Being Active at Twenty Below

My start at chronicling at what we wear and look like being active in the frigid cold.

At the airport where Cathy and I work, the temperature Friday morning was -28 and we were thinking how awfully cold it was going to be running. We pondered not going for a while but no one would give in first. As you see here in the Interior, no one wants to be the first one to wimp out thereby being responsible for impacting someone else's workout. So at last check of the temperature around noon, it had "warmed" up to -21 so we decided to give a go. After a short three miles.........

Yesterday the first of the Nordic Skiing Town Series races was held. Temperature -22. The elementary and middle school races were canceled but for the High School teams and Adults, the races were on. (I felt for the visiting High School teams as these kind of temperatures call for additional weighted long underwear and ski pants/jackets.......something more than spandex!)

The following pictures of Megan were taken by Bob Wilkinson, a Lathrop parent and active volunteer with the ski team.

Megan finishing her race.....respirator and all.

The latest in mascara.........

A Ski Race, A Raven, A Fox, and A Birthday

Steve and Wenonah hanging out last weekend. This cat was never a lap cat but now that Steve and the cat have bonded over the pellet stove, things have obviously changed! or is it that Steve is wishing Lilly was here?

Megan the 7th in from the left. Due to the wonderful October we had and lack of snow in November, this was first High School race of the season.

Go Megan!

As everyone may remember, over the past few years we have been trying to feed ravens though the grey jays & chickadees seem to be the major benefactors, and also since July, we have had a rabbit (not a wild hare but someone's pet) choose to live in our yard and lean-to. Last Sunday, a few ravens were hanging out in the yard interested in whatever we had placed on the platform when the fox that has been a frequent visitor ran through the yard straight to the platform. The fox kept trying to stretch up the platform and the ravens would caw angerily at the fox. The fox would give up and meander away and then a raven would land on the platform, and the fox would immediately come back interested. The raven(s) would fly away to a nearby tree and again caw away at the fox. This went on for some time. Unfortunately, I didn't have the right camera ready and was trying to take pictures from our upstairs window.........

The raven..........

The fox.........

Also, and more importantly Sunday was Megan's 16th Birthday. She chose to have a small quiet family birthday with filet mignon, crab legs, potatoes, and green beans. Oh and also a lot of ice cream!

Sweet sixteen.......