It's not too often that it snows on or around my birthday, but it definitely did this year. I mentioned in my last blog, that this winter has been mild with very little snow. Well, March has been unseasonably cold and we finally did get a big snow. Forecasters were warning that it could be a monstrous storm and telling us we could get up to 2 feet. When it was all said and done, we only got between 6 and 8 inches, (although north of us got much more) but the winds howled and blew the snow so much that drifts were much higher.
The snow started overnight on Monday and continued through a good part of the day on Tuesday. As soon as we knew for sure that snow was coming, we made plans to make donuts (see my previous blog on family traditions as well as last year's Jonas donuts here). Megan and Julissa came on Monday evening and we each mixed up a batch. I was so glad for their help, as I'm not sure I would have mixed up that many on my own! I put the dough in the refrigerator overnight and on Tuesday morning this is what it looked like.
That's a lot of dough!
Megan & Jeremy, Josh & Julissa, and Shawn & Melissa & Awstin came to help cut, fry, and glaze the donuts. Shawn and Jeremy didn't stay the entire time as Jeremy went to work and Shawn had office work to do, but the rest of us saw the job to completion. After all the dough was rolled and cut, we cranked up the heat in the basement and left them to rise while we ate lunch. After lunch we organized an assembly line that worked really well. Melissa brought the doughy donuts up from the basement to be fried and glazed. Steve did all the frying. I drained them after frying and passed them on to Josh and Julissa for glazing. Megan took the donuts off the drying stick when they were dry and put them on trays that Melissa then took back down to the basement. Melissa also brought some blue icing (which is Awstin's favorite) and filled some donuts with it. Awstin was delighted and happily bit into one and blue icing squished out all over his face.
Rolling and cutting
The fry man
Glazing and drying
Filling a donut with blue icing for Awstin.
He likes it!
The finished donuts
Filled donuts and donut holes
Melissa & Awstin leaving
In the end, we had a total of about 250 donuts, including the icing filled ones and the donut holes. We divided them between us, including some for Jay's family so they could enjoy them too. Everyone went home happy with plenty of donuts that should last for a little while, depending on how fast they eat them or share them with others. I am glad we were able to get this annual, fun-family tradition in this winter, after it looked like it wouldn't happen because of a lack of significant snowfall. Thank you March snowstorm!
Wednesday (my birthday) was a bitterly cold and blustery day. The winds blew roads and driveways shut again that had been plowed open. It was a good day to stay indoors. However, my wonderful family did not let the frightful weather deter from coming to our house to celebrate my birthday. Jay and Kristen and family arrived early afternoon and the rest of the family came for supper. Even though it was Wednesday when I typically make supper for everyone, my children insisted that I not do anything. They provided pizza and Chinese food and Kristen made a chocolate cake with peanut butter icing (yum! my favorite!).
Kristen and Alexis and Awstin braved the weather and spent about an hour outside sledding in the afternoon, although Awstin did more shoveling then sledding. For some reason he never gets tired of shoveling and he never gets cold either. I guess that has to do with having proper snow attire. When I helped him out of his snow clothes, his hands and feet were toasty so I guess that explains why he is happy to stay outside. Alexis, too, is a snowbird and will never turn down the chance to go out and play in it. Obviously, they both take after their mothers, as none of my children are very fond of snow. Here are some pictures and videos of them sledding and shoveling.
Alexis (Kristen in background)
Awstin, the shovel man
Alexis liked the big hill
Awstin opted for the smaller hill
I was happy to have the grandchildren help me blow out my candles. Hannah was still in the highchair so she only watched but the rest were glad to help.
Blowing out the candles
I love this picture!
Josh & Julissa were the first to leave and we were surprised when they returned about five minutes later. They were stuck in the driveway! The winds had blown more snow over it and Josh's truck couldn't make it through (he said his tires were almost bald). Jeremy was delighted to jump to the rescue as he always carries a rope in his truck. He and Shawn went out to lend a hand. The first attempt was unsuccessful.
The second attempt went much better.
Everyone else made it up the driveway although several had to try a couple times. It made for an exciting end to a good day. Turning a year older isn't so bad when you have such a wonderful family to help you celebrate J
How many of you read that title and immediately thought of the Little House book with the same title? As a child I loved Laura Ingalls Wilder's books and I still do. I read them out loud to my children when they were small and even today, I sometimes pick up one of them and reread it.
This Winter was not like the Winter that Laura and her family lived through in her book. We basically had no snow and the temperatures were almost always above normal. However, it still felt long and I had a hard time motivating myself to do anything, including writing on this blog. I usually enjoy the stretch between January and March when life slows down and long evenings at home can be enjoyed without the thought of outside work that is calling me. This year was different. I know it was partly because of external things that happened beyond our control and the uncertainty that surrounded us, but from past experience, I also know that it is normal to go through patches of Winter in this journey of life. The good news is that Spring always follows Winter, and we are getting closer each day!
It didn't feel like I had much to write about, so I guess that is why this blog was silent for so long. We certainly also had times of fun and relaxation during this long Winter. Wednesday evening suppers are always a highlight when the children (and grandson) that live close by join us for supper. It is often well into the evening before the talk and laughter around the table subsides and they depart again for their own homes. In February we had a delightful weekend with Alexis and Lydia when they stayed with us while Jay and Kristen enjoyed a weekend away at a cabin (Mark and Hannah stayed with Kristen's parents).
Here are some pictures that I snapped over the past couple of weeks.
Praying before their meal.
Something about Kit is funny
Setting up the store
Footwear for sale
Open for business
Lydia and Kit and Samantha enjoying a snack on the swing
Notice the pan in Lydia's hand so she can carry her treasures
Samantha all ready for the Valentine's Banquet
Mom spent a Saturday with us. She really enjoyed the puzzle.
Julissa and Megan and Grandma puzzling together
Last piece!
One warm Wednesday Awstin and I hung up the hammock. He missed swinging in it over the Winter.
That last picture of Awstin in the hammock reminds me that the long Winter is almost over....Hallelujah....Springs a coming!
