Thing-a-Day 2012 - #1 Wire Snowflakes

You know those annoying, plastic-coated wires that are used to fasten toys to their boxes? I save those. Just for this reason: to reuse as a craft supply! Today for craft #1 of the Thing-a-Day 2012 challenge I used some of my wire stash to make these snowflakes. They are now hanging in my kitchen window to help remind me that it really is winter here, despite the fickleness of the snow this season!

Ice, Ice, Baby

Well, then. A frozen winter became a close encounter with spring for 5 warm days, and then BAM! ice storm! and back to winter we go...

I would have preferred to take some ice photos with sunshine, but it wasn't meant to be. We didn't get any sun for 3 days and by then the ice was gone. So I'm glad I took the time to get these pictures when I did. It was bitter, bitter cold outside and my fingers were sore cold. They hurt so bad and I thought I might have gotten frostbite. But luckily they warmed up nicely and everything works :) I need some photographers gloves. Do they make those? I wonder...

4x12: February

Walkin' on, walkin' on, broken gla-aass...

Welcome to Lake Michigan! A frozen Lake Michigan, that is. It was so very cold that the lake froze all the way across - something I've never seen before. It was also unusual because normally there are mini mountains along the shoreline in the winter, due to the waves. The cold snap hit so fast and so hard the lake just froze in its tracks. Quite the sight to see. And we were lucky to see it this year. We made it just in time. The day before this was taken it was still extremely solid. The day this was taken (Monday, Feb. 15) it had already started to melt. And now because of the super warm weather we've been having (40s!) its no longer safe to clamber across. So I'm glad we did this when we did. It makes for a wonderful backdrop :)

This makes photo #2! 4 people 12 times makes for a great challenge. They still whine when I tell them we'll be taking a family photo, but I know eventually they'll see it coming and just fall in line :)

Winter Storm 2011

Once we got the tire fixed and back on the tractor, Great-Grandpa made the attempt to make a path up to the driveway. There was too much snow so I went ahead of him with a shovel and broke a path so that the snowblower could get through. Even so, he still got stuck a couple times. Once he got up to the drive the kids helped me clean up the path so he could get the tractor back to the barn.

The Girl came out to help after we already had quite a bit finished. Here she's helping to clear out the path from the driveway to the little barn out back.

This is the driveway. It is completely drifted closed and the drifts are definitely over Little Man's knees. He started digging it out, but I set him on another task since Great-Grandpa planned on using the snow blower on the driveway.

Clearing the path from the back door to the little barn. The wind blew so hard it came down off the roof and made those huge drifts.

It took almost 3 hours to clean up all that snow. While Grandpa was working on the drive, the kids and I took turns clearing the paths and I cleaned up around the truck and car and widened the outside edge a bit so I had room to squeeze the car out when I get parked in.

Once the work was done the kids took a little side trip out into the untouched drifts of snow along the barn. They didn't get far before turning back! They put the shovels away, brushed the snow off and headed inside for some hot cocoa.

The Knitwit Files Vol 4: Mohawk Hat

Little Man's new winter sport hat

Let me first start by saying, I did NOT knit this hat. Little Man saw it (sans 'hawk styling) lollygagging around at Penney's when we picked up his winter coat. Being the "in" thing to wear this season it immediately caught and held his attention. I gave in and bought the silly thing and it laid around the house for some time, getting no use whatsoever.

A couple of nights ago I just couldn't stand it any longer so I gave the poor little dear a bit of a makeover. I picked up some yarn to match the braids and cut about a zillion 4" pieces and stacked them next to my chair. While watching TV I was able to latch hook these bits of string into the stitches of the hat, creating a lovely faux-hawk along the top center. (Any of you fashionistas out there will have seen several of these types of hats available at the local mall.)

No longer a skinny little nothing, this hat now has some major 'tude. Little Man was suitably impressed with his momma's crafting skills. I daresay this hat is about to see a wild and crazy time!

Winter Wonderland

The winter weather has been quite active recently. It's left a delightful covering of cotton-ball tufts on the trees and mounds of glistening flakes everywhere else. I find the sight rather diverting. So diverting I have a hard time keeping my eyes on the road! I do love me some winter snow :)