Polar Bear Plunge

What is a Polar Bear Plunge?  The first recorded one took place in Boston in 1904.  It occurs in many Canadian communities each year generally as a New Year's tradition.  It has become an international activity branching out into fundraising events and is sometimes even toted as a healthful cold water plunging therapy for athletes.  

All that aside, this year, we introduced the little boys to the idea of a polar bear plunge.  I suppose technically their Canadian cousins introduced them.  If it wasn't for the 2020/Covid 19 they may not have been as familiar with their cousins and subsequently with the idea of a Polar Bear Plunge.   

It was New Year's Day and mid-day this video came in on the family group chat.

All the Karlsson's took their plunge also.

We watched the videos and then the conversation from the boys of why?  What are they doing?  and then... Can we?

To which I replied... "Why would you want to???  Besides all the water around here for at least 100 miles is all frozen solid.  No. can. do.  The best we could do would be to go jump in a snowbank."

And then... we posted that Duncan was going to go do snow angels in the snow bank.  He had said no such thing but .... he's a good sport. 

So...  Emerson and Whittaker joined him and out they went.

Into the snow drifts they went.  

Whittaker standing in the cold and watching had a change of heart and decided snow angels were not for him...  He says in the video, "I don't want to."  So we said .. Okay, that's fine.  But minutes later he said, "If I don't have to take my shoes off I could do it."... 

Reassured that he could do it or not do it... Do it with his shoes on or off... It was his call... off he went.  I almost didn't have my camera ready.  

Of course his shoes filled with snow and fell off so he ended up doing it with them on and with them off.  

Then....

erghhh... those children..... "What about you Mummy?" 

So, wearing Patrick's swimsuit and a t-shirt since my swimsuit is packed in storage somewhere with other SUMMER clothing, I headed out.  It wasn't a delightful experience.  Oh so cold... 

Ava went a few more times... Eden a month later went again and Duncan and Caleb did also.  

I say... been there, done that!

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!

"That's enough"

Winter must be taking its toll.... we've begun to dress up poor Jim as a sleepy time lumberjack!

 

Ice Rink

 Last year at Christmas time we decided that an ice rink was a grand idea.  I did a bit of research and was convinced that it was a simple task.  So I ordered the plastic liner and said... make it so!

Building an ice rink in freezing weather after we already had a foot of snow on the ground wasn't a well thought out plan.  Aside from the unlevel ground, the hoses kept freezing for some reason.  We were only able to create a rink with about 1/3rd of the liner, which made it more susceptible to damage so we were really cautious.  We also learned that getting on and off the rink wasn't simple.  

So.. 

In July the following year, we took a break from construction for a day. We laid out the liner and staked out a new location of flatter ground.  Oh how I wish we'd had a camera rolling when we were finished staking and folded up the liner again.  Our still, calm morning suddenly became blustery and the liner, with us holding only the corners, became a kite in flight.  It literally lifted Duncan off his feet.  It took everyone to wrangle the liner until we had it rolled back up so it could be stored until just before winter.  Satisfied with our 'surveying' and prep, we returned to our construction projects.

Then...

In mid-November since the weather forecasted a snowstorm we took a quick break that we didn't really have time for from our Construction and built the frame for the ice rink and pounded in the posts in preparation of the freezing temps and snow.  Then we filled the rink.  The ice formed overnight!  We topped it up the next day.. which we later learned was not wise but fortunately it didn't tear the liner as it said it might.  

We didn't have long to wait.  

The boys tested it out.

Hockey and Skating.

La piece de la resistance. 

LIGHTING

After a year, we had our ice rink.  It didn't seem to have the same call for the boys that it did the previous year.  They skated and improved their hockey skills and spent most of their time skating while shoveling off snow, but it was missing something.  

January provided the missing something.

It needed.. 

the girls! 

They had been part of the original rink the year before and now they needed to be here for the new rink.  It's just not an official ice rink until Esther has done an unprecedented figure skating spin. 

Or perhaps.. my favourite.. the moonlight skate. 

 

Big boys still play with trucks

We were in a hurry the other morning to get to town for Emerson's baptism.  Patrick took my car and tested to be sure we could get to the main road since it had snowed all night.  Our four wheel drive was needed but we could make it.  So all six of us were ready to go and off we went.  We were following Patrick's truck since he needed to go to work after the baptism and needed his vehicle to get home again.

All was well... until... the first turn.  He took a quick glance back to be sure that I had made it out of the driveway and that's all it took for him to slide slightly into the ditch filled with snow.  He spun, he rocked, but to no avail.  His truck was stuck.  I however was not.  So I continued.  Jim brought Caleb's truck to try to pull him out but it was decided that time was more important, so Patrick just drove Caleb's truck to town and we would deal with the stuck truck when we returned home later. 

Fast forward a few hours. 

We followed the snow plow home so our return drive was uneventful.

We changed our clothes and Caleb and Duncan headed out with the snow blower and shovels to extricate Patrick's truck.

The neighbour had noticed our 'stuck truck' and was preparing his truck with the snowplow on the front to clear the road so that once we had the truck out it would be clear to return it home.  The boys and I watched from our warm perch inside the house.  The neighbours truck got stuck leaving his driveway.  Caleb and Duncan continued to snow blow and shovel.  The neighbour then started up his other truck (he has a work vehicle) and put a chain on the plow truck and unstuck his truck.  

Now the neighbour was plowing his driveway and the part of the road that was clear of stuck vehicles.  Caleb and Duncan had cleared all around Patrick's truck and were attempting to rock, push and drive it out of the ditch.... the back wheels were just spinning.  So the neighbour backed the plow truck up to attach the chain to Patrick's truck and give it a tug.  SUCCESS!  

After an hour the excitement was over, Patrick's truck was back in the driveway, Caleb and Duncan were thawing near the fire and the neighbour was finishing clearing the road.    

After about 15 minutes.... 

knock knock.

The neighbour was standing at the door.  "Could I get a tug, please?"  He had slid off the road at the other end.  So they bundled back up and headed outside.  The little boys and I returned to our viewing window.  

The next three hours...

The plow truck was pulled out of the ditch next to our driveway but Caleb's truck slid in the ditch on the other side.  While trying to pull Caleb's truck out the plow truck became further stuck.  Now with two stuck truck's, his wife's jeep joined the excitement and was used to pull the plow truck back onto the road.  Then they pulled Caleb's truck out.  All trucks were then returned to their driveways. 

Whittaker had hot cocoa waiting for Caleb and Duncan.

 The neighbour found someone with a backhoe to clear the rest of the road... The snow was just too heavy for his plow.  

And it continued to snow for another 16 hours.  

As I type, Caleb is snow blowing again... Our big snow blower isn't working, so all is being done with the small snow blower.  (we're hopeful it's just a new battery needed)  But we are soooo grateful that we have more than a shovel. 

 

November Art

 Before snow set in for the long winter's sleep, we thought we'd try an autumnal art project.

We knew we'd need leaves, but search as we might... for acres all around, there weren't any to be found.  Unless we took a day trip into the forest there weren't any trees to hope for leaves from, and the forests mostly are pine trees and have snow... so perhaps it was an ill conceived notion to begin with.  Until I remembered that Caleb gathered some leaves for us last year to use in the garden.  Bags and bags of leaves..  There was one bag left.  To the barn for a bag of year old dry leaves.  

Somehow I thought there was more of an assortment.. but there wasn't.  We managed to create some autumnal art nonetheless.  Karlsson's live among trees and winter isn't blowing up their skirts quite so violently yet so they had a plethora of lovely leaves.  

As always.. such a variety.

Minutes before art began the following week, the message arrived that Sybil, who had been eager to join us, would be at the hospital.  She had hurt her toe after a heavy stool fell on it.

We received updates through the evening and she was a trooper.

This was Ava's night to tutor us on an art method.  Water droplet art.

Duncan.  He liked some of it left as droplets and opted not to smear or smudge.

Emerson attempted a few before becoming less generous with the water.. He had some overly soaked pages.  My 'mallard on the pond' became 'taste the magic rainbow'.  Whittaker decided partway that water droplet art wasn't his thing... so he painted cats.  Eden the overachiever of the night. Such variety.  And Sadie.. once you make a masterpiece you move on.

Christmas Ornaments

Whittaker had a great time creating Christmas ornaments.  Emerson created a paper chain to count down to Christmas but then abandoned it to play cars. 

Snowflakes.  You might think that with snow already on the ground and no chance of it leaving for well over 20 more weeks, we would discourage snow themed activities... but as long as I'm indoors and warm and we have no place to go..."Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow."

Patrick doesn't attend art often... secretly he wants to though.  Look at the enormous easel he has!

(It's not an easel... it's the drywall lift and he isn't drawing or painting he's cutting out outlet and light switch holes.)  We know he really just wishes he was painting. 

Wonder if it will ever get old?

As the days grow colder we see the signs of winter.  The little blackbirds begin to swarm in larger numbers.  One day the Canadian geese are no longer around.  The leaves from our tree have fallen and the grasses are golden beige hues.  The mountains in the distance are dusted white and many days are overcast and we simply trust that the mountain are still out there in the distance.  But the sign we're most aware of, is the antelope.  We enjoy watching for them in the mornings on gopher hill and look forward to their afternoon naps and visits to the pond and salt lick.  All summer long we see a few here and a few there, but as they begin to congregate in larger numbers in the fall we wonder each day, 'Will this be the last day we see them this year?'  It's always delightful to see them again the next day.  They tend to come closer and closer to the house and we spend moments staring at each other...

Until... one day... they're gone.

This year however... 

they left one behind. 

This little guy was all alone behind the barn.  

We called him Mohawk.  

His leg was injured.  He couldn't stand up and allowed us to get close enough to shift him and bring him some water.  We didn't know what else to do for him.

We called the wildlife game warden and they came out and took him away. 

ApriJune Suminter

I firmly believe in looking for a better perspective.. a bright side of things... so... 

If it were April this weather would be delightful... better than what we saw in April.  

If we lived in the southern hemisphere we would be entering winter and this weather wouldn't give us any qualms.  

If we ever are upset about dry and hot days... HA HA HA.. not here... but let's say IF we were.. we could remember the middle of June 2020 when it kept snowing and raining and hovering in the 40's.  

Since the weather here is less than ideally suited for gardening... or of me ever hoping of being warm!  

Since I may have planted an overabundance of seeds in my eagerness of our garden project in the spring.

Since the weather teases every few days and pretends to be spring and then winter returns to mock and point and laugh at my pitiful attempts to produce plants and greenery and shade and beauty on our few acres of life, Patrick and Jim spent a few hours in the barn (out of the rain and cold) and built these charming "take that Wyoming Wacky Weather!" cold frames.  

I feel like my garden may one day become like Mr. MacGregor's delightful space.  I suppose I need to keep an eye out for bunnies. 

 I certainly need to create a scarecrow out of a blue jacket and little shoes.  

Driving Tips

With a student driver at the wheel... I find I'm being asked a lot of interesting questions about road and driving and safety.  This one stumped us both. 

I'm fairly certain this sign is to forewarn us that at any moment a truck could appear out of no where and sled down the embankment.  In fact.. the truck on the actual sign may take off any time now!

Winter Chickens

After owning chickens one might think I would understand what is needed to have chickens once again.  One thing I should know is that building a coop BEFORE hand is preferred.  However, it's just not how we roll!

We have five acres, many outbuildings and lots of miscellaneous supplies laying about...  Whatever we need we can handle it!

Which is sort of true.  

The chick phase was simple enough.  In the spring we had a tub in the house.  Then as they got old enough they took over one end of the greenhouse.  For a time that was delightful.  The boys enjoyed visiting their coop and playing with them.  Eventually they were old enough to be allowed to roam freely... or ' free-range'.  So a ramp was placed outside the greenhouse window to allow them to come and go.  they tended to stay... inside unless coaxed to go out... and outside unless urged caught and taken back.  

They were also quickly outgrowing their coop... (technically, according to chicken guides, they had enough space.. but I prefer the hens to have palatial quarters) PLUS.. winter was approaching.. we needed to provide a MUCH MUCH warmer environment.  

So we began discussions and planning.  I was for converting the old trailer house at the end of the yard for their new coop.  Patrick was adamantly against it.  Even with me referring to it as the chicken house.  We both won.. compromised.   It was better in the end anyway.  I didn't like the trailer where it was and apparently it couldn't be moved...  well in one piece anyway.   

So... Patrick delightedly began dismantling the trailer.  We used the sections of insulated wall with metal exterior to insulate the end of the barn.  We created an interior wall to contain the hens and used the door and a window from the trailer in the new wall.  We also used the cupboards as nesting boxes.  

Now the trailer is only 25% of an eyesore.  Regardless.. the new coop took longer to put together than winter cold would allow.  We had to hurry with the practical necessities and leave the decorating for spring.  

In the rush to complete, we brought the hens in to help..  or hinder if you agree with Patrick's misguided point of view.

How else would we know if they appreciated the door having a high stoop or would prefer the ramp into the smaller door to have steps to keep it from being slick. 

Also would they like one long perch or multiple smaller perches.  

And nesting boxes... These are ultimately going to need to be perfect for optimal egg laying satisfaction.  The boys happily showed the hens how smoothly the doors opened... how spacious the boxes are... how they can double as a perch... 

Even with all our efforts and the boys diligence in daily nesting box lessons.  Eggs seemed to allude us.  Finally an egg was laid.  But then... 

nothing.. for days... then a week.

There are 12 hens.  Once they started laying it should have continued.  

Heaters and lighting were provided.  Extra feed and fresh water daily.  Scraps to augment and encourage.  

Still nothing.... until the boys spent an extra long play session with the ladies.

The result?

A basket full of eggs... many cracked.. many frozen solid. 

NONE in the nesting boxes. 

At one end of their courtyard area is a stack of lumber.  They discovered an overhang of boards and dubbed it the only place to lay eggs.  So until Spring we continue to encourage them to use the beautifully designed nesting boxes so far to no avail.

But we at least know where to look.. and collect 6-10 eggs each day.... 

As the months go by our begrudging attitudes at having to look under the lumber instead of the lovely 'EMPTY' nesting boxes is making us determined to make some renovations come springtime!

Fowl Play

It's a real thing.  They need their daily chicken lovin'.  The boys dutifully attend to them.  In return we are offered anywhere from 6 to 10 eggs each day.  They do find winter to be dragging on but the boys daily visits and the odd winter walk have cheered them.  

They stay warm in the heated and insulated section, but show their appreciation for the more spacious outer courtyard area with excessive wing flapping and clucking ... or honking in the geese.

(The geese accept our apologies at our limitations.  We attempted to provide an indoor pond... but the cold permeates... EVERYTHING.. and, well, it's frozen.  We encourage skating as an alternative)

Light

Sun Light
Fluorescent light
neon lights
black light
incandescent light
halogen light
solar light
infrared light
ultraviolet light


These I've heard of. 

Flat light?

lighting that produces minimal contrast in the scene, which means there is no, or very little, contrast between the highlights and shadows. (In other words... you can't see where the road ends, begins or drops off into ditches or where the sky meets the ground... so driving... is complicated.)

For Example...

The two mile drive from highway to house takes 5 minutes in the summer.  Around 10 minutes in the winter.... and with flat light... 20 white-knuckle minutes.

Thankfully it doesn't happen often.  It's also nice that buildings are still visible.  They make great landmarks to avoid.

I really get into winter sports.

Winter seems to be a busy time around here....  really ought to rethink the activities to coincide with better temperatures.  Regardless, after a long day in Jackson Hole freezing with the Elk, we woke up early the next day and bundled up again.  This time we headed into town to watch skijoring.

Skijoring is when you bundle up in multiple layers and carry big blankets and a hot beverage in a thermos so that you can sit on frozen metal bleachers near porta potties for roughly six hours and every 8 or 9 minutes face the race track in front of you and yell out 'Yay'.  Then about once an hour the person you came to watch races and you put down the crocheting that is difficult to do in mittens and pay attention... in case he crashes.. or in case he beats the high score and could potentially win.

In between these events, you sip hot beverages, visit with other bleacher dwellers, watch your breath in front of your face in the single digit (Fahrenheit) weather and wonder if you'll see your children again because there is no way you're losing what little heat you've managed to find in your blanket cave.  

The kids however arrive every hour or two with a free cup of cocoa in their hands and tell how hot they are and that they've made a great snow cave in the mountains of plowed snow.  

Patrick however, opted not to wear anything extra.  His coat and gloves over a t-shirt and a pair of jeans with long johns.  He never complained of being cold.  He did drink his share of hot cocoa though... and he didn't sit still.  He kept walking up to the fence to get a better look at the races and then coming back up to check on me.  Sometimes he wandered about and visited with people.  (He said he saw the kids from time to time)

One of the boys friends had come from his tumbling class and forgot his snowpants... he borrowed Duncan's snowsuit... which is actually Miles snowsuit. (so about two feet too tall for him)

The boys were excited to play with cousins and watch a few races.

On the race track they would say that skijoring is a Norwegian sport where a skier is pulled behind either a horse, dog team or motorized vehicle on snow.  It consists of some jumps, and grabbing strategically placed rings... and being the fastest to complete the course. 

Oh, and not crashing... which did happen a few times.  

Oh, and not falling off your horse.. or being bucked off... which did happen a few times.

Oh, and not letting go of the rope... which did happen a few times.

This year my great-niece, Paigee raced for the first time.  She did the course in just over two minutes.  For comparison... her dad, did the same course in 15 seconds. But she looked adorable in her tiara, feather boa and her Auntie Mardy even wore wings with her tiara... The horse also had a lovely unicorn horn.   She smiled the whole two minutes.

Mardy rode multiple horses and pulled multiple skiers.  She went past like a blur.  I think her slowest time was only 17 seconds.  One horse was named Hidalgo and the other Dollar.  I'm not sure which was which.  It was a long cold walk down to the horse area.  Plus there was a horse that had bucked off his rider and was being very feisty still.

At the end of two long days of racing,  (We only attended one day)  Mardy and Neal placed 1st in one division and 2nd in another.  Then at the end they run a jackpot race where horses and riders and skiers are all chosen at random.  Mardy and her skier (Laura), won the jackpot.  

There were medals for the kids, hefty belt buckles for the adult winners and a cash prize for the top three.  Neal and Mardy were smiling all the way to the bank.... except.. that .... 

...they were both limping.

Neal took a lot of 'air' on his final jump and landed and rolled.  He took a good bruising but was up on his feet pretty quick.  

Mardy's feet however.  

Remember that feisty horse.  It never really calmed down.  Mardy was preparing for another ride and the horse was backing up and rearing and it landed a foot on top of Mardy's foot.  It broke through her boot and cut her foot.  

Mardy winced and then rode the winning race.  Then.... they had to cut her boot off because of the swelling, plus it was ripped anyway.  The top of the foot turned an ugly green and purple, and they closed up the cut.  She's still shopping around for new boots, but can't try any on just yet.   

FYI... Winter sports are best enjoyed every four years for a few weeks in February from the comfort of the living room when the Winter Olympics airs.  

It's warmer, quieter, cleaner... has better snack access and you rarely know the people that get hurt.