Even though the Chicago branch of the family got all our snow, we forgive them. We have flurries here that are not adding up to much on the ground, but the temps are still quite chilling. We realized that our water heater stopped doing it’s thing. Turned out that the pump that usually keeps the water level in the basement below 1.5 inches was out for repair and it had risen high enough to snuff the pilot, maybe a half foot. The water level had since dropped so I went down a lit it again. Granpa said he would be over to put the pump back in later today. I doubt it be flooding again any time soon, looking at the forecast… all freezing stuff.
The flurries are very pretty. The lake froze a few evenings a week or so ago, but then we had 60+ degree days, and it all went back to normal. We are hoping for some nice calm weather with very cold temps so we get a nice smooth top on. Once that is in place, the snow just blows across and gathers on our side, and leaves a nice large surface for skating and cracking our heads.
We harvested the last few items from the garden a few weeks ago, but the cold weather items (lettuce, arugula, and the like) are still not dead. They aren’t growing much either, so one of these days we will go out and harvest them for a true baby lettuce salad. I am not sure it will make more than one serving. We also moved a few things indoors for winter, including our basil, cilantro, oregano and thyme. They are doing ok do far, but I wonder how they will handle the low humidity during the depths of winter…
Last weekend I headed down to P & A’s place with the kids and did some hiking, animal petting, and shelter building with P. During our hike we ran into both garlic mustard and wild garlic. We snacked on both, which turned out to be a pretty bad idea when it came time to talk to our spouses. I dug up a garlic mustard root and shaved it when I got home for some wild horseradish. It has all the flavor with less of that nose-burning-ness. It is all right, but I am still undecided on result to work ratio. It was a first year plant, so maybe the second year produces a larger root and stronger flavor.
We built a pretty awesome debris shelter that fit all of us inside. P said they will use it for a demonstration at camp.
Lately we have been playing a lot of games. Well, not a lot of different games, just a lot of the same two games, Settlers of Cataan, and Bohnanza. We bought Settlers a little while back (after all the family was out here in Sept.), and P & A bought Bohnanza around the same time. B’s parents love playing as much as P & A and we do, so almost any time we get together we play a few. I have been kicking their butts lately.
It does not look like we will be in the Pacific NW for Christmas this year, but it will still be nice to have P & A here to celebrate with this year. Who knows where we will all be next year or the year after…
Work has been a drag. That is all about that.
What a pretty picture of Ariana. She has such beautiful blue eyes!
I am always happy to hear of people playing games. I love to play games, but finding other people who share my enthusiasm is always a challenge. More reasons for you to migrate to the PNW soon. Jeff plays out of love for me, and is warming up to a few different games, but I literally never get tired of playing them.
Great update. The shelter you guys built is quite impressive. It would be fun to do that and then camp in it. The picture of Ariana is beautiful. Time has flown by and she looks so grown up.
Sounds like you guys are having a lot of fun. Hope you do get a really good ice surface on the lake this year. Such a great location for the things you do, photography and water (soft and firm) sports!
Was the juxtaposition of Ariana’s eyes and the goat’s eye intentional? The latter are one of the more curious things in nature. I understand the rationale of cats’ eyes, but have never heard one for goats.
The ice is forming! Not sure yet how smooth it is, but I am hopeful.
I did not plan the eyes, but I agree on the strangeness of sheep/goat eyes. I wonder if it gives them a horizontal panorama type view, better for detecting that lion/wolf that just peeked over the hill…
Yes, Ariana’s eyes are beautiful, just like her mom’s. This is one of those rare captures where she did not have a chance to think about changing her expression for the camera. I love it. It is one of my favorites.