Jan 2 - the temperature drops

Being a stat holiday in most places, no one went anywhere. The only car movement was Jeffrey's car backup to the garage. I had intended to also attach the battery minder but that didn't prove to be necessary.

It took a while to scrape / melt / shove the snow and ice accumulation off the vehicle. I also drained half of the windshield washer fluid and refilled with -40 stuff, given the expected overnight low of -11F. By the way, it did hit -11F ... that's what my car thermometer said as I followed them out the next morning.

Jeffrey did have some trouble getting out of the driveway -- oh the joys of "all season radials". I spread some gravel that I had in a bucket and he'd make it a couple more feet but I didn't have enough gravel to completely coat the driveway. I suggested that he try in reverse and that proved to be the trick. Gearing is lower in reverse and with front wheel drive, there was less weight on the back wheels. Unbeknownst to them I then followed them out to 522 with the X5, just to make sure that they'd made it that far.

The kids played and played and played outside but the temperature was dropping. Late afternoon Jeffrey on the 4-wheeler and I on the 3-wheeler pulled the kids on the GT Snow Racers. That actually didn't last very long because they were getting cold.

Before dinner Jeffrey and Sara had a ride on the 4-wheeler heading down one of the bush trails. I have no idea how long they were out but not too long, I suspect.

Sandy made meatloaf for dinner; add sauteed zucchini and leftover mashed potatoes and no one went hungry. Oh yes, add fresh bread. I've been making one or two loaves of bread per day.

After dinner I brought out some small toys that I'd purchased in the U.S. -- Fireflys (sp?), which have led lights and string and you spin them around. Proving again that you need not spend a lot of money to amuse kids, they had fun with them. We also had a pair of flashing light necklaces. They romped around in the dark downstairs.

Desert -- pie, ice cream, date squares -- I need to get on my bike !!!!!

Onward !