Six snow days

The Madison Schools have had six snow (or extreme cold weather) closure days this winter. Unheard of. That’s like 3 years worth of snow days – they only build about 1 or 2 extra days into the calendar each year for weather closures.

Our global-climate-change winter has been crazy disruptive this year. And February’s not starting off much better than January was.

Last Monday, the first Monday in February, it was 45° and raining. The Wednesday before that, January 30th,  the high was -10 and the University closed. In between and since then we’ve had sleet, snow, ice, and freezing rain, and the prediction is for 3-9 inches of snow Monday night and continuing Tuesday, maybe with a little freezing rain mixed in. PS on snow depth: I think we got about 6 inches Monday night and it just kept on snowing all day Tuesday, probably another 3-4 inches. The roads are terrible, and the schools closed again – Tuesday Feb 12 was snow day #6. See the overleaf for my driveway, finally clear on Wednesday morning.

Tuesday morning I made some cherry almond scones for after shoveling. I had mine with extra sour cherry jam.

Cherry almond scones for 2/11/2019 snow day

I’ve done some fun things despite the weather. Last weekend, instead of doing a cook-your-vegetables demo at the Garden Expo, like I did in 2016 and in 2017, I did a print-your-vegetables demo. I showed people a couple of services where you upload your images, and they come back printed on cloth, and how to make that cloth into a coin purse.

Collard fabric purse

I also demoed how to do iron transfers of your pictures, and then make an apron.

Apron on model, at Dave & Jen’s in Seattle

I made the apron in Seattle using Jen’s machine, but my old New Home died while I was making the purse. I borrowed Susan’s cute little early 20th century Singer, the booklet says 1915, and it mostly worked but I had trouble with the foot pedal. I had to put it on the table and press it with my hand because I think the power cord is coming loose, and when it was on the floor it was disconnected. Time for the sewing machine shopping I’ve been promising myself for at least two years.

And I helped out with a cookie benefit, organized by the Culinary Ladies Collective. I’d know about the group for awhile, but felt I didn’t belong because although I am a former food professional, I have sort of devolved into the status of “talented home cook” since I’ve been out of restaurants for so long. My last restaurant job was almost 30 years ago … back in the 20th century. Although I was the proprietor of an underground dining club in the early 21st century, and still style myself as a food blogger, cooking teacher, and cook for hire. I guess that counts!

I didn’t bake any of the cookies but I helped to pack them.

Here’s the pic I should’ve taken, all the cookies laid out in a box.

We packed the cookies at Giant Jones, Erika & Jessica Jones brewery.

I even made Super Bowl snacks a few weekends ago … here’s the proof, this vaguely obscene looking tray of dough wrapped wienies:

2019 Super Bowl weinies

There’re still a few in the freezer, including that extra long interloper, I believe, to serve as a side dish with mac & cheese sometime, baked or stove top.