Day 48: Temperatures rising

We had some minor accumulations of snow last night as you can see - enough to cover some cars and make an impact for a few hours at least on the minor roads. However, we are really becoming acclimatized to life here (in more ways than one!). When, as it did today, the temperature peaked several degrees above freezing, we started to say things like, "No she doesn't really need a cardigan on, her coat is enough" and this coating of snow was barely worth mentioning over breakfast, beautiful though everything became once again with this fresh layer on top of the nearly-two-week-old Valentines snow.

We very nearly ventured out into the garden to make the long-awaited snowman the garden, but realised that Exile #3's snow boots etc. were at school. When I dropped her off there this morning her teacher was preparing a messy craft activity of some sort and the raw material was several toilet rolls that needed to be unravelled into a large deep plastic tray. Now Exile #3 despite really enjoying her time at school for the most part has been a bit clingy at drop-off time and I am always on the look-out for something that will engage her so that I can beat a retreat to work. Here was a golden opportunity. "Would you like to help with that?" "No." "I can't believe my ears! How many times have you done it at home and left us having to roll it all up again?" We used to claim that hand-rolled paper was a special luxury after these events. "You're not the first to say that," chipped in one of the other adults in the room. "Are you sure you don't want to unravel toilet rolls?" "Yes, yes!" and she did, and I said goodbye and left.