Cold Snap

It was an ice cold dawn this morning! The thermometer outside the kitchen window read -20C, and it always reads a little bit warm because it is so close to a protected heated wall. Brrr.

I can tell before I get out of bed in the morning if the temperature is below -15C. My bones ache when it gets that cold. The first night of a cold snap my body takes note, and gives the alert… more blankets! When I made the bed this morning I added a wool blanket. Wool is wonderfully warm. The weather people tell us there will be at least two more frigidly cold nights to come, so now I am ready.

When the winter temperature drops below -7C the oil furnace heats the house. This is always a challenge, because the humidity drops to 20% or lower after just a few hours. Several times a day towels are soaked and hung around the house to dry. In addition, bowls of water are strategically placed beside the heating vents, and need to be refilled daily. It seems the next few days of the cold snap will be busy ones. And oh yes, the plants will need a little extra water during the cold snaps, all this warm moving air leaves them thirsty.

The sun! Another sunny day has arrived. This is such a welcome light. The curtains are all open to let it in, despite the cold.

The sun certainly seems to be the important element in bringing the bugs into the house. Today, basking in the sunshine, sitting on the easy chair, a small shadow flickered across me, barely noticed. Upon inspection, a Stink Bug was found crawling on the inside of the living room window. That can be taken as a sign that spring is coming, even though it is colder today than it has been all winter.

Stay safe dear friends!

Pandemic Related
Attila’s Mom received her first Covid-19 vaccine shot yesterday, and has an appointment booked for he second shot. Wonderful! She lives in the USA.

Worldly

Weather

-18°C (-20C or a little lower at our house)
Date: 5:00 AM EST Friday 29 January 2021
Condition: Not observed
Pressure: 102.9 kPa
Tendency: Falling
Temperature: -17.7°C
Dew point: -22.0°C
Humidity: 69%
Wind: W 14 km/h
Wind Chill: -26

Quote

“A man builds a fine house; and now he has a master, and a task for life; he is to furnish, watch, show it, and keep it in repair, the rest of his days.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
1803 – 1882

I love our small house!

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Anonymous

Stay warm, Maggie! My daughter just told me she heard that it is 2F right now! Jacked up my heat this morning. Snow on the way for Sunday into Monday but no idea of accumulations yet.

Eileen

Joan Lansberry

Stay warm! (Drink lots of water, too!)

Joan, who even complains about Yuma winters… 😀

Margarett

Hello Maggie, and to everyone. Mike and I went to meet BODIE BEAR this afternoon. He is an absolutely beautiful Aussie shepherd, with gorgeous light blue eyes. I think he will weigh between 40-50 pounds when he reaches adulthood. I think puppies and kittens are with us for moments of pure bliss. Of course, our pets continue to enrich our lives as they grow up, but the puppie/kitten phase is so special. He ( well, BODIE, Natalie and Jeremy ) begin “Puppie Kindergarten “ next week. Carson and Ryder will have to give him REAL exercise as he grows up. They have several great green spaces near their home for him to run/jump as much as he wants. He has really connected with Natalie, and pays great attention to her. This is normal, as she is with him all the time. It was a wonderful, masked visit….just not long enough! Carson, now 14, is taller than his Dad. And, he is really getting those adolescent muscles. Jeremy can still beat him arm wrestling….but I bet he won’t be able to much longer. Also, he is already passing and receiving college credits! These schools are so advanced compared to my education back in the olden times. He will be going to somewhere in Europe to complete a course his Senior year….this will all depend on COVID. I am attempting to detail a weeks worth of dinner menus…I am so over trying to decide daily what I am going to cook. And, I want more variety, and more veggies. Since my retirement and my health issues…I need to improve in this area. I am trying to analyze what may be wrong with your fingers. Could it be arthritis? I have seen patients that develop nodule-like bumps because of arthritis…..just wondering. I will be interested in your diagnosis. Take care of yourself and Atilla. I wish everyone was as diligent as you are with COVID precautions….Mike and I are as vigilant as possible, though we know we broke protocol with the puppie visit. Out 2 nd vaccination is 2/9. xxoo Margarett