This is northern Minnesota. Bitching Bragging about extreme winterness is in our Nordic DNA. When hell freezes over, Minnesota schools will start 2 hours late. There are four seasons in Minnesota: Early Winter, Winter, Late Winter, and Road Construction. The majority of cars and trucks have block heaters, standard. And on and on…
I used to hate detest abhor dread winter. Winter can be cold, dark, expensive, depressing, and we love to complain about it. However, as part of my ongoing quest for better health, personal growth and general serenity, I have been looking for ways to be more positive. I have come to realize that hating winter does not make it shorter, dreading winter does not prolong its arrival, and preparing for winter internally and externally reduces my stress levels about it. Less stress translates into less physical pain and reduces depression. This may be first-grade stuff to most people, but for me it was a revelation. Winter may never be my favorite season, but I can accept hate it less and find its unique moments of beauty and joy.
You will need:
2 containers of Cool-Whip
2 plastic tumblers
rocks or sand
food coloring
water
tea-light candles
First, eat the Cool-Whip. If you are from North Dakota, mix it with Jell-O and cottage cheese. If you are in Minnesota, combine it with a can of fruit cocktail and Jell-O to make a “salad”. Wash out the Cool-Whip containers, after licking them mostly clean.
I brought everything outside, having had a VLE (Valuable Learning Experience) while making Ice Gems/Marbles . I centered the rock-filled tumblers in the Cool-Whip containers, then filled them with hot water* from a teapot and added a few drops of food coloring. *I was told that the boiling water would make the ice less cloudy and add cool bubbles, but with a project this small, and my overuse of food coloring, it didn’t seem to matter.
Freezing times vary, depending on climate. These small containers freeze faster than their traditional 5-gallon bucket counterparts. And I can lift these without hurting myself. Once frozen, I tapped the whole works gently and popped the tumbler out.
Tah-dah!! Add the tea light candles for another craft that’s fast, cheap, and easy. 🙂 And hopefully, something to make winter feel a little less…blah.
As usual, if you enjoyed this post, let us know. “Like”, share, or comment. Loveyabye.
PS: This is just another glowing example of how I am working ’round the clock to help Cook Dollar Barn. This is Employee of the Year stuff, if you ask me. Vote for me here. Or send my sister a postcard. Better yet, bring us a plate of Christmas Cookies and tell Lois in person that LAURA ROCKS!
Pajari Girl 
“When Hell freezes over Minnesota schools will start two hours late.” Hahahahah. Hubby grew up in North Dakota. The thing I remember most about the first Christmas we spent with his family is the segment on the nightly news where they would tell you how many seconds you could be outside before your eyeballs would freeze. Also feel compelled to tell you that I, too, have Corgies. Small world.
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Lol! Eyeballs?? We have a similar segment on our news: how many minutes to frostbite and death. 😉 Small world, indeed! Corgi butts drive us nuts!
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“Early Winter, Winter, Late Winter, and Road Construction”
LOL. I’m from Michigan. This reminded me why I moved to California.
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But there are so many people there!!
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True, but there’s never ice on the roads unless someone drops their vente decaf latte with soy out the window. 😉
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Fair ’nuff!
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We need something like this but we hate koolwhip. But the solar lights along my walk aren’t glowing when we’ve had clouds for, like, two months straight. HOWEVER, I have strung little blue lights at the top of the living room wall, and they go on every night, year round, on a timer.
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I brought the Christmas cookies but forgot to say how awesome you are. Is it too late? We use to make ice candles out of ice cream pails. We would fill them and put them out to freeze but watched them and when the outer part froze and the inside was still water we would pour out the water and it made a natural pocket for the candle. My friends (and summertime neighbors) from Nevada are coming for a winter visit in Jan. and have never heard of ice candles or the ice marbles. So we are going to have an adventure. And if you have any leftover fireworks from July the BEST time to shoot them off is on a beautiful winter night. The reflection in the snow is awesome. And to go for walks without the flashlight on…to bundle up on the cold clear nights and watch for shooting stars…build a snow fort…and when it snows those big puffy flakes, go out and listen and see if you can hear it falling (like listening to the rain but with snow).
Monday,Thursday, Friday Kathy
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Yes, yes, yes. All wonderful adventures to take your desert friends on!
I’ll have to try the ice cream bucket next 🙂
PS The cookies and lunch were GREAT!! Thank you!
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