Snow Bank Graffiti

Very "cool" Snow Bank

Graffiti

on my way to

work

this morning!!!

GO CANADA GO......

Haven't seen the snow banks

quite this high since I was

a kid,

and that's a LONG time ago - smile!!

HAPPY V-DAY EVERYONE.

Ice Storm 2013

The day before the BIG storm

The ice storm that was predicted

came with a vengeance!

We heard the wind and rain during the night

and woke to a chilly and dark house

on Friday morning.

A quick call to Hydro One revealed that

power would be off till 11 p.m.

I made the decision to go to work

if the roads were O.K. and if there was power there.

Off I went, unshowered, with a quick

face wash and a bit of make-up.

I was shocked as I drove out the lane,

dodging fallen branches, there and on

the roads ahead – such devastation!

I worked all day not thinking much about the

power that we all depend on at home.
I knew

that we had a good woodstove to warm the

house and lots of candles for soft lighting.

Sounds romantic until you find out that the power

could be off for an additional 48-72 hours!

By now the temperature had come above freezing

and the ice was falling off the bent and stressed limbs
in large dangerous chunks.

Branches were broken down everywhere

and hydro poles had fallen by the

hundreds.

 

 

 

  

That’s when survival mode kicks in.

What will happen with the food in the freezer?

Much less the refrigerator??

We unloaded the fridge into large plastic bins

and set them out onto the cold deck,

piled layers of newspaper on the frozen food

in the freezer and hoped for the best.

By now there was no water so

a plastic barrel was quickly placed under

the eaves trough spout to catch some of

the falling rain water – we were camping!

I have to admit that I was bewildered and getting

very grumpy – it’s crazy how much we depend on hydro

for almost everything – even one’s happiness!

Not to mention cleanliness……

Thank goodness that Wellesley had power and

I was able to go to my sister’s and have a shower.

We also borrowed their generator and cooled

down the fridge and the freezer.

Thanks Evelyn and Richard!

Lessons learned – purchase a generator soon

- water is precious

- stay calm and carry on

- bodum coffee is very good

- chicken soup heated on the woodstove is delicious

- many people are worse off than we are

- be thankful!

12:30 p.m. Sunday - back on the grid - hurray!

Till next time ....... the mailbox needed to be replaced and the freezer needed to be defrosted and cleaned sometime anyways!

3-2-1 SPLASH!

Bath Salts

Salt baths are excellent for sore and aching muscles.  They are easy to make and are wonderful gift ideas when presented in a nice container or decorated mason jar!

3 Cups Epsom Salt

2 Cups sea salt or pickling salt

1 Cup Baking Soda

Splash of fragrance or essential oil (recipe calls for 1/2 oz. but I just used about 1/4 oz. Lavender essential oil)

Measure out the salts and mix them together well, making sure to break up any clumps.

A few drops of food colouring can be added if you wish.

Use ¼ Cup per bath.

                       

Easy as One, Two, Three!!!

Till next time ........... heading to the sauna and then for a refreshing salty bath!!! 

Frosted Snow Flakes!

STORM DAY!

The woodstove is heating up

All the buses are cancelled

All the area schools are Closed!

Every window in the house

is covered with snow - beautiful!

I shall enjoy the day,

clean the house,

catch up on the bookwork,

maybe even break out the sewing machine.

I LOVE SNOWDAYS!

Stay warm and safe today everyone - where ever you may be.......

Feel's Better with Butter!

My Winter skin is back - ugh!

Dry and cracked.

I recently used up the last bit of my body butter

and have always wanted

to try making some homemade body moisturizer.

Today was the day!

I purchased some Vitamin E and Shea Butter

to mix with Coconut Oil.

I think I'm in love with this Body Butter!

It's super easy to make, smells wonderful and is costing me

less than the commercial brands that I've been using.

Coconut Oil Body Butter

*1 Cup Coconut Oil – Solid kind
*¼ Cup Shea Butter

2 tsp. Vitamin E Oil

1 tsp. Essential of Oil (optional) – I used Lavender Oil
A few drops of Tea Tree Oil - optional

Combine solids and Oils and whip in stand mixer for 8-10 minutes till light and fluffy.  

Store in air tight jars. 
*No exact measuring required

My stand mixer did all the work while I gathered

up some jars and made the labels.

This batch made 5 small (125 ml) jars 

and the ingredients cost approximately $15.

I think my skin is really going to love this stuff! 

It's true....

Everything does taste feel better with butter!

Till next time .............. are you having Winter skin blues?