Designing in Life

Epic Snowstorm

Yes, that's what they're calling this early March blizzard we're having...EPIC.  No going to work today, even for Nick.  He was called early this morning and told the store would be closed.  I have plenty of work that I brought home to keep me busy.

I thought you might like to see what it looks like out front of the house at noon.  The snow plow has not been by yet, and we have been in blizzard conditions for 24 hours. I've circled the mailbox, so that you can gauge where the road is (or should be) right in front of it.

Last weekend, the Jersey City group came for another visit.  Phoebe and I stayed home while Chloe, Jim and Beth went to Sugarbush to ski.  Before leaving, Chloe tried on her ski ensemble for us.

While they were here, we had another dump of 8 inches of snow.  So on Sunday, before everyone went home, we went out to play.

Chloe put on her x-country skis and took off with Beth.

Jim pulled Phoebe around on the toboggan – with Sadies help.

Chloe decided she should make a "snow nest" for Phoebe.

Phoebe (with her Big Foot snow shoes on) decided she'd rather just eat the snow.

But then decided maybe she should watch the birds with Pop Pop.

We're pretty lucky to have little visitors that drive us outside to have fun in the winter.  Today, however, no matter if we had small visitors or not, we're staying put until this storm lifts.

Septic, Ice and Toxic Fumes...OH MY!

So, in a nutshell...we are afraid there is a septic problem.  Of course this would be on a day that is barely over 0 degrees outside.  We have not heard back from the septic company as of yet.  We had a major water surge in the basement that seems like it's the septic system.  I'm no expert, so if you hear me septic people, get over here.

And speaking of water surges, while away this past weekend there was a fast and furious rainfall, which ran over the icy snow and through the garage.  The temperatures plummeted afterwards, and our garage has 2 inches of ice covering the floor – which means anything on the floor is frozen to the floor.  Nick finally got one of the doors open.

I walked in the door mid-morning to work at home, and thought I had walked into a toxic dump.  While downstairs, Nick encountered a spray can filled with noxious chemicals that you use to re-porcelain a tub that had exploded on the floor.  It took 4 hours to get most of the smell out of here, although if you go outside then come back in, yup, you can still smell it.

We were hoping to have a visit with our Jersey City clan for the weekend, but since we have no idea how many showers (or flushes) will overcome the septic system, we have to wait to hear from the experts...wherever they are.

Catching Up

We had granddaughter, Phoebe, visiting this weekend while her parents and sister went on a little ski excursion.  She is a sweet and very easy little girl.

She entertained us by shopping and making us sandwiches.

And this weekend work was going on to prepare for a laundry room downstairs, and a new bathroom on the main floor.  Unfortunately, the dryer is not on the same floor as the washer...yet.

And look what showed up last night.

Along with this Valentine rose were a beautiful pair of opal earrings (which I happen to be wearing).

And today I'm home sick.  There seems to be great concern that I feel better soon.

But that's because I'm the one who fills the bowl with food!

How Cold is it??

Weather here in Vermont is always a high priority topic.  You can't go anywhere without someone saying, "It's so hot. It's so cold. It's so wet.  It's so snowy.  It's so dry"  You get the picture.  So, last night's news was all about how we are going to drop into the deep freeze.  I thought it might be a good time to take a peek at what the weather was like on Mt Washington.

As you can see it was only -9, however if you look, you'll see the wind was blowing a good 86 mph and looking further, you'll see the wind chill was -51.  So what's all the fuss about down here?

I got up this morning and looked at the thermometer around 6:30.  It was 2 degrees.  Warm by Mt Washington winter standards.  Then I looked to the west and noticed the sky was crystal clear and the waning Wolf Moon was bright as can be.

So maybe it is a bit cold out, but no amount of cold is going to blot out something as beautiful as this!

The Projects Resume

I just finished putting a primer coat of paint in the hallway that leads from the kitchen to the living room.  As always, it ended up not being a simple job.  Inspecting the trim/molding, we both agreed that most of it really needed to be replaced.  So off it came.

When we moved into this little cape about 12-years-ago, we were surprised at some of the paint we uncovered.  One bedroom had originally been John Deere green, and one bedroom was purple.  After we pulled the trim off the hallway, I started noticing yet another strange color.

Hard to imagine the whole hallway was painted this color.  I looked through the paint that we have, but decided that I really want a little color here besides just an off-white.  I think more of a very light brownish/beige.  I'll buy that tomorrow after work.

We decided a trip to Lowe's was in order yesterday to purchase the trim.  While there, I looked at vanity tops for the downstairs bathroom, which has been torn out for a few years, but is now back on the list for finishing.  Nick will build the vanity and this is the shape/type of top we decided on in a white granite. I think the faucet and handles will be 8 inches apart, instead of 4 like in the picture.

So, it feels good to proceed into the new year trying to get some things done that have been in the works an awfully long time.

A Perfect Saturday

Yesterday afternoon we took a walk out back, down the hill, across the field and onto the banks of the Otter Creek.  It was a beautiful day.  In the high 20's, lightly snowing and very quiet.  Here is a glimpse –

Snake Mountain from out front.  An interesting cloud encircling the summit.

The Zen bench covered with snow, with an all-too-familiar background.

The snow-laden path to the field below.

I don't know, just an interesting log caught between two trees.

The dried flower heads of the weeds were holding large puffs of snow.

Nick perched on an old well on the banks of Otter Creek.

Looking north at the still-open creek.

And back up the hill on the now foot-trodden path to home.

I can't say that winter is my favorite season, but days like this keep me going until that first little spring flower lifts it's sleepy head welcoming warmer weather.

 

The Weekend...Finally

So what if it was only a four-day week, I'm happy to see the weekend arrive.  Looks like we'll be having some new snow out there, so maybe we'll be snowshoeing or skiing by Sunday.

In the meantime, it's Friday night and I see no reason why we can't celebrate that with a Cosmopolitin.

Ingredients

• Ice cubes
• 1 1/2 fluid ounces lemon or regular vodka
• 1 fluid ounce Cointreau
• 1 fluid ounce cranberry juice
• 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice
• Long thin piece orange zest or orange slice

Directions

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the vodka, Cointreau, and cranberry and lime juices. Cover and shake vigorously to combine and chill. Strain the cosmopolitan into a chilled martini glass. Twist the orange zest over the drink and serve.

Note: The drink can also be stirred in a pitcher.

Cheers!!

Sunday at Our House

It was a busy day at our house today.  I made

rolls...

and applesauce that I'll take with me to South Jersey for Thanksgiving.

Nick wanted to put up scaffolding, so that it will be in place tomorrow when he and the roofer start on the front roof.

It's not that easy to do by yourself, so he got me to help him.

Notice the foot...

And he got me up there again to help finish.

I know I've posted this recipe before, but if you're looking for a dinner roll for Thanksgiving, these have always been tried and true.

Poor Farm Rolls

1 package yeast
2 eggs
1/2 cup melted butter or margarine
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup sugar
4-5 cups flour

Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup of lukewarm water.  Beat eggs and add melted butter, salt and sugar.  Add yeast mixture and 1 cup of water.  Add flour.  Let rise until doubled.  Make rolls and place on cookie sheets.  Cover and let rise for 1/2 hour or until doubled.

Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 10 minutes.

Enjoy!

 

A Beautiful Weekend

As the Mid-west has become blanketed with snow, we here in the Northeast are experiencing some beautiful weather.  It has been in the high 50's, which means I have spent most of the weekend outside.

I was too busy to take many pictures, I'm sorry to say, but will happily tell you what we did.

We tackled the pile of wood by the house and got it all split.  We use a small electric splitter, which is perfect for cutting the size wood that we need.  I did have a small mouse jump out of one of the logs and start climbing up my pants.  Luckily it was not a spider, so I wasn't terrified!  In fact, I think mice are pretty cute, outside, not in the house!

Nick brought the scaffodling to the south of the house and proceeded to construct it, so that it will be ready for the contractor tomorrow.  I was able to help him, but not as much as I would have liked.  Limping around made me more like the turtle than the hare.

The lawn got mowed, even though it was still pretty wet.  And I can say that my garden is about as "put to bed" for the winter as it will be.  I took down all the tomato cages, bean poles and stakes.  Pulled out the dead plants and piled them up for the compost.  I found many grape tomatoes that were still edible buried beneath the straw.  Four stray pumpkins appeared that I'll bring in in hopes that they will finish turning orange.  And then I dug up these.

These are celeriac, also known as celery root.  It is related to carrots, parsnips, anise and parsley.  The tops (which I have cut off) do resemble celery.  Pare the outter layer and chop, add to soup or stew as you would celery.  This is the first year I have grown it, and will add to my list next year.  The flavor is a bit richer than celery, and the dishes that I've used it in have been enhanced by its use.  I guess by looking at these, it's no wonder that they call it the "the vegetable world's ugly duckling."

I know this may very well be the last of weekends like this one.  And I'm so very happy that I was able to take advantage of the glorious weather.  The sunsets have been gorgeous also.  I caught last night's sunset a bit late, but the color was wonderful.

FROSTY!!

I was going to post a few pictures of the finished roof on the back dormer, but it looks like they must be on the other camera.

We woke up to 20 degrees yesterday morning.  A bit on the brrrrrrr side for this time of year.  It was not without its rewards, however.

As you can see, the heavy frost looked just like a layer of snow.

The bank of clouds you see at the foot of the Adirondack Mountains is actually over Lake Champlain.  We see this often this time of year because the lake is probably a pretty toasty 50 degrees.  The 20 degree air above it creates this cloud coverage.  Pretty spectacular.  And so nice that I can find something beautiful to comment on when the leaves are almost gone, there is no garden to tend to and the weather requires more than one layer of clothing!