Winter, by definition

Freeze! This is post about the weather. Not usually my thing, but when it's as extreme as it has been, I think it's worth noting in the annals of my blog.  

Most of you faithful readers are living this with me and nodding in agreement, a few are in more frozen climates and scoffing at me, but a some of you havent shared in this experience and should have just a taste.

Experiences like these always seems to bring out new terminology that the news media grabs on to. So using some of those new terms, I'll try to bring this winter to life for you.

Polar Vortex /Arctic Blast /Arctic Air Mass: Used interchangeably to keep things interesting. If one storm is a PV, the next is an AB, and so on. It describes the fact that a storm is coming and it's going to settle over us for a while.  Thanks Canada.

Roads were bad, so I took a picture.

Treacherous: The word they use when they really mean business about attempting to keep you off the roads. Too bad things are rarely closed, as in, work is never closed.

Snow Booger: The snow build up behind your car tires. Delightful when you can kick them off in one huge chunk! Joy!

Snow Hawk: The snow build up on your car roof when you've been too lazy (or it's Bone Chilling ) to clear the roof of your car.  There's been a new law proposed for the blowing/blinding snow this causes on roadways. Ticket the Snow Hawk!

Warm Up: Anything over 20 degrees.

Heat Wave: Anything over 20 degrees with sun.

Scarf / boots / hat: Clothing necessities. No Gap, we're not just pawing around in 50 degree weather trying to look cute. I'm trying to stay warm and alive. These are all really good items to have a spare of in your car. A shovel too and maybe some kitty liter. I just traded my mom for one of her scarves because I dont take it off with my coat, I wear it all day. Boots, I own two pair, one pair for warmth and one pair for thaw days or playing outside, neither of which have been plentiful.

Bone Chilling:  Anything below 5 degrees.

Wind Chill: What the temp feels like on your 'bare cheeks'.

This would definitely happen if we let them out.

Frost Bite Time: The above two combined giving the amount of time you can be outside before your bare skin will get frostbite. (Holland was at 10 minutes this morning.) This problem leads to Indoor Recess, which leads to Cabin Fever. Neither of those are new terminology for this winter, so I wont define them here.





Upstate NY / The East Coast: The only people being affected if you ask the National News Media. Oh! and The South. Did you hear about their 3 inches?! Red Alert!

Anti Lock Brakes:  What you must have in order to stop. Especially on glare ice.

Brake Pumping: What you must do if you dont have anti lock brakes.

Echelon: A strategic plow formation. Snow plows, (typically 3 or 4) driving together at staggered intervals to clear multiple lanes of road in one shot. Does the South even have 4 plows?

Winning for losing: At this point, we're rooting for the snowiest winter of all time. Hey! why not???

This was taken fairly early, snow is to the window sill now.

Record Breaking: Everything. Temps, snow, days without sun, school snow days (which are really keep-a-lot-of-people-off-the-road-since-treacherous-isnt-working days), etc.

Coats without sleeves: A vest. The choice apparel of the very hearty. Even these people would like a little extra on this season. These people are also cousins to Polar Bears.

Every night the local news is just bananas about the weather and the meteorologists are so sheepish when they give their reports. The poor reporters stand outside to display the cold (like we dont know!) We've had stories about the record ice coverage on the Great Lakes, and the subsequent emergency calls because people have walked out on it and gone through. Ice dams are on roofs everywhere, insurance claims are through the said roofs, and if you need a plummer for a non-emergency, forget about it.

I'm sure 'Spring, by Definition' will cover terms such as: pothole, flood, spring meltdown, water management, etc.

It's been something else, including one I forgot:

Beautiful: The other side of things. Frozen lakes and cold temps mean brilliantly clear days where the sun, the glorious sun! comes out and makes everything sparkle. Have you ever seen an entire stand of ice encased trees? I have. It's stunning. And pink evening skies that make the 'treacherous' ride home all worth it. Not to mention friends and neighbors banding together in ways we read about in books.  Let's go Tim Allen, that was Pure Michigan right there!

So, it's not snow bad.

Happy Heart's Day!

Valentine's is one of my most favorite days of the year, great colors, flowers, candies, and proximity to my birthday lend to all the fun!

Heart shaped cookie cake!

Heather and Rachel were staying with us, so fun to spoil them!

My hand delivered Valentine!  Thank you GFS Cupid!

The girls checking out Rach's valentine haul

Our Heartbaker :)

I sent cards to Peter all week, I think his secretary is glad we're past the 14th!  

He loves me, He loves me not...

Happy 2 weeks

Happy 3 weeks

Happy Monthaversary!!!

He loves me :)

Where in the world?

It's been a busy few weeks and in the middle of it all just so happened to be my birthday! 

And the Olympics!

Cue celebrations!

The Birthdays in Boyne tradition continued!

Cute just popped out of the box!

Such a stinker...

Celebrating with Uncle Bob, flan cake = SO good!

Waiting for me the morning of the big day :)

Such a great friend!  Delivered a 44oz Coke Zero!

The Sochi Olympic Opening Ceremonies were on the day, so we celebrated with an Olympic themed birthday cake!

Outside and inside!

 

Congrats, you have Gold, Silver, and Bronze!

Even Little Ms. Puff got in on celebrating with me at mom's.  Technically a joint celebration :)

It was a lovely year of celebrating; many cards, lunches out, and time with family were special!

Thanks to all who care so much!

Ms. Havisham

I'm not over it.  I can't toss my flowers, I love when the subject comes up, and when I get tagged or see snapshots people took!  Here are a few of my favorites I've come across!

Prep!  Invites and hair!

My beautiful bridesmaids and their furs!

Kiddos. I think this group loved the wedding the most :)

3 Stooges?

Ok, actually, maybe Grandma enjoyed it the most. Hard to say!

I loved the flowers in their hair :)

And the flowers in my hand!

 Tennis girls!

Wedding party

The recovery room.  Soooo many lovely gifts

That sums it up!

The Honeymooners

We escaped the cold on our honeymoon by going up north in Michigan, and by that I mean it was about 5, as opposed to zero or in the negative digits.  BUT we had a great time! :)  Everywhere we went I tried dropping the, 'We're on our Honeymoon' to see if there were any freebies or upgrades in it for us, needless to say Northern Michigan isn't as quick to respond to that as some other places!

Our first dinner at Short's Brewery.  One little girl did come over and say Congratulations! :)

We stayed at the Applesauce Bed and Breakfast in Bellaire, MI - HIGHLY recommend!  She was a fabulous cook, Peter has mentioned it out of the blue several times since being there, breakfasts were always a delight, afternoon cookies were delish, and we always would try to guess what sort of fabulous dessert would be waiting for us when we got home!  It was like having a mom who minded her own business but made breakfast, treats, and your bed everyday!

We knew the temps would be dropping off, so on our first day we did some snowshoeing through Hartwick Pines and took a sleigh ride at Cook Family Farms!  Such treats!!!

Mr. History Buff :)

Day 2 was spent in Petoskey and Boyne.  We shopped and treated ourselves to Cafe Sante!

I'm such a big girl now, I went into Cutlers all on my own :)

Trying new foods!

Day 3 we went into Traverse City.  Shopped, drove up the pointe, ate at the Jolly Pumpkin and then saw a movie at the State Theater downtown.  Such fun!!

 45th Parallel! Too cold to snowshoe, too bad, it was beautiful!

Tried the Gold Standard at the Jolly Pumpkin.  It was ok, nothing to write home about!

Saw Saving Mr. Banks in downtown TC - Tuesday night is Free Popcorn night! Yay!

Wednesday we came home, it was sad to leave but nice to spend some time around the house before having to go back to real life!

My fearless pilot in his Stormy Krommer!

What a lovely welcome home!  The neighbors loved this, lots of them commented when they saw us outside!

Sunday we rounded out our honeymoon with lunch at Red Lobster with our favorite Master and Mistress of Ceremonies and their micelings.

Ahhh wedded bliss!