January on the Mountain

Cold Snap - to Sudden Thaw

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Albeit technically the middle of winter, it’s a wet spring day. The view through the window is socked-in, clouds lazily rolling through the yard. I can’t see the trees 100 metres away, though I can hear the wind blowing through them. It’s a calm soothing sound, like being on the ocean and hearing waves crash onto each other.

I have to keep reminding myself this is January and only a couple of weeks ago it was cold enough to freeze my damp boots solid.

Greenhouse Lessons

When we built the greenhouse we bought clear acrylic material specifically for greenhouses which has turned out to be a bust. The material became extremely fragile from the sun’s UV rays and in the cold, shredded under any stress. This is one of those moments when I’m glad we’re starting small. This was a $150 loss, but an excellent lesson. I’m glad we’re taking time to learn the ins and outs of our specific circumstances and that we didn’t make a huge greenhouse, spending a ton of money just to make this discovery.

During the Cold Snap, temperatures dipped below -30C (-22F). At night strong winds came up the mountain, harassing our tent and greenhouse. The walls were shredded. Interestingly, after the greenhouse roof was obliterated by a spring hailstorm last year we replaced it in the cheap, non-fancy way. We used vapour barrier, also known as poly.
That. stuff. is. tough.
Going forward, we’ll be using affordable and uncomplicated poly for greenhouse walls and roofs.

With berries that we picked and froze last summer, I made huckleberry muffins and enjoyed them with my 100% wild foraged tea.

Baking and Painting

When the days are at their shortest it’s normal to feel a bit down. After a couple of particularly crummy days, I decided it was time to brighten up my world with some summery snacks and customized overalls.

Last summer I left my overalls outside for a couple of days after a particularly dirty job, and they’d gotten sun-bleached. To freshen them up I painted a rose and some leaves with acrylic paint. I love the result, it makes me smile every time I look at it.

The carburetors from my machine

Snowmobile Woes

I wish that Honda made snowmobiles… maybe then they’d be reliable! While Curt was away I tried to get my machine started without luck. Once he got back he gave it a try, and still no luck. Upon further inspection, we discovered that not only did my snowmobile need parts but his was entirely down for the count. The equivalent of an engine block, called ‘barrels’ in his snow machine broke in half. On the upside, it can now donate parts to mine.

‘Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning how to dance in the rain’

Tobogganing in the Rain

After the cold snap, the world warmed up so much that it began to rain. Last year there was one weird overnight rain in January, which nearly took down the shed. This time it didn’t stop for days. We spent a couple of days indoors trying to keep dry until enough was enough! Time to go outside and play in it.

Making a tobogganing course in the wet snow was a blast. The top layer got so packed and slick, it became a combination of tobogganing and water-sliding. As I flew down the hill at what felt like breakneck speed I wished that I was wearing goggles to keep rain out of my eyes.

If you’ve been looking for insulated work gloves I highly recommend these! They save my hands daily.

Carving Cutlery

I’ve been wanting wooden spoons for a while. You know me, that means I’m going to make them. I have no idea what I’m doing - but I’m having fun figuring it out. I roughed in the shape using a saw and chisels and then carved the rest by hand. Standing quietly at the bench carving and listening to the January rain is a pleasure.

Though I hope these spoons turn out, the process of learning is a fun way to pass the time. If my spoons turn out to be nothing more than fancy firewood, that’s great too.