Zero Fahrenheit

It may be cold outside. How do you take pictures of cold?

It was zero Fahrenheit at 7 this morning. The high today is supposed to be . . . zero.

It's cold outside.

Rain baby, rain

We had rain earlier this week. I know, you all probably had rain too. But rain on top of two feet of snow is interesting. First of all, it was above freezing, so the snow started to melt. And then the rain started melting the snow. And compacting the snow. What is compacted wet snow? Yep, you know it. Ice.

The lake was all white and sort of rough before the rain came. People walking, dogs running, occasional vehicle here and there, para-ski ing, etc. But it was frozen.

(rain is on the way)

And then the rain came. Now, I know there is a lot of ice there. Over a foot. But seeing the water on top . . . I just couldn't think of anyone walking out there for a few days (at least).(hmmm . . . water on ice)

I was wrong. Folks were back to ice fishing the next day. I bet they had wet feet. I have decided that I don't like walking on ice that breaks to water and then holds up with the main ice. It makes me a little nervous.

And speaking of nervous, remember the snow mobile ride? The next day, Lizette said, Ohh, I hope you aren't too upset. I was thinking of you when I saw the news report of the snowmobile accident locally.

(hmmmmmmmm-do I really want to know this?).

The same day I was riding with Lizette, a local man and his 10 year old son rode on ice that broke. They died.

Oh, yeah, lakes with ice. Never totally safe.

Not much happening. Cats are being cats. Boys are being boys.

I went to the doctor yesterday. Why is it there is always such a long wait? I know, I know, doctor shortage, socialized medicine (you guys in the lower 48 jussst wait). I went to get a referral for my shoulder. Yep, I got that. And he took my blood pressure. Then he took it on the other arm. Now, the last time I was in, my blood pressure was a little high. But this time, it was high. Yeah, can't ignore it. So, guess what? I am on high blood pressure meds. Now, I have to be good and remember to take it . . . daily. Positive thoughts my way would be appreciated.

So, I get to go back in a month. And wait again. Oh and blood work in between sometime. I get to try to figure out where and how to get it done.

Cooking with Vicky . . . NOT

Have any of you tried the frozen pre-stuffed turkeys? My neighbors did at Christmas and loved it. So, when I saw a frozen pre-stuffed chicken, I thought . . . heyyyy, why not.
I read the label. Yeppers. You cook it from a totally frozen state. It takes a while: 3 and 1/2 to 4 hours. I lined the pan with tin foil like the directions said. (See, I was paying attention when I read it). I pre heated the oven. The phone rang, Thomas walked though, the cat meowed. I put the chicken in the oven. And off I went out to ice fish. I was out there for several hours. As I was sitting there, I was telling Lizette how I was doing a chicken the way she did her turkey. I said, yep, I put it directly in the oven, in a pan lined with and tin foil and . . . covered? Covered? Oh, yeah, the directions said to cover it. And I didn't. And its been several hours. Hmmmm.

I said my goodbyes and walked home to check on the chicken. I opened the door and knew there might be a slight problem. There was a vague smell of very very crispy bread. I opened the oven. Hmmm, it was a bit brown.

Yeah, the chicken was very brown, the stuffing falling out was more than a bit brown. But, I didn't think the chicken was done. So I covered it and popped it back in the oven. Later when I took it out, it was done. Done for~ I have never seen a flat chicken. I mean, it looked like someone sat on it. So, I made a lot of gravy. When we ate the over cooked, very brown and rather crispy (in some places) chicken, I put a ton of gravy on it.

Next time, I need to follow ALL of the directions.

And finally, impulse item of the day. Rounded sugar cubes from France. Anyone know why I bought it?

Lizette and Michele

These are my neighbors: Lizette and Michele. I have to say they are wonderful neighbors who have been very helpful and inviting.Funny how everyone sort of looks the same on the ice. I can normally pick Lizette out of the group because she is so tiny and petite.
I have the same hat as Michele. I figure he knows how to keep warm. Besides, it was from Canadian Tire. I know where that is and shopping is easy.

One early afternoon last fall, they invited me to visit. Another local artist dropped by. Michele decided to wait on the three ladies. We sat in their sun room and he brought Montreal Bagels with smoked salmon (that he smoked himself) with capers and red onions. Out came the red wine. It was 1 in the afternoon. After a while I made my way home and thought to myself: yeah, I could get used to this.

Proof that I have lost my mind

Yep, that's ME! How many layers of clothes? Maybe 4-no-make that 5 layers. Ohhh yeah, I have lost my mind!

Is the cold that makes the brain go? I mean, if you had asked me a few years ago (hey, less than a year ago!) that I would be fishing in the middle of a big frozen lake, I would told you that it would never happen. Nope, not in a million years.

Guess we are on the second set of million years.

But ice fishing here is more than fishing. I mean, it is fishing, but it much more. It is really a social event. Yesterday, Lizette called to say she would be out fishing. I normally wait until later in the afternoon before I venture out. This way, I know there is a set time limit on exposure of the elements . . . I figure she has to go in at night (btw-I am wrong about that).

Off I go. Not terribly cold. In the 20's and a slight wind. Ok, fine, that is cold but nothing like zero with a strong wind. I walk out on the lake a bit. Lizette isn't where she normally fishes. Not close her house. I see in the distance several folks set up for fishing. Little tents and shacks on the ice. But she doesn't have a tent or shack. I look some more. I see one set up with two fishermen. One looks petite (she is a tiny lady) but I really can't tell. Too far away. I stand there for a few minutes. hmmmmmm. Then the petite one waves. Ohhh, man, it has to be her. That is far away. And there is a lot of snow on the lake. Makes for walking in big clumsy boots more difficult. But I start. I see a snowmobile leave the area where Lizette is. Well, I think it's her and I am walking that way. But I know she doesn't have a Ski-Doo. But as it gets closer and stops, it is Lizette. She borrowed a snowmobile to pick me up. On I jump (thinking to myself that I have totally lost my mind) and we travel the lake.

The set up was the crazy Canadian and Lizette. CC had set up his little shelter and . . . old Christmas trees. In the middle of the lake. Far, far away from the shore. He smiles, and sets up a chair for me next to the trees. Actually, it was a great wind break. And once I got over wanting to giggle, I appreciated the trees.

We fished. Caught some. Night fell. It was Walleye time. CC gets a nice one. Then I think to myself, gee, I really need to start back. It might take an hour to get home and its getting dark. Mind you, its never totally dark because the little bit of light reflects off the snow. And there are lights at the shore. I say I should start back and CC offers to ski-doo me back. Ohh, nice. So, off we go. I didn't know where to hold on. I mean, I should have held onto him, but the southern lady in me stopped me. He was sort of standing and I was sitting behind him. I held on to a little pipe behind me and suggested he not go fast. I have seen him drive before and he tends to go as fast a possible. But he took it slow (most of the time) and delivered me to my steps at my back yard (ok-fine, they call the back yard the front yard here even though its really the back yard-now I am confusing myself!).
Thanks Crazy Canadian! Off he goes to fish some more. In I go to warm up. And tell my family that I was the first of the family to ride a snowmobile since we moved up here to CanadaLand. Yeah, they think I have lost my mind. But they thought that years ago.

Cold?

It's cold everywhere. So, I suppose I can't whine about the cold. Oh-let me think. SURE I can.

Woke up to zero Fahrenheit. That's a bit chilly. Not sure what the wind chill was, but I know when I opened the door, it was cold. I stood there and looked out. What did I see? Heat waves in the air from the house. I am used to seeing heat waves in the air, but from the road in summer.

Lizette called and said she and Michele were going ice fishing and I should join them. Hmmm. Well ok. I mean, I have the clothes. I was working on an order so I said I would be there in a while. Then I started to dress. Regular undies, long johns, thermal top, sweat pants, sweater, sweater, thick socks, snow pants, coat, face mask, hat, mittens and heavy boots. Get my walking stick and off I go. I mean, I was hot when I finally got outside. There is a window of dressing time. Get dressed fast and get outside before overheating.

I walk to her house to walk down her drive to the lake. I stood there for a little while and was thinking: OMG what the heck am I doing, I am cold here and haven't even made it to the lake yet. My face was cold! Then Lizette opened her back door and said, oohh hey, we came in for lunch. No fish biting. Want to come in?

Ohh thank goodness! I mean, I wanted to try to fish. I need to get out. But, I was just darn cold. I thanked her and said I would go home. I mean, just the thought of taking off half my clothes at someone else's house and then dressing again to go home. Too much LOL. Maybe I need a snow suit. But I would still need to layer. As it stands, I look like a bundle whenever I go out.

But, for the most part, I am warm. Except for the exposed skin on my face.

It came and I am a happy camper (or driver)

Hey, I am a legal driver now. Yep-my good ole D/L is in my sweaty little hands. Only, few little mistakes in my papers-my driving record really does go back a bit more than since 1995 LOL, and my health card is in my maiden name. But, at this point, I am very happy to have my "papers" (Yep- I see men in grey uniforms and little mustaches asking me for me papers whenever I think of "papers")

(yes, I did remove the information off this image before posting-see MainMan? I listen to ya!)

We got a little more snow. The lake still looks a tad bleak, but the surrounding land is so pretty in snow. I have always liked how trees look in a landscape of white and shadows. When I look over the flat snowy lake with a bit of wind blowing, I think of the ocean or a desert. Not sure why.


Over the weekend, we got 6 inches and in Vermont they got over 30 inches. Now, that's a lot of shoveling! I know I must be getting used to snow when 6 inches doesn't even seem like it snowed.

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It's still white

In case you are wondering, snow is still on the ground. And will continue to be on the ground until April or so. Yep, mid December we get snow and that's it.
It's strange for me to look out the back door (or as the locals say-"the front door") . The back door is the front door on lake front houses . . . okies. As I look out onto the lake, it looks bleak (exposed and barren and often windswept is the definition of bleak-yep, bleak is the word that describes it) Blowing, drifting snow. I never felt that way in the other house in Beaconsfield. But then again, I am not sure I actually got out of that house during the winter LOL. And at this house, I am out everyday. I have met more folks on the ice than any where else up here in CanadaLand.

We got a few inches today-around 6 or so. Not a lot, but enough to make "us" shovel a couple times. And I use "us" very loosely here as I try not to shovel (ok ok fine, I don't ever shovel).

Hmmmm-do you think the cats use this house? Something tells me not today.

My Little Fishing Pole

Ah, another day in CanadaLand. We are getting about 6 inches of snow tonight and tomorrow morning. It's white out. Oh, yeah, it was already white. So, it's whiter. Not really, its white, the same as before but fluffier. Which means, walking to the lake is a little fluffier.

Anyway . . . a neighbor brought me a special gift. I was so jazzed. She grew up in North Carolina and just became a dual citizen. She and her hubby are building the coolest house. They bought some land on the water, and tore down the old house. Building a verrrrrrrrry nice house. So, she went home over the holidays and asked if there is anything I would like. Yeahhhh-grits.
And guess what?!? She brought me grits! Love em. I haven't had them for a long time. I think the last time was breakfast with Sheila. Yeah, years ago.

And this is my jigging pole for ice fishing. See how short it is. Tiny little thing. But it works fine. The deepest the water has been so far is about 8 feet so I don't need a lot of line out. I caught a Doree yesterday. (yeah, another name for Walleye). And some perch. But, there is a big BIG fish out there playing with us. He broke Lizette's line the other day. Our holes are only 6 inches wide, so I am not sure what we will do if we really ever get it to the top. Besides, I am supposed to put my hand in the water to pull it out by the gills. Not sure that will happen. I will probably just stand there and go- "Hey! Guys! Look!"