A Lazy Day - Spa / Sauna / Fireplace

 

Song:  Sweet Return

Artist:  Hilary Stagg

This morning was the beginning of a lazy day for my sister and me.

So...

I prepped the sauna and the jacuzzi so my younger sister could enjoy them.

As this was the first time I had even used either...

the night before...

I chlorinated the jacuzzi...

and in the morning...

I installed a centigrade thermometer and hygrometer combination...

and a rotating hour glass on the inner wall of the steam sauna.

I also filled the water tub to create steam on the rocks of the sauna heating unit.

I had spilled some water on one of the sauna benches...

but it would quickly evaporate once I turned on the heating unit.

As you can see...

the steam sauna is large enough to lie down on both tiers.

This thermometer is in F...

...and the two devices I had installed are on this wall next to the door.

(I had yet to turn on the sauna heater.

And...I still must calibrate the hygrometer...

as the normal humidity is around 20%)

The hour glass rotates on its attached base so increments inside of 15 minutes at a time 

may be measured.

My younger sister then got into the first floor deck jacuzzi.

It is set at 96 F (35.5 C).

My sister thought the temperature was just right.

After soaking for a while...

she and I then got into the 1st floor steam sauna.

I had turned it on about 5 minutes before we entered.

Within a very short period of time...

it had gotten to an air temperature of 140 degrees F inside the sauna.

Although it could have gotten much hotter...

my sister had more than warmed up enough to dry off and change

while I made breakfast.

Although she sat on the bottom...

and so...

the cooler level...

after pouring water on the hot rocks a few times...

the resulting steam immediately increased the felt temperature...

and so...

after less than ten minutes...

my sister had enough of the heat.

I was so surprised at how much the steam had made such a rapid 

and heated sensation on the skin

(after the first pouring of water...

I had to take my camera phone out of the sauna...

as the lens had fully steamed up).

The steam sauna gets far hotter than the Infrared Sauna...

and warms to operating temperature far more quickly.

I can see myself using the steam sauna whenever I have a cold...

or when I am with guests.

However...

for most of the time...

I will use the 3rd floor Infrared Sauna.

I made rice...

and I warmed up the leftover Kimchi Stew I had made the night before...

and for me...

I also had Natto to go with the Kimchi Stew.

My Version for Kimchi Stew

1.5 cups of Kimchi

1 Tbs Korean Chili - coarse ground

1 Tbs Hondashi

2 Tbs Beef Stock Powder

2 diced Tofu cakes

1 handful of dehydrated green onions

Fill with water to just cover the top of the ingredients 

Bring to a boil

I had greatly modified the recipe my younger sister had gotten off the internet.

I omitted some ingredients...

and I doubled some of the other ingredients.

I don't want you to think I am bragging

(Okay...I am...but I just didn't want you to think I was  :) ...

but this is the best spicy stew I have ever had.

It is world class...

just try it.

It is quick and easy to make...

and absolutely delicious.

You will love it.

--------------

After breakfast...

we just relaxed until the early evening.

We then went to Baja Billy's in the nearby town of Cripple Creek.

The sauce I love is on the left...

the Mango Ghost Pepper.

With a drizzle on each taco...

it transforms them into an outrageously delicious meal.

As we waited for our meals...

we had three free orders of chips and salsa.

The atmosphere was nice and comfortable.

My beloved tacos.

I tried the soft flour shells this time.

I like them the most now.

After arriving home...

my sister wanted to lie down.

While at the restaurant...

our waitress told us that she had seen on a weather report 

that we are to expect a foot or so of snow this evening.

When I got home...

although there were some heavier clouds...

it didn't look like it would snow.

Perhaps it will tonight.

Anyway...

I decided to light the 2nd floor fireplace.

I didn't use the blower on the fireplace...

as it heats up the house too quickly with it on.

I went upstairs to the loft to see how the fireplace looked...

and to feel how warm it had gotten in the loft in the short time the fireplace had been on.

As it was already getting uncomfortably warm upstairs...

even without the electric blower on...

after a short while of enjoying the fireplace...

...I then shut it off.

As soon as I had turned off the gas...

the ceramic logs glowed red for a few minutes.

Both...

my sister and I felt very relaxed from the steam sauna...

and she quickly fell asleep as I was writing this article.

I, too...

will be going to bed early.

Depending on the weather...

we may go to a nearby reservoir tomorrow.

We will have to see then.

-----------

My younger sister had finished seeing the surrounding areas...

and at the real estate listings which had interested her.

She is planning on departing in the next few days.

It heavily depends on the weather report...

not only for this area...

but for the whole way back...

as she must drive just over 1,000 miles (over 1,600 Kilometers).

Bandi will miss Kaida (my sisters dog)...

as they often had fun together.