A week worth of highlights

 Thursday, January 18th

I took a photo looking Southwest from my front door as the sun rose.  It was so pretty!

I gave myself plenty of time, took it slow and easy and got my workout in with the trainer, too.

During the evening rush hour all mobile phones started shrieking at us with SNOW SQUALL WARNING.  I hope nobody jumped the way I did here at home, if they were behind the wheel!

Friday, January 19th

It was minus 2 F when I did my first swatch of double-gloved shoveling.  Got the path to the mailbox and half the front sidewalk before coming back in to thaw.  It was zero when I went out for the second swatch.  Got the other half of the front sidewalk, one shovel wide, and brought in the mail.

At this point, I took off the boots and watched The Traitors, season 2.  This is a Peacock game show, and I remember that I was shoveling snow during Season 1 last year. 

The day was used to do laundry and just laze around, with Prisoner providing calming purrs and lap warmth.   

Saturday January 20th

A cold start, but a sunny day.  I was a lazy bum.  The snow is not terribly deep, and with what I cleared on Friday, I called it "as good as it's going to get".

Sunday January 21st

Much milder, was up to 14℉ by 8:30 a.m. when I headed to the grocery store.  Out of bananas again.  I think of LeanJean6, a.k.a. Lynda, whenever I put bananas in my cart!  

Monday, January 22nd

Saw the doctor.  He handed me my blood test results.  He looked at my blood pressures from at home, listened to my lungs and heart, and essentially pronounced me healthy... go live my life.  

About the weight:  "you know what you need to do".  Indeed, I do.  About the blood pressures, he's not worried about them for me.  I'm one of the few he has in my age range NOT on blood pressure medication.

He says "yes" to get the RSV vaccine.  

I scheduled the mammogram due in February.  I also need to book my next colonoscopy.  Ten years sure does fly by!. Doctor also recommends a booster for pneumonia... anytime in the next 3 years, but wait 6 months after the RSV one.

I put my valentine note to the kids in that second grade classroom into the mail on the way to the doctor's office.

Life is good.  Spark on!

Who is up for a viral spread challenge?

 I swiped this from my sister Alicia's FB post, who swiped it from someone else, etc.

I know I have readers in Missouri and Wisconsin, and a few in Canada... want to help educate some second graders on how far the power of the internet reaches?

Wednesday - the "heat wave"

 

Predicted to be the warmest day of the week, is Wednesday.  It was 12℉ when I headed out to my "Medicare Wellness Check" and blood draw this morning.  Heat wave, compared to the last four or five days.

I came home after and shortly headed out to the grocery store because I have not gone and was out of bread and bananas, and also down to my last two eggs.

Home again, home again, and looking at how far it is from the snow plough ridge to the mailbox, so after a brief indoor rest, I took my snow shovel to the snow plough ridge around the mailbox!

Phew!  Feeling justified in my efforts!

The Prisoner keeps thinking it looks like it should be warm outside, and parking his fanny by the sliding glass door.  I open it.  Sometimes he just turns up his nose.  A couple of times he ventured out, even getting as far as to the deck rail.  

Pawprints by the door.  That's my finger impinging on the photo, at the top, not the Prisoner's fanny, although that's about where he would plant it.  He's out again.  Now in again.  Now out again... ad nauseum!

Tomorrow (Thursday) our next snowfall chance is in the forecast.  76% chance, it says.  I know we've only had a week and a half of snow, but I'm tired of it, already!  Wimpy, wimpy, wimpy!

For those of you who remember that my front storm door had frozen shut last Friday?  I have tested it just about every day, and finally managed to kick it open today!  Yay!

Tomorrow we're back to more seasonal temperatures.  After a high in the negatives, I'll take 17 above!  Not such a fan of 6 and 4 above as highs for Friday and Saturday, but after that... it's saying 27 for Sunday, and ta-dah! 35 for Monday.  That would get us above freezing a day earlier than was predicted last week when we started this cold snap!

Here's hoping all is well in your various lives!  

Spark on!

Lather, rinse, repeat... it's Winter!

 Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day

A good way to spend today, when our "heat wave" took us above 0℉, to +1!  

I did go outside to clear the south side of the house's sidewalk, that my neighbor had blown clear TWICE, and it drifted back in yet again.  I did not go out on Sunday AT ALL!  Fingers were icicles coming back inside after just that brief session, in the afternoon.

Dumb question:  anybody else ever live in Iowa?  I ask because it's Caucus day.  I only lived in Iowa for about a year and a half.  Yes, I voted there, but when I think back on it, that would have been 1994, so there was no Caucus.  There were Presidential motorcades disrupting normal traffic in Des Moines.  Bill Clinton was President then, and he came to town a couple of times while I lived and worked there.

I decided to wave off Tuesday's trainer workout, in a prolonged "rebellion" against going anywhere in the cold.  It's supposed to be minus 6 at my scheduled time.  I have to go out on Wednesday, as it's my blood draw for medical stuff.  

Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Another cold morning, but we knew it was going to be.  The show in Iowa was over fast.  I watched some of the coverage, and believe it or not, I kind of "got" the rationale of the Trump faithful.  No, they don't see him as Jesus... or at least not all of them.  They see him as King David (as in David and Goliath, David and Bathsheba, etc.) a powerful but flawed man being used for God's purpose.  But you know, if we're going to do Biblical metaphors, remember that King David took power, but it was his successor that rebuilt the temple.  Of course, history does not ever exactly match the past.

The disturbing bit, from my point of view, is that everyone is smoking their own stuff and talking past one another.  The words in the questions being asked are NOT interpreted the same by the pundit asking them and the respondent.  The polls are practically worthless.  I know I refuse to answer polls because I am "polled out"!

Like many, I long for the days when "People of good conscience can disagree".  And be civil.

Today's task, suited for such a cold day: cleaning and descaling the coffee machine.  The box on the descaling solution says do this every three months.  I am generally less frequently than that at getting to this task, but when the machine starts showing certain signs, it's time!

Meanwhile, with the sun shining brightly, The Prisoner demanded to be let out on the snowy deck.  He came to his senses once all four paddy-paws touched that frozen stuff and his fur allowed the wind to tell him how cold it really was.

Surely you jest!

Wednesday we have a heat wave predicted:  a high of 23℉.  I shall have to go out because it's that time of year:  blood draw and Medicare annual screening.  It might even break ten above by the time I'm due to have that done.

Thursday is the next round of predicted snow.  Onward!

Life is good.  Especially when there are at least a few things you can control?  Spark on!

A good Sunday message: Neighbors who bless!

 

The Prisoner wants to know what has been done to his deck domain.  I went out and tamped down a few footprints (comes up to my knees or a bit above out in the middle).  He wisely came back in after ascertaining that the sun was NOT warm.

I managed to re-dig out the path to the mailbox, and the mail did come today, so I was glad I had done that.  I kept having to come in frequently to thaw the fingers.

I think it was about 3 p.m. when I went out and started shoveling a path down the sidewalk to meet up with where my neighbor Glen had blown the stretch of sidewalk that goes by the South side of the house.

I had got about halfway there when a truck stopped and the young man driving asked if I'd like some help clearing my driveway.  I said that would be nice, he said give me a few minutes and I'll be back.  He pulled in a driveway about a block and a half away, near the entrance to the park.

I finished connecting the sidewalk to the other side, then hustled back inside to thaw the fingers again.  I barely had my gloves off when husband and wife team, Patrick and Donna arrived with shovel, snow blower, and even brought some ice melt for me to spread on the steps!  They made short work of the drive and walks, while I cleared the rest of the steps.  Then they departed with the caution to me not to work too hard "it's cold out here!"  Which of course, it is: minus 6F even in the afternoon sunshine.

Sometimes it brings a tear to my eye to find the grace offered to me as an older person.  I think back and hope that I was as good a young person to those around me as they are to me now.

Sunday, January 14th, 2024

My internet connected scale told me it was -22F this morning when I weighed in.  My phone tells me it is now -17F.  For those of you who speak Celsius, that would be -30C and -27C, respectively.  I continue to try to educate myself with familiarity to both, but I'm afraid being trained in Fahrenheit from childhood up, and still living in a part of the world that publishes in Fahrenheit handicaps me a bit.

Sun and shadow in the cold

In short, it is a good day to hole up!

And Life is Good!  Spark on!

Friday accumulation, Saturday deep freeze

Pretty drifts through my frozen shut storm door.

On the landing, the corner you can see from the door.  I took this one peeking out of my garage door.

Looking down the driveway from the garage entrance.

 

About a shovel blade deep at the top.  When you get midway down the drive it's about twice that deep in the drifts.

The test path to the mailbox, shoveled between 1 and 2 p.m., during a lull in the wind.  It fills back in fast.  I'm figuring this one will take me a couple of days to clear, in short sessions.  I came back inside to thaw my fingers after just that one blade width path.

The Prisoner was not impressed.  He has yet to put one paw outside.  Smart kitty!

Scarborough Fair stew has been modified over the course of the past week or so, with various additions made:  mushrooms, cauliflower, and today, ground beef.  It is no longer vegan.  I added the rest of the broth bomb partway through the week, too.

Saturday morning, January 13th, 2024

It was -1F when I got up, and it's getting colder as the day progresses.  I may not get out to clear off at all unless the wind lets up, and it's not predicted to.

As anticipated, my test path is totally refilled overnight by the wind.

Out the bay window, in the streetlights as it starts to get lighter, I could see that neighbors who made more progress yesterday also got a set-back.

This morning we have had light snow continuing, and wind blowing it around with strong gusts.

The Prisoner is no longer a happy camper.  I did open the sliding door a couple of times for him, but he wisely stayed in.  I had to clean the litter box, which when it's decent weather, I don't need to do.  At one point, Prisoner jumped into the recycle tub and started shredding newsprint.

Life is good, especially if you have a working furnace and your power stays on.  If not, may you have backup plans.

And regardless, never stop Sparking!

The calm between, and the second storm arrives

Wednesday, January 10th, 2024

It's getting close to tax time, and I wanted to get the estimated payments in the mail.  We have a Monday holiday coming up, and that messes with the schedule.

I had not completely cleared the driveway on Monday and Tuesday, but there was enough shrinkage for even little Dexter (my Honda Fit) to drive out over the plow "bump".  The residential streets are snow and ice covered, but everyone seems to be going slow, and getting there.  I only had a short drive to the mailbox.  I don't trust the footing for walking yet.

By the way, the weather dudes are saying we're going to get another Winter storm on Thursday evening overnight to Friday!

Fresh snow started falling between 4 and 5 p.m. Wednesday, just when my sister and I normally walk.  Fortunately, we had called it off for today!  So much for a mile outside every day in January!

Thursday January 11th, 2024

Woke early, checked the forecast and consulted with my recovering shoveling muscles.  I opted to wave off the trainer again, because I expect I will be shoveling again Friday.  If I tax the muscles with a workout day, it will not be pretty!

It did not snow on Thursday, and I worked up my courage in the afternoon to drive over to the grocery store to acquire things to last me for a week of hibernation, if needed.

It had not started snowing by bedtime.  The public schools had already called closure for Friday, due to the anticipated storm.

Friday January 12th, 2024

I woke up about 5:15 a.m. and turned on the local news.  Naturally they were talking about the snow and wind chill.  I put on slippers to move into the frigid office across the hall from my bedroom and peek out the window.  Sure enough, all white.

After I dressed and came downstairs, I discovered that the front storm door is frozen closed.  I have yet to try either the sliding glass door to the deck (which is nicely deeper snow covered... all the cat footprints filled in), or the garage door where I usually exit with the snow shovel.  

The Grinch style drifts are starting to form on the steps, and you can interpret the fogginess as my breath steaming up the storm door.  I tried my usual "kick at the bottom" to get the door to open, to get a better photo, and no dice.  I decided not to get so forceful as to break the door.  The weather is enough of an impediment, I don't need it coming inside!  Maybe later I'll apply some heat and try again, but for now, I'm fine just tucking up inside.

The high today is expect to be 8 degrees Fahrenheit, with wind gusts up to 45 miles an hour.  The snow is supposed to end here in town by noon or early afternoon.  But the temperatures and wind chills won't abate to above freezing high until Tuesday the 23rd, per the Weather Channel web site.  So... tucked in with my kitty for a while.  I will at some point have to think about clearing off.  

Tonight through next week would be a good time to open the under sink cabinet doors and have the hair dryer at the ready to make sure we don't have frozen water pipes to deal with.

Stay safe, stay warm.  Life is good, in all its variety.  Spark on!

And Second Day SNOW

 

From the evidence on my front door, I would say the wind kicked in overnight, and the snow got plastered on the glass by its sideways trajectory.

I snuggled under the covers until about 6:30 a.m.  Then turned on the local news/weather to hear that the snow would be ending here sometime this morning, but the wind will keep blowing it around.  Temperatures will plunge for a few days, especially over the next weekend.  But seriously, folks, a high of -6℉, and a low of -11... let's be honest, not as bad as it CAN get in January!

Local schools closed for the second day.  I waved off the trainer for Tuesday.  The drive and walks look like my efforts of Monday "never even happened" as the silly commercial says.

I started out in sessions.  The wind makes it feel a lot colder than when I was scooping yesterday.  The Uzbeki neighbors were taking photos of dad and son with their snow shovels (likely to post for relatives).  I shouted across the street that they ought to make a snowman.

The dad came across the street to tell me this snow wasn't cooperating for rolling into big snow balls.  It's too dry!  This morning's top layer, that is true.  The slush on the bottom will roll into ice, and then the top snow won't stick!

Oh, well!  It's still pretty!

Not deep enough for "Grinch" height drifts, but the wind is piling it up in all the usual spots.

By 3 p.m. we got sunshine, and it looks quite cheery out there.  I'm done with my labors for today, I'm thinking.

Life is still good.

Keep on a-sparkin'!

Second Day Stew

 

While we wait around for Winter Storm Finn (they name Winter Storms now, too, not just Hurricanes) I continue to savor the Scarborough Fair stew.

I did get out for a Sunday afternoon walk, and I laid in groceries.  Because the Winter Storm warning runs from 6 a.m. Monday to noon Tuesday, and everybody should be prepared to hole up.

Monday morning, January 8th

It's shiny out there, in the pre-sunrise morning.  Snow has not yet started and the temperature is right around the freezing mark.  I am glad I don't have to go anywhere today.  I'm probably going to pull the plug on tomorrow's trainer workout, too.

The Prisoner keeps asking to go out and then back in.

Prisoner's dilemma

At about 8:10 a.m. I noticed that the precipitation was now coming in the form of snow.  This is supposed to continue, "heavy at times".  Pretty as I write.  It is coming straight down.

One sure sign this is a "real" storm?  The Weather Channel sent an on-location reporter to my town!

It looked as though it was lightening up around 2 p.m., so I put on my snow boots and winter coat and went out to clear.  Back inside after getting "most" of the heavy wet stuff off (only did about a quarter of the driveway but I did all the walks).  The temperature was still fairly warmish for a snow day when I went out, but that's a workout.

There are still teeny tiny little flakes dancing in the air and the Winter Storm Warning doesn't end until noon tomorrow.  The snow is supposed to continue, the temperature is supposed to drop, and the wind is supposed to pick up, according to the weatherman.

Because of this, I went out and finished off the half of the driveway on the side where I garage my car.  Looks to me like most of the neighbors have also chosen to clear off this evening, rather than wait until after noon tomorrow.  I'd rather shovel while it is not quite as bitter cold and windy as it has been known to get!

All said, I should sleep well tonight.  Life is good.  Spark on!

Into the New Year

 A starting point, I guess

New Year's Day, 2024.  I took a selfie, and amazingly I don't look as fat as I feel.  Reality check, though, I'm heavier than I have been in years... 20 pounds "crept" or "galloped" on during 2023.  I will not mention that they are the same 20 pounds I had dropped with intermittent fasting during the last quarter of 2022.  Sigh.  I still have an inner rebel to have some talks with.

It being a pretty day, I walked a mile walk outdoors, starting in on one goal.

I tracked my food in Cronometer, another stake in the ground.  It did not stop me from eating "whatever I felt like", but I did at least get it recorded.  That's another discipline that needs to be developed.

I poured the remaining baking ingredients leftover from the holiday seasons into the trash.  I had a salad at lunchtime.

I looked out the sliding door at the Prisoner and it seems like he's breaking all kinds of dietary "resolutions" too... but then, he's a cat, so murdering a feathered friend is chalked up to instinct.  Cats do not make resolutions.

I forgive him, because... he's a cat.  But feel bad, too, because that junco was just minding its own birdly business.

January 2nd, 2024

I am glad I took a hermit day on New Year's eve.  It made it easier to actually get that start on New Year's Day.  I have to admit that motivation to healthy habits is a wildly variable energy.  I remember several conversations back when everybody blogged in SparkPeople about will power and the brain's capacity for decision making.  Building habits about which one does not need to THINK on a daily basis (or hourly basis) is vital.

Another lapse I'm working to repair:  During 2023 I let the bubbles back into my life.  Not to the level that they had been before I gave up soda the end of 2009, but enough to experiment.  I have ONE, count it ONE, diet coke left in the 'fridge, from the last purchase.  I used to say that the best thing I did for my weight management success was giving up the bubbles!  Time to do that again.  I drank that last soda Tuesday afternoon.

I also got my mile outdoors, and shopped for groceries, in addition to the regular trainer workout.  Trainer's prices have gone up again for 2024.  Sigh.  But the benefit to my health and the boost to motivation is worth it.

January 3rd, 2024

Woke up one minute before the alarm I had set for 5 a.m.  This is a "medical taxi and extra ears" day, so I wanted to be sure to have time for a shower and a little putzing on the computer before I headed over to that duty.

Everything worked as smoothly as one could hope, I had Sis home by 10 ish, and I was home by 11 a.m.  We use these opportunities to catch up on one another... I got to see the Christmas photos on her phone from her trip to Kansas.  

Afternoon walk with another sister (Alicia) was on time.  It was cold, but the surfaces were good.  So that makes 3 days outdoors for a mile, at least.

January 4th, 2024

The rebel is rearing her head this morning, after three days of tracking and getting my "mile outdoors"... "I have to do this HOW long?"  Fortunately, this is not paired with a snow storm or the coldest temperatures that January is capable of dishing up.

I got Dexter out of the garage and began my drive to the trainer workout.  When I turned the first corner (a gentle uphill), I discovered the black ice.  Yikes!  Fortunately, there was no other traffic on that street at the time, so I just slowed it down and got around the curve to the main arterial and once I was there, OK for the rest of the drive.  On the way home, I knew where that bad patch was and was prepared to avoid it!

On the sidewalk on the way into the building, I also found slick areas.  So, the verdict is, no mile outside today.  But I biked an extra ten minutes on the recumbent bike (my normal "cool down" at the end of my workout) to make up for it.

January 6th, 2024

Friday was a "lost day" for me.  The rebel took over.

So Saturday I had a bit more energy stored up.  I am experimenting with a soup broth bomb I got for Christmas.

I freelanced a  bit on the ingredients.  It called for white beans, I only had black ones on hand.  It called for hash browns, and I shredded raw potatoes.  It called for kale, I didn't have any so I tossed in the can of artichoke hearts that are supposed to be an "optimal" veggie according to the GenoPalate list.

I'm only going to use about half of the broth bomb.

If you look closely you can see the package names it "Scarborough Fair", so of course you know it has to have parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme among the spices.

You don't add the "bomb" until the mixture is boiling.  And because the bomb contains baking soda, it naturally is going to bubble up.  Now we wait for it to simmer for a while.

This is a vegetarian, actually a vegan recipe.  It's printed on the box.

Now the house smells heavenly.

It's a grey chilly day outside.  I did manage to get out for a walk, but it wasn't a full mile.

Life is good.

Keep Sparking!