How to survive frigid temperature while making colorful ice balls!

By Elle

Despite having lived my entire life in Northeast Ohio, I’ve never been a snow bunny, preferring to cozy up inside with a mug of steaming tea than go sledding or build a snowman on wintry days.  Now that I’ve reached mid-life though, I’m more tolerant of cold temps. During winters of late, I can’t ride in the car with a coat on, I keep the thermostat in the bedroom set at a brisk 62, and I often dream of sleeping on a slab of ice.

That said, the temps this coming week will put even my tolerance to the test. Luckily I just bought a new down coat from Lands’ End (still on sale!) that is rated for -40° to -9° Fahrenheit. I can comfortably wear it outdoors, but the moment I step inside I’m ripping it off like it’s going to consume me alive — because it will.

Here’s what I love most about this coat:

• snug knit cuffs that keep the wind at bay
• adjustable hood that really works
• faux fur lining that helps give it the warmest rating
• removable faux fur on the hood (important for washing the coat)

Because I’m on the petite side, the coat falls to a little below my mid-thigh.

I’ve long been a fan of down outerwear, owning several down coats. I swear by them. Most down coats are rated warm, warmer and warmest, so you can buy the right coat for the right conditions and the right activities, such as making colorful ice balls for the yard!

During the first polar vortex a few years ago, Arkady and my granddaughter Brenna, then about 8, made ice balls using balloons and food coloring. They made about 10 balls and scattered them around the front yard. The temps were frigid for about a week, so the balls naturally lasted that long. Here’s a quick tutorial, the only difference being that Arkady peeled the balloons off the ice balls after they were frozen solid.

More recently, my 5-year-old granddaughter, Rosie, hunted for magic fairy ice gems (aka colored ice balls) hidden in the woods at the Holden Arboretum. During the hunt, which was part of her Winter Nature Experience class, the kids filled tin buckets with the fairy ice gems, created with the help of magic dust from the trolls who live in the forest.

There is something magical about spying brightly colored globes scattered across a monochromatic landscape, whether the globes are created in your kitchen or by a team of fairies and trolls.