Winter How To's
HOW TO BUILD THE COOLEST SNOWMAN ON THE BLOCK
1.BUILD THE BASE
Grab a shovel and move the snow into a pyramid-shaped pile that’s as tall as you want your snowman to be.
For maximum stability, the base of the snowman should be twice as wide as the head.
2.START SCULPTING
Use a shovel or handsaw to carve a snowman shape into your heap of snow.
Then chip away at the finer details with a small cake-frosting spatula.
3.FINISH YOUR MASTERPIECE
Try carving arms, eyes, a nose, and other details directly into the snow.
Add some personal touches, or mix food coloring with water to “paint” your snowman.
HOW TO TREAT A NASTY FOOT BLISTER
1.IF IT'S A SMALL, UNPOPPED BLISTER...
Leave it alone. Your skin serves as a sterile biological dressing.
It should flatten out and heal in a week or two, as long as you avoid shoes that irritate it.
2.IF IT'S A BIG, UNPOPPED BLISTER...
Pressure from the fluid can cause further irritation, so you may want to drain it.
Using a sterile needle, poke a small hole at the edge of the blister and gently press the fluid out.
Leave the overlying skin in place as a dressing.
3.IF IT'S ALREADY POPPED...
Keep it covered with a dry, sterile, non-stick dressing and wear shoes that don’t rub against it.
To prevent infection, avoid soaking in water until it heals.
If walking becomes painful, or the blister bleeds, see a podiatrist.
AS IT HEALS...
Watch for signs of infection like redness, cloudy drainage, increasing pain, foul odor, or flu-like symptoms.
HOW TO BUILD A BACKYARD ICE RINK
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
- Mason's string (at least 160')
- 20 24" rebar
- 10 16' Douglas fir 2x6s
- 6 1-foot 2x6s
- 2 lb 2" deck screws
- 2 lb 3" deck screws
- 1 40'x100' spool 4mm plastic liner
Estimated cost: $350
1.SCOPE YOUR TURF
On a flat area, measure a 32'x48' rectangle with string and pound a piece of rebar about 18" into the ground at each corner.
Clear away any rocks or sticks
2.BRACKET THE RINK
Run the fir 2x6s along the inside of the string, joining them with the 1' 2x6s and 2" deck screws.
3.SECURE THE CORNERS
At each corner, connect the boards with 3" deck screws to form a rectangle.
Pound rebar outside each corner so that all the corners are braced by two pieces of rebar.
Also, place two pieces of rebar at the joints along the length and width of the rink's frame.
4.LAY OUT A LINER
Cover the box with plastic and push down at the edges to form a reservoir.
Now trim the outside so the plastic overlaps your rink brace by a foot around the perimeter.
Staple the plastic to the outside of the frame.
5.FILL 'ER UP
Fill your rink with 1–1 1/2" of water. Let it freeze overnight and add a second layer the next day.
Let that sit for two nights. Filling in stages will ensure optimal results.
Test to make sure the ice is solid before skating.
