It's all about the Snow

 Hello Everyone! My sister is visiting me this weekend and so this post is by my Peacock Sister!

Have you ever had trouble deciding how to word the beginning of a blog post/letter/paper?

I obviously just did because I started my post with a picture.

In a way a I think a picture is better, because pictures don't just say a few words, they can tell a whole story... like the picture above.

This is my sister and I in the act of making a snowman... actually, in the act of taking a break from making a snowman. Because, truth be told, we don't usually make snowmen the "normal" way.

Above is how we would transport the snowballs. Because we liked to have a nice snowy lawn, we would roll the balls as far away from the view of the house as possible, then slide them on a sled to the chosen spot.

Although my sister started it, we were so keen on keeping a nice looking lawn, these were things you probably would hear us say if out playing with us:

"Yes, you can play in the snow, but you have to use the snow on the driveway only, you can't play in the lawn."

And:

"If you have to walk in the snow, step in my footprints."

The activities in the picture above led to this:

Which became a snowman split in half by the fort.

Because I am in the snowman mood, and because all the snow is depressingly melting, I will show some pictures of our snowman creations made with our siblings help over the years.

This igloo was made by giant snowballs cut in half:

I believe we names the snowman 'Rosie'...  because you know, all snowmen need names.

This particular snowman was so large, there were three balls for the bottom, and the top of our heads reached his nose.

I can't remember his name. Got anything, Sis?

...I think I'll name him Phil.

Isn't this a cute couple?

The tall one reminds me of Dopey, from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs when he dances with her. The little one looks like a singing angel.

Here's 'Singing Angel' closer:

This is what they looked like after another snowstorm:

(And a bit of melting)

Snowmerican Gothic, anyone?

Beware!

You are about to see some snowmen who are nearing the end of their lives.

And like most of their ancestors, their eyesight is the first thing to go...

I love making snowmen, and its even better to make them with people as creative as my siblings. So Sis, next big snowstorm you better grab your boots and gloves and head on over, 'cause we've got some serious snowmen to build.

 Peacock Sister

Loaded Potato Soup With Leeks

I love baked potatoes. Steaming and hot out of the oven, skin slightly crisp, inside fluffy and soft. And then the toppings. Butter, cheese, sour cream, chives, bacon. Mmmm.

This soup is a combination of two things; baked potatoes and a french recipe for potato and leek soup, called Vichyssoise. It's a delicious soup, but is traditionally served cold. I wanted a comfort food soup, and I wanted to put lots and lots of naughty ingredients on top.

The end result was even better then I had hoped for. Think delicate onion meets comforting, amazingly smooth potatoes, with crunchy bacon adding a nice end texture. Leeks cooked in butter is something that you need to experience if you haven't yet. Serve with crusty bread.

Loaded Potato and Leek Soup

8 oz. Butter, salted

1 lg. Leek

1 Clove Garlic, smashed

2 med. Potatoes, peeled, diced, and placed in water

2 c. Chicken Broth

1 c. Water

1/4 c Heavy Cream

Bacon, cooked and small diced

Shredded Cheese

Salt and Pepper as needed

Melt butter in large stockpot. Slice and clean leek(using only the white end), then add to butter along with garlic. Sweat until soft, about 10 min. Do not brown. Strain out half of the butter and the  garlic. Add broth, water, and potatoes to pot. Bring to boil, then reduce to simmer. Simmer for about 30 minutes. Place in blender - with that little top piece off- and blend until smooth. Put back in pot, add cream, and simmer for about 5 more minutes.

Top with cheese and bacon, but don't stop there if you have more ingredients; chives, sour cream, the sky is your limit!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christma..Uh, January

As everyone in the Midwest knows by now, we had a big wonderful snowstorm mosey on through the area yesterday.

I don't have class on Thursdays or Fridays (I know, I know. It's amazing) So I spent the morning doing uneventful things like laundry and other house(apartment?)work. The storm didn't even get down here until almost noon, but by 1pm the snow was really coming down.

I made plans to visit a fellow Wisconsinite that afternoon to go to the park and enjoy the storm. It was a little after 3pm when I left to get on the bus, and the snow was lake effect by then. I could barely see to the end of my street.


I didn't get any good downtown pictures, but I did get some of random streets as we walked to the park:

 Meet Baby. It wasn't quite packing snow, so we made due with what we had.
(She is about a foot high..)

I hope you all are enjoying this snow, too!

Next; to find a good sledding hill. And a sled. Heh.

Me

This was posted in my school syllabus for the next lab class that I have starting today. I thought it was kinda cute.

Just add a ponytail and some gold eyeliner, and you've got me!