Making trax...

I had to venture out of the house today.  I had my usual for breakfast, read a lot, watched the newest episode of the New Girl (hysterical), then had leftover chili and cornbread for lunch (in my new lime green bowl my parents got me for Christmas!): 

It's been on my mind lately to try a few new recipes from pinterest.  I am currently in the process of making homemade "Lara bars" (recipe here).  I wanted these bars to eat as a skiing snack for next weekend when I'm shooping my way down the mountain. But first, I had to get a few ingredients.  So, off to the store I went.

After my dad posed the question, "What are you walking on most of the time now?"  I decided to document it today.  The answer is ice or black ice, 98% of the time.  The main roads are cleared.  Sidewalks?  That's a negative.  So, for the first time ever, I decided to bust out my YakTrax (care of the Carruth fam!).  Talk about inventive!  

I didn't slip or slide once on my 20 minute walk.  I watched other people slip and slide, but not yours truly.  I did get a few funny looks (as always) because of my attire, but that could have been because I was wearing light brown boots, which are NOT labeled as "winter boots" in Ukraine.  Or because I had on a white and teal ski hat, a pink scarf, and a red purse.  I kind of looked like a rainbow exploded on me.  And my mittens (these babies) always get stares.  However, I was toasty and that's all that mattered.  

Along the way, I stopped and took a few pics.  You're welcome :)

The frozen river...I've seen men ice-fishing on this all week but I guess these temps have made them go inside...

This is one of the icy paths.  Sometimes the sidewalks are covered in a layer of sand or dirt, as I think they've done here.  However, it doesn't alleviate the fact that there is still an inch+ of ice...

A close-up of the ice.  Every one of the divots you see in the ground is from a Ukrainian ladies high heeled boot.  My YakTrax made quite an interesting impression in the ice as well but I forgot to take a picture...

I couldn't find cream of tartar sauce on my excursion today :(  hope that I can make snickerdoodle cookies without it!  I also managed to buy prunes instead of dates to make my Lara bars.  BUT, I'm still making them with the prunes.  Fingers crossed the turn out decent... :)

And if you are interested in another article/video about the weather here, BBC did a story on it today. Watch here.  Happy Friday! And good luck, Team Hobart!  Missy is ready to greet everyone at the Frost household tonight :)