The Big Melt Stalls As Temperatures Dive Again

7:45

Open Water Along Woodlawn

It's 8:15, Evie just got up, and I have been up for an hour but have yet to start writing my blog. It's 36º out, mostly rain, perhaps some snow during the day as the our yard is slowly beginning to appear through the snow.  Although tonight, it will go back down to the teens.

Stan picked me up for yoga at 9:00, and we were drove off from our icy driveway, for a good way to start a morning.  We are the only guys of course, class was fine, and the studio is beginning to look really neat, as Danielle continues to add amenities, like a couch, chairs, table in the waiting room, pictures, a sales rack, making it less like a gym.  The studio itself is changing, with various works or art being added to the walls and floor and my evil eye hangs over the door, bringing cool vibes to the studio.

Freshly Baked No Knead Artisan Bread

Nice Crust

When I got home, Evie had baked the no knead bread I had put together on Sunday and it look 'bakery worthy', round and crusty, the best.  I then went outside and got out a spade, and began the onerous task of chipping away the ice from our brick walk, then our parking space, three inches thick in some spots.  I was able to get the walk mostly cleared though it's now filled with water, not ice because of the melt.  We then drove over to our friends, the McClures, to check on their house which had some roof leaks last week. Fortunately, the house, the various tarps were dry, so we had nothing to do.

For lunch, I had the last of the meatloaf on a sandwich, and some of Evie's home made soup.  Yum, got to love that soup.  We watched some Stewart and relaxed before both of us headed outside to continue the big chipping of the ice.  We made good progress and the area is much safer now for us as well as visitors.  We also called a gal who was recommended as a painter and she will be over on Thursday to talk about freshening up our upstairs bedrooms and both bathrooms, which have not been painted since 1996.  The rooms still look good but it seems to make sense to get them redone.  We will have to see.

Woodlawn Creek

Cairn Peaks Through The Snow

Around 5:00, I went out with boots on, hoping to walk on the lake, as there were fishing guys trudging out but I found it difficult to walk, as I sunk at least six to eight inches, into slush and water. So I walked around Woodlawn, hoping to get on the Kinney Trail but could not navigate the four or five foot walls of walls created by the snow plows.  When I got home, Evie had put potatoes in the oven, cleaned some brussel sprouts and we then relaxed with a glass of wine before I went outside and grilled a couple of steaks, in a light rain of course.  Both steaks were great, along with mushrooms, potatoes and sprouts.  It's been a while since we have had steak so it tasted great.  We then watched two more episodes of  The Americans, some what disappointing but then, there are always ebbs and flows to any series.  Some of the action just seems improbable, too far fetched but then again, it's just film.  We did up the dishes in beteween episodes, and for dessert, had a bowl of Turkey Hill's butter pecan ice cream.  Sometimes ice cream tastes amazingly good, like you have not had a flavor in years.

Gold Finch 

Not sure about today.  I had hoped to go to a movie but as usual Chautauqua only brings the most uninteresting movies.  The Kingsman is the only film that might be worth seeing.