Taking advantage of a gorgeous “Indian Summer” day here in Minnesota!
The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum hosts an annual scarecrow display. This year’s creations were submitted by local floral design professionals, and they did not disappoint!
With longer days and Daylight Savings Time comes more sunlight – and with it, the challenge of getting enough quality sleep for my child with an “early” bedtime. One key factor is darkness. I have used sleep masks with great success, but my family refuses to try it.
What to do? Well, I wasn’t ready to try taping foil or newspaper over my windows as some people have (how unattractive would THAT be here in the ‘burbs?!) and I wanted to be able to open the blinds/windows occasionally, so I went to my local Home Depot in search of window treatment solutions. I was on the hunt for some form of room-darkening shades that would not bankrupt me – or require replacing the 2″ blinds already in place.
et voila!
Temporary pleated paper shades: hung with adhesive strip and held open with small clips
I found just what I needed – a temporary pleated shade that fit against the window behind the existing blinds. And the price was right – less than $5 each. We’re in business!
They have been in our windows for two nights and we all slept better immediately. Our bedroom windows face East, but there is still significant outdoor ambient light that comes in through the blinds at night – even when cloudy or moonless.
My son was up early the very next morning – and I normally have to NAG him to get out of bed at the last possible minute! I didn’t expect such dramatic results so soon. I am amazed.
Why didn’t I try this sooner?! (And why do I end up asking myself this question so often? Oy.)
I am definitely hanging these shades in the baby’s West-facing window this Fall!
Christmas Eve forecast for MinneSNOWta:
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Good thing Santa’s dressed in fur!
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Yes, we had a White Christmas. It was very pretty – and cold.
I spent my Christmas Holiday OFFline with my Tribe. Didn’t touch the computer for two days.
And it felt great.
We hosted this year. After Christmas Eve candlelight church service we had dinner. Foods included a veggie tray with bacon avocado dip and smoked salmon, Boeuf Burguignon with sweet potato biscuits and 4 kinds of paleo cookies: sleighbells, cookie dough bon-bons, gingersnaps and mexican wedding cakes.
We feasted, popped open crackers, exchanged gifts and sat by the real fire while watching the musical yule log on TV. LOL
Paleo Christmas cookies: sleighbells, cookie dough bon-bons, gingersnaps and mexican wedding cakes
Christmas Day brought more feasting on roasted chicken with green beans, squash, sweet potato biscuits (they were a hit!) and another platter of Paleo cookies. Grandpa napped while the rest of us watched the Hobbit DVD until it was time for them to continue their journey to SIL’s in Nebraska.
Great fun was had by all, especially the kiddo who found out he’s going to Disney World and LegoLand Florida in February. Woo-Hoo!
Any recommendations for things to see, do and EAT (Paleo) are welcome in the Comments!
“I’m going to Disney World!”
We’ve had two days of glorious winter weather with temps above freezing and beautiful sunshine. It was more than welcome after more than a week of gloom and subzero cold.
Sledding yesterday at Staring Lake Hill
But this is Minnesota… [As in: “Don’t like the weather? Wait five minutes and it’ll change.”]
Here’s what’s coming tonight:
… WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST SUNDAY…
* MAIN IMPACT: BLOWING SNOW WITH REDUCED VISIBILITIES IN OPEN AREAS MAKING TRAVEL DIFFICULT. OCCASIONAL WHITEOUT CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE.* OTHER IMPACTS: WIND CHILL VALUES OF 20 TO 35 DEGREES BELOW ZERO WILL ALSO POSE A HAZARD.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. USE CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING… ESPECIALLY IN OPEN AREAS.
IF YOU VENTURE OUTDOORS… MAKE SURE YOU WEAR A HAT AND GLOVES.
… BLIZZARD CONDITIONS SPREADING SOUTHWARD ACROSS WEST CENTRAL MINNESOTA THIS EVENING ALONG WITH DANGEROUS WIND CHILLS OVERNIGHT…
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR CENTRAL AND EASTERN MINNESOTA WHERE NORTHWEST WINDS OF 25 TO 30 MPH… WITH GUSTS NEAR 40 MPH WILL CAUSE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW. IN ADDITION… TEMPERATURES WILL FALL OVERNIGHT WITH WIND CHILLS 25 TO 35 BELOW ZERO BY SUNDAY MORNING.
THE COMBINATION OF THESE WEATHER ELEMENTS WILL MAKE TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS FOR MOTORISTS… ESPECIALLY IF STRANDED.
But we’ve learned to make the best of it, so I’m taking advantage and making some ice lanterns and shooters for New Year’s Eve next week.
Hmm...this isn’t as easy as I thought it would be – Yikes! Those balloons are slippery when wet and one popped off the faucet and sprayed ALL OVER the bathroom! Gaah!
After wrestling with these punching bags a bit more, I got them filled, clipped and out into the porch. If that doesn’t do it, I’ll put them outside tomorrow. With -20F windchill temps I feared they may freeze solid instead of only part-way by morning of I put them out tonight. The idea is to create a hollow sphere that functions as a candle lamp outside.
We plan to set them up out front and light them New Year’s Eve in remembrance of Hubby’s Grandma Toyne who passed away on New Year’s Eve a few years ago. She was quite the character and we miss her lots. [The ice shooters are just for fun!]
I wonder if they’ll turn out like these?
Not likely…
*UPDATE*
It worked!
Ready for Candles!
New Year’s Eve: candles lit for Grandma Toyne.
About 8pm, the candles extinguished themselves…or did they?
The candles extinguished themselves about 8pm, the approximate time Grandma passed away a few years ago.
Kerrygold high-fat Irish butter for Hubby’s Bulletproof Coffee and 2 dozen roses for me!
What a deal! 😀
And women & shoes?!
This birthday card and sign were sent to me by my sister-in-law, who has a serious shoe addiction. She recently purchased the same shoe in six different colors! She has this great rule: if they cost < $50, they “don’t count”. LOL
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I should set up one of those photo shoots where the cat has a sign that says:
“I am a rose eater and I am unstoppable. That is all.”
Well, maybe that should say “flower eater” as they go for any living plant matter in a vase.
“Lilacs? meh. Gimme the good stuff.”
“Now THIS is more like it…”
“Psst!! Leave my flowers alone! ~Yes, YOU!”
*munch* *munch* *munch*
Oy Weh… What to do?
Doing the *HAPPY* dance and can’t wait to dive in!
Get your own copy of gather: The Art of Paleo Entertaining!
Decorate with them!
