Happy Holidays

Joel's mom and I built this snowman and we thought he should have an orange cap so he was safe, since he blends in so well with his surroundings. We made his eyes and nose and buttons from mud (but it may have been dog poop, around here it is hard to say) Whatever it was it was hard and frozen so no worries :)

Snow storm

We got about 7 inches of snow. We have a few good snow drifts around the property but our driveway is clear (thanks to our snow fence). The dogs love it! We wish Max would wear his jacket but he refuses so we just towel off all the snowballs that form on him. Then he thaws out in front of the wood stove.

Ice storm

We finally got power back this morning! A snow storm is due in tonight but hopefully it won't be too bad. The ice was quite beautiful once you got past the inconvenience it caused. Everything had a coating of ice around it and it looked like everything had been put in a glass bubble. It was quite mesmerizing walking around looking at all the trees and listening to them crack under the weight of the ice. We will wait and see what the snow storm brings.

Too late to hibernate?

Life is different out of the rewood forest. I traded 50 degrees and foggy for 10 degrees and icy and got a new shiny icy coat.

Kayaking anyone?

An ice storm came in last night and knocked out our power. We ran over to my mother-in-laws house for some computer time. She lives only a couple minutes away in town and they have power. Our wood stove is keeping our house relatively warm and we put most of our perishable food in a cooler outside so that should keep for a while. All the animals seem just fine. They still get out on their walks and seem not the least bit affected by the ice.

Quirky song

For those of you interested, there is a song that pertains to my #7 odd thing about me. The song title is Lotion and the group that sings it is Greenskeepers. (Warning it is not appropriate for children). You may have to watch Silence of the Lambs to get the song. Enjoy!

7 odd things about me

1. I can't handle when a broom sweeps across carpet. All our remodeling that we have done made me aware of this quirk. It makes me cringe.
2. Like my sister it also makes my teeth itch when I lick popsicle sticks or see someone doing it.
3. I love the sound of high heels on pavement. I remember as a child following behind women and being mesmerized by that sound. It is very soothing to me. Maybe it is similar to the clicking of horses hooves.
4. I have recently acquired a dislike for chewing gum. I am suddenly grossed out by the texture and the thought of chewing something over and over again for that long.
5. I get nervous with people in costume in public places. I remember Universal Studios being quite traumatic as a child. Frankestein walked by me in the ice cream line and I freaked out and don't think I ever got my ice cream. Disneyland is even a little scary where all the characters congregate for photos. Rhea and I took our photo with Goofy only a few years ago and that was a big step. I remember clearly being quite nervous.
6. During my work as a wildlife rehabilitator I developed a liking for that faint skunk smell we all notice when a skunk is near. When most people say yuck they smell a skunk, I think oh yes I smell a skunk and I enjoy the smell. Don't get me wrong when it sprays right in front of me it isn't quite as enjoyable.
7. Whenever I go into the Bath and Body store I think of the scene in Silence of the Lambs where the guy is asking the girl (in the pit) to put the lotion in the basket. I always feel like I am being "attacked" in that store with the employees wanting you to smell, sample, and put things in a basket... Now everytime I go into one of the stores I hear the guys creepy voice telling me to put the lotion in the basket.