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If you count windchill, it was nearly 100 degrees warmer today than last Sunday!! Crazy. If you like variety in weather, come to North Dakota?? (As long as all the varieties you like involve cold, that is...) We went skating on Friday and Saturday because it was warm (upper 20s/near 30)--the nearby park has FREE skate rentals, as well as cross country skis and also snowshoes. The skating was pretty hard, but we decided to go for it, anyway. The second time, there was this 6YO who was a whiz on skates who gave us pointers and didn't laugh at us. We appreciated it. Also yesterday, my oldest turned 16. Hard to believe!
Today we were invited out to Crookston (about 30 minutes east of here, over in Minnesota) to dinner with a family we met at church. Very interesting people, and fantastic food (some kind of cilantro Indian dish, plus homemade naan. YUM.) Between here and there is basically a whole lot of nothing--the flattest fields you have ever ever seen in your life, all covered with snow and occasional lines of bare trees where a fence might run. As far as you can see on the horizon. Seriously, don't break down!! The top layer of snow had melted a bit in the sun and then refrozen, so it was all wet and glittery-looking, and the setting sun gave the snow a blueish cast while the clouds above were a hovery sort of pink. With the bare black trees against it all, it was kind of pretty. Good colors, anyway--I wished I'd brought the camera. Then on the way back, there was this massive bird on the side of the road that decided to take off into the air just as we reached it--it was a snowy owl--Hedwig herself!--that JUST barely cleared our car. Jonathan thinks he heard the wings brush the roof. I've heard owls before, but seen very few in the wild (once coming home from Craters of the Moon-but it wasn't a snowy white one). So anyway, I know we'll have a return to the cold, but it's sure been nice to have a break!
Today we were invited out to Crookston (about 30 minutes east of here, over in Minnesota) to dinner with a family we met at church. Very interesting people, and fantastic food (some kind of cilantro Indian dish, plus homemade naan. YUM.) Between here and there is basically a whole lot of nothing--the flattest fields you have ever ever seen in your life, all covered with snow and occasional lines of bare trees where a fence might run. As far as you can see on the horizon. Seriously, don't break down!! The top layer of snow had melted a bit in the sun and then refrozen, so it was all wet and glittery-looking, and the setting sun gave the snow a blueish cast while the clouds above were a hovery sort of pink. With the bare black trees against it all, it was kind of pretty. Good colors, anyway--I wished I'd brought the camera. Then on the way back, there was this massive bird on the side of the road that decided to take off into the air just as we reached it--it was a snowy owl--Hedwig herself!--that JUST barely cleared our car. Jonathan thinks he heard the wings brush the roof. I've heard owls before, but seen very few in the wild (once coming home from Craters of the Moon-but it wasn't a snowy white one). So anyway, I know we'll have a return to the cold, but it's sure been nice to have a break!
