Why I Am Grateful for Snow

I'm sure most people groaned when they got up this morning and saw that we got three inches of snow over night. Me, I was glad and here's why. 

One: it means that the temperature was warmer. After enduring three weeks of subfreezing temperatures (usually 0*F/-18*C at 6:30 am to a high of 22*F/-6*C at 3pm) anything above freezing feels like a heat wave. Walking Kyla to the bus stop this morning didn't cause pain in any exposed skin. It was glorious!

Two: All the ice that has accumulated over the roads and sidewalks has been covered so walking around the neighbourhood isn't risking your life. Yesterday getting Kyla from the bus stop in the afternoon, not only did we both fall and land on our behinds, but we were also slipping all over the place. It's very unnerving to be constantly losing your balance. 

These pictures were taken just a few days ago when everything was icy. Our poor weeping maple was so weighted down with ice. 

This is what we woke up to this morning: 

Liam couldn't wait to start shoveling. We managed to clear the sidewalk in front of our house, but it only exposed the ice that was still underneath. It ended up making it more treacherous than if we had left the snow where it was. 

Our backyard:

This is where the pool is supposed to be. 

Suki

 It's icy in the chicken coop where the water drips down from the deck up above, making for an unsteady place to tread for people and animals. 

The girls have been spending the days by our back door to stay out of the ice and snow (and to see if Suki left any breakfast crumbs for them). 

Green Chutes

Dear Blog,

Believe it or not, I really have missed you. Life is so incredibly busy and most of the time I don't know if I'm coming or going. This spring is going to be no exception. I'm finally in my last semester of school. I'm taking two intense classes and I'm awaiting my practicum placement. I'm also volunteering two mornings a week at Moira's school library. On top of all that, I still have my other responsibilities like kids, husband, home, pets and yard. There is little opportunity to do nothing anymore. I'm not really complaining, though. I've never been very good at sitting still. 

Another thing I have going is selling my items at Green Chutes. It's a quasi artists' co-op with about 100 members. We pay a monthly fee plus a small percentage of our sales and we volunteer eight hours per month. I love it there! Not only is it a great place to sell my things, but everyone is so nice. It never ceases to amaze me how talented people are. It's rare that I can work a shift without buying something. I've been at Green Chutes for a year and a half, but I haven't taken any pictures of it, so I decided to rectify that. 


Green Chutes is located in a retail space, but it's so big and open that it's like being in a warehouse (but nicer). 

The store shares part of its space with a small cafe. 

There are four of these shipping containers and this one is mine. 

Hedgehog and tree stuffies

I love making pillows. They are like making a little piece of functional art. The pillow on the right with the state of Idaho on it is a good seller. I can't make them fast enough. 

Colour-your-own pencil cases and a pillow with "love" embroidered on it. 

The desk that I bought for $10 and completely refinished. That's Thelma sitting on top. 

Colour-your-own zombie dolls, mens' scarves and womens' scarves

Here is Louise modeling for me. 

Brooches

My clothing rack

Christmas ornaments I made that also double for Valentine's Day or any day, really. 

Everything I make is made out of upcycled materials from t-shirts and blazers to coffee bags and sheets.  I love the challenge of seeing beyond "what is" to "what could be".  Anything that I think I can cut up and make into something else is fair game. 

An Author in the Family

I received a very exciting package in the mail today. My uncle sent me a copy of his newly published book, A Wolf's Moon. It's about his experiences as a helicopter pilot. I can't wait to start reading it. If you are interested in getting your own copy, please go to Amazon. To read a little about him click here.

Zoo Boise

My dad came down for a visit the other day. Yesterday we spent the day downtown. We went to the zoo, Julia Davis Park, the Beanery for lunch and Rediscovered Books. It was fun to get out and enjoy a day on the town. 

My dad

Morgan, Moira, Kyla and Liam at the rose garden in Julia Davis Park

This poor Gibbon looks so sad. I guess I would be upset if I was locked up too. However, this one...

kept swinging around and around on the bar. The kids got a big kick out of it. 

Moira and Morgan - thick as thieves

The giraffes are so beautiful to look at. 

They kept playing a game where one would head butt the other in the rear and then the other would reciprocate. They played like that for a long time. 

A sloth bear from India

Prairie Dog

There were a few baby prairie dogs running around, including this one that I've circled. He was very curious and was watching the kids through the glass bubbles. 

 If you click on the photo, it will enlarge so you can see it better. 

I can't remember what this bird was, but it had a very impressive wingspan. 

The butterfly exhibit was at the zoo again. Moira and I could spend hours in there. Alas, we had to suffice with fifteen minutes. Liam so badly wanted to have a butterfly land on him, and when we left he cried because none did. 

This butterfly landed on the back of Moira's leg. After a short stint there, it then landed on Morgan's leg where it stayed for the rest of our visit.  

Meerkats

I love how this one is sunning his belly. 

This spider monkey kept posing for me. 

This other spider monkey sat with his arms and legs folded the whole time. He reminded me a bit of Buddha. 

Liam fell asleep not long after we got home. It was a busy day.