Blizzard

Here in the "Interior" of Alaska, large quantities of snow all at once is unusual. Something else that is unusual, is wind. So "wind chill" almost never happens around here.

Well, Presidents' Day was another story.

We got 18 inches of snow in one day, with driving winds up to 50 miles an hour. It was lovely. It was also bitter cold with that wind.

Just to give you an idea, that is a full-sized truck under that pile.

The hardest part of this, the place we are renting has more driveway than yard. When you live some place where the snow comes, and stays until April, and doesn't periodically melt...you accumulate a LOT of snow. So when you get this much....well...here's a tour.

The boys had some fun with it though.

Anyone that lives where it snows on a regular basis can sympathize with me here.

Plows. You no sooner finish the back-breaking work of shoveling out, and here comes the plow, piling it up and making more work for you. Well, not only did that happen at the driveways, but it even happened in the back yard. This WAS the dog run that I have kept shoveled all winter. I shoveled it out, thinking, "I hope the plow doesn't pile snow back here."

Well, guess what happened?

Oy!

16

Lord have mercy!


I now have an 18 year old, a 16 year old and a 13 year old.


Is that another gray hair?


Our family tradition for birthdays, is that the birthday person gets to pick what we are having for dinner. Jack misses out sometimes because his birthday occasionally falls on Thanksgiving, but Joshua's birthday is a good little ways after the holiday season.


So what does Joshua pick nearly EVERY year?


Ham.

He also always picks Ice Cream Dessert instead of a birthday cake.

Happy 16th Birthday Joshua!

What are Your Loves?

When I was a little girl, I started drawing about as soon as I could hold a pencil. I LOVED to draw. I did it constantly. My favorite class in school was always Art Class....of course.

I was a serious artist.

When I got to highschool, I discovered a new love, Science...especially Biology, but I still enjoyed Art.

This is a page from a scrapbook...my bedroom when I was in highschool.

Pay no attention to the big 80's hair. I will never admit to anything. I will not tell you I was a "Guns n Roses" freak. No, I will NOT tell you, so stop asking.


Thank you.

(By the way, that is Axle Rose in chalk.)


Who said that?!


My Sophomore year, I was in a "Drawing" class, and my teacher came up to me, and asked me what Art School I was planning on going to when I graduated from highschool. I looked at him, and said, "I don't plan on going to art school."


He tilted his head to the side, and looked at me, and replied, "What are you planning on doing?"


I responded, "I want to be a Biologist."


He looked at me, and walked away.


Now, I don't know if he did this on purpose, or if he even realized that he did this at all, but my beloved Art teacher did not speak to me for 2 weeks! Two whole weeks! I was heart-broken.


I loved art, and at the time, I had a little bit of a talent for it.


But then life happened.


I graduated from school, worked a while, joined the army, got married and became a mother..then a homeschooling mother. And somewhere along the way..art just never crossed my mind. I hadn't painted in 20+ years, and barely sketched a line in as much time.


Well, last month, at my "Ya-Ya Army Sisterhood" get together, I was inspired. The hostess of the social had art all over her home. Paintings on canvas, beautifully painted furniture, you name it.


The flame was lit again.


Earlier this week, I went to the craft store and came home with art supplies. I decided that it was high time that I go back to something I loved so dearly. I am TERRIBLY out of practice, and I feel like a kindergartener holding a paint brush, but I am determined to rekindle that joy in my life.


So this is my first attempt at painting in a VERY, VERY long time. I loved every second of it.

If the image looks familiar, it was inspired by a photo I took in the fall.


Already I am thinking of my next painting. I can't wait to start it, and I am kicking myself for having let something I love get pushed to the side for so long.


Do you have "loves" that you have neglected?


How might you bring them back to life?

Artfully, happily yours....

Everything Cookie Bars

I love baking cookie bars. They are so simple, and with only one baking period, quick!


These particular cookie bars have chocolate chips, peanut butter, and even oats, so they are like three different cookies in one.


To start, preheat your oven to 350 degrees.


In a mixing bowl, place one egg and 1/2 cup brown sugar.

1/2 cup of regular sugar.

1/2 cup (1 stick) of soft butter.

And 1/2 creamy peanut butter.

Mix them until creamy.

Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla.

In a small bowl, combine 1 cup flour.

1 teaspoon baking soda.

1/4 teaspoon salt

And 1/2 cup rolled oats.

Stir to combine.

Add to the creamed mixture.

Mix well.

Spread the dough into a greased 9x13 baking pan. This may be difficult because the dough is so sticky. I find that the easiest way to spread it out, is to press it out with my hand inside a plastic baggie.

Now spread 1 cup of chocolate chips all over the top of the dough. Now, I had simple sprinkled them over the top, but my youngest son said that was wrong, and he proceeded to make all the chocolate chips stand at attention. Whatever floats your boat!

Bake it for 20-25 minutes, or until it is lightly golden brown.

Now to finisht them off. While the bars are still hot, combine 1/2 cup powdered sugar. Sift it if it is lumpy.

2 Tablespoons creamy peanut butter

And 2 Tablespoons milk.

Whisk them together until smooth.

And lastly, with a spoon, drizzle the peanut butter glaze all over the top of the bars.

Allow them to cool completely.

Enjoy!

_____


Everything Cookie Bars
by Conni Smith

½ c butter
½ c brown sugar
½ c white sugar
½ c creamy peanut butter
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 c all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
½ cup rolled oats
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 c powdered sugar (sift if lumpy)
2 Tb peanut butter
2 Tb milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a mixing bowl, mix butters, sugars and egg until creamy. Mix in the vanilla.
In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, and oats.
Stir into the butter mixture.
Spread mixture into a greased 9x13 baking pan.
Top with chocolate chips.
Bake 20-25 minutes, or until lightly golden brown.
Cool the bars for about 10 minutes, then in a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, peanut butter and milk until smooth. Drizzle the glaze all over the bars. Cool completely.

Enjoy!

Printable Version: Everything Cookie Bars

More Sledding

Last week, Joshua wasn't feeling very well, and wasn't able to go sledding with the rest of us that day. So this week we had some more nice weather (20 degrees!!!!) and we took advantage of it once again.

Jack's favorite way to sled, is on his belly, riding the skateboard that he took the wheels off of.

He's good at crashing that way too. Actually, they are both really good at crashing.

There were others there sledding this day as well.

Later, the boys determined that if they rode the hard plastic sled together, they went faster.

Of course....the faster you sled, the better you crash.

And some videos for your viewing pleasure.....





What are you doing for fun this lovely winter?