Domestic Goddess

Brrrrr. Brrrr.
Brrr.

It was cold cold and beyond frigid. 

Let's just say we hit another cold spell. Out came the heavy coveralls, balaclava and goggles ---> I nearly typed 'googles'.

That is how I dress for morning chores. It makes things easy when you step into coveralls and just zip up. I also have snow bibs for ultra cold days like this. My normal clothing for below zero zero often includes my fox hat.

This shot is from the Polar Vortex in 2022. The chill factor was -39 F. But I still had to go out and take care of our animals. I had on coveralls AND a vest and an insulated flannel to combat the wind chill. 

It wasn't that bad today though. With the NW breezes at 14 mph, I was able to feed the critters in a sunny breezeless pocket in the woods. 

The fur hat with fur earflaps are the style for cold weather. The goggles keep my eyes from tearing up  and feeling dry. I have over the glasses snowmobile goggles on. They work! 

I have a wonderful warm pair of homemade mittens that my Grandmother made years ago. A cousin of mine sent me all of the mittens she found when she cleaned out my Aunt's house. No one else wanted the mittens. I scooped them up. I have a supply of warm homemade mittens to last the rest of my life.

To answer the questions in the back of your minds...NO. I did not go out to hike and challenge the subzero windchills. In fact, I did chores and then laundry, then sorted medications for hubby cleaned house, .....and did all those fun and mundane indoor tasks that one has to do.

I finished up 'cuddle blankets' for the neighbor boys. Little soft colorful finger loop 'knitted' blankets for Olive's littles. The theory is that they can carry these with them and not drag them on the floor? I don't know...it is worth a try.

It looks messy. I haven't finished the second one. I plan on putting 3 rows of wild colors at the top of this second one so the boys can figure out which tiny blanket belongs to who.

Olive said her boys like to put their faces into very soft material. Maybe they will like it? Maybe they won't. It was just a fun idea I thought I'd try. Plus, I get to practice my 'finger looping'.

I even made a huge pot of homemade soup. 

I was a Domestic Goddess for a day.

Sunday

The early bird gets the sunrise as the days grow longer. The colors are so amazing in the sky as they change so quickly.

In truth, this past week has felt more like mid March or the beginning of April than the last week of February. A year ago we were recovering from a major ice/snowstorm. This year? It is warm and pleasant.
In the morning I need coveralls to do chores. By midday, I can work outside in a sweatshirt.

I started this job:

Believe me, it will be a long long job to do. But since I can't plant a garden yet, raking, picking up sticks and stones will be a good job for me. It is good mindless work that can be done while listening to the birds and the forest noises.

I took a couple of breaks to go out and search for color in the woods. It is hard this time of the year as everything seems to be dull and lifeless.
Except when you look for Lichen and mosses. Then things get colorful.

During our morning walk Charlie and I found snow and ice on the mosses!

...and by a little after lunch time....

The Lichen was quite beautiful. But one has to pick up sticks or crouch down on a look to find the colors.

On a stick:

Lichen and moss on a log. It was so colorful!

Late Sunday afternoon, I took time to just sit on the porch with Charlie and enjoy the warm sunshine.

Charlie enjoyed it immensely.

It seems as though the ducks are starting to try and behave themselves.

Hmmm. There is one in every crowd.