We knew that Saturday was going to be a write off for going anywhere fun.  Although the temperatures were great, just hovering around freezing, the forecasted and received snow was bang on.  March came in like a Lion in my eyes and this is the year we all keep saying, “enough with the snow already”.   Our wonderful neighbour once again blew out our driveway, which was a Godsend as Hubby threw out his back last week and I didn’t want to throw mine out by shoveling another 15cm of snow.

We got some stuff done around the house.  I got my drying racks installed in my laundry room, and it only took three years, whoot, whoot.  I had taken a few photos, but they showed more of my food and stacked laundry on the drier than the racks, so I opted out on those ones.

We managed a trip to the grocery store so I could pick up ingredients for a test cake.  I am making a cake to be raffled off at J’s school this Friday and I had never made Marshmallow Fluff Icing, so I wanted to try it out first and see how it would hold up for me.

 I think it turned out great!  Does it look like the colour of grass?  J wanted a garden cake with bugs, and I wanted to do a cake that wasn’t so girlie.  My intention will be to decorate it with ladybugs, butterflies, flowers, worms, etc.  made out of chocolate molding.  I did a rough drawing, you can see how rough it is…

 I just hope it turns out in the end.  This is my first cake raffle.

We also got some shelves built for the almost finished basement and were getting everybody prepared for our scheduled visit to the Maple Sugar Bush on Sunday morning.  Then…

…. I got sick.

Yes, sick as in running to the bathroom sick.  At first I was thinking I had had too much cake for dessert, but then I realized I had what J had.  Either all my cleaning was in vain or I encountered someone at the grocery store with the same virus.  I don’t actually think I mentioned this, but on Friday I found out that one of J’s classmates was sick at school on Wednesday and J was helping him out and he stepped in it!  Yes, it would have been nice if he had told me.  So, yes I had the same bug.  I took some Gravol but, it makes me very groggy.  Our Sunday plans were shot and Apple was being a handful, so I called in reinforcements.

Mom arrived all smiles, sat and played with Apple, cuddled he while she napped. I napped too.  And Hubby took care of J.  Frolicking in the sunshine and mountains of snow in our backyard.  I tried hard not to cry as I was very sad that we did not make it to the Sugar Bush.  There is always next weekend I guess. And now I am on to the cold that J has.  I think we will be making another return to the Doctor’s this week.  This is the most we have seen him in four years!

Ahhh Winter, is it over yet??

We made it!! A little worse for wear and a little out of shape (mostly me) but we made it to Winterlude.  The weather on Sunday was a real mix.  By the time we packed up the truck with everyone and everything it was almost 10:30am and sunny.  When we arrived at Dow’s Lake the weather had turned to windy and cloudy.  In fact I thought it was going to rain for most of our skate.  But, it didn’t.  We set out with the wind at our backs.  I kept telling Hubby and A that I wouldn’t be able to keep up with their pace, but set out like it was the Indy 500 or something.  We had barely made it across the Lake when I was panting and out of breath.  Not my idea of a leisurely skate on the canal.  But, we were all out as a family, so I for one was not going to complain.

The first photo up top is at our stop point.  We are in front of Fifth Avenue, which isn’t even halfway down the canal.  If you look closely at my face I am beet red, out of breath and soaking wet from sweating so hard.  J got out of his chariot for a few minutes to run around.  He kept trying to talk to me, with the wind in my ears and the hat on my head it was hard enough to hear him let alone answer.  Apple slept the entire time.

The first half was wonderful, even if it was fast.  We stopped caught our breath and headed back.  Well, the wind was in our faces creating a wind dam against the stroller (which was carrrying 70+lbs of kids).  The ice was a bit rough for a stretch so I could barely skate, it was more of a walk/skip over the cracks and potholes.  Hubby hurt his ankle and thought he could help by pushing too.  Except it was harder to push with him pulling at the same time.  And by this point I needed the stroller to keep me up right.  So onward we went, apparently still trying to keep up with some imaginary marathon.  When we finally reached Dow’s Lake again, the ice was smooth and I was able to skate the last stretch without the stroller and enjoy.  It was a rough hour and a bit, but I was just so happy to have us all out there.

The next photo is at the beginning when we were all still fresh and  raring to go.  Please note the teenager, without proper winter attire.  He also dressed J who did not have his scarf and neck warmer.  We didn’t notice until we were at the canal, thank goodness I brought my scarf and he was able to use it on the way back.  I did not get my Beavertail, so I plan to make another trip during the week.