April Fools Day Snow

We were supposed to get a few inches of snow. April Fools! We got 8 inches!!

It was a heavy wet snow that stuck to every branch and twig. There was a lot of downed branches throughout the neighborhood. We only lost two small branched on our Japanese maple in the back yard.

Unlike a winter storm, the sun came out and and the wind did not pick up, and the temperature warmed up. It was absolutely gorgeous!

The backyard glacier was partially restored to its former glory. The snowblower was at its limit doing the driveway. 

 

50th Twin Cities Auto Show

CP and I took the day off and hit the 50th Annual Twin Cities Auto Show downtown at the convention center. We took the bus so that we could have a couple beers afterwards at our favorite British pub and not have to deal with driving home.

The highlight for the show (for me) was riding in a new Jeep over their obstacle course. I was absolutely impressed and ready to buy a new Jeep on the spot. 

Until I realized that a new Jeep Wrangler will set you back $90,000. Oh well. Back to waiting for the lotto to pay off.

 

Backyard Glacial Retreat

Our backyard glacier is retreating. Global warming!

It has been interesting watching the snowpack disappear - it doesn't really go down in depth. It melts from the edges like a glacier.

 

Iowa Micro Blizzard

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On the way home from IL, we had a pleasant drive except for a 10 mile stretch north of Waterloo, IA.

There was a cold front line that had stalled out in one place and weas not moving. We went from no snow to near blizzard with plow trucks and then back to no snow in 15 minutes.

 

Nana's B-Day

We packed up and headed south to IL for Nana's birthday. When we got there, the grass was green and there wasn't any snow, even in the shadows. The next morning we got 6" of beautiful wet snow that clung to everything.

By the afternoon, the sun came out and we sat on the patio and soaked in the sun.

 

Missed Northern Lights

We had some incredible northern lights. Sadly, we missed them. That's the problem of going to bed at a reasonable hour. I tried in the morning, but they were gone by then. If nothing else, we have a beautiful city skyline.

 

Cat Stool

The cat is up most of the day and she follows us around. She knows that she is not supposed to walk on the kitchen counter, so she sits on a stool where she can see what's cooking.

 

Minnehaha Falls

With all the snow this year, the creek and falls are going full speed. Such an improvement from last summer when everything was dried up!

 

Warm Cat Bed

There is nothing better than a stuffed kitty bed next to the radiator.

Except for a cardboard box next to the radiator.

 

Spring Break

Lots of college kids go to the beach for spring break. Bot our son. He came here for a week of snow and parental guidance. 

We had fun hanging out with the whole family. 

 

Snowpack

This has been the winter of snow. The back yard is piled up deep. Any more and we will need a bigger snowblower to kick it up into the yard.

The ruts in the alley are spectacularly awful. Once you're in them, there is no getting out. You can turn the wheel, but the car keeps going straight.

All the yards have 3 feet of snowpack. Spring has been put on hold.

 

Weekend Morning Dog Walks

Weekend mornings are my favorite. S & I go extended walks thru the neighborhood. It's quiet and the only people out at that hour are the others that enjoy the solitude of weekend mornings. 

We have had an incredible year for snowy days. S is in his element and he never tires of traipsing around in the show.

 

Warm Mitens

One of out favorite things (there are many) about our old house is the radiator in the dining room. It is a dual purpose wet gear dryer and hat/mitten pre-heater. Our hats, glove, and mittens are always warm, dry, and ready to go out.

 

Don't Eat the Blue Snow Either

I've been cautioned my whole life: "DON'T EAT THE YELLOW SNOW!". 

No one ever mentioned the blue snow near the porta potty.

Probably should be added to the list of colored snow not to eat.

 

Top 10 Snow

This winter is now in the top 10 snowiest for Minneapolis, and we still have a few more weeks to go. Since neither of us have a difficult commute, it's pretty and we absolutely love it. If I still had my 40-mile drive each way across open land and a three car driveway to clear every other day, I might have a different opinion of the snow.

 

Coyotes on Lake Harriet

There was a pair of coyotes out on the lake. Our guess is that they were snacking on teh baitfish left behind by the ice fishermen and got caught by daybreak.

 

Zippo Man

DK Next door won some tickets to see a band we have never heard of: Zippo Man. We bought our own for $12 each and made an evening out of it. We started at a classic supper club and enjoyed too much food (cajun food). One of the things that we love about the city is that we are close enough to downtown that Uber/Lyft rides are easy and affordable. No one has to worry about parking or driving home.

In all, four bands played in the small venue and it was absolutely incredible. It took us back to the days when GP was playing with his band in Lincoln. All the songs from each band were all original and very listenable. We stayed back enough not to get caught up in the rowdy mosh pit; we're getting to be too old for that. But not old enough to complain that the music is loud.

 

Puzzle Time

The hustle and bustle of the winter season is slowing down to the point that it's time to break out the puzzles we bought throughout the year. Our favorites are those by Charles Wysocki. Each piece has enough of a clue on it that you can place it without trying its fit in 20 different places.

 

Snow Fort Firepit

We finally had a quiet night and broke in the firepit in the snow fort. We have enjoyed the firepit and we have enjoyed the snow fort, but this was the first time of the two together.

 

Fast Sled Rides

My friend from work invited us down to his place for a snowmobile ride.

We rode 15 miles to a pub in the middle of nowhere and had a tasty burger. We stopped on the way back to marvel at the beautiful sunset.

JP drove her own sled and kicked butt.