Storm in the Heartland

I took a snow day today. We're having a blizzard, and I didn't want to get stuck on the road or in a ditch or worse. I called my wonderful administrative assistant and she sent me some work home, so I am actually being productive, but right now it is my lunch hour. So, this is a blog about what I did on my snow day lunch hour!

First, when I visited my parents for Christmas, they gave me their bread machine which they were not using. They are enjoying their retirement and although they are busy, my mother still has time to make real bread. I, on the other hand, am working full time and in school part time, and taking care of the farm, so I do not have time to make real bread. We have been buying bread but I'm not really fond of it, and would rather make my own. So, on my lunch hour, I decided to try out the machine and I'm making Oatmeal Honey Bread. I actually followed the recipe except that I added a touch of cinnamon, because I thought that was nice with the oatmeal honey theme. I have never used a bread maker before, but now it is in a rising phase and I am excited to see what ends up coming out.

Kelly is in Knoxville Iowa today, and he called to say the roads are dreadful. He said there are cars off the road everywhere and there is a towing ban in effect until the police say it's OK to start towing cars. I hope he gets home safely. He took the pickup truck today because it's 4 wheel drive and therefore likely to be safer. The visibility is bad and there is a lot of blowing snow.

I am sitting at my desk staying warm. I keep the house cool because it saves energy and besides, it's winter. It's not supposed to feel like a summer's day in Florida. So I'm wrapped up in a lovely warm sweater from LL Bean that my mother bought me last year, and some fleecy pants. The problem was, I was wearing some of those lovely fluffy socks, but they only went to my ankles, and when sitting, I get this space between the top of my socks and the bottom of the pants. Well, I had an 80s flashback...and after some very industrious digging, I found...

LEG WARMERS!!

Yes, I am a child of the 80s (well, a teen of the 80s) and I admit to still owning leg warmers. I think I got these in the late 1980s, probably during high school. They were perfect for my needs today, and I look mahhhvellous. Well, in my mind anyway!

Stickley hasn't had his picture on the blog yet. He's here with me though, being a lazy dog as usual. He is an 87 lb greyhound and the fastest couch potato I've ever met. He is distinctly uninterested in me or my camera today, preferring to be comfy on his bed.

Unless I say his name in an excited tone of voice...

Aside from the bread maker clicking and the dog snoring and my typing, the only sound (besides the wind) is an occasional quack from the basement. Even Tarquin the pigeon is silent today. We are all bundled up and cozy. Hope you are too!