pre-hangover-hockey activities in canada!

Ben and I drove up to Canada a day before everybody else, mostly because ben has to fly away to the canary islands again right after newyears. the cabin was warm and cozy when we got there, thanks to the Daubs. perfect!
there was a layer of frozen snow over everything, and the lake seemed mostly frozen (although we didn't feel confident enough to test it)
--- Dec 27 ---
in the morning we decided to try and build a snowman -- my very first ever. traditionally, you're supposed to start with a small snowball, and roll it until it becomes as large as you want (yes, like you see in cartoons). in practice, the snow wasn't the exact type of snow for that, or so we thought.
we started with the base:

then, i made a head-size ball for the head, and we decided to try and roll it in the snow, see what happens.
soon enough, it became so big, it was too heavy to be lifted onto the base!

and here is the solution to that problem -- we built a ramp, from two benches stacked and a couple of wood boards, and carefully rolled the giant ball up:

...and the head was easy, after this!


the snowman needed a companion and a place to hang out at, so we also built a snow cat and a snow bar!

we had some help with the roof from Mat&Erin, and of course the SPRITZER MEISTER :)

the last picture is in the last morning, after Sandy's birthday-snow covered everything with a few inches of powder...

--- Dec 28 - Sandy's birthday ---
the 5 of us hiked up a small river and got to beaver dam. grady ran up and down hills and in and out the stream, chasing sticks and other imaginary friends, as usual. the rest of us just struggled with knee-deep snow, and admired the variety of icicles :)

a pile of logs / firewood


icicles


the dam, Gary (thinking about whether or not to try walking on the mostly frozen beaver pond) , rabbit footprints, and view to lake Granary.

for her birthday, Sandy asked for a snow storm, and got one. unfortunately, it kept Kevin&Megan in detroit till the next morning.
Matt&Erin and Jack&Luann arrived in the evening, and helped some with the snowbar (see above), after which we had dinner and birthday cake. mmmmmmmmmmmm :)


Last but not least, we absolutely LOVE the new addition to the cabin -- a soft, comfortable, colorful couch, which was the only thing missing!


too bad we had to leave so early. i hope everybody enjoys dave's traditional newyear's-eve-game-cookout, and the hangover hockey that follows :)

sharonim -- i can't help but reflect over the adventures of last year, and i miss you all a lot!

Happy Anniversary

You realy taught we'll forget your first anniversary???

As an anniversary present, you can find the video of the Israeli wedding (hopfully done uploading) on keren's FTP.

Love you and miss you very much.

Happy anniversary from the Sharonim.

oh, and a happy new year!

Christmas 2007

The snow we ordered got here about 2 weeks before Christmas. This year it decided to stay. Unfortunately that means more work.

Erin & Matt came home and went with Sandy and me to cut a tree. While Matt & I played around on the guitars, Sandy & Erin decorated the tree. Note that the size is significantly smaller than last year's because we didn't have enought tall people here to properly place the star.

Kevin & Megan, Matt & Erin arrived home on the weekend, and Keren & Ben left Chicago at 1 p.m. on Sunday. They ran into a snow storm just north of the Michigan state line. Falling snow and blowing snow created "white-out" conditions, and they were forced to pull off the road several times along the way to wait for visibility to improve. A drive that normally takes 5 hours took over 8 1/2.

As we waited for them, several of us took an hour long night-time hike through the forest around our house, climbing hills and sliding back down on our backsides, and throwing sticks for the dogs. We took some pictures, and told the dogs we'd be sending them to our family in Israel. I'm pretty sure that's why there's a sparkle in the Yellow Dog's eye!

The celebration began after Ben & Keren arrived, and lasted until the wee hours.

We changed the process of gift buying/giving this year. Any gift either had to be hand-made, recycled(used), or an exceptional bargain. No one could spend over $25 on a gift! This meant that the last couple of days before Christmas were spent finishing and wrappping presents.

Then, according to tradition, Sandy baked, and the rest of us frosted cookies, all the while remembering how Odi decorates cookies with a multitool, Dahlia makes cookies that are too pretty to eat, and Ron just...............eats!

Following the decorating, and before dinner, some of us watched a slide show of Ben's trip to the Canary Island.

Sandy prepared the kind of meal you can't eat enough of, and after the clean-up, it was time to give gifts.

Matt & Erin gave Sandy a framed copy of the "Akko horse." Matt got a shirt that will allow him to properly display his "guns", and Erin was pretty happy with the hand knitted hatshe got from Keren.

Kevin modeled the top half of his pajamas for us.

And because Dahlia asked, I'm including some pictures of the things I made. Most everthing is made from walnut.

The first is a table for Kevin & Megan. Sitting on it are two of three serving trays I made for Sandy, Keren & Ben, and Erin & Matt.

Sandy had an astronomical chart from the 1800's that she framed for Keren & Ben. To the right of that are some new hammers for Sandy's dulcimer, made of walnut and maple.

I found an old piano stool at a garage sale last summer, and Sandy spent a lot of time refinishing it for Matt.

On Christmas morning Megan & Kevin went to the Schwarz's, and Erin & Matt went to the Schneider's. Sandy, Keren, Ben & I spent a relaxing day together. The high point of our day was a phone call, with Odi, Dahlia, and Ron singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas". It was so nice of you to call......so good to hear your voices.

We miss you, and hope you will come to see us soon.

Winter a Little Further North of Chicago

November 29th (Gary's birthday) we arrived late at night in Canada. There was some snow on the ground, everything was white, and the lake was starting to freeze over. The next day, Gary left around 10:00 am with Dave to go help a friend "for a couple of hours." By the time he got home at 11:00 pm, it had snowed about 3-5 inches at the cabin.

It looked more like the second picture. The lake was mostly snow covered and freezing fast.

And then, on Sunday evening, it snowed. Not one of those wimpy 3-5 inch snowfalls--more like 10-12 inches. The lake was mostly frozen and the poor Toyota was mostly buried.

Brenda had to call the local snowplow guys to come out and plow out us, the Daubs, and Mountain View Camp. Normally, Dave and Mark do their own plowing, but due to a slight miscalculation in the arrival and preparation of a new (used) plowing truck, the pros had to be called in.

We're all keeping our fingers crossed that the snow will last (and build up) for the New Year's holiday. So far it looks good--the snow here in Cadillac is sticking.

Our only regret is that we didn't have this snow for the Sharon's visit last year. Are you guys sure you don't want to come for a visit this winter?