Hi, everyone!
On Groundhog Day, I did NOT see my shadow! But starting the next day, we’ve had a string of days with some sunshine. I’ve seen my shadow every day since Groundhog Day, except for today! I like to sit in the sun and get my face and tummy warm!
It’s finally been cold enough that Sodus Bay has frozen over! When we saw all the ice fishing tents on the bay, Grandma said it was safe to go take a walk on the ice. The water level when the bay froze was so low we needed to walk out through the boathouse. There was a rough ridge of ice to get over there! The ice surface was lumpy and partly snow-covered. We walked out until we got to a place where there was a rift in the ice and the ice looked darker. Grandma didn’t trust that ice to be solid, so we turned around and headed back. There was enough snow on the steps that we had to be careful there, too!
As soon as we got back from the bay, Grandma and I had another project to do! One of my travel dinner friends wanted to experiment with making apple strudel. He wasn’t happy with how the crust turned out, so he asked Grandma to make him a batch of croissant dough to use, instead. I helped Grandma bash the butter into a thin layer to place on the dough. Then we folded the dough around the butter to make lots of thin layers of dough separated by butter. We made a plate sandwich with the dough to keep it from rising too much before my friend picked it up on Groundhog Day!
Before Groundhog Day, we had enough warmer weather to melt some of the snow. My snow beast was all slumped over! The snow melting off the roof made a big icicle in front of the kitchen window! Then we had a snowstorm in the afternoon and evening of Groundhog Day!
The next morning, there was a lot of new snow on the deck! Grandpa’s snow gauge measured 15 inches of snow, total! Even my slumping snow beast was covered with new snow!
Grandma said the icicles on the eaves meant water could build up on the roof and leak into the house. She got out the roof rake and cleared snow off the edges of the roof above the gutters. I helped! Then we made a new snow beast!
Even though it has stayed cold, the sunshine keeps melting some of our snow. My first snow beast is just about gone, and my second one has lost its holly antlers and face! Grandma keeps the driveway clear, because melting snow there could turn into ice!
It’s time for the Dutch Connection floral display at the Eastman House, but we can’t visit in person because of the bad virus. Today, Grandma and I visited virtually, instead. The bulbs are just starting to bloom, so there aren’t as many as I remember from years we went in person. Then we watched a lunchtime concert mainly intended to entertain hospital patients. I liked the music!
This time last year, Grandma and Grandpa and I were in Hawaii! This year, we won’t be going anywhere until the pandemic is over! When Grandpa went to Costco to shop, he brought home some of their muffins. We always get some from the Costco on Kauai to have for our breakfasts there. Now I can have a muffin and pretend I’m in Hawaii!
Love,
Lion-san
Sitting in the sunshine and getting warm is nice. Tilly has to agree. You are a brave lion for going out on the ice. Making dough in a warm kitchen is pleasant. We were sad to hear that your beast doesn’t like the sunshine like you do. Sometimes when you cannot be in a warm place like Hawaii a big muffin can bring back warm memories.
Glad to see you were able to find a nice tall boot to use for going out in the snow! Maybe you can put the other half of the pair on Craig’s list, so another little guy (or girl) like you can also enjoy the snow!