A Frozen Lake And -4º

Winter Hiking

7:36

8:07

9:35

It's a bit chilly this morning and the boiler seems to turn on every 15 minutes, trying to heat the house and hot water. I cannot believe winter literally started three days ago and we have this kind of cold weather and not just we, but much of the US. It may get up to double digits but I am doubtful.

Sun Rising This Morning

Yesterday started with temperatures in the 30s but by midafternoon, it was down to single digits, then in the evening, below zero. Lots of wind, of course, knocking a few branches down in our front yard. I neither kayaked nor went to yoga so I had a long morning or so it seemed. We were both up unfortunately by 7:00 and worried about the high winds creating a power outage but so far, so good. Around 10:00, I braved the cold and got in a half-hour hike up Kinney's Run, then across the open field down to Park Way and home, It was not yet that cold, in the teens, so I felt good with three layers of clothing. l even shoveled our parking area although there was only a few inches of snow.

Kinney's Run

Ukrainian Steppes Or Woodlawn Field

While I was gone, Evie decided to put together our Christmas Eve dinner,  Salisbury steak, easy and tasty, just in case we lost power but would have a dinner that could be heated up on our outdoor grill. Around 11:30, my buddy Rick, from Sacramento called, and we had lots of laughs. We taught together at Robert College in the 1970s and have been good friends ever since. Lunch was Evie's homemade soup and chicken, tomato, and lettuce sandwiches.  I am finally on the last episode of Season Three of Deadwind and I have had enough and am looking forward to a new series. I then read some, napped, and had no thoughts about going outside into the cold. We amused ourselves much of the afternoon watching the mallards, a least a hundred, feeding in front of our house and our neighbors. This morning, they are gone because of the frozen lake. 

Friday Night With Neighbors

We were excited about going to our neighbors, Pat and David's for dinner so at 5:30, we got bundled up, put on our tall boots, got out a flashlight, and walked probably 100 yards along the lakefront in swirling snow to their house. Ollie, their dog, greeted us as we took off our boots and walked into a nice warm house, with a fireplace going. Our other neighbors, John and Maryanne also came and we had appetizers and libations in their living room until dinner time. 

Happy Friday

Pat had made a delicious chicken and vegetable stew and with a salad and bread, we were a happy seven. For dessert, we had a peppermint ice cream cake, a perfect ending to our dinner. We trudged home in the snow and cold around 9:00, happy and full but it still was good to be home. We watched some TV but ended up going to bed by 10:00, a good day despite the cold and winds.