Yea baby, it is cold outside!

The bitter cold was forecast and actually, it did not get quite as cold as forecast and additionally, we did not get as much snow as forecast.

Still. It was a cold week!

When it gets below 10F, Emmett gets “Musher’s Secret” on his paws. It is a wax that protects his pads and helps with the melt/freeze/snowballs between his toes. Going from 62-64F house to below 10F means his warm feet melt snow and it quickly freezes and causes discomfort!

Auggie checked it out. Auggie has been going out on the front porch and occasionally as far as the garage, but then he sneezes and heads for home. Smart cat :).

Meanwhile, Emmett and I have been taking more frequent, but shorter walks and outside play time.

Inside games commence!

Enjoying the sunshine inside and a view outside…

Me … I am liking a warm fire!

BUT…

The Vendee Globe sailing race continues with 6 skippers crossing the finish line this week, including Pip Hare, the first British skipper (and 2nd female skipper), Kojiro Shiraishi, the first Asian skipper, Alan Roura (Swiss), Stephane le Deraison (French), Arnaud Boissieres (French), Didac Costa (the only amateur … finishing his 2nd Vendee Globe).

I have watched every finish, every channel parade and every press conference.

I have applauded, jumped up and down, fist pumped and cried at each and every finish. The joy on the faces of the skippers at having completed their “around the world, solo, no assistance” races is just stunning and never fails to move me.

And then … the finishers are not only met by as much crowd as is allowed with COVID-19 restrictions … and this is often in the wee hours of the morning with wind blowing, COLD rain falling … but this is the pride of France and all supporting people … AND, by the competitor skippers that finished days ago that are still in the area. They turn out as well with hugs all around.

There is a shared experience and risk in a very remote part of the planet, that goes beyond who wins. It is sportsmanship like nothing I have ever seen. It restores my faith in humanity and in perseverance and dedication to a dream.

There are 5 more skippers on the race course. There are 2 skippers that had to abandon the race for repairs, but chose to finish their circumnavigation (vs shipping boats home). I will be watching until the last skipper is safely back to Les Sables d’Olonne.

It has and continues to be a life changing experience.

I have resolved to learn French before 2024, the next Vendee Globe. Although many of the videos and content was in English and/or had English subtitles, there was much content that was in French. It is a French event. COVID-19/social media/WhatsApp/YouTube made it a bit more international, but I would love to get the entire experience.

PLUS, learning a new language … brain exercise and I take as much opportunity as I have time for, to learn new things!!

I spoke to a work colleague who came to the U.S. from Nicaragua as a youth. I asked for any advice regarding learning a new language. His response was “Immersion” … immerse yourself in the new language … no mollycoddling!! He didn’t say mollycoddling .. my words, but his point was that he gained fluency very quickly because he didn’t have a choice.

So, while I have a subscription online for Babbel (French), I am also watching YouTube French videos … all of the Vendee Globe which I will rewatch and try to train my ear to hear words. I watched a lot of the videos with French subtitles to help me hear words.

I have 4 years.

I don’t think I will be a fluent, grammatically correct speaker, in 4 years, but I hope to be able to listen and understand.

Onward!!!

*** Friday, 2/12/2021 was Emmett’s 3rd birthday! I am more about his “gotcha” day, but we had a good day :)

Today (Tuesday 2/9/2021) started at 4F and topped out at 14F.

Cold, but we are due to be even colder.

The good news about bitter cold is that it comes with clear skies!

A lot of short walks, but they were beautiful under cloudless, sunny skies with about 8 inches of new snow.

Snowy Friday morning…

The dark o’clock walk…

It was not cold … 29F.

When I get up, I think … Oh, I would really like to just make some coffee vs that first outside walk. But, that would not be fair to Emmett, so out we go and once we get out … I LOVE the fresh air and often dawdle longer than necessary before getting back inside.

Emmett is a VERY GOOD BOY and deserves a treat!!!

My little snow covered house in the woods!

But … snow removal …

I thought to shovel as earlier the snow seemed light.

But warm temps meant shoveling was difficult.

YES!!!

Of course! As soon as I finished clearing a path, it started snowing again.

Life!

In the house, yogurt making in progress.

Work in progress…

…and a cozy fire!

It is Friday night – Pizza night – YEA!

Friday Snow Day.

Clarisse Cremer finished her first Vendee Globe in style…

I spent a good part of Wednesday morning watching all there was on offer and it was SPECTACULAR! Clarisse raced well and shared the ups and downs … the fears and ultimately the conquering of those fears. It was a stellar race for the very young (31) skipper. I feel so fortunate to have followed her race. I also have several videos of her journey to this Vendee Globe saved to watch later.

Meanwhile.

From this evening’s walk:

A little snow today. The forecast is for a little snow tonight and tomorrow and … winter back with 1-3-7-10 inches forecast.

Yes … Winter advisory tonight … Winter storm watch later this week

We will see.

Tomorrow, a record might be made.

Clarisse Cremer is due to arrive in Les Sables d’Olonne: day 87 and some. She might have arrived day 86, but she has slowed her boat due to large seas and strong winds and conditions in the Bay of Biscay that make a fast arrival dangerous.

Clarisse is 31 years old. She has a degree in business from an American university and HEC Paris … but she was in HEC’s sailing club and opted for professional ocean sailing.

She has run a steady race for Banque Populaire X in a proven boat. She has been a joy to watch and follow: authentic and personable through all conditions.

If she arrives in less than 90 days, she will have the record of fastest, solo circumnavigation by a woman: a record set by Ellen MacArthur in the 2004/2005 Vendee Globe.

Currently, as she is approximately 154 nm from the finish (as of this writing) and her tracker info is updated every 30 minutes … and I am checking on the hour and half-hour!! … she anticipates crossing the finish line on Wednesday afternoon (France time which is 7 hours ahead of my time).

In the past days, for the past finishers, Clarisse, and 2 weekend-ish finishers, there have been some large Atlantic storms to navigate.

Holy Cow! I go to bed every night with the skippers on my lips in prayers and hope for their safe navigation to the finish.

Meanwhile …

I have observed that there is a horrific NE U.S. snow storm, i.e. “a ‘norEaster'” … lots of heavy, wet snow.

Forces of nature.

Here, in NW Montana, there is little snow on the ground, it was 40ish and it rained.

Dreary.

My team…

But in the “be careful what you wish for” … winter is forecast to return at the Week End … stay tuned!