Lamp at the Landmark Inn in Marquette. Where we stayed for an overnight Christmas visit. (Photo is slightly cattywampus, but I still like it!)
- I may be over-doing it blogging lately, but, gosh, it can be fun. Some day, perhaps, the writing will cease again–but for now, it’s alive here.
- It can be especially fun when it’s cold. Something to do, you know, in a Little House in the Big Woods.
- It was warm today–almost 15 degrees (-9.4 C, right Sybil and Nicole and Bonnie? Did I get the celcius right this time?) Unfortunately, the wind blows incessantly. I spent five minutes watching a brown frozen oak leaf fall from the tree onto the deck. It looked like magic as it twirled and fell. I recommend watching leaves fall in the wintertime, if you’re lucky enough to see one skitter and prance on the wind.
- Good news for ice fishermen like my husband! Lake Superior may freeze all the way to and from Canada this year. He’ll catch 100 lake trout and burbot, and we’ll eat fish all winter. (OK, disclaimer, he may catch zero. But I’m being optimistic, because it’s more fun.)
- Should a person go to Florida and visit her mother in February? That is the current decision. The freezing cold temperatures prompt one toward a positive response.
- Vegetarian pizza for dinner tonight. Organic frozen broccoli from the garden. Add green pepper, red pepper, red onions and mushrooms. Shall I take a picture for you before it’s cooked? Please scroll to the bottom. I cannot seem to interject the photo here, alas.
- I am so enjoying comments on the blog. I am enjoying replying to comments. Don’t be afraid to comment if you’re so inclined.
- I wrote a post yesterday about not making resolutions. It didn’t say quite what I intended. I have been *almost* addicted to making resolutions in the past. (The 365 day outdoor blog was one.) These days it’s more relaxing to take a more relaxed approach. That’s what I wanted to say.
- So often we blog what we ourselves need to hear!
- Today I went to town, mostly for something to do. What did I do? Visited my husband’s place of work and saw some of my favorite people. Stopped for a latte at Java by the Bay, thank you, Michael for that whipped cream! Banked. Grocery shopped. Returned home within the hour.
- It is time to put the vegetable pizza in the oven.
- And tomorrow is another day in a cabin in the middle of the woods. What will happen? How will Life express itself? What new and exciting twelve points will be written on your Wall of Possibility? Will your twelve points be enough to make you happy?
Oven’s pre-heating…
Lake Superior Spirit 
I was so missing the UP….but we’ve got the same weather down here by GR. Still not quite the same..
I talked to my mom in the Thumb today and they were even colder–10 degrees! Cold, cold polar weather taking over our land…
When it’s snowy and 15 degrees outside, inside activities are always best, and blogging is a good indoor activity. Or napping. While the world to our East freezes, we’re enjoying 45 and sunshine – very unusual for us at this time of year, with no snow. I think an escape from winter in February sounds like an excellent idea.
Napping happened today, too, Carol! Very good indoor activity. 🙂 Yes, 45 and sunshine sounds amazingly tropical. And thanks for supporting the Florida escape plan.
Your conversion is spot on. Minus 9 C is wonderful. That has been our HIGH lately. I am hating this cold spell. Apparently it’s even worse in Ottawa where they are dealing with minus 30’s Celsius. If I had family in Florida … hmmmm … is that spozed to be a tough question ?
Bet the pizza was delish.
Oh, Sybil, that’s been our HIGH lately, too. Alas. And some of the inland areas are dealing with even more frigid temps. It was -16 F (-27C) when I drove to the school last week. 1.) Florida sounds pretty tempting! 2) Mmmm, good pizza! Healthy, too.
I love your attitude! You are inspiring me to find 12 points or is it too late to resolve on Jan. 2?
Never too late, Dor, even on December 31st we could find 12 points! 🙂
That pizza looks delicious! It’s very decadent (carb-heavy) macaroni and cheese for me this evening. Inside looking out, I like winter just fine; when I have to be outside in it….these temperatures are painfully cold! Florida? Absolutely!
Cindy, I feel the same way as you. It’s even kinda pretty looking outside when you’re inside. But those travels outside. Can be challenging! We’re not used to these degrees any more. The only problem with Florida…I’ll tell you. It’s traveling in the winter. Will the plane take off? Will a person get to Marquette safely before departing? Will one end up in Green Bay or Detroit or Minneapolis instead? These are the kind of things that Happen.
Great to read your commentary again!
Bobz! How nice to see YOU again! I’m still rambling on…for now anyway!
This is enjoyable and I appreciate your postings. I just returned home from babysitting my Grandson and it was -7 F when I got there this morning and it is 3 F now. You mean I have to drive North in order to warm UP? Holy cow Batman! P.S. Did you see Cody Goodreau’s music video he made for his Mom? If not I’m told it is available on Wendy’s Facebook page. (I subscribe to Cody’s Youtube feed)
How fun that you have grandbabies! I am so envious of you! Yes, can you believe it’s colder “down south” than it is here? However, it was -16F at the Access Site the other day, so this is just a mini heat wave. Holy cow Batman! I have not seen this music video. Will try to remember to look it up–if I don’t get too mesmerized watching leaves fall. lol.
YES you should go to Florida in February. I am contemplating whether or not to go to Alabama in February. I’d go earlier, as this cold is no fun, but I have doctor’s and eye appointments, and two symphony things to do in January. But February I’m trying to keep clear so that Katie and I can head somewhere more sensible and warmer.
The vegetable pizza looks great. Is that crust already cooked prior to going in the oven? It sort of looks like it might be…but it also might be whole wheat? And what do you use for pizza sauce?
Dawn, so will you and Katie drive to Alabama? Or go on an airplane? I am not sure if you’ve flown with her before. I just typed this to Cindy: The only problem with Florida…I’ll tell you. It’s traveling in the winter. Will the plane take off? Will a person get to Marquette safely before departing? Will one end up in Green Bay or Detroit or Minneapolis instead? These are the kind of things that Happen.
As for the pizza. No, the crust is not cooked prior to going in the oven. It all bakes at 400 about 15 minutes. I make it homemade with whole wheat and unbleached flours, letting it rise once for 1-2 hours, second time on pizza pan for a half hour. The pizza sauce was just some random organic Ragu-like sauce.
Yes we will drive. That way I have a car down there and I can be flexible with the weather and when I go.
We woke up at 9 degrees this a.m. in Huntsville, AL and have not been over freezing for a week and a half, I think. Not as cold as MI or MA but cold. Suggest lower AL in February, probably. Brandon, MS was only 5 degrees warmer. I just left there to come back here. Just a heads up. I do not even know you so I should not meddle in your life or decisions.
My comment was for Dawn, sorry this page is screwy.
Not sure, Linda, but I think Dawn visits family somewhere in Alabama.
It is even going to be snowing this weekend as the big storm rolls up the east coast. February, hopefully will be better
Can’t believe it’s so cold that far south, Linda! Brrrr…! My son said it was supposed to snow in northern Florida, can you believe it? Stay warm.
It is crazy weather.
Oh my goodness, Kathy! Your pizza looks so delicious! Thank you for sharing your beautiful words on here again! I love reading about your experiences up in the northwoods. Even the mundane routines sound delightful to me, with a backdrop of snow covered woods, little critters skittering in and out of the snow, leaves dancing in the wind, the crunch of boots on the snow, and the refreshing feeling of crisp northern air. ❤ You sure know what my heart needs to hear…so thank you very much!! ❤
Brenda, the pizza was good and I just finished another slice and a half for lunch. Glad you are enjoying reading the blog. Yes, there are little critters skittering in and out of the snow, especially some little shrews beneath the bird feeder and in the garage. The boots crunch on snow and our fingers freeze without mittens. May your heart hear what it needs!
Your pizza looks good. About a year and a half ago my guys gave up red meat and cheese. They will tolerate a little cheese on occasion, like when I made green chili enchiladas for Christmas Eve (and I did go light with the Pepper Jack cheese).
Our pizza these days is a very thin whole wheat crust covered with hummus (they really don’t like tomato sauce very well either). Then I put sliced black olives, chopped red bell pepper and lima beans on it. On top of that goes crumbled up smoked trout. I like it too and would probably find the more conventional style of pizza heavy now.
Happy New Year. Not doing resolutions but doing intentions. Just read the Power Path for January (https://thepowerpath.com/monthly-forecast/january-2018-monthly-forecast/) and feel very much aligned with its thinking as far as my own life.
Deb, I can remember hearing about your lima bean and smoked trout pizza before. Still trying to wrap this mind around it, lol! Green chili enchiladas sound good. We hardly use cheese, either, just every once in a while, and usually not much. May your intentions for the New Year work out as you desire. Alignment seems to be what feels right. Blessings!
We have been having extreme cold since Christmas, but as the temps creep up, a snow storm is expected tomorrow. Oh joy. I tend not to make resolutions, and just attempt be do and be my best each day. That doesn’t work sometimes, but then I don’t feel as though I have broken a resolution. I am so glad you are back blogging Kathy. You always seem to write the words that speak to me. Thank you friend.
Bonnie, you make a good point. Just to do our best each day. The failure that can be involved with making (and breaking) resolutions can be more demoralizing than helpful. Thank you for your kind words about blogging and may the snowstorm be tiny & well behaved.
The meatless pizza looks so good. I would need gluten free dough and it cost an arm and a leg at the grocery store. I just eat all those things with the dough.
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I say good for you if you make and can keep a resolution. I never make them because- well I’d never keep them,. I live by the seat of my pants- so to speak.
Oh, Yvonne, living by the seat of one’s pants can be interesting! I tend to do that a lot, as well. I used to make dozens of resolutions. Now–hardly any at all. And, yep, gluten free dough does cost a lot.
I don’t make resolutions. (well, I think I do, but silently, in my head, so I don’t jinx them). But Points? If I started with Points, I’d never stop. So I won’t start. I will mention that yesterday was one of those days when I appreciated the leaf that flew all over the yard during our NE blizzard; the squirrel that hung upside down on our birdfeeder to get a last bit of seed before he scurried back to his cozy underground nest; the wind that howled during the day, making me feel so safe and warm inside; the notebook in front of me at my writing desk that encouraged me to write because I had nothing else pressing for the day; the fact that I couldn’t possibly go out, so I had nothing else pressing for the day…. what? Oh, yes, I guess I started my points. Well, the point of it is that if we stop and listen and just ….stop, we can understand more the point of life. Right?
Oh, Pam, Points are just something I made up when impulsively writing this blog. Not like New Year’s Resolutions. More like noticing points–just like you started listing here. And there didn’t need to be twelve. I used to do this sometimes: write down all the wonderful things that had happened in the day. Tiny things. Like almost to prove to self that life was filled with dozens of moments that looked way-too-ordinary to be noticed. Yet those points were the weave and woof and fabric of life! Is this the point? lol. It’s just another sewing needle weaving life together into another pattern. Good to hear from you today.
❤ Perhaps the smallest of points (ordinary things) are the whole "point" of life.
I believe you’ve been colder in the UP than we are in Breckenridge. We desperately need a big snowstorm. Is your brother coming to ski this year? We had the Grands for 6 days – took them home yesterday. Today, I’m thinking it’s very quiet in our house! PS I always blog about what I need to figure out for myself! Also, YES – go visit Mom in Feb.
Barb, I have been very delinquent responding to your comment! So very sorry. It WAS colder than perhaps you, but then it got warm (40 yesterday!) and today it is returning to the cold, with snow. Your pics of the grands on FB look so wonderful. You were so lucky to have them. So, just found out, my brother flew out to your neck of the woods a couple days ago. They weren’t sure whether they would go, because of the snow (lack of?) but must have decided. And YES going to Florida next month! P.S. Loved your last blog post. Glad you can write all these anniversaries later.