Over the last couple days I have been wondering if I would ever have thawed fingers, neck and toes again. Mostly the toes as I consistently think there is no snow on the ground so why not wear my flip flops. While I still have all 10 piggies, I honestly think that the cold shrunk them because my work shoes didn’t squish them with each step, or maybe they are officially deadened to feel again.
Last night I established that us single mom’s really do go to extremes for a moment of relaxation. At 8 p.m. during this miserable cold front my best friend came knockin’ and decided that we needed to go hot tubbing. Now I know that in high school on speech and debate trips hot tubbing in cold weather/snow was the ‘in’ thing to do….however at 26 years old you would think I would have wised up! RI I I I GHT……We scampered in the FREEZING cold to the outdoor spa and went through the gates to get some R&R. What we found were ice chunks in the winterized pool, and a steaming tub waiting for it’s victims. Quickly we got the jets going, and undressed to our suits to get in the hot tub. What I didn’t anticipate is that my fingers and toes would still be frozen from that mornings outing.
Have you ever went from ice cold to freaking hot! Holy toledos, I seriously thought that my toes might break in two. Extreme pain shot through my feet and I cried out with shock at how bad it hurt. Wanting to grab the railing to get my balance I realized that it a glaze of water on it, and my fingers stuck when they hit the cold metal. In my mind I realized I was being a wuss, because despite all the pain that I went through, the relaxation in the end would so be worth it.
My shoes had already frozen where water had splashed onto the tops, and my knitted hat covered the majority of my head, and all areas of the body revealed to the air were quickly turning into ice. The ends of my hair quickly froze in chunks and I contemplated breaking off the ends cause it seemed kinda cool that I could.
My dear friend and I had a wonderful break from life last night, as we enjoyed being warm under the water, and freezing above. Kinda cool to have two extremes at once. Anyway, the point is I decided that hat tubbing is totally worth it no matter what, because when it is so cold outside….you don’t have to share it with anyone else.
Toes and Hat tubbin’
Winter and a horse trough
A good winter crust comes once and if we’re lucky twice a year. This year it came twice, and we took full advantage of the hard snow for a fun filled morning of sledding and fun. My dad came over on the four-wheeler this crisp and white morning to take the girls sledding, right in the middle of breakfast. Have you ever tried to feed applesauce to two little girls who no longer desire the luscious taste of cold mushy green stuff, and have learned the art of dumping and spreading to make it look gone? Quickly they hopped out of their little chairs and ran to get their snow gear stating, “Whoa it’s all gone!” It only took a few stomped on toes and “get back here so I can zip up your coat!” before they were out the door. Grandpa pulled the girls for at least an hour on the crusted snow and Kya (who just turned three) screamed with delight as she tried to surf on the sled. The horses stared lazily, munching their breakfast, and roaming the frozen field uninterested in the screams and rather loud event playing on around them. After my quick morning jog, my mom grabbed the camera to go take pictures of the girls. This is almost an impossible feet with my three year old who refuses to cooperate for anything other than Scooby Doo, in the end we got a few side shots.
Against the fence there resides a very empty water trough that has been repatched with tar and other dark goos, the perfect play place for two little girls. The bottom was covered with ice (it was still only 25 degrees) and the girls slid themselves over the side learning quick that it was necessary to hold on or they would splat on their rumps. For 20 minutes the girls entertained themselves in the trough, laughing, giggling and sliding all over the icy bottom, while I got a few minutes to enjoy life, sunshine, and a beautiful morning.
