Snowboards & Snoring Compete for Prominence

Jake's room. Sara noted that the object of most prominence was his snowboard.
 
Besides Banana-grams, we thoroughly entertained ourselves watching Franklin snore. It's become a family pastime, in fact. Quite entertaining. Does the fact that he's wearing his puffy jacket tell you anything about how cold the boys keep the house? I used to have a house like that at Mother Earth News. Everyone had to keep their coats on when they came over. I was never sick that winter, though.
 

Open House @ Jake and Austin's

Jake and Cyrus stretch their brains. After the Amish store, we stopped to see Walker's boss' new baby. His older brother, Cyrus, was working on a puzzle and Jake jumped in to help. Good training since he's considering going into pediatrics.
 
Playing Banana-Grams on the floor of Jake and Austin's house. We all saw it for the first time on Sunday after going to church with Austin in Swanannoa. Cozy little place with great wood walls.
 
The Swedes were the first to discover this house in 1254 B.C. They laid claim to it by posting this flag on the door. Out of respect, Jake and Austin have left it in its original position.
 
Sara and Jake in the living room. The found the futon and chair on Craig's list. We brought pizza to celebrate.
 

A Visit to the Amish Store

Last weekend, both Sara and Cameron were with us. They drove through the snow to get here and it was touch and go till they made it. Here we venture out the next day to visit Troyers, the local Amish store. Jake and Sara succomb to what has become a tradition, posing in the amish hats there.
 
Now aren't they cute?? I made Sara an 8-layer cake to celebrate her recieving honors for her oral comp. She is now officially finished with school unless she chooses otherwise. Jake has two games today which I'm missing to stay home and catch up on garden paperwork. The rest of the games will be local and I don't intend to miss any of those!!
 
And we got Cameron to open one of their boobie traps - a little wooden house that "explodes" when you open the door.
 
 

Subjects in the Ice Kingdom

We didn't think Ace would want to or be able to hike the second day after the punishing hike Walker and I took him on, on Saturday, but here he is, leading the pack.
 
 
Paul Horton, last year's garden intern, this year's friend.
 
A portion of the palace.
 

More Gerton Ice & Snow

The top two photos are taken from Little Bearwallow Road. I've always wanted to live on this little road.
 
 
Walker found this perfect ice imprint of a rhododendron leaf. Poplar pods were encased in ice, looking like expensive drawer knobs encased in crystal. Pod, berries, leaves - all were encased or coated.
 
Ace, Walker and Paul - Sunday's hike.
 

Ice is Nice

Walker and Paul as seen through the veil of ice.
 
 
 
Franklin and part of the ice palace in the background.
 

Gerton - Transformed

Gerton, where Franklin is postmaster, used to be called "Pump". Just four miles from us, up the mountain, it looked very different from our world, down here. There are two official "ice palaces" on the way TO Gerton and the whole town became an ice palace for about a week. Walker and I hiked up to Fergeson Lookout on Saturday with Ace. Two hours, uphill and down, in maybe 8" of snow and surrounded by ice. It was beyond-words-beautiful.
 
Here, we hike with Paul and Franklin the next day. Just a short jaunt up the road and then a side trip to one of the crystal palaces. Here Walker jumped off the embankment only to find out just how high the snow really was there. You'll notice, the trail head is at the continental divide.
 
 
 

Hmmm - More reading by the woodstove weather

Hazardous weather condition(s):
Winter Storm Watch

Thursday Night: Rain and snow likely before 1am, then snow and sleet between 1am and 4am, then sleet after 4am. Low around 29. East wind between 3 and 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Friday: Freezing rain before 4pm, then rain or freezing rain. High near 33. East wind between 7 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Friday Night: Rain, possibly mixed with freezing rain before 7pm, then freezing rain likely between 7pm and 1am, then a chance of snow after 1am. Low around 30. North wind between 11 and 14 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.