Snowstorm Over - Hot Cocoa and a Sunset

 

Song:  Lazy Calm

Group:  Cocteau Twins

I woke up this morning to a bright sun...

and melting snow.

This is my lower driveway...

which leads to my garages.

I just drove through the accumulated snow to drive to the community center 

to drop off my trash...

and then to pick up my mail...

and finally into the nearest town to pick up a few things at the hardware store.

Bandi's Trail to her bathroom in the forest.

Looking back at the upper driveway...

which I use when I have many groceries to take into the house.

However, I won't be using this driveway until there is no more snow...

or until I use my snowblower on it.

I had a mad craving for hot cocoa for a few days.

I finally got some...

so...

I made a cup.

Whenever I make a treat for myself...

I always give Bandi a treat as well...

so she doesn't feel left out.

I gave her several treats from the bags I had bought from the craft fair about a week ago.

Bandi loves food as much as do I.

Bandi and I then went up to the third deck to watch the sunset.

While I stood in the doorway...

Bandi wanted to walk around in the snow for a while.

I watched the sunset go from a brilliant amber...

to a cherry red.

It was nice...

especially after so many days of grey snow clouds filling the sky.

I loved the crisp air as I watched the colors change hue.

And...

as I sit here on my computer in the loft...

I am still nursing my large cup of hot cocoa.

Life is good.

Snowed In - No Problem

 

Famous Classics

As I am pretty much snowed in...

unless I wish to snow blow my driveway...

and risk the snow filled roads to get a NY style pizza (Nah)...

I decided to make some hot buttered popcorn for Bandi and I to enjoy instead.

By the way...

this Presto air popcorn maker is far superior to any other I have tried.

Not only does it pop more at one time...

it does it in less than half the time.

The chute also directs the popcorn into the container.

None of the popped corn came out of the container...

like what had happened with my old one.

Bandi loves hot buttered popcorn.

I put in subdued amber light bulbs in my room.

The only brighter bulb is on my reading light next to my bed.

I keep the right bay window open a few inches and I keep the blind closed

so the cool air is more diffused instead of rushing straight out at me.

The left bay window blind I keep part way open so Bandi can look out through it.

The larger window near my bed I leave just a few inches open with the blind closed to...

again, defuse the airflow coming into my room.

This way...

my room remains cool all night long 

because I have a cross breeze...

without having subfreezing air blowing directly on me.

Even in winter...

if I try to keep the windows closed all night long...

I wake up in the middle of the night...

because I overheat.

(I have to keep a certain temperature in the house to prevent my water pipes from freezing).

I found the perfect solution with partially opened windows and the blinds drawn closed...

which allows the air to blow downwards and sideways...

instead of straight forwards.

Bandi and I finished off the popcorn as I watched Fraiser reruns on my iPad.

Bathroom time for Bandi once again.

Even though Bandi had plowed a path before...

more snow filled almost all of it back in.

The snow is about a foot deep...

and so...

the snow hits her in the chest...

but she just plows forward.

This is the softest snow I have ever felt.

Even after three days...

the snow is still super pillowy soft...

there is no crust to speak of.

This is the finest snow powder I have ever experienced.

I just follow the path Bandi lays down.

This minor snow storm is supposed to stop in the morning.

I may snowplow my driveway then.

At the beginning of this snowfall a few days ago...

Bandi would bark a lot whenever she heard snow sliding off the roof...

and impacting with the ground.

Now, as it happens so often...

she merely looks in the direction for a few seconds.

You can see the window opening and Bandi lying on her side of the bed.

Most of the night...

I just have all the room lights off.

I will usually be on my iPad until I get sleepy.

Hopefully...

the snow will have stopped falling by the time I get up tomorrow.

I would like to pick up my mail...

but...

it is no problem.

I am fully self sufficient for a very long time.

If I had to...

I could easily last all winter long without ever leaving home.

However...

I would miss certain foods...

especially NY style Pizzas.

I may start growing some sprouts tomorrow.

This way I will have plenty of fresh greens...

starting in a few days.

In the meantime...

I have plenty of frozen veggies.

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

As no deliveries could make it to my home since the snowstorm...

I am hoping they had...

instead...

dropped them off at the post office.

More likely than not...

many simply postponed their deliveries until this storm is over.

Salt and Pepper Shrimp - Ambiance Eating

 

Song:  (cover) Moonlight Sonata

Performer:  Marcin

Original Composer:  Beethoven

Salt and Pepper Shrimp is a mainstay in most

Chinese restaurants.

However...

most places cook the shrimp with the shell on...

and with all of the seasoning being on the shell...

it forces one to lick one's fingers after each bite of the shrimp...

to get all the flavoring.

I peel the shrimp before I cook them.

Just buy uncooked shrimp.

Peel and slice one half a white onion.

I use two types of oils in the cooking of this dish...

Roasted Sesame and Chili Sesame Oil.

The Chili Sesame Oil is what gives this dish its kick.

As the shrimp is frozen...

I defrost them in a bowl in the sink.

I don't use a hot water bath...

but rather a hot water shower.

As the hot water is constantly being replenished...

the items defrost much more quickly.

As the shrimp is being defrosted...

I then slice the half white onion.

I peeled the shrimp over the trash compactor.

With all of the preliminary steps having been done...

I heated up the wok.

I use high heat as this sears the shrimp without overcooking them.

I then add the oils and allow them to heat up.

I like a bright kitchen while I cook.

Fire Extinguisher Bear standing on perpetual guard against 

any carelessness on my part :)

I always clean as I go when I cook.

The onions are plated and ready for the shrimp to finish cooking.

Add salt and pepper to taste as it cooks.

Plated and ready...

...to eat.

Although this dish is often eaten with rice...

I felt like just having miso soup and Umeboshi with it.

Yes...

I shared some of my shrimp with Bandi.

If it is in the evening hours....

I often eat with all of the great room lights...

and the outside porch lights on...

as well as with music playing...

all to add some ambiance to accompany me as I eat

(I played a play list of Marcin on his classical guitar...

the same one playing on this article).

After eating...

I then turn off most of the lights...

except for the deck lights on the front door side.

I took Bandi out for her evening bathroom time.

I use a flashlight to scan the forest as soon as I arrive.

If I see the reflection of eyes peering back at me...

although it has yet to happen...

as Bandi would alert to the smell of another animal...

I think I would hightail it back inside  :)

Looking back at my house from Bandi's bathroom spot.

My walk back towards the house...

only I decided to walk out to the road to see if the county had plowed the road.

Yes...

they had plowed the road.

I stood in the plowed road and looked back at my home.

The lights that you see are the ones I leave on all night.

Once again...

especially after eating...

as my metabolism kicks into high gear...

the powdery snow which had gotten into my sneakers...

and then melted over my bare feet...

feels so refreshing.

In general...

I have a high metabolic rate...

and so...

just one of the reasons I love high altitude mountain living.

The temperature is almost always refreshingly cool...

especially at night.

I still sleep with my bedroom windows partially open...

as the chill in the air makes being under my comforters...

especially comfortable...

as my body remains warm enough...

but the crisp air keeps me from over heating...

even though I keep the temperature in the house in the mid 60s F (18 C).

(I know...I could just lower the temperature more...

but this temperature allows my body to remain comfortably warm...

while allowing the crisp and chilly air to keep my internal temperature in balance...

and it makes being under the comforters feel all the more special.)