Extreme Weather - A Late Snowstorm

We are in the middle of a late snowstorm. Spring was early and at the same time winter is late. We are grateful for the moisture in whatever form it takes. Everything seems to be topsy-turvy these days. 

Nectar for our little friends. I also tossed out bird seed for the
other birds struggling through this storm.

Mrs. Smith

Sabbath, Sunsets and Snow - Just a Few Pictures

 

Shabbat Shalom,

Mrs. Smith

Freak Snowstorm - Extreme Weather

 

We had a freak snowstorm. One foot to be exact! There was no snow expected in the forecast. It started around 7 Am this morning and didn't stop until around 1 Pm. We had several bird species show up for the seed we threw out. I will post pictures soon. 

Mrs. Smith

How To Stay Warm And Save Money On Energy This Winter -- First Snow Of The Season On The Way!!!

 

The wind is ferociously blowing today. We have 48 mph gusts. It's blowing in the first round of wintery weather. I am so grateful that I was able to finish up washing all the Winter blankets and drying them outside on the clothesline before the wind started.

I also pulled out a large Sherpa throw for the couch. This throw is so soft and it is large enough for both of us. Leather is nice and cool in the warmer months, but quite chilly in the cooler months. A warm throw is a lot less expensive than turning up the heat just to take the chill off. 

Another way that we warm ourselves up is the use of hot water bottles. A heated hot water bottle wrapped in fleece lasts for hours, even overnight. We warm up the bed this way on the coldest nights. At -35 to -40 below zero we have to use everything available to us. We have a small energy efficient home, but at those temperatures even the best homes can still have trouble maintaining a comfortable temperature inside. This year with the cost of energy I'm sure many more people will find that they need to conserve energy while heating their homes.

We also change our bedding to warmer flannel sheets, heavier blankets and a comforter. We close off unused rooms and hang insulating curtains on our windows. We open the curtains to let the warm sunlight in during the day. 

Don't forget about your pets. Our dog, Princess Abigail, has a warm bed, a fleece blanket and fleece coats. She is 17 years old this year. She has very short hair and has always been cold natured. She sleeps on a fleece mat under the covers on the bed. 

Dress Appropriately...

Last but not least, serve warm nutritious filling meals. Like soups, stews, breads and muffins.

Baked Blueberry Oatmeal

Raisin Bran Muffins

Cranberry Orange Bread

Guisada (Mexican Stew)

Stay warm and safe,

Mrs. Smith

Shabbat Shalom...Snow On The Peaks...

 

We woke up to snow on the peaks this morning. We had a little rain and more is on the way. Longs Peak is suppose to get 18.5 inches this weekend. This could have changed over the last few days. 

It is also the beginning of gun season for Pronghorn. So far, we have not seen any trespassers or illegal hunting from the road. We have a strong Wildlife Officer presence this year. They had a vehicle pulled over with several hunters standing outside for almost a hour. I imagine they all have very large tickets to pay.  

I also hear a lot of shotguns going off. Duck season must have started too. We have large bodies of water nearby. There are not very many hunters. Usually, it's like a rodeo of bullets in every direction along with illegal trespassing. Irresponsible hunters are very dangerous.

The bluebirds are still here. They are training their young and getting ready to fly South.

The last hummingbird left about two weeks ago.

The storm that brought the snow gave us a bright rainbow.

The sunset was incredible...

Things To Be Happy About:

Biscuits

Popcorn

A lock-in at church

Oatmeal

Canvass totes

Finding a lost glove

Shasta soda 

Yoo Hoo chocolate drink

Looking for God in everything

Standing on solid ground

When all the hunter's go home

When Summer vacationer's go home

A cool breeze

A fan blowing at night

Thumbholes in a hoodie

Always having enough

Shabbat Shalom

Stay warm...

Mrs. Smith

Snow And Baking Day...

 

The snow started Wednesday.

It was heavy at times,

The sun was not to be found.

There are huge mountains out there. 

We woke up on Thanksgiving to clear skies, but it was (negative -5.4*) before I took this picture. It was 68* on Tuesday.

The forecast called for little or no accumulation. We ended up with three or four inches. We were thankful for the moisture.

Number One's only cookbook.

I made a large batch of dough on Wednesday. I'm thankful for my Kitchen Aid Mixer.
I made a Garlic Knot Cheese Pizza. 

Along with Number One's Thanksgiving Breakfast, Turkey In A Blanket.

I made two loaves of bread for turkey sandwiches with the rest of the dough.

We had the pizza for lunch.

Number One makes the best Baklava. It is a childhood favorite of mine. 

All I had to do is find a few items for him to use.

It has layers and layers of wonderful flavors.

Honey... 

The syrup is made from honey, sugar, water, orange peel and lemon juice. I used the candied orange peel in the sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving. In past years, I have dried the candied orange rind and used it in my hot tea. 

It is really really good. A masterpiece...