Parties for Two in Foggy February
Out here on the Saskatchewan prairies, February wraps us in a deep freeze. Snow piles high in the yard and lanes, the wind howls across open fields, and windchills dip low enough to make you question every life choice that led to rural living. But my husband and I? We refuse to let winter win. Instead, we turn every excuse into a celebration. Just the two of us, a warm house, good food, and a whole lot of laughter. It’s our personal antidote to the long, cold days: parties for two.
(Our Parties for Two are ongoing events every month of the year.)
First came the Super Bowl. I don’t follow football, but my husband does and it’s always party-time. My food choices are always very low-carb/high protein though my husband can be a bit more flexible as he doesn’t need to watch blood glucose. I oven-baked a big batch of crispy wings, alongside celery sticks and homemade ranch dip loaded with fresh herbs. Cauliflower pizza, pistachios, coffee, dark chocolate squares, blueberries, and non-alcoholic bubbly filled us quickly.
Valentine’s Day landed mid-month. (We’ve long since ceased going out on Valentine’s night as we prefer the coziness and décor of our own home, and the harsh storms sealed our decision.) We kept it simple yet special: Burger patties air-fried to juicy perfection, topped with cheese and served on sourdough biscuits (no biscuits for me) I baked fresh that morning. Pan-fried lamb chops with browned onion and mushroom toppings. Chocolate pudding (made from Maria Emmerich’s boiled egg recipe at https://mariamindbodyhealth.com/hard-boiled-egg-pudding), and homemade ice cream churned with heavy cream, strawberries, and a splash of vanilla. We lit a couple of candles, put on some quiet music, and toasted with more sparkling bubbly. Our cat Vega contributed by pawing the single rose in a vase, then looking deeply offended when it was removed from his reach. Romance, prairie style.
A few days later came the men’s hockey Olympic game in the early morning. Hockey matters as much here, so we upped the ante. We added chaffles (cheese and eggs low-carb waffles) topped with a little sour cream and bacon bits. Melt-in-your-mouth beef stew cooked overnight in the slow-cooker, sourdough slices, stuffed eggs and select roasted veggies with olive oil and pink rock salt completed the breakfast. We sipped coffee with cream and watched every round with the intensity of true fans. Vega, unimpressed by national pride, spent the entire second period chasing my hair ties he valiantly tried to chew. Every time we took one away he stared at us like we’d taken his property, then sprint away. We lost count of how many minutes of game we lost while looking for Vega.
We even turned the State of the Union speech into party material. No politics, just an excuse to snack. Pizza made in Germany, thin crust lower-carb loaded with pepperoni, sausage, and extra cheese for my husband. Different nuts in little bowls (spicy peanuts, pecans, walnuts, pistachios), more dark chocolate, blueberries, and air-fried chicken tenders. More bubbly and creamy coffee. We listened, commented, cheered, and debated what was said over bites. Vega provided commentary with occasional mews from under the daybed.
Then Survivor 50 premiered, and oh boy, we were ready. Wings again (because why mess with a winner?), sourdough biscuits, slow cooked ham, eggs, fruit salad, Zevia, and coffee with cream. The star dish was pepper elk sausage given to us by a neighbour which we baked in the oven. We took in the entire three hours, exclaimed over the contestants we knew, critiqued every alliance and blindside, and cheered for our favorites. Vega stole the show by perching in front of the TV, staring at the screen like he was judging the players harder than Jeff Probst. When Jenna got voted out, he yawned dramatically and walked away. Tough crowd.
The highlight of February, though? Our little road trip on the 10th. We bundled up, cranked the heat, and drove into the Qu’Appelle Valley. Neither of us had been in that particular area in winter before. The hills roll under thick snow, fog occluded our vision ever so often, partially frozen lakes gleam like mirrors, and the whole place feels like a secret world tucked away from the flat prairies. We stopped at lookouts, took photos of the snowy ridges and valleys, sipped hot homemade coffee we took along, and just breathed in the tranquillity. Vega stayed in his heated house but we brought back stories to tell him. He greeted us by posting himself by the front door and rushing in as soon as it was opened, looking proud.
Scrabble is our thing, and through all of it, we played Scrabble. At least four games a week, sometimes more. The big premium carousel board stays out on its own table in the living room, inviting impulsive plays. We challenge words, gloat over high scores, and blame bad draws. Vega helps by jumping in between us on the couch, or placing a paw right in the middle of the board. In rare moments he leaps and claws the back of my husband’s head. I call it jealousy, so we try to include him and keep him close to me.
February in rural Saskatchewan can feel isolating, with the snow and cold locking us in. But we fill it with joy anyway. Small parties, big laughs, delicious low-carb eats, and a cat who thinks he’s the real star. It’s just us, making our own fun, one celebration at a time. And honestly? I wouldn’t trade it.
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