Frozen Lake Play

We heard a rumor that the lakes around here had frozen.  Frozen all the way across.  It was totally believable since the temperature hasn't been above 32*f/0*c for many weeks now.  At first my reaction was... ok soo... doesn't this happen every year around here.   

Apparently while the lakes do freeze over here all the time, they don't always freeze over... CLEAR.  As in you can walk across the lake and look down at the bottom of the lake.  

I'm not sure if I'm in awe or a little freaked out.  And truthfully about both, walking across a frozen lake and looking at the bottom while doing it.  

Duncan had an opportunity to be in town and went to see this phenomenon.  He was in awe.  

He and his friend were sliding all over and amazed by the lake.  

It was even featured in the local 'paper'. (it's online)

Photo Credit to Dave Bell of the Local Online Paper

Better go check out such an awe inspiring event when it occurs locally.  

So, while friends were here, we went adventuring.  

However in the week between when Duncan saw the lake as the local paper showed it and when we arrived....

well...

it snowed.

In some ways I think it was less intimidating for me since it was covered in snow.  

Just a tiny bit though.

We'd brought ice skates to test out the ice.

So... obviously the first thing to do is to clear an ice skating arena.

Using resources at our disposal.... we attempted to sweep the powdery snow off an area... by holding Emerson's arms and using him as the plow.  Everyone got down and tried snow angels and sliding with their arms and legs open wide.  It was going to be quite a process.

We looked around for anything that might be useful at clearing the snow.

Low and behold at the boat dock, there was one paddle and a broom in the hollow of the metal pilings by the pier. 

The new implements were far more effective at clearing the snow.  

The ice was black... but clear....  so hard to describe the incredible sight and to try to wrap our heads around the massive scale of the enormous lake being frozen solid.

I encouraged keeping the skating area near the shoreline.... 

After a while... clearing the snow from a large area was less appealing and instead a skating track was devised.  With figure 8 patterns and circles; it was grand.

Then the skaters went rogue.  They had discovered that although clearing the ice allowed us a cool glance at the ice... they could actually just skate through the powdery snow atop the ice.  They took off.  I held my breath... and called out, "How about coming back... closer to shore!" It would have been more encouraging if there had been signs posted regarding the safety of the icy lake... or perhaps pylons to let us know where it was thick enough for skating... or if there had been even one other soul out on the lake... maybe ice fishing... but no, not another person.  We were the only ones on the vast icy lake.  

I was relieved to have them turn and return to Emerson and I.  We hadn't brought skates and stayed with out skating course... sliding around.  It was a really incredible experience but there was a definite element of anxiety with it as well.

The band of brave icy lake skaters.

The sun was setting and the temperature was dropping so it was time to head back to shore... and then home.  (And probably some more hot cocoa)

About twenty feet from the shore we noticed a series of rocks covered in thick ice.  It was rather reassuring to see how thick the ice above the rocks was after having walked all over the lake.  Perhaps I wouldn't have been as anxious if I had noticed the thick ice on our way on, instead of on the way off of, the lake.  

I suppose these rocks were also there in the summer...

Yes... the rocks have always been there.

Such a difference.

And then...

Duncan flipped the ice from the rock over.  Instantly we knew it was an ice throne.

It was there for a photo shoot.  

So we complied.

Strike a pose.  "I'm ready for my close up."

Just chillin'

"This is great... but it would be better with snacks."

Such dramatic poses...  An Ice Queen?

Perhaps a larger ice chair would be more comfortable...

P.S. I was also there... not just a camera taking photos!

Canoedling

 We learned that the church had a bunch of canoes that were available to check out.  So... we did.  The day for canoeing approached.  The weather was cooperative.  The lake wasn't crowded.  The road leading to the beach area... was less than pleasant... potholes and boulders and narrow turns... we were pleased to arrive at the beach!

The masked canoers... a menacing looking crew.  So much so, that the few people on the beach left after we arrived.  (We did come during the early evening while most others spend the day at the beach and tend to leave around evening.)

Thankfully, everyone left, so we unmasked and enjoyed a few hours of leisure time at the lake. 

We split up into logical groups.  Duncan and Derek manned their canoe.  Channa, Jim and Whittaker took the next, Patrick Emerson and I in the last.  

We all had our own unique adventures. Duncan and Derek were overly adventurous.  They saw the narrow area at the FAR side of the lake that led to another section of secluded lake.  They immediately and quickly began paddling that way.  Patrick and I spent a little time teaching Emerson to paddle in sync with my paddle.  Once we realized that Duncan and Derek were planning to cross the entire lake, we paddled like mad to catch up to them and change their plans..  Instead we convinced them to paddle around the lake near the shore.  For a first canoeing we didn't want to get to the middle of the lake and find ourselves exhausted and having to paddle against the wind to return.  The wind once we left the seclusion of the little bay was difficult to paddle against.  

We went around the first point and found ourselves in another bay.  Duncan and Derek discovered a rock sticking out of the water (mini island?) and paddled over to check it out.  Emerson announced that he needed to potty.  We spotted an outhouse in the campgrounds near the shore so we paddled to shore.  Patrick discovered that our boat had a small leak.  Thankfully he out weighed Emerson and I so the water stayed in his end.  

We began to wonder what had become of the third canoe.  We thought they would have followed us.  However as they paddled out of the gentle bay, they also discovered the strong winds.  It blew the hat right off of Jim's head.  Whittaker cried out.  "That's Duncan's favourite hat!"  Their adventure included the rescue of the hat before it sunk to the bottom of the lake.  Jim said that had it continued to sink despite their efforts to get it with the paddles he had been willing to jump overboard and go after it!  (Just a hat... and not necessarily a favourite just because Whittaker deemed it so!) They paddled about for a bit and then returned to shore.  Jim snoozed in the grass and Whittaker explored the water's edge until we all returned

After our potty break we returned to the beach (against the wind).  Grateful we hadn't adventured much further we beached the canoes.  The boys joined Whittaker in some swimming and exploring.

Little boys tried to keep up with big boys as they explored the rock formations and the pools of water.

After 'relaxing', the big boys had enough energy to venture out again.  This time they had a plan.  Duncan boasted that he knew how to right a capsized canoe.  We suggested not capsizing.  Instead they decided to practice climbing back into the canoe from in the water.  

They practiced a few times near the shore then headed out a bit deeper to try it again.

Meanwhile, the little boys convinced Channa to explore with them.  Apparently the rock formation created a small shallow pool of water they were referring to as the 'hot tub'.  

Channa and I were keeping an eye on the big adventure boys

Soon we were all captivated by the adventure boys.  They had paddled out deeper and jumped in.  Duncan then climbed back in.  The wind we referred to earlier was still blowing and they were being blown further and further away. So Derek, now in the water was getting further and further from the canoe.  Duncan paddled closer and Derek once again held on.  The attempts to climb in were exhausting for us on the shore to watch... and must have been more so for Derek.  Duncan hopped out again to try to hold the canoe steadier for him.  This went on for another 15 minutes.  Duncan hopping in and out and trying different options... and then... SUCCESS.  Both boys were in the canoe. 

The canoe that was now much further out.  They had to paddle back against the wind.  

Adventure boys slept well that night.

A canoe day at the lake was delightful.  We will certainly go again.  We will also find a better road. 

New Year... Old Stove

To ring in the new year... we decided to cook with the cookstove.

Unfortunately.... it took a bit to get started.  We forgot about one of the dampers and instead of just lighting the stove and getting our breakfast started... we filled the house with smoke and had all the windows and doors open letting in freezing winds.

Bring on 2020!

But just as with 20/20 vision... hindsight will hopefully help us remember for future cookstove adventures.  We did eventually have success and breakfast.

We baked all day.   A delightful turkey broth simmered on the stove and wafted a wonderful aroma through the house.  We baked bread and rolls. Then we added vegetables and meat to the broth and had a divine soup.  We still had goodies from Christmas and nibbled on those also.

We had our friends over again and spent the day playing games.  Jamie W. made lovely bookmarks for the girls and our much hoped for snow began to swirl outside.

Sledding was done... firewood was carted and food was consumed.  It was the sort of day that makes you wish everyday could be so grand.  It was a delightful beginning to the new year.

A little giddiness before bed with yet another reference to 'rule #1'.

Off to sleep.... mid-sentence or thought.

We enjoyed each day to the fullest and fell to bed pleasantly exhausted each night.

We need a break...

After days of go go go fun, we needed a quiet day. 

 

So... we deemed it pajama day.  

Books to read... Cocoa in the cups and calming music!

We took down the decorations and even the house had an air of calmness.  

Except, we really wanted to encourage some snow to fall so we could return to our outside fun play... so.... we left one little corner of snow encouraging decorations.

Lumber Jane

When you're hauling logs in Wyoming, you better look the part. 

Monkeyin' around

Sometimes... there's nothing to do but hang around.

and try to overcome our fears.

Did you catch the reference to rule #1?

For some there is no fear.

For others... they really want to be like the big kids.

Ice rinks and Gingerbread houses

In keeping with the homemade Christmas, we decided to make an ice rink.  

I must remember to have brilliant ideas sooner...

as in before winter arrives.

But.. since I didn't, we did our best.  

We ordered a liner. 

UPS actually delivered it to our house!  It was too big to fit in the highway box!

The UPS truck arrival at dinnertime startled us.  We never expect visitors.

The next day we cleared the snow out in a large rectangle.

Then we laid out the liner with the snow walls to anchor it.  

Then... we began to fill it.

The ice began to freeze instantly... a thin sheet formed on top.

However...

The ground we selected wasn't as level as we hoped.  And now half the rink was filled and frozen and not emptyable.  hmmm...

We spent many days filling an inch at a time the other side of the rink.  We had to create a barricade in the center so it didn't just overflow onto the existing rink.

But technical difficulties didn't stop ice skating testing.  

Sunrise skating

Mid day skating

Mid afternoon skating

Skating took precedence over sledding for a few days.

But having only half a rink was disappointing.  We know what we need for next year.  PLUS... and I know I dream big... but we should build a shelter over it.  That would save a lot of work clearing the snow after each storm... or we could get a zamboni.  It has been fun... but we are looking forward to the improved rink next year.

After a long cold day outside we have to have some indoor activity.  This evenings plans were gingerbread houses.  We decided to make it a contest.  First we needed to set up the area.  We hung a sheet to divide the kitchen and choose teams.

Team One

Whittaker, Caleb, Esther and I.

Our side of the kitchen had the sink and the snack cupboard.  

We took our inspiration from the animal crackers and decided to make an ark.

Team two

Emerson, Duncan, Elowen and Patrick.

I worried a bit about having Patrick on their team.  I knew their structure would be sturdy with his background in building.

Their side of the kitchen had better lighting and a larger work space but they didn't take advantage of anything that wasn't out in easy sight.  

They didn't use much in the way of candies but their idea was clever.  They made a model of our Barn and Nobles estate. 

The finished products were so fun to see at the 'big reveal!'

We realized afterwards that we simply couldn't make it a contest since we hadn't determined what would make a winning structure.  One was definitely more candy filled and colourful... but... it did have some major collapsing issues.  The estate we jokingly said was sturdier than the real thing and had a better gravel driveway!

Each team had a .... snacker.... 

I'm pretty sure the ark and the model of our estate disappeared thanks to the two head snackers from each team.  

A stitch in time... Takes a LOT of TIME

It has been mentioned, hinted at, alluded to, commented and remarked blatantly about... that I've neglected a few things lately.  Most were referring to my writing... either chapters or blogs...  and while that is true... what is not as widely known is the neglect of .... dishes, laundry, cooking, showering, sleeping....

I blame my great grand-mother.... and Channa... and Miles...
I read recently that blame does not promote rational thought... so thankfully the following does not need to have any rationale.

My great-grandmother Geneva Gathright taught me, over a series of summers spent in Portland, how to crochet.  I never did much with that ability.  A few granny square quilts... mostly for dolls.

She taught anyone who would take the time to learn...

Aunt Nancy obviously took the time.  Since we each received afghans at Dad's funeral. 

Years later, Miles and Sarah learned to crochet and knit from a delightful lady, ironically named Nancy who held weekly 'Knichet' classes for anyone in the neighbourhood who wished to learn.  She ended up with a dozen children at her door each week.  She enjoyed their youth and energy and taught them.  She was suffering from cancer and those children will always remember her kindness and smiles.  There were many young faces at her funeral who had all taken the day from school to show their respect to this sweet lady. 

Miles picks up things... quickly.. easily... needless to say, when I came across a fabulous idea to crochet some Christmas projects one year, I turned not to my skill gained at the knee of my great grandmother but to my children... who had more free time than I did... and insisted they use every spare minute to help me with the crochet project.  They did... a little begrudgingly but did a wonderful job.

Channa recently posted...

Initial thoughts on her post.... 

• do you actually expect me to remember this in two years?
• those are cute slippers... maybe he could make me some also.
• it's a shame I couldn't send him a hook and yarn and just have him mail it back completed.
• I suppose I do know how to crochet.... 
• it's not a granny square.
• I know someone locally who teaches crochet... I bet she'd give me pointers on how to read the pattern.
• I just told the boys that everything this Christmas needed to be homemade.. I suppose I should make things also.
• I'll just do it... and if I don't tell Channa... then if I'm not successful... no  one needs to know.

 I did it... I made the slippers.  I didn't take any photos... Just look at the original post... and think... dark brown.. and not so polished a finished product.  They were definitely cozy.  I had a friend cut some leather for the bottom and he surprised me by attaching it also... He hadn't seen the photo so the leather was the entire sole of the slipper. 

It was exhilarating to make an actual something! 

I teach primary and this year will be teaching the same class as last year.  I try to recognize each child's birthday.  Last year I mailed them a cute notebook and pencil.  I needed an idea for this year.  My friend came for New Year's and she whipped up adorable bookmarks for the Schmidt girls.  Dainty, darling bookmarks.  I mulled it over and googled simple bookmarks for kids.  I decided I could probably handle making the bookworm bookmarks for the dozen kids in my class. 

So I began crocheting.  It took a few attempts but I finally had a successful Bruno the Book of Mormon bookworm.  He 'loves to feast upon the words'.  

Now to make twelve!  Thankfully they aren't all born in January.

Fast forward to the end of January.  I have 3 finished bookworms....  and a ridiculous idea for Valentines day.

The little boys are in a home-school Co-op that meets once a week.  They were planning to have a Valentines party.  We were encouraged to think 'non-candy' for the valentine exchange.  Some gave pickles, pens, teddy graham crackers... 

Me?

On Jan.. 31st I sent a message to the parents asking... please tell me your child's favourite animal.

I expected... cats.. dogs.. cows.. pigs... horses... I expected it so much that I began to crochet a pig and a sheep.  They were adorable.  But the list of favourite animals did not include any pigs or sheep.  

With only 13 days until the party I had to find patterns for and complete 14 bookmarks... of penguin, shark, chipmunk, panda, 2 scorpions, a whale shark, (I had to look up what a whale shark was!), frog, elephant, tiger and thankfully 2 cats and a dog.  

So for 13 days... I crocheted.  A LOT!  

This is why there hasn't been any blogs.. chapters... supper.. clean underwear!
This is a serious problem.
I did find it delightful to have something to do when waiting around in town for kids... and when Patrick was driving... I can get a lot crocheted in a half hour drive to town.  But I can NOT get anything else accomplished when crocheting.  I can not read.  I can not even listen to a book because I'm constantly counting stitches and referring to the pattern.  I can not clean or cook or type! 

but...

I can now say that I can read a crochet pattern. 
I have a few more bookworms to make but then I can take a crochet break.... maybe... unless I have some other grand idea. 

Ahoy Matey...

There was a lull in the festivities...

not really but we created one.

Sparky suggested we do a group activity and I concurred.  We announced boat races in one hour..  

I opened the craft cupboard and the teams formed and the creative juices began to flow!

Team Teenagers

Three teams pictured here.  

Team Lizzie, Team Boys with Uncle Sparky and Team Tree, Nana and Nora

Team Lizzie

Team Smug Engineers

Team Memo and Team Nova were not photographed.

On your marks!

Get Set!

Let 'em GO!!!

I would just like to interject that in all the mayhem of the one hour to be ready for the races, I helped people find glue, tape, popsicle sticks (they had to eat the popsicles first), paper plates, pool noodles, and other craft supplies.  I was also taking photos and gathering chairs for spectators.  My late entry boat was scoffed at for its simplicity. 

Team smug engineers had tested out their floatability before hand ... it still didn't help when they were bumped off course into the weeds.

  

The boats moved along at a good clip so boat launchers had to quickly get out of the starting line waters and hurry along beside.  

A great deal of encouraging words were called out to the boats.

A fair bit of friendly banter was also bandied about as boats sailed along...

note the simple tub in the lead!!... Team nova for the win!!

As the boats approached the 'white water rapids' section of the course, there were some worried boat builders.

ummm....

Capsizing boats

Caught on the weeds

Knocking other boats off course... 

It capsized!

oh no!

No amount of pleading helped Tree coax his boat to flip back over.

It's all good... It sails just as well upside down... how versatile.

Team Teenager's boat fared best on the rapids, even righting itself and sailing upright... if not backwards...

Another blockade held up a few boats, giving Team Teenager, Team Memo and Team Tree Nora a lead... wait... where is Team Nova!?

Some stayed quite a  while in the detritus.

  

All loosed from the rapids, the race was on again... 

Team nova was still in... just floating along completely submerged!

The final stretch!

Final judging at the finish line... 

The final approach.

Last bits of encouragement... and a bit of trash talking might have also occurred.

A final burst of speed overtook the simple barge.... 

WINNERS !!! 

upside down, and sustaining the loss of decorative parts, but first to reach the finish!

Much debate over location status based on ability to traverse the 'rapids' and speed isn't everything.  One boat stood out as staying upright and making it through the rapids unscathed... it just lacked speed.  Others lost decorative pieces and ran upsidedown, collided with others knocking others off course and being knocked into the weeds..

(Note the callus treatment of Team Nova's barge!!   I will have to speak to management.) 

An hour of creativity led to an hour of delightful 'riparian entertainment'!

REMATCH!!

Three races later, numb feet and waterlogged boats headed back to the house. 

Other than requests for annual course bank grooming... tough on bare feet... and of course a bridge over the creek would be appreciated.

It was so much FUN

We'll do it again!!