winter storm

We've had quite the winter storm the last three days. It started coming down on Thursday afternoon, continued all day Friday, and overnight into Saturday morning. As usual for Portland, it's been a mix of freezing rain, icy pellets, and snow, but this time marked by strongly gusting winds. The roads and sidewalks are covered with a sheet of ice, but there was at least some snow accumulation (yay for outdoor play!). We lost power overnight on Thursday, but it was restored by 7 am Friday morning (phew!). And a couple of trees on the block next to ours blew over, but thankfully avoided damaging anything.

 

Jasper the snow dog has been in heaven.

The usual crew was out and playing at the school field - us, the Hornbrooks, the Keenan/Liefelds, the Qualls - sledding, making snow angels and snow men, having snowball fights. Liesl and Elia had a good time together.

Jasper and I went for a long tromp through the woods, along our local trails - down to the pond, up the Bompy loop to the top of the hill (where there was even more snow piled up). My attempt at snowboarding (with the tiny board) was less successful, except insofar as I provided amusement for all.

Oh well. At least Jasper was happy to romp with his brother and some other dogs, and there were cinnamon scones at home to enjoy with our hot chocolate. 

gong xi fa cai!

It's the first day of the new year, the year of the Ox! We hope for a happy, healthy, prosperous year, one in which we hopefully get to see family and friends again, and travel, and return to school and activities.

We are in the midst of an ice storm, so there was no venturing out for Chinese food, but we made the best of it at home. Both kids got lucky money at breakfast, and we scraped together an Asian-ish dinner of pork dumplings (not homemade), soba noodles w eggplant and broccoli, a radish-cucumber slaw, and edamame. 

winter

It's cold and wet, raining every day. We work and school. Blah. Good thing I can spend all my free time baking!! We've enjoyed pumpkin-chocolate chip, blueberry, and apple oatmeal muffins. Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, brownie bites, chocolate banana bread, and a mixed berry galette. Sour cream cornbread, cheesy biscuits. Many rounds of waffles, pancakes, baked oatmeal, and french toast.

And good thing we have this sweet guy to remind us to go outside every day, no matter the weather, to walk and play and fetch. He sleeps next to me during my work calls, sometimes right under my chair.

How is this comfortable?

skiing!

We played hooky from school and work for a day, and went skiing at Mt. Hood Meadows. It was Seb and Liesl's first time downhill skiing; Steve's second (the first time was in college, in jeans and no gloves, barreling down an icy black diamond run in Vermont); and my first time in 20 years. We went with our friends the Dewis/Hornbrooks, who were also beginners.

In the morning, Steve and the 4 kids had a lesson on the bunny slope, and Amy and I skied together. I was so delighted that I remembered how to do it! I could still feel the joy and grace in turning and gliding, and I loved being on the mountain. Both kids and Steve did really well, and in the afternoon progressed from the bunny slope onto the slightly more challenging beginner hills off chairlifts. 

We got so lucky, because the weather was crazy. It was drizzling when we left Portland at 7, and then absolutely pouring when we were driving through Government Camp. And then the wind and rain in the parking lot at Meadows were gusting so fiercely that it hurt your face and blew Liesl over. But then, by the time we got checked in and picked up our rentals, the sun had come out, the rain had stopped, and it was brilliant blue skies and sunshine (even a rainbow!). The wind came and went, but the sun remained all day. (But then on our drive home, it was raining still on the other side of Hood and over Portland.) So basically, Mt Hood Meadows ski resort had its own perfect weather system, just for us, for the day.

Amy and I did a few runs and then visited the others on the bunny slope.

Seb in black, Liesl in purple and blue, Steve with the bright orange boots.

After lunch, we went out on our own, venturing on the Buttercup lift and then the Easy Rider. By 3:30, everyone was tired, and we returned our gear and headed home.

🙂