Cold Snap

I think it's old news that it's been cold practically everywhere but Alaska.  This weather is not exceptional for us, but it's still been pretty wild.  It's a strange and bracing thing to feel your fingers freezing when you go outside for a short moment, even with mittens.  All the blankets (well, almost) have come out, and the children have enjoyed the pleasures of the season.  Here they are on their stage coach.

Cabin fever getting the better of us adults, we took a drive to see the icy streams.  They didn't disappoint.  It's been dry here, but the water's not moving much, anyway. 

Back at home, the children have been in an I Spy phase.  I picked up a book for Roan, which was then followed by some used titles in the series.  And then they remembered there were I Spy Go Fish cards.  Games have always been a little tough here (maybe they are for you, too?).  This time, however, the rules were simple enough and the stars aligned.  Go Fish has been the game of the week, and I've seen sibling interactions improve quite a bit.  More games this Winter, I hope!

There was a day that temperatures rose into the twenties, so Roan and Laurel and I went out to the lake to see the ice.  Roan found this interesting piece in the marsh below the spillway.

There are all kinds of warnings about not walking on the lake ice, which we did not do.  This stream, however, was only a few inches deep.  With boots and no big rocks to crash into, this is a much safer activity.  The children have been promised more time outside today as the weather "improves" into the thirties this afternoon.

We've seen zero two days in a row, with plenty of days around four or five degrees.  It's that cold outside right now.  My little back porch office is a bit chilly, but I am keeping the computer warm with a space heater.  It feels a little wasteful, but it's better than losing something so costly.  I won't need the heater soon, since we're suppose to see fifty by Wednesday!

Roan and I enjoyed some time with his marble run yesterday, while Willow worked on her rug hooking kit.  Laurel's been making soup and tea with her new pots.  School time has been focused on Winter weather, though we've had very little snow.  We might see some more before the warm weather mid-week.