of moving water at the base of the falls.

Snowy woods.

The top of the falls.

View from the bridge.

View from the East side of the railroad bridge. 

A steep look down to the frozen river, with trickles still running.

A closer view of the frozen falls.

The falls from a step back.

Pup just nosing around the look out pavilion.

View from the West side of the railroad bridge.

The walls of the current mill in the back ground. 

     Sunday was less rustic, walking along the big river and downtown to see the remains of last weekends ice sculptures before sun and warmth knocked them all down.

The one outside one of our favorite
restaurants and near the brewery

Oh, cupid!

Pup had curiosity with this one.

this was a favorite-I love how the winter decorations in the
planters, remnants of snow, and a cute pup all combine for 
a Hallmark kind of scene.

Pup was less interested in the ice and more the smells.
This one looks salvaged from a broken base.

And the river walk from a different view. No boats, no barges and no bikes or skateboards. 

The fireplace was a good idea but has pretty much
been out of order. No skating rink this year.
 

A tiny little sitting area nestled in downtown by the river. 

The  amphitheater/pavilion that has live music, community
movies, and  other performances. Not much Sunday!

     Not much more to tell or show. It was snowing on Sunday and pup and I were both  pretty wet by the time we got back to the car. We got hi dried off and he cuddled up with DH for the afternoon until our daughters concert was available for streaming at 4:30. I hope you  enjoyed coming along with me. 

My Love Hate Relationship With Snow

I love water. I've been a swimmer practically from birth, taken to the public splash pool (free) on hot sweltering days, and later to the big pool, where my parents summer splurge was getting season patches for all of our swimsuits that gave us admission the whole summer. I like a good rain, particularly if it has been dry out, or dirty, and the rain refreshes it all. Dry grass becomes green again, and the air feels less stifling. 

Snow, another form of water, is a love and a scourge for me. I don't know how my mind would make it from November to April with no green, no color on the trees, a brown and beige pallet everywhere if most of the ground was not covered with a pillow of white. As a child I loved sledding, still do if I have a soft tube that guarantees no jarring to my lower back. With proper footwear and temperatures above 18F, a good walk in the snow is exhilarating. Pup really loves jumping in, almost over his head, popping up, and jumping again. I swear he must have a little husky in him. Pup and children and snow, and a beautiful clean white landscape are simple pleasures. Snow and driving, not so much.

Monday, a slight dusting on the roads, barely an inch doubled my commute home, even leaving what I thought was ahead of rush hour as DD2 had a orthodontist appointment. I had to call DH to leave work to bring her there. I arrived just as her appointment ended. A two hour commute yesterday morning and more snow during the day, left me jockeying my schedule around because of arriving so late. I then left early again to try and beat the traffic, still adding 15 minutes, and worked from home into the evening, disrupting home life. Guess what? More snow today, but of course these little 1-3 inch snow falls aren't a true snow day, just slow days. Work, school, activities go on, and I spend my time shoveling, dusting off cars, driving slow, generally unproductive,and do it again tomorrow. I'm annoyed DH did not get the snow blower fixed. It should be a Minnesota home staple, but last year it crashed, and never got repaired. He is like that-doesn't take care of things, and I can't lift the thing to get it taken in somewhere. 

Variation of this meme have been going around Facebook lately.  A little humor to keep those of us already sick of winter looking at the bright side. I think I'll take Frosty over this guy at my front door.

Preparing for a White Weekend

Sunday was just a glimpse of snow. The warm temperatures later in the day and Monday left just little traces here and there. Tuesday though, the cold came in and even pup, who loves it outside, did his business then wanted back in. It's the wind he doesn't appreciate blowing on his bits when he lifts his leg. Poor little fluff ball. We had blizzards in the far northeast corner of our state, Canada and northern North Dakota border. We held a state wide meeting on Wednesday and one of our colleagues was participating on-line/phone and mentioned she couldn't see anything out her windows but white. We are expecting 4-6 inches between Saturday late afternoon and Sunday morning. We had fluffy flakes yesterday, but they just seemed to blow around like flakes in a snow globe, nothing accumulating.

No furniture delivery as one of the three parts of the sectional still has not arrived at the warehouse. I'm really annoyed, disappointed, and frustrated that  it has been nearly nine weeks since we ordered, and still no delivery date confirmed as they won't until the final piece gets in and they won't commit to a date for that. I'll go ahead and get the living room tree set up, the stockings, a few other things, but won't do the village as that is where the risk of breakage would come when the furniture gets delivered. I probably won't bother now as it takes so much time, for so few weeks.  We'll see. 

I'll make a run tomorrow morning for the odds and ends for my Christmas baking and settle in for the weekend. Here's my baking-preparing list. I need it to stay cold now as I use my porch as an extra freezer. I have decided for my immediate work team to put together small boxes, Chinese food container like, of sweets and treats. I have the boxes and that will just be seven. Once I've cleaned up up my kitchen, I'll post my versions recipe of each of the treats, indicating which are (or can easily be) vegetarian, gluten free, or vegan.

• Mounds bar truffles
• Oreo Truffles
• Nutter butter truffles
• Caramel corn
• Chex mix (always different as I wait to see what things are on sale to include)
• Pumkin bread 
• M&M cookies (DD will make these) 
• Peanut blossoms

I have a change of plans tonight. My brother in law won tickets to see White Christmas at St Paul's Ordway. My sister was surprised he actually wanted to go. I got a call yesterday from my sister. He decided she might enjoy it more with a daughter, friend, or sister. Her single daughter had no interest, her other daughter had no babysitter, and she knew I would enjoy so I'm the lucky guest. She would have brought DD with her, my little musical lover if DH had not been willing to forgo wine club tonight. He really does wine club for my benefit any way. I borrowed a photo from the Ordway site to show how spectacular the venue is at night in December.

Not Quite On My Original December Weekend

Nope, Christmas decorations are still not up, just the wreath ordered from my boyscout nephews. I had planned on cleaning yesterday, then hauling things in, and getting most done, finishing today. Then I saw an ad about workers coming into a home, knocking a Christmas tree over, shooting it through a window, breaking class balls, and dad stepping on one, then a rush to the emergency room. While highly dramatized, I decided to wait until my new sectional comes next week, the furniture we kept is moved back to its rightful place, and I've done another purge and made better room. I'll still have the house decorated for at least two weeks before Christmas, and am satisfied with that.

Instead, my Sunday was spent cleaning out the refrigerator and doing some creative cooking with the remnants in there and the freezer. A white sauce pizza with mozzarella, sausage, onions, and olives, is ready for tomorrow night and a broccoli-Alfredo chicken hot dish not made last week was gobbled today, with leftovers for lunch. I used the last of a container of  plain yogurt for the pizza crust. DH and I made a trip to the store for fresh fruit and vegetables, milk bread, and assorted baking items that are at rock bottom prices. I cleaned out our entry closet, washing coats, setting aside ones for the dry cleaner, to donate, and to throw. I had intentions of making a double batch of mini banana bread, but ran out of steam. I'll do so tomorrow night. I organized where I am at for gift giving, totally on budget, and have some pretty good gifts.  And, I had my first walk in the snow. Not much, just a few inches and it is quite warm, hovering around 34 F and sunny, so much is already melting. We are due more later in the week. Pup was very interested in the new ground cover.

 DD had a Drivers Ed lesson today, which included freeway driving. Her instructor is a youngish retired phys-ed, (formerly mine) basketball coach, and later assistant principal. She is an icon for women's sports in Minnesota and just named to the Minnesota Hall of Fame. DD didn't know she was being taught by a legend, and the lessons went well. She has completed everything she needs to take her test when she turns 16, well besides more practice. 

Below is my make shift recipe for pizza crust. I always pre-bake the crust for 10 minutes before topping it to make sure there are not raw spots. 

Pizza Crust (with clean out the fridge toppings)
1 cup plain yogurt (about what was left in container)
1 Cup plus more worked in later of self rising four
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp garlic powder (probably more with sprinkles)
1tsp Italian seasoning (again probably more)

Mix together, drizzle in olive oil and knead into a ball. Leave in a bowl, covered, and let rise/set. It doesn't really rise, but it gets more settled for rolling out. Roll out as thin as you like on a greased cookie sheet or pizza pan, then make dimples with the end of a spoon. Pour a little more olive oil (1 tsp worth) and spread over the crust. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes, then top as you like.  I used about 1/2 cup of reserved Alfredo sauce, half a  remaining onion, some chopped green olives lingering in the fridge, a  half of a $1.00 box of precooked sausages (left from breakfast burritos), and 4 ounces of mozzarella cheese. Baked that again for about 15 minutes. 

The hot dish was 8 ounces of cooked penne pasta, 1 1/2 cups cooked diced chicken,10 ounces jarred Alfredo sauce, 3/4 cup milk (shaken in the jar to get rest of sauce with 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp Italian season, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper), and 8 ounces frozen chopped broccoli. This was mixed and baked in a sprayed casserole dish, at 325 for 50 minutes. 

I don't live an exciting life, but this was a good weekend, and one that suited me. I'm getting stronger, walking longer, and  am feeling well. I'll end tonight addressing cards with something on the computer to listen/watch. I am anticipating a pressure cooker at work this week, so starting with calm is required, Enjoy your week. 

Bracing for a Long Commute Home

We got a little kiss of snow, perhaps an inch of grown cover on Thanksgiving Day. Weather predictors are saying today should be our first test of snowy driving with snow starting early to mid afternoon, ramping up for the evening commute home.  Just my luck in that I have to be in the office today, though potentially will be able to leave early afternoon and finish my day form home, rather than brave the traffic, which can double, and sometimes triple my commute on the first few snowfalls of the year.  While we Minnesotans are hearty when it comes to weather, we are also a bit dense in that it takes us a few snowfalls to remember the driving rules like keeping a safe distance, ramps get slippery, stock your windshield wiper fluid as there is snowy crap spewing to block vision, and drive with lights on.  Pretty basic stuff, but the ditches will be lined with folks driving to fast, and going off the road, or worse, rear ending the person in front of them. I'll let you know tomorrow how my adventure fairs.

Waiting for the Big Snow Storm

This is not a weather report but a lament.  I'm waiting for the snow storm of the year to hit.  I'm feeling cheated right now.  If I'm going to live in Minnesota in the winter, I want some bragging rights.  After the last week of warm January days, there are complete spots where we can see green grass coming through. I want to have a good deep bury that makes everything slow down for a day, giving reason, not laziness, to hole up inside with popcorn and hot beverages.  I want the brown muddy patches to be covered in sheets of billowy white.  I want to drive blinded by the sun shining so brightly off the crisp snow. 

Well, maybe not that last one, as I'm not a danger seeker.  I know winter has not released it's grip on us, and March is the snowiest month historically, and we've all of February left to get our snow quota, yet I am longing now for the snow to come.  I am a true four seasons kind of gal.  Snowy winters, melting and budding green springs, hot and humid summers, and crisp and cool autumns is what I want to experience. We've had some weird weather patterns the last few years, where I'm not sure, without looking at a calendar, what month it is.  Weather cycles should follow a pattern. I love the day after day of April rains.  You won't hear me complain about the heat and humidity in July and August.  Blustery winds in October have me reaching for a wool sweater and some hiking boots for a good long walk in the woods.  Something about getting a big snow fall in the heart of winter will feel right.  None of this green stuff on January 26th.

Sledding in the Snow is Still a Simple Joy

The jokes and the outrage across the United States abound due to many cities invoking sledding bans on public property.  I read an article from the BBC news covering the topic as well so the trend has garnered international attention. Commenters had a field day laughing at the over precautious Americans, living in a nanny state.    However, despite the blame on the bans by litigious happy lawyers, injuries are real, and failure to assess or outright ignore probable dangers should have been the focus.  In one several million dollar lawsuit, the city knowingly, and despite public discourse, planted trees in the park, in direct line of a known sledding hill. It isn't so cut and dry about where to put the blame for the horrible injury to a child, but widespread banning, in my humble opinion was an over reach.  This writer, Melinda Wenner Moyer in her post Let them sled!, does a strong job of outlining why there should be precautions and foresight yes, but outright banning no.

Living in the world of snow my whole life, the thought of kids no longer sledding is a sad one. My best childhood memories in the winter months, and those with my own children involved finding the best hills, and tramping back up for just one more ride. I grew up in rural Minnesota, in an area that was very hilly due to the proximity to the Mississippi River bluffs.  We had some incredible hills in back yards and country fields.  There was nothing better than sledding all day, until your toes were near frozen, your body a mix of sweat and frost.  I don't recall ever having the snowsuit sets my kids always wore, but we layered pants over pants, over pajama bottoms, over tights or long johns.  Our boots weren't the ones suitable for the polar vortex as we have now, so multiple socks, a great use for all the mismatched socks without partners, and a bread bag worn over the top layer of socks to create a water proof barrier. You get the idea.  The kids with head to toe snowmobile suits had it the best. Once home, the layers would get peeled off, and laid out somewhere to dry for the next time.  Nothing tasted better after a day of sledding than a mug of hot chocolate and a slice of toast with peanut butter.

Sledding is multigenerational too. The best sledding hills in my community are loaded with families with older infants to grand parents on any given Saturday or Sunday. As I hit closer to 50, my sled of choice is the tube type that cushion my rear on the way down.   DD#2 still prefers her long traditional purple sled, with the gray steering string.  On a hill groomed by sledders before, she shoots like a rocket from the top.  Plus, her sled has ample room to add a second or even third body for taking on other sledders in races.  Our family has had our shares of bumps and bruises, spills that have landed the rider face buried in icy snow, and sore butts from hard landings off a little jump.  My worst injury actually occurred as a 24 year old teacher, going down hill with two of my students.  I was the sled caboose, and right before being steered over a child made jump, my driver and middle rider bailed, and I sailed into the air, landing hard. Nothing broken, but I had a massive bruise across my lower back and was moving slow for weeks-unfortunate with a teaching job and 14 month old toddler at home to care for.

I hope the cities that banned all sledding on public property will rethink the fear, and move more to just educating on precaution or warnings on unsafe hills.  Hopefully the silly attention will yield more people just understanding better about the inherent risks, and better planning on where and how to sled. For those of us watching our pennies, and a day on the ski slopes is out of the question, or only an occasional treat, sledding is great exercise and totally frugal. Plastic sleds can be picked up used for a pittance and even if buying new, they are not that expensive and last for years. I'm sure we have no less than 6 in our garage, at least one  of which was purchased 25 years ago for pulling my DS around in as a toddler. All still get the job done with satisfaction.

I bemoan the bitter cold as much as my fellow Minnesotan's. Despite the cold, there are abundant joys in living in areas with four true seasons.  Sledding is one of those simple joys in the winter I hope to experience every year of my life.  Two years ago  we had a snow storm on May 1. I don't think I want to experience it for quite so long a duration this year, though.  Happy Sledding.