It's cold and the children have been poorly and the adults a bit iffy..you know how that sometimes happens.
The poor youngest was totally flattened for several days and the oldest missed three days of school . yuk and poor things.
We resorted to comfort reads ..me reading aloud and them in bed and just sipping water was as adventurous as we got.
Much good wood has been burnt as we are still in a cold snap 5 degrees f this morning with a cold wind to add to the fun.
Still today is Thursday and the children break for a weeks holiday tomorrow ..and are quite ready for it! I just hope it's a little warmer.
The cars squeak and groan from the cold as they pass ..locks start to freeze up and doors like to remain shut ..now what is the right amount to pull to open it without breaking anything or removing the seal? I talk to the car when I start her to warm up in the morning (so if this blog abruptly ends it's because the men in white coats have taken me away) I sympathize with her for sitting out in the cold with no garage to keep her warm. My only excuse is an early career on farms looking after livestock where chatting was compulsory.
She is a great lass and copes as best she can. It's always a little nerve wracking though as sometimes the doors are frozen shut and when you get them open ...then that's how they want to stay. But touch wood my OH can charm them into good behavior (flexible use of the term charm here) and we won't mention the day she rebelled and he had to exit at work via the hatchback....
We have gone from beautiful glittering branches of sparkling snow with huge deep snowy white berms of snow at the sides of the road to branches blown bare of any crystal (and a few twigs blowing along the ground) the deep berms are sinking into heavy compact masses ..that on the edges of the busy roads are brown or rippled from grit, dirt etc.
Everywhere the thick layers of snow on roofs, parked cars, fences, walls etc has been moulding itself into gentle shapes ...looking rather like thick layers of frosting generously layered onto a warm cake and beginning to escape. Now with a harsh wind they are losing that look and they compressed down are roughened and patterned by the wind. The roads and pathways are scoured of snow or packed by drifted snow ..it's rather like white sand in texture and how it sounds as you walk over it. The roadways and pathways are a jigsaw of tarmac, snow and thick polished ice all uneven like islands.
It's definitely good boots, warm mitts (I wear gloves, hand warmers & mitts) and decent hat weather and even then this morning I was holding my mitts over my nose as it was feeling the chill.
But the sky is blue and clear and the sun bright so it's cheerful to look out onto ..I just recommend brisk walking and No standing about!
( Full disclosure ...A bacon butty, Mug of fresh coffee and five minutes of comedy from youtube help the mood too ..ok 25 minutes ..well 30 minutes ....)
The big sled dog race started at the weekend ..the ceremonial start is in town and the practical start this year was moved to Fairbanks. We often watch the teams in town but this year that wasn't possible as the girls were poorly.
This year the Mushers have been facing much colder weather than we have minus 45 f and colder ..they are in real danger of frostbit of fingers and feet as they tend to their dogs. Local paper report here I have my fingers crossed for Ally Zirkle she has come so close and darn it it's about time we had a female winner again.
Comfort books for reading when poorly or sad
Self
"No Holly for Miss Quin" by Miss Read Kindle book
"Little Lord Fauntleroy" by F HodgsonBurnett Unabridged Audio reading
For the Girls
Double Trouble by Doreen Tovey
Cats in May by Doreen Tovey
Both are firm favourites and feel goods.
Wishing you warmth and health...I'm off to the wood shed for another log.
