cold snap remains

Stayed awake late and woke early wth. I was happy to see the horses were around the shelter with all blankets in place. It is a balmy -27!

Pepper the ring leader was trying to catch my eye as I peeked out basement window

I headed out at 11 again on the lookout for my earring and tossed a bale for the horses. I found the magnetic wand and searched the areas again but when I took it back to the house I found it would not attract the other one so is useless ;(

Sorting more coins from traveling along with coins collected were the next project in line. I found more money for Mexico and had fun sorting thru my unique to me pieces like this crisp $2 US

Stouts are picking up the desk so I staged a few photos. Before they arrived at 3 to get it I moved the car ahead and dollied it over to the door. It was a quick transfer once they arrived, loaded it and on their way. 

Sharon text there was a bag on our gate so I bundled up again and Lola and I walked to the gate. It had now hit the days high at -23! Without wind and sunshine it was doable out.

These were the rocks in poor Lola's feet when she came in to eat and it seems on paw is bleeding as per the tracks on the floor and the snow, ouch!

The horses came to see me on the way back.

snoopy Roo was sure the bright yellow bag had snacks in it

Inside the garage it was time to get to work. The end tables were to smelly to keep painting for Lola to live inside so I put them away and hauled out the paint drip dresser. The paint of course has a textured finish so sanding was in order. While I was sanding I did the bread box too. Now to paint the dresser the fun azure color.

While it dried I went out as it was still a bit light at 5:30 and tossed 2 more bales and gave the horses some oats to keep them warm for yet another deep freeze night. Moving on to the bread box I added some black milk paint to the edges for a rustic denim feel. The one side of the dresser had some  marks so was once again sanded and repainted. I finally got Lola in for the night and Mr J came in earlier and quickly snuggled down under the stairs. The bread box was hemp oiled too.

Time to call it quits and have a hot bowl of soup and a cold beer and gets todays blog pictures up and written. I forgot to share Britt's KonMari closet from yesterday. Good job B

The 2 older girls return from their Costa Rican adventure tomorrow. They are going to be in for a cold surprise. It seems this cold snap is reeking havoc on many vehicles. Britt's car would not start and had a flat tire, their outlet had tripped so Dave's truck would not start either. Her vet picked her up for work and mid morning her tire blew. When Sheldon arrived at the airport tonight the merc was dead too. He had to grab a tea and wait for YYC parking authority to come boost him. It was an hour wait with all others in line. He made it home before 1, plugged in his dying phone and went out to plug in his skid steer to roll a bale in the am and tossed the horses another bale on his way back. I had asked him to grab Mitzy and bring to garage but he had no luck. I donned my down fill jacket and boots headed out called her and brought her to the garage with J for the night. Then I was awake till almost 3 again, dam.

lost my diamond earring ;(

Minus 22 upon waking (I think as our thermometer has stopped reading but have Matt's online)  but S text it was -50 with wind chill on site.. BRRRR. I let Lola out and put another coat of stain oil in the desk  top before getting my couple cappuccinos going. Time to work on blog posts and more photo sorting while enjoying them. The bread box post went live and had to be sent to the paint company and posted on a site or two.

I bundled up and headed out to give the horses some oats at 11.

This led to putting a blanket on Bird

which led to picking out their snow ball feet. It seems others were shivering a bit too so I added a few more blankets. I opened the arena doors and the crew went wild out of the wind and on solid non slippery ground!

For the next few hours I fitted all up with blankets. Some had to be switched around but in the end they all were bundled up. They continued to play in the arena with Roo picking up the blankets waiting and my gloves and anything she could find.

someone is a bit chunky for this blanket

this one fits him better

and it fit the curvy girl better

this curvy girl got one too

and the last one was this little rascal who stood so still while getting hers on

and of course look which two always have to get into trouble :)

I picked up the poop they were dropping then hauled a bale around to the sheltered south side where I had given them oats. Before I came into the house at 1:30 I secured the barn doors with bungy cords and left the big door open for them to get out of the bitter wind.

bigger blanker for the big Bird

Inside my poor cheeks were so wind burned from the chilly air. I hydrate with a cold beer and then another cappuccino as I made banana bread. Man the house smells yummy.

I was working on photos for the blog when Kaylin face timed me with all of them around a pool in 36+ weather while I showed her -26. I decided at 3:30 to run out and check on the horses, close the arena door as they were behind the south area and toss them another bale for good measure as it gets even colder. Back inside I pulled off my headband and found one of my diamond earrings GONE. UGH I bundled back up and retraced my steps but the going out steps had already drifted in. No such luck and so sad.

I thought about doing the #3 step of KonMari but have been busy but now I spent the next 3 hours going thru papers trying to find the information on them. I found lots of info and did purge papers and found what I was looking for after S suggested the safe. I finally have a break in my busy brain day and ate a bowl of soup at 7. And banana bread for dessert ;)

Time to cuddle up in my warm cozy bed and catch up on all my Grey's anatomy on the PVR, like 6 episodes. I still could not sleep so listened to podcasts till wee hours, after 3 am ;(.

Desk 98% finished

The cold 17 held solid thru the night, this am it is the same slight foggy cold view. Time for a couple hot cappuccinos to warm me up and get me motivated. I checked my emails quick then was off to the garage.

Sharon's desk got another coat of white. I donned my coveralls and headed out to check the horses as the blustery wind blew so cold. I filled 2 shelters with salt/minerals and checked 3 girls who were in closest shelter.

 After running to the barn for oats they were all off to the hay but came running when I banged the bucket. They were all very pleased to have some tummy warming oats, I even ran back and grabbed another bucket full to spread on the other side of shelter.

Lola was now forced to stay in although she really thought she need out. I sanded the desk and distressed the edges then put a coat of stain oil on the top. The bread box had the inside back wall painted my favorite fun blue.

I hate to waste anything so used the oil left on the paper towel on the drawer runners to make them slide smoothly

the horses cleaned every speck of oats up 

Not being able to sand as the stain is drying I moved on to a new project; 2 end tables. I plan to do them in a new Fusion product, a black gel stain so first step was to tighten the legs and remove felt pads, scrape of any bits and vacuum.

Lunch break, thank goodness for the jumbo bologna pack, it has gotten me thru the week as lunch and the occasional supper. I did bring in the 2nd last burger pack to make something for supper. A bit of blog writing then back to the garage. Hardware was put on and after putting drawers in I remembered they fit at a weird angle. I figures out if I moved the holder on back side it would fit flush, it was off by over 1/2". Once solved I woman handled it strategically off the table to the floor without any issues.. whew!

 

look how far off they were from level 

 and fixed

The end tables were scrubbed up and the new not yet released Fusion product painted on. I am not too sure about this one as it is oil based and smelly and quite sticky to apply. The first coat was very translucent as the can advised.

I closed up shop at 6 to come in and make my hamburger soup on this frigid now -20 day. As it simmered I watched Riverdale and did some marketing. After a bowl of soup I had a soak in the tub catching the last episode of Extreme Houses in the season. Moving on to Fuller House which continued as I wrote a blog post for the last bread box. I got a message saying the young gal (past 4H member) who was going to buy the table on Monday was given one by her uncle and the gal who was getting the candlesticks today is sick and will plan for later... darn the luck.

best hamburger soup ever!!

Cold snap moves in

It was foggy when I awoke at 7, why 7? Oh well I got many more Spanish lessons finished then on  to plan more purges. The fog was light and sort of crystalized with a bit of snow cover and cold at -13 but continually going down. The thermometer said it was -3 in the night. A tasty cappuccino or two got me motivated. I have a customer coming at noon to look at the planked table, finally. As I always works best under pressure this had me putting away all the thrift store bags in laundry room, stacking the Tupperware and other option off the table for the girls in there too. Dishes were washed along with all counters and dusting. I want the house to present its best side ;) that and I love a tidy house! And Mom is coming tonight to enjoy it too.

A new scentsy bar was added and the table had items in front all moved to be seen well. However at noon the gal messaged she was stuck at work, wants it and will come Monday with cash ;) OK I had packaged up the candlesticks to take to a customer in Chestermere tomorrow so swapped the Etsy ad for some blue pillows. I posted them on Varagsale too and in half an hour they were sold and an EMT sent. They will go along with a cookbook sold to another lady in Airdrie and be picked up at my lovely B's abode. I now had to change the Etsy add to the grey candlestick, lets hope it sells too.

Now that all is tidy and smelling lovely I best get out to start painting Sharon's desk. It is a chilly 15 in the garage but way warmer then the horses and Lola have to deal with. The top was stained/oiled which required trying a few colors on the edge which is a different wood then the top. Will see when a few coats are on. Now to paint the base; I managed to woman handle it up on the paint table. This is why I don't need the gym :) Once up I put a coat on the entire base and the drawer fronts.

While it dried I came in to have a snack and update folks that I was not going to the Vet seminar tomorrow. Mom had a brake line snap on her truck, good thing TJ found before she set out and Britt got called in to 3 surgeries so far for tonight. I had to let the 3 ladies waiting for pieces that I was not going.

Back out to the garage I put a second coat of paint on the desk after sanding and distressing lightly. The bread box got scrubbed up while it dried. I made Lola come in seeing it was soooo cold -17 and going to get worse. The poor horses, good thing they have a hay buffet to help them stay warm.

Back inside I set about writing a better Creative Moments newsletter, watch for it in your email and let me know you got it! It took a couple hours to get it all set up, hope it is worthy. Then it was tweaking FB again as links are not always as they seem, THANKS to AJ for all her help troubleshooting with me all the time.