New Years Eve

On New Years Eve we headed out into the 6˚  (-12˚ windchill) cold just before midnight.

Crunched out into the pasture on snowshoes with sky lanterns in hand.

(Surprisingly, the long necked lighters don't work in that kind of cold.)

Paul trotted on back into the house to get the kitchen matches, while Girl of the House and I waited.

After a bit of a struggle, we finally got one of the lanterns lit.

We only launched one of the lanterns.  The winds were pretty high and they were hard to handle without tearing.

We'll go out sometime soon on a quiet night and launch the others.

Happy New Year 2011!

Christmas Day Snowshoeing

While we were out at Grand Targhee, WY,  we were able to do some snowshoeing on Christmas Day.  On that bright sunny morning we headed down the hill to Teton Canyon Road.  There's a marvelous 13 km groomed nordic ski trail back into the Tetons.

 The area receives enthusiastic use on the groomed ski trail, but it was fresh and untouched for snowshoeing.

With seven inches of fresh fluffy sparkly powder on top of a deep snowpack, we couldn't ask for better snowshoeing.  We headed off the ski trail and made our own trail just a slight distance from the river. 

The Grand Teton in the background.

What an awesome afternoon in the snow!

Paul's been given the opportunity (via Snowshoe Magazine) to take some Columbia Bugatech Lite Omni-heat boots for a test drive.  

The boots performed well in the deep powder.  His feet stayed warm, dry and comfortable.  He frequently swaps out the footbeds in his boots and inserts Superfeet footbeds, but found he didn't need any changes to the support.  He's worn these boots while we've hiked in the Carleton Arboretum and they've been very comfortable for hiking.  Good traction on icy trails, and they've kept his feet warm even at  -10˚ F.   While he's accustomed to a slightly taller boot, the only thing he'd like to see improved was the lacing on the top portion of the boot.  Some hooks or D-rings would certainly make it easier to achieve the snugly comfortable fit around the ankle.  

All in all, he's quite pleased with these boots, and will use them a great deal this winter!

Snowshoeing

While we are really enjoying watching the Olympics, restlessness set in this afternoon, and we headed out for some snowshoeing.  It was sunny and in the 20s, a beautiful February afternoon.

We headed out to our pasture, just to check the borders.  This deer path is in the west pasture directly next to the house. The deer have tromped quite a path.  They like to eat out of the bird feeders on the north side of the house.

Next, out to the southeast corner to check out the bench.  It's a nice place to head in the summer mornings for a cup of coffee.

It was buried to the seat. 

We moved on.  No rest for us there!

The little dog was in charge of checking out all the rodents in the snow.  His snout gets covered.

 

All in all, it was a good day to be a dog out in the sunshine.

Not bad to be a snowshoer, either.

Happy New Year 2010!

Did you do something memorable to bring in the New Year?

Did you do something pleasantly memorable to bring in the New Year?

I'd like to think my days of doing regrettably memorable things for the New Year are far in the past.  So far, so good, I must say.

 
In honor of the rare New Years Eve Blue Moon, we snowshoed out into the subzero temps to fully experience and celebrate the frosty glow.  Even the dogs frolicked in the cold snow.

It was difficult to get decent photos - my fingers darn near froze off.  Naked hands for photography did not work so very well.  I finally had to give it up and be satisfied with what I had.

Do you think, in 19 years when there is another New Years Eve full moon, Girl of the House will remember the bright, cold snowshoeing celebration she had when she was 14?  Will she tell the story?  Will it be pleasantly memorable?

It must be spring!

Saturday morning when we woke up, it was 54 degrees warmer than the morning before. It's amazing how warm 22 degrees above zero can feel.



Today Paul and I went snowshoeing in the arboretum. It was snowing lightly, and it was a treat to be outside.







Down by the river we saw an eagle, hanging above the water, just waiting to see his dinner.







He flew a short distance up the river and met his mate.

We are very lucky to have eagles in our immediate area.

The open water of the river keeps them here year round.

(Unfortunately, the open water is from the Northfield city sewer treatment plant.)
Well, whatever works, I guess?


We saw the first robins of 2009.

Usually you don't see them in Minnesota til spring. Guess this means spring is here!

From -32 to spring. YAY!





Girl of the House traded in all her saved allowance money and her birthday money to purchase a Wii.

We picked it up today, and she's been very active.

You gotta love a video game you don't sit down for, don't you?

We don't buy video games for our kids. However, they are allowed to buy them with their own money. (But we still put pretty restrictive rules on video game time.)

Osterdalen is cast on

I did get Osterdalen cast on last evening. I finished the cuff, and am onto the vast expanse of black stockinette sleeve.

I used a provisional cast on for the hem, then turned it up and knitted it together with the appropriate row. Aha! No sewing up the hem later! Yay!




Paul finished putting the dishwasher in. He had supervisory help. George felt it was necessary to warm his rear end for him as he worked.




Chip felt it was necessary to entertain the cat. Eventually, everyone was shooed away, and the work was completed.


We made it outside to try the snowshoes. It reached a high of -2, so we zipped out for a quick one. The dogs were happy to be outside for more than just a bathroom break.

Blurry picture, but I propped the camera on the fencepost. Bare hands were required to set the timer, and I didn't spend much time getting the focus just right.




At last, after three months - meet our new dishwasher.

Yes, we're easily entertained...

There will be NO more snow in Minnesota this winter,

and our household will take full credit.

We had so much fun with the borrowed snowshoes, we bought some for ourselves. Now, that about guarantees there will be no more snow this winter!

It's our 14th wedding anniversary today, and our snowshoes came just in time. Yes, 14 years; the traditional snowshoe anniversary.

January of 1994 was a record setting cold month. On January 15, the high temp was -9 degrees. The low was -34 degrees. (Paul's friends had always said it would be a cold day in hell when he finally married.)

We discussed many options for honeymooning. I had been going to Sanibel island for many winters. He had been mountain skiing for many winters. After an extensive discussion, we went to Jackson Hole, WY for our honeymoon.

I had only skied in Minnesota. Going to the top of that lift at Jackson, looking down the mountain, I thought I must surely have lost my mind!! "You've got to be kidding - I can't do anything THAT steep!" Paul pushed, prodded and coaxed, and I made it down that hill. Now the only year we haven't mountain skied was the year Girl of the House was born. (She's a December baby.)

So, we're winter people. I haven't been back to Florida since 1993. Paul has NEVER seen the ocean. He'll get there sometime, but I suspect it will be in Washington State, on a summer trip.

Snowshoes are a terrific gift. Just remember who you need to thank for the lack of further snow...

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing,

wind braces up, and snow is exhilarating; there is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather. John Ruskin (1819-1900)


No fresh resolutions from our household, just a peaceful welcoming in of the new year.

Ben returned to college, and the house is quiet, and a bit lonesome, again.

We had visitors this morning. Harlan and Coleen came by, with their big pup, Khaki.
They bought new snowshoes, and wanted to walk in the arb.

They were out for more than 2 miles! Guess those snowshoes work!





They had a party to attend in the afternoon/evening, so they left Khaki with us. They left their snowshoes, too. So, we tried them out. These are wonderful things, these snowshoes! I like them much better than cross country skis.

Our dogs went out with us. We walked about a mile, just out in the pasture.





The view of the yard from the back of the property. Winter always gives me a new perspective...










All of the boys were hungry for their supper, after all that exercise.

Khaki's settling in very nicely.







I keep putting off a few projects.

Now, I MUST do them.

I'll start back on my carry around socks.

Not sure I want to continue two socks on two needles. It's a bit more futzing around than I want right now. Moves it away from totally mindless knitting.





The scandinavian baby sweater needs its button band. I'm not sure why I dread it so.

But I've got sweater fever. I bought the Rogue pattern, and I'm dreaming of the perfect yarn.

So, I MUST FINISH THIS LITTLE BABY!!!