Last week as I typed my post it was 9 degrees above zero. Today it is 9 degrees above zero. The local weatherman stated it has been the coldest December (to date) on record. Gee. The dogs don’t want to go outside; Pam has to put a coat on both Blondie and Bru — but Jo does not seem to care one way or the other. Our two inside/outside cats, Sunny and Soot, pop out for a few minutes then it is back into the house. The cat box in the garage, seldom used during other seasons, is getting a workout and Pam is changing it twice a day. It is cold!
This past weekend (Saturday) I took a trip to the lot to check on the RV trailer and pick up some evergreen boughs for Pam. It was warmer at the trailer than at home due to the inversion we are having in the Grand Valley. The trip was uneventful; it was good to be back up there. Temps were in the high 20s with lots of sunlight and a light breeze. There was about as much snow there as at home, it made walking a bit harder but not impossible as I walked from tree to tree to cut the boughs. (Pam wanted a mix of pine, spruce, and fir.)
I had taken the generator and battery charger along to top off the battery charge, and while I was there I climbed onto the RV roof and swept the snow off the solar panels. Next year I will have to devise a means of mounting the panels at an angle which would make them more efficient and avoid snow build-up. Live and learn.
RV at Sanderling, December 14.
I was able to make it up the drive by putting the truck into 4-wheel drive. Inside the trailer it was in the mid-40s and everything looked to be in good shape. I had my lunch, made a cup of tea, and took a break before heading out to collect the evergreen boughs. The trip back was uneventful, even with winter driving conditions.
I want to cover a couple of miscellaneous items here. First, if you have ever owned (or been owned) by a cat you might get a laugh out of this YouTube Video. It is a “Dear Diary” written from a cat’s perspective. Very funny.
Second, here is motorcycle-themed Santa. He was on the cover of a recent Duluth Trading Company catalog and Pam cut him out for me.
Santa on his motorcycle.
With the temps the way they are I’m not riding but there is alway next summer!
Parts have arrived for the Gilson tractor – a new starter – and I will try to get the Gilson fixed and running again. It is also time to decorate the tree. Our daughter Felicity send us a fresh-cut Oregon Noble Fir and it looks great. We have decided to put the tree in the living room with sparse decorations, mainly lights, and see if it can survive the attention the cats and dogs will no doubt give it.
My next post will be the Christmas Post and will recap the highlights of our 2013. Much will involve the work at 179 Sanderling Court but there are visits with Felicity and Toby to recap as well as a few ATV trips and other events. Look for it next week.
That is it for now. Thanks for looking in!
Pam’s Two Cents Worth:
It is frigidly cold. I’m not a fan of weather records, high or low. What about some nice, average weather throughout the year?
I’m finally working on the holiday cards. Slowly.
Happy trails.
It appears that you’re in the midst of a “heat wave”, with temperatures actually “soaring” above freezing, and your long-term forecast keeps daytime highs mostly in the 30’s.
Let’s hope the warmer weather continues for awhile — definitely a case of “too cold, too quick” this year.
The quick “in & outs” of your animals says it all…
I’d expected a bit more snow at Sanderling, along with the potential for Spring run-off to do some damage to your driveway.
Of course, it’s still early — a lot that can happen over the Winter.
I’m somewhat lucky being in south-central Wisconsin this year. To the east, lake effect snow has caused heavy snowfalls. To the south, heavy ice storms and, to the north, considerable snow.
It’s been cold, but no where near the 20-30 below records — today is the first day it’s reached “freezing” since before Thanksgiving.
At least it’s gotten warm enough for salt to work — many, many car accidents yesterday and even a plane sliding off the runway when temperatures barely hit double-digits during a snowfall. Only 7+ inches on the ground at the moment — looking at the forecast, it will definitely stay around past Christmas…