Even our buildings are cold

It's so cold here that our buildings are growing icicles just to stay warm.

Okay, so that's not really true. This is a bar/restaurant just around the corner from Milkweed, which caught fire and burned last Wednesday. The firefighters doused it with water, which then immediately froze because it was -5 that day.

Nobody was inside the building at the time, though I heard that one cat died. I've told the arson detectives to check in with suspects in Muskegon, Michigan – two naughty dogs named Nikki and Twila.

Call of the Wild

At first it was only a whisper, then I could hear it louder and louder until it was so loud that I couldn't ignore it. It was a rather high pitched voice or maybe the sounds of many small high pitched voices. I listened at the stairway, nothing, then at the basement door; no, the sound isn't coming from inside. I went to the outside door and as soon as I opened it I knew what it was. It was the sound of millions upon millions of freshly fallen snowflakes. They were all crying in unison saying they wanted someone to play outside, someone needed to wrinkle up the smooth blanket they had formed over all the earth. To bust through the monotony of their world and make tracks and piles and holes in the white canopy they had been building all day long.

As soon as I was outside, I could hear other voices, these were farther away and more mechanical. They were not the voices of nature, small and high pitched, these were deeper, more solid, voices. They were calling for help, they were cold voices, they were voices that said they wanted to be warmed, and they wanted to move and free themselves of the stillness that made them cold. Daniel and I got in the car, I had a good hunch where the second voices were coming from, and sure enough, as we pulled into Mom's old driveway the sound was unmistakably coming from the barn.

We found them in the barn, shivering, with skis and tracks frozen to the cold concrete floor. We broke them free and dragged them outside into the deep snow. "Please" they asked, "just a little gasoline?". And then, ever so timidly they begged for us to pull their starter cords. When we did, their engines roared to life and all modesty left them. They belched out foul smoke and screamed for us to pull hard on the throttles. When we did, they chewed into the fresh white snow and threw it far behind them as their skis plowed ahead cutting deep gouges into the path that their headlights blazed in the dark night of woods and fields. "Faster! Faster!" they screamed when we raced down the empty dark road with only the light of their headlights and the white billowing snow following behind. Finally after crisscrossing paths through fields and woods we ran them back into the barn, the noisy engines died as we hit the kill switches. They were hot and dripping wet, I could hear them huffing and puffing as we closed the overhead door and a whispered "thank you" from a tired and once again timid voice came from inside the barn as we walked away.

The snow was quiet now as it surveyed the damage done to it's beautiful coat. No longer smooth and soft, it had been chopped and cut and diced by skis and tracks going every which direction. But it was not complaining, it had asked for someone to play in it, and besides, it knows tomorrow's forecast calls for 3-4 more inches. By then the small voices will call again for someone to break the monotony of the white smooth blanket.

Birthday Boy Stevaroni!

Today we have a birthday boy, and his name would be Steve;
Twas twenty-nine years ago, when my womb he did leave.

Arriving on his due date, the only one of six;
Still puzzled how he did that, of all the little chicks?

But come he did, that cold Feb. night, with this unique distinction,
At -37 below, Alpena was the coldest spot in the nation!

So "Happy Birthday" our dear Steve, we hope it's fun, tis true!
May this last year of 20's, be special, just like you!

Sowing the crops early

While doing some cooking a few weeks ago, I pulled a nasty-looking potato out of the bag. Full of eyes and a little mushy, I was about to toss it into the compost bucket when I instead decided to burrow it down in the old herb planter I have sitting on our window sill. I'd mostly forgotten about it (written off as a dud), when I noticed a little shoot had popped up. I couldn't believe how fast it happened. Granted, I wasn't examining the soil EVERY DAY, but the thing pretty much popped up overnight.



Interestingly, I must have also planted a small quarter plant. Actually, I think it was a nickel at the time.




I also bought a peanut-growing kit as a Christmas present for a friend of mine. He recently sent back pictures of his luscious peanut tree, which excited me enough that I went out and treated myself to my own peanut kit. It comes in a tiny plastic cup, with some yawn and four peanuts. You get the yawn soaked with warm water and then rest the peanuts on the top. After a few days in the sun, voila!

Snow, Sleds and Statues

This past week has brought great fluctuations in the weather here in Hancock, though our snow has managed to mostly stay on the ground. One week ago, we had "life threatening blizzard conditions" according to the National Weather Service (and that lasted for two days - Wednesday and Thursday) with a high temp of 2 and windchills of anywhere from 15 to 30 degrees BELOW zero. We (the girls and I) didn't leave the house. Friday was a veritable heat wave at 16 degrees and sunny, and Ella asked to go "play in the snow", so out we went, donning snow gear, grabbing a sled, and heading for the nearest hill...our front yard. We spent about half an hour outside enjoying beautiful blue skies and sunshine and white sparkly snow before heading in.


It continued to warm up over the weekend, reaching 32 degrees (and thus melting weather) on Sunday and Monday. Today it took another dive, predicted to reach 2 again tonight. But in spite of the cold, Winter Carnival is in full swing, with the theme of "Scary Creatures with Icy Features." And this was the 3rd annual installment of our youth group's All-Nighter Statue Build in the Barnhart yard. After about 3 hours of snow, water, slush, ice and much fun - we have a very large rendition of Jaba the Hut gracing our front yard.


In addition, the sculptors decided to leave their mark on our front snowbank (next to the road) and made their own version of Mount Rushmore. This one is much more interesting than the real thing.





And since everyone seems to enjoy them, here are a few random photos of the girls, Fletcher and Noelle.

Snowy Scenes from Muskegon!

About a week ago, we had a couple of good snowfalls, and it was interesting to see how deep the snow got, in places. Thought you might enjoy a few pictures. Also, they've lost the "battle" on Giles Rd. The pictures tell it all! And finally, a lovely sunset over Lake Michigan (Pere Marquette Park.)

Lament of a Christmas Tree

Now I lay me down to sleep,
A fine fir tree in snow so deep.

Twasn’t always such with me,
For once I was a Christmas tree.

Yes indeed, a Christmas tree,
With ornaments displayed on me!

Red and gold, blue and green,
A beautiful sight twas to be seen.

Pretty lights shone oh so bright,
Twas lovely to behold at night!

Fun and laughter did abound,
With family home from all around.

Sweet little girls and doggies too,
A delightful time through and through!

Twas oh so fun to grace that home,
Before they all did start to roam,

Back to their homes, both near and far…
You should have seen Steve’s well packed car!

But here I lie now in the snow,
For my time too, had come to go.

Back to the land from which I came,
Hoping for next year, the same.

What will now become of me,
A fine fir tree cut down, you see?

I wish I could come back next year,
And join this family in Christmas cheer.

But now I lay me down to sleep,
A fine fir tree in snow so deep.

Birthday Boy Benny

Ben anxiously watches the clock wind down, in anticipation of the big "three/one" birthday celebration.



Alas, though, he has to arm-wrestle Daniel, to maintain his honorable birthright position as the firstborn son.




Having emerged victoriously, he is shown here with the most wonderful Ryke's cake! Yum, yum, yum, yum, yum!!!



Finally, a celebration bonfire for Ben's birthday, and also to welcome the new year.




The birthday boy, basking in the glow of the bonfire.

A new name for mom

I don't know if any of you have experienced Mom's expertise in weather, but I've found that she is consistently more knowledgeable about my 7-day forecast than I am...and we don't even live in the same state! I used to have this little thing called weatherbug on my computer, which is basically a customizable program that pops up with your updated weather information whenever you want. I thought it was great, but Andy claimed that it bogged down the computer and brought lots of unwanted pop ups with it, so we got rid of it. I missed it for a couple days, but soon after I realized I no longer need weatherbug.

I have Mombug! I don't even need to go to my computer for weather updates - they come to me! If a storm is coming, a cold front moving in, unusually strong winds expected, or possible hazardous driving conditions called for, you can expect a friendly and knowledgeable update from Mombug. Better yet, the service is completely free!

Interested in subscribing? No need! If you read this blog, chances are you are already a lifetime member of the Mombug club. Send her a token of your appreciation today.



P.S. I know a more literal and apt name would have been "weathermom", but it didn't have the same ring to it.

Familiar?

A Barnhart Christmas

Top Ten Barnhart Christmas Traditions:

10. Saying "Do you wanna do chores....eat breakfast....or open presents? PRESENTS!!!!!" (this actually starts about 1 week prior to Christmas, and all accompanying faces must be made)
9. Develop and hone our vulture-like eating habits
8. Lots of computers (and by lots I mean more computers than people)
7. Everyone making complete fools of themselves for the two smallest members of the family
6. Taking pictures...of people taking pictures...of other people taking pictures
5. Sneaking your Christmas presents under the tree as if they weren't wrapped hastily only seconds ago in the other room.
4. Opening gifts about 4 hours after scheduled to begin (because we just finished wrapping them)
3. 14 trips to Meijer
2. Ben's world-renowned pineapple upside-down cake
1. The 7 hour gift-opening marathon, including commentary and frequent, unexplained breaks

If these are the things that have made up your Christmas day, you may as well admit that you are most definitely a Barnhart. Don't try to fight it; its much easier if you just give in.

Merry Christmas!

And because this is what we all get excited about, here are a few pictures of the two sweetest girls around.

Guys Rule!

Couldn't manage to get this one on with the others, but too cute to leave out, altogether. What macho guys!

R.P. Christmas Dance

Thought the rest of the family might appreciate seeing their little brother all dressed up and stepping out! He escorted Emily Andrews, to the dance, and reportedly had a good time. Uncanny, how much the young lady on the left resembles Rachel Holtzhouse (in my opinion.) Your little brother is growing up!

Dad's Puppies Get Lonely For Him

When I came home from work yesterday, I found that Nicky and Twila had dragged Dad's boot over to their nest and was apparently easing their loneliness for him via the comforting aroma.





Nicky needed a bit stronger dosage.

Wintery Wonderland

I know that you all have anxiously been awaiting our snow pictures. Well, we've finally managed to shovel ourselves out after a week of winter storm advisories, so that we could actually take the photos. Just to keep this all in context - we had NO snow last Sunday. And we weren't sure we'd even have church services this morning because of predicted snowfall (we did, by the way, have services - we didn't get as much as they were predicting).


The top photo shows what it looked like out our entry way door (pretty much) last Sunday - just a little less green with siding on the garage. The bottom photo is what it looked like out the same door this morning, before Steve shoveled us out.












This is a photo out of our garage before Steve cleared snow this morning. Both the car and the truck were cleared off Saturday evening before we went to bed - and here they are, only hours later, very snow covered! Notice the snow piled up where it was next to the closed garage door - Steve said it was easily a foot deep there.


Here's the path from our house down to the garage and driveway. It was a bit challenging to get Ella NOT to play in the snow on our way to the car this morning. But she did manage to do so.
Since it's been so snowy here, we've been staying inside doing "fun" inside stuff - recovering from colds, mostly. But Ella has also learned a new game. Here she is in her very first (and exciting) round of UNO. She's pretty good at matching the colors. We're still working on the numbers.

Ella and Elisabeth got to wear their "wintery" dresses to church this morning, in honor of our snow. They are our "little snow princesses" - and we thought you'd enjoy a chance to see them in their winter finery.


Ella also got to try her first meringue this evening, as Steve had some egg whites left over from making a pound cake (see photo) and decided to make meringues.

It was a new experience for all of us, as we'd never made them before (though Steve and I had both eaten them before, and I hadn't been a huge fan). However, these were extremely tasty - and I decided that he could definitely make them again! Now, just to make some more pound cakes so we have extra egg whites that need to be used...