Tired...

 I have one word for this weekend...

Tired.

We lost power several times this weekend.  The wind was strong and incessant.  It blew a tree down on our power lines also making the road impassible. I'm not sure how much we ended up with.  We had grass showing in some area and many 3-4 foot drifts.  We probably got about 1 1/2 feet.  It was 60 degrees the day before.

On the bright side, I was able to made an elk pot pie and a cream pie before we lost power.

Grandma's Cream Pie

3/4 c. Sugar

3 1/2 T. Cornstarch

1/2 t. Salt

2 1/2 c. Milk 

2 eggs 

1 t. Vanilla

Dash of Nutmeg (that addition came from my great grandma, Mammie.)

Combine all ingredients, except the vanilla and nutmeg, in a sauce pan.  Stir over low heat until thick, remove from heat, add vanilla and nutmeg.  Pour into a graham cracker or baked pie crust.  Refrigerate until cool and enjoy.  Also excellent with cut up bananas on top.

Even with the power out, we have a gas stove and I was able to make some lotion bars.  I finally figured out how to make my gigantic chunk of beeswax more manageable.  I grated it.  Since there was no power, my husband even got in on the fun.

I am trying rice water for my hair.  I read that it is supposed to help with growth and shine.  Just let 1/2 c. white rice sit in 2 c. water overnight.  Strain and spray in hair.  I don't have the recipe for the lotion bars.  The sugar scrub is 1 c. sugar, 2 T. olive oil, 2 T. lemon juice, 4 drops of lemon grass oil, and 2 drops of eucalyptus oil.  Sprinkle in some lemon rind.  This is great rubbed on in the shower.  Be careful as it can make the shower floor slippery.  It does moisturize dry winter skin.

After a long weekend of snow, wind, shoveling, cutting up downed trees, cleaning, baking, I needed a spa day.  Thankfully the electricity came back on and I could do just that.

I did take a photo of my crocuses before they were crushed by the snow.

As I always say, "hope springs eternal.". Maybe next weekend will be nicer.  How was your weekend?  Any snow?  How about the wind?  Hope you were able to enjoy.

I spy...

 Since it is prom season, I thought I would share what my husband calls the Grand March at our cabin.

I haven't seen many elk this winter, but was lucky enough to see this herd several times last week.  I tried to just take photos as I slowly drove by.  I didn't want to disrupt them.

There were about 40 in the herd.  They are certainly majestic.

That is all I have.  It has been cold and super windy.  I haven't been very inspired.  I hope you enjoyed the wildlife.

A genuine anteater...

 A genuine anteater the pet store man told my dad.  Turned out it was an aunt eater and now my uncle is mad.  My cousin told me that joke when we were kids.  For some reason I never forgot it.  

Why am I rambling about ants?  Because that is the only thing of interest I have this week.

During our weekly walk, I caught something shiny and black out of the corner of my eye.

I guess they were as tired of winter as I am and taking advantage of the sun.  They must not be able to feel the incessant winds.

Ella and I almost blew off the mountain top. 

I hope you are having nicer weather.  

We have green...

 My lettuce in the greenhouse is up.  I don't have a picture as the sprouts were so little.  The weather hasn't been nice, but the Tomato Taj Mahal is a regular Valhalla!

I gave my seedling starts a little vacation to the Taj Mahal and they loved it.  Before you judge my fur lined mad bomber hat, just know it is ten times warmer than a coat.  

Before some real sun, the were weak and reaching for sunshine.  Now look at how healthy they are.

They are a darker green and standing up straight.  It just goes to show sunshine does a body good.  It does my soul good.  My husband had a hard time getting me out of the greenhouse.  It was a nice respite from the incessant winds we have been enduring.

Not much else is happening here.  I gathered a bucket of ash from our winter burn piles.  It is drying in the greenhouse.  I find a cupful in the spring makes my delphiniums happy.

How does your garden grow?  Do you still have snow?  Are you as impatient as I am for summer?