Snowed in and loving it
It was still only dusk when I felt a rumbling and heard Chris say, “What the heck?” More banging. I rolled over and asked him what was going on and he said “I thought it was a nuclear explosion! It’s thundering and lightening.” Um. Why nuclear explosion? What was he dreaming about? Then another huge flash and a long, slow rumble. He got out of bed and pulled the shade aside, revealing a near blizzard flying past the window.
It’s been snowing here since yesterday morning, and we’ve got about a foot out there now, with another 5-7″ predicted for today and overnight. I’m so glad we have no real plans for the weekend, other than tackling some cleaning, sorting, purging. I’ll make some soup today, and try out the recipe for these onion pull-apart rolls I saw online. It’s blowing sideways out there, so it’ll be an indoor play kind of day.
Lila can invite Fatou over to play in the kitchen, maybe they’ll help me peel potatoes and measure flour. Just outside the French doors, on the other side of the deck, the new swingset and playground awaits the spring thaw, but for today, its billowy white blanket continues to grow. Tyler hopes to get some friends together in the basement for a D & D day. Tomorrow, after the sideways wind blows out of town, we’ll all head over to the University for sled riding.
My beautiful Aunt Virginia made that beaded snowflake for Lila for Valentine’s Day and it shines in the window, catching the sunrise in its prisms (if we’re fortunate enough to have a morning without clouds and snow). We have several of these in other windows, and they make me so happy, to have little pieces of art that our loved ones have made with their able hands, bringing such whimsy and joy into our home.
The one big plan for the weekend is one I keep putting off, but can no longer afford to. I’m up against it now, and if I wait any longer, I won’t have decent broccoli, cabbage or brussels sprouts crops. It’s time. I wonder if it’s too late to start some leeks? I think I’ll do a tray, anyway.
My lettuce and bean seeds arrived, and I just loved the little snowman card that accompanied the Seed Savers Exchange order, appropriate, no? I’m excited to try the 3 lettuce varieties I picked up that I’ve never tried before: Yugoslavian Red, Forellenschuss and Reine Des Glaces. I’ll also do Arugula and maybe some mesclun if I still have seed leftover from last year (I think I do). But I’m determined to have head lettuce this year for the first time, ever. And while I’ve felt overwhelmed at the knowledge of how much work my garden will be on top of the full-time job, and have entertained thoughts of just taking this year off, I got a wonderful reminder of why I want to do it last night.
The fridge was pretty empty so we had to make a run to the local grocery store. I’ve always semi-enjoyed shopping there because it’s small and quiet and they have great prices on pantry items. The produce left much to be desired, but for basics, managed just fine. But they’re expanding and doing so while open for business. They pulled down the ceiling and so now it’s tall in there, like going to one of the big box stores. Music blares out of tinny speakers all over the place, set up very high, so it’s this constant mosquito whine of terrible pop music. Things are rearranged just enough to make shopping take twice as long, and I walked around with my list, feeling my consciousness being pulled up out of the top of my head and into the rafters and by the time we finished I felt like crying. Lila was bouncing off the walls. We’d only found half of what we needed, and the produce was abysmal, which means I’ll need to make another trip out Monday after work. And the prices had gone up. A lot. The biggest thing I came home with was a bad attitude and an even worse headache.
I can’t wait till I only need to run to the grocery store for things like dairy. As a matter of fact, in order to ensure that I can put a lot of good vegetables on my table and in my freezer for next winter, I think I’m willing to stay out well past dark all summer long. Seriously.
"Grass is the cheapest plant to install and the most expensive to maintain."
~Pat Howell
March 8th, 2008 at 10:51 am
I love the blog name.
March 8th, 2008 at 10:54 am
Well, being snowbound is the best time to seed-start! Keep us in touch with your Yugo Red lettuce. I almost got some myself but went all tightwaddy and didn’t. Head lettuce is not hard at all. And leeks? Considering how long they’ll have to grow in the garden, it’s okay that you’re starting them now. Just, you know, start them now!
March 8th, 2008 at 11:23 am
You have to do the garden because you would be so sad this summer without it. I wish you could leave the job. But a snowed in week-end really is the perfect time to start seeds.
I’m envious of the storm! You finally got your winter-in the nick of time!
I’m excited to check my mail this week.
March 8th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Hi Deb, thanks! Hope to see you back here.
March 8th, 2008 at 11:35 am
El, if I don’t get seeds done this weekend you have my permission to give me a metric ton of shit for it. I’ve never grown leeks before either, so I was hoping they would be a fall harvest and okay across the summer. C’mon summer!
March 8th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Angelina, you’re so right. I would be beyond sad if I didn’t have the garden this summer. I’ll figure out the balance, and will likely lose some things to neglect, as always happens, but I’m determined to have the basics covered.
Two winter storms in a row! We had that big one last week with 8″ and then it rained/iced and it all went away. This one is amazing. It’s been snowing for 26 hours and still coming down steady.
March 8th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Sounds like a wonderful weekend ahead of you guys. We’re cleaning and purging, too. Must be a spring thing. Envious of your lovely snow! It totally missed us here in Illinois. Also: Dan and I are on a mission to decorate our home with things made by our friends and family. Those have so much more meaning than a poster from Home Goods, don’t they?
March 8th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Toni, real art made by real hands is just the best thing…right up there with real food grown with real dirt by real people. Just no substitute for factory anything.
and I’m suddenly getting sucked into the kitchen. Always happens… soup and rolls and salad, pizza for the kids playing D & D. it’s still snowing like hell.
March 8th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Hmmm. I have plenty of flour, so I’ll make bread tomorrow.
Snickerdoodles now. mmmmmph.
And if I can scare up a porkchop, I’m making that pork & beans recipe I saw on GFG. I’m a little doubtful about all that olive oil, though…
… I don’t have leek seeds, or I’d start some. According to last year’s blog, I started my seeds on 3/17 and had plenty of time. I’m doing it next weekend.
xx Enjoy the snow!
March 8th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
mmmm, Snickerdoodles. Yummy.
I’m playing around with the idea of making Nana’s swiss squares, but I don’t have unsweetened chocolate. Guess I could sacrifice some of my good bittersweet.
15″ so far!!!
March 8th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Isn’t the snow amazing!! Going to the barn through heavy snow up to my knees was interesting. Lily tagged along so covered with snow that all we could see was the 2 black dots and a black muzzle! when she came inside, she rotated in front of the heating duct (kind of like a rotisserie) to dry off.
Good to be inside! I am making lasagna to take to the in-laws and bread is rising. I feel like a domestic goddess.
xoxo
March 8th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Debra, the snow is so incredible. It just keeps coming, band after band after band. Really heavy and blowing right now. Butternut squash soup is simmering, rolls are having first rise, pizza dough for the kids also rising. Chris and Lila are down at the other house showing it (I’m taking it as a very good sign that the people wanted to drive out in the blizzard to see it, that they said “We’ve eager to get this going.” Wheee! But I want my family home and safe soon.
It’s too noisy to do any real writing (D & D game going on in the dining room…with very funny conversations. You remember Tracey & Reid? Yeah. Funny as hell.)
enjoy, stay warm and yum! lasagna!
xoxo
March 8th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Hi! Just chatted with my mom in Montreal. They’re getting the snow too. The biggest storm since 1971! That’s BIG. Here in Boston—just rain. A little gloomy so we’re taking ourselves out to eat. Yay! Happy snow days out there in Ohio!!!
March 8th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
kelly. everything sounds so wonderful and i’m down to my last 2 tb butter, no eggs, 1/2cup sugar and a few cups of wheat pastry flour. snickerdoodles just bring back floods of childhood memories, they’re perfect right out of the oven…but so do nana’s squares…i was actually thinking of making blondies earlier today but couldn’t fish the canoe out of the driveway. we’re having 40 days and 40 nights here on the east coast, if our rain and your snow got together who knows what kind of madness would ensue. so there will be no treks out for baking tonight but we did feast on the last of the goods with relish as I served up crepes suzette and crepes with last summer’s sparkle strawberries from the freezer. i suppose more eggs and butter can wait at this point….
so, i just thought i’d comment on the cost of rising food. the other day i was in a local Roche Brothers grocery store that was having a meat sale, buy 5 packages of any specially marked meat for $20. a decent deal, the meats and the cuts were good choices & quality…and the savings were worth the trip as I don’t usually shop at this store. as I was browsing the produce I happened to notice that the cost of a single English cuke was $4.99. so, 4 split breasts for $4.00 or a cucumber for $5?
April 17th, 2008 at 1:54 am
[…] couple upsets you can whoop it pretty good. …http://www.todaysthv.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=62658Snowed in and loving it Snowed in and loving it March 8th, 2008 in Little House in Ohio, Weekend 14 Comments ? It was still […]