Cozy Day In: Coffee, Chores, and Homemade Pizza

Another foggy day here in Alberta, with the thermometer sitting around –10°C — brrr! After our usual morning routine of coffee and catching up on socials, we both got moving with showers and breakfast.

My mission for the morning was to completely clean off my desk. What started as a simple tidy-up turned into a bit more of a project. Moving off the clutter led to scraping off more of the desk’s not-so-lovely finish, which was a good reminder that I really do need to strip and oil the top this year. Still, it felt great to give the keyboards and monitors a proper clean. Funny what you notice during a deep clean — apparently the A and 9 keys on the Mac and the E and 1 on the HPare getting the most mileage!

S spent most of the morning on his laptop, pressing through news updates and working away at tax tasks. Eventually he returned to the ongoing hunt for the perfect microwave size. After plenty of comparing, he finally ordered one directly from GE — mission accomplished — right after enjoying his egg croissant. I had my favourite egg sandwich as well and got a head start on pizza dough for supper.

Later in the afternoon I stretched out on the bed with my book while S relaxed on the couch with his laptop. At one point he decided to brave the –3°C weather for a quick hot tub break — refreshing, to say the least.

Around 3 o’clock, B and Cooper arrived just as I was finishing up the pizza prep and sliding it into the oven. B fed the horses and trimmed Beibs feet, then came inside right as the pizza was ready. As it turned out she’d already eaten before arriving, so she got to work on her sewing projects while S happily enjoyed a few slices along with a cold beer. I am not a real pizza fan so opted for a beer and some salty chips that help my all day headache.

Before 5, S bundled up again and headed out to roll the horses a bale since they were almost out. He was back in just over ten minutes — quick work — and soon returned to his laptop and phone.

B cut out and ironed four new scrub cap creations before tidying up. She and Cooper headed home a little after 5:30.

Nathan text they finally found the best slow feeder for the dogs, here it is in action :)

The evening news came on at 5, but I bowed out before 6 to watch the final episode of Being Gordon. S stuck with the news and his laptop until about 6:30, when we tried a new pilot for a show called RJ Decker with S nodding off so snack time and a wakeup before we started a movie titled Highest 2 Lowest. Unfortunately it was a rather slow, oddly edited Spike Lee film — not one we’d recommend.

We started an episode of Shrinking, but S was asleep before long, so I quietly switched back to finishing up with Gordon.

Windy Warm-Up & Whiplash Weather

There was wind and cloud cover when I woke at my usual 7. Hoar frost was thick. Technically it was plus 4… but with that bite in the air it felt more like minus 5. Why does spring in Alberta always feel like it’s playing tricks? And Harley randomly needed out at 3:15 am — which of course means I was semi-awake long before morning officially arrived.

First coffee was an Instagram scroll in bed. Second coffee happened once S surfaced and made his own. He migrated to big brown with laptop and refill in hand while I set up at the island with my iPad — our version of co-working.

I moved to the desktop to write up my tutorial on the flooring marker fix (because if I’m going to MacGyver my hardwood, I might as well share it). Meanwhile S was on a mission trying to track down a 32" TV with voice command. No luck. Looks like we keep one very small television requiring two-remotes household. 

After lunch S loaded up recyclables — including the old microwave — teamwork with me helping lift it into the truck. Then S headed to town for his first “back at it” task run. Snow is nearly gone with temps hitting plus 12, which feels wildly rebellious for this time of year.

I squeezed in a longer Pilates session and was just rolling up the mat when he pulled back in with Cooper and the mail before 3. I met them outside and we headed out for a walk. It started off lovely… sunshine, mild air… and then the northern wind showed up like an uninvited guest. Ears frozen, attitude changed, and we quickly retreated home.

By late afternoon the sky had turned dark grey and moody, looking very much like a storm was plotting something. We settled into a little “Miller time” — him on his laptop, me on my iPad. I hard-boiled eggs for easy protein this week and got supper underway: spaghetti and meat sauce loaded with mushrooms, per Sheldon’s request. By then the temperature had slid back down to zero. Alberta, you are dramatic.

Rice Krispie squares or marshmallows?

We watched an episode of Shrinking then at 7, S disappeared to the sports room for the Flames game while I watched a couple more episodes of Being Gordon. B was out to do her usual feed, grab Coop and head home. I was drained and lights were out just after 9.

S came up not long after — another Flames loss to tuck him in for the night. Some days feel long for no obvious reason. This was one of them.

Foggy Start, Sunny Reset & A Steakhouse Kind of Night

We woke to thick fog — the kind that makes everything feel hushed and a little suspended in time. It only got heavier with my first coffee. By the second, I was at the computer uploading Saturday’s blog videos and tackling accounting while they slowly crawled their way up to the cloud.

S settled into big brown with his laptop — his version of productivity.

By 10 the fog finally lifted, as if someone pulled back a curtain. Sunshine! I used the momentum to get a Hometalk post up for the white dresser. That platform has been sorely neglected — time to revive it. I also realized (whoops) that I had forgotten to submit payroll sheets to the paint company. Fired those off before it could sit another day.

The temperature climbed from -7 to a cheerful 0 by lunchtime. S moved from laptop to couch with book — he is nearly through that John Grisham novel and fully invested. I spent the afternoon cleaning up photos and finishing Sunday’s blog post.

At one point S decided on a hair trim and enlisted me to “weed whack” the back and tidy up the neckline. Teamwork makes the dream work.

After lunch he returned to reading while I washed the dog dishes… which somehow led to watering the garage plants… which led to watering the indoor plants… which led to repotting one and rearranging a few others. It’s amazing how one small task dominoes into twelve. I even hauled out the vacuum and ladder to suck down the cobwebs above the main door. 

my view

Sheldon's view

By mid-afternoon it was plus 6, the sun playing peekaboo with clouds. S took a break from his book to join Harley and me for a walk. Fresh air always resets the mood.

Back home he returned to his pages while I drafted another Hometalk post — this one for the round trays still patiently waiting for their forever homes.

The sun beckoned us back outside for a refreshing soak in the hot tub. It’s been a while since I’ve been out, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

With weather like that, it felt like a steak night. Classic baby potatoes and Brussels sprouts made a repeat appearance — and honestly, why mess with perfection? It was delicious.

S switched to news viewing while I retreated to the bedroom to watch more Being Gordon. B popped out to feed and came in for a visit around 8. As if on cue, the fog began rolling back in — morning’s mood returning.

S was nearly finished his book when B headed home. At 9 we started The Lost Bus, based on the true story during one of the California wildfires. It was long and heavy — intense in that quiet, slow-burn way. I caught myself nodding near the end, so when the credits rolled, lights out was easy.

A foggy beginning, a bright middle, and a quiet finish. Not a bad little Tuesday at the ranch.

Nighttime Snuggles & A Six-Degree Surprise

We shut the TV off just after 10 last night… but apparently Renn and I are cut from the same cloth. Second wind activated. I tossed. I turned. S went downstairs. I must have finally drifted off because at 10:45 p.m. I opened my eyes to a little face peeking over the pillow on the edge of the bed — whispering, “Nana.”

Honestly, how do you not laugh?

She crawled in and was asleep in minutes.

At 5:30 she rustled again. “More snuggles.” So we did the usual — bum taps, back rubs — and she went back out until 6:45. She seems to run her life in tidy quarter-hour increments.

Up we got. Grapes and yogurt disappeared quickly — she was hungry. In the middle of getting the grapes I managed to spill the soup dish, because of course I did. Renn immediately offered to help clean it up. Sweetest little sous-chef.

Coffee for Nana. “Coffee” for Renn. Once refilled, she marched downstairs to wake Grandpa. I could hear giggles all the way up the stairwell. She had him thoroughly entertained before 8 a.m. and frankly never stopped.

Puppy goes potty

He supervised while I showered and got ready for the day.

Sheldon took these photos as he followed her around the corner into the play closet, what a kid.

Post shower photo snap

She declared it lunchtime at 9 — cheesy noodles and a jam sandwich — while Grandpa stuck to toast.  Then he was off to church for the first time in three weeks.

S was home before noon with milk and bananas (Renn approved immediately) and hit the couch to catch up on Iran news while she and I snuggled up with the old 101 Dalmatians. You really don’t notice how much animation has changed until you go backward. She didn’t care — puppies are puppies.

The morning started at a crisp -16 but by 1 p.m. we were sitting at -2 with full sunshine. By mid-afternoon? PLUS SIX. Alberta likes to keep us on our toes.

Nathan arrived before 1:30 and Renn absolutely lit up. After a quick visit they packed up to surprise Momma at home. The house felt very quiet very fast.

I had abandoned the blog since her arrival, so I finished Friday — photos, videos, the works — and published. S perused his laptop and dipped back into the John Grisham novel Candace loaned him. He’s in full lawyer-thriller mode. I started drafting Saturday.

In the city the Boysis's made this cute snowman, seconds later Renn ripped off his head and stomped on it :)

With the sun blazing and the thermometer now reading +6, it felt criminal to stay inside. I texted B about a river walk. She was out after 3 and we loaded up the dogs for a beautiful 3 km jaunt. Sunshine, softening snow, fresh air — the kind of winter day that tricks you into thinking spring is near.

J who thinks he is a dog, actually loaded himself up to go along as well but sadly it did not happen for him.

Harley and Cooper were oblivious to the herd of 15 deer out int he field ahead. Can you spot them?

Eventually Cooper saw but these 2 are pretty good at staying with their people

B snapped these 3 photos

Alberta icebergs - cool how one area of the weir freezes over

S snapped this one of us nearly back at the truck

Back at the ranch B fed the horses and headed home. S claimed the hot tub for a sunshine soak while I got supper underway — a Boursin chicken creation that turned out dangerously good and wildly filling. I packed up half of mine.

He washed the pans and disappeared to the TV room for the 6 p.m. Flames game while I worked on today’s blog in bed as the sun dipped lower. The days are stretching — you can feel it now. Times springs ahead in a week.

I finished the Bridgerton episode I started yesterday, then did my Pilates (even though I really, really would rather not some days). Ironically, it gave me a burst of energy. I made our big yogurt fruit bowl and delivered S his portion mid-game while the Flames were ahead… only for them to lose in overtime. Ouch. I enjoyed mine watching more Being Gordon Ramsey documentary.

He returned upstairs and we started the new season of Shrinking, but I was fading fast. We shut it down. He went to read. I drifted off, fully spent from a weekend of snow, sunshine, snuggles, and steady little quarter-hour wakeups.

The house is quieter tonight. My heart, very full.