The Last Snow of the Season

Mama and Emily hunting for snow

It's Semana Santa and that means a week vacation for me! :)  I'm doing my best to milk it for all it's worth...sadly, tomorrow's already Thursday. 

Monday we went to the pool and got things taken care of around here: cleaning at the bar, stocking for the weekend, etc., Tuesday was a stay-at-home day (those are good now and again), and yesterday we took a day trip up to the mountains again.  We wanted to get in one last visit to Frosty Snowman before the season's over for good and I think we were just in the nick of time.  There was very little snow as we've had no precipitacion for several weeks now together with record high temperatures.  On the mountain it was only 16ºC and breezy--slightly on the chilly side--but on the drive home the car thermometer read 30ºC!  Even without the snow, I think the drive would have been worth it just to beat the heat!

As it turns out there was actually a great patch of grey-brown snow clinging to the mountainside on a perfect sledding angle.  Once again, we had out sturdy plastic sheet with us and got in lots more sledding even than last time.  The snow was actually easier to form balls with than last time, too, so we were able to quickly build a little family of miniature snowmen for Emily.  She for her part, was more interested in eating the filthy snow than anything else...so Angelines and I took turns sledding while Emily ate mineral encrusted ice off the ground. (I promise we aren't negligent mothers!)

Em's feet got wet so we slipped her mittens on for the walk back.

We packed a gourmet picnic and feasted among the rocks and scrub at the edges of our snow field.  As I said, the day was chilly with the breeze blowing, but the sun shone so hot that I was fine in a T-shirt with just a wind-breaker on top.  The icy snow did seem to penetrate more than the powder we had last visit.  We were all a bit wetter when we finally headed back to the car, but it was a fantastic day, and of course we had brought a change of clothes for everyone.

...And the rest of the week is going to fly by...

Midnight tonight is the beginning of the most important processions here in town and Angelines has dressed and gone.  It's the first time she's dressed in this procession in about 15 years she estimates due to conflicting work schedules!  This year she decided to close the bar.  I'm glad she's finally able to do it again.  Meanwhile, I am here with a sleeping baby waiting up for her return.

Tomorrow, aside from a procession, Emily and I are going to be dying Easter eggs. :)  We've invited a friend over, too.  Maybe we'll do some hunting in the patio as well.  Emily has become a Peppa Pig fan and recently saw an Easter episode in which Peppa and all her friends were hunting for chocolate eggs that Grandpa Pig hid.  She was pretty excited when I told her we'd do that, too.  At the supermarket on Monday we saw a chocolate Peppa Pig Easter egg and snuck one into the cart.  So Sunday she'll get a big choco-atay (her word for chocolate) egg surprise along with some good hunting fun.

Friday is the day that we've dressed Emily for the procession. It's silly, I suppose because she doesn't actually participate, but she's just so cute!  Her auntie got her clothes all put together this year again so she'll be donning the purple tunic and white cape again this year to accompany "el Anol" (el Señor--the Lord), Jesús Nazareno, during his procession through town.  All of Angelines's family gets together on Friday evening, too since the procession passes by her mother's house.  I am anticipating some homemade arroz con leche as an evening snack. ;)

The weekend will be spent cleaning up after what I hope will be some good nights for business.  It's hard to tell because even though there are loads of people from out of town, our bar is a bit hidden and people tend to stay with the processions.  We've made advertisements with maps indicating the bar, so maybe that will make a difference.  The truth is that plenty of people would actually not mind getting away from the crowds for a bit if they only knew where to go.  So Saturday and Sunday will be spent sweeping sunflower seeds off the floor and sidewalk...

And there goes my week.  It's great to be home though, just cooking and organizing and enjoying my girl and the good weather.  Even if we don't do anything else for the rest of the week, I'll be a happy camper.

Happy Easter, all.

Selfie on the way back. :)