Zero

Winter has its beauty but I'm ready for Spring!

Photo by Lori

Winter has its ugly as well. Last night when I turned on the water tap to fill my ice cube tray - NADA! Turned on the hot water tap - NADA! Went to the bathroom turned on the faucets - NADA! Panicsville set in. A feeling of it washed over me and froze me in place! I checked the fuse box and everything was in order. I called a local plumber and left a message. Shaking, I put my head back on and called a neighbor and friend of 66 years. He calls me "Aunt Gere." Soon he and his son arrived to investigate. The heat tape was working. As he was the man who built the pump shed for us so many years ago, he uncovered it, opened the front and inspected everything inside. I sat inside trembling. I'm not good with major failures happening to my habitat. Pretty soon they came inside and turned on the tap and eureka! water flowed fine. The hose valve that was just replaced last March was frozen. He had brought a hair drier and thawed it. The heat tape was wrapped around the pipe on both sides of that tap but not on it. Now it has some new insulation wrapped around the bare area and it didn't freeze overnight. Of course I trickled water in the kitchen and bathroom throughout the night which is something that is always done when the outdoor temperature gets to zero. The plumber called me back within 15 minutes and expressed relief that it was under control here as he had other calls to get to ASAP. 

WHEW! It did take me a while to get over the shock. I must be getting old!

2014

Today

The sun is shining, I'm happy today. BUT it is COLD outside! I ought to tell you that I do not like the cold - inside it's warm - enough - just - I can do this.....

It's 10:30 now, it is quite windy and the temperature is the SAME...Froze my nose taking out the trash for Tuesday pickup. Hadda to do it! Not a wild critter in sight. Not even a person critter!

My cat is climbing the walls. Heat rises, don'tcha know!

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P.S. Cat on the wall knows all!
 

The Sun is Out and it is COLD

Again, I'm looking out through the windows of the cabin and the views are fine as I'm warm indoors! Note that the temperature was 0° at 7AM.

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A Good Day!

By a good day, I mean it isn't snowing, the roads are not treacherous by weather conditions for those who chose to travel and our home is warm, we have food, we have comfort and our health seems to be in the "well" section of the dial.  It is an unusual Thanksgiving that we have this year as we did last. We stay home. We don't have family for meals. This year we didn't have turkey. We are content. We agree that it is time to slooooowwwww down!

The main thing is that we are thankful for multiple reasons and celebrate this day our own way. Did you watch the Parade in NYC this morning? It was impressive. Did your meal and your relatives, friends, and others eat well and have very happy visits? We hope so. There are so many people suffering emotionally, physically, financially...many are having an awful week and a bad year. Our hearts go out to them. Be sure to find one little nugget of goodness, something to be thankful for and then you too will have had a happy thanksgiving. We did.

8:00 AM 12°

 The ice is beginning to form on the lake.

 Before baking the ham...

 We shared some good stuff...

 We ate simple...

... and have leftovers to share!

Tonight it will be sandwiches with lemon cake and ice cream dessert. 

Weather Change

Warming up and impending rain is the latest word.  I called the township road department to alert them that the large catch basin at the side of our property was filled with debris and was plugged. I couldn't believe that within half an hour they were here digging it out. A heavy rain would cause the hillside flooding waters to go across the dirt road and down across our beachfront into the lake if it remains plugged. This has happened several times in the past. The Mister always kept the basin free and open but no longer can.  

I finally got around to baking some cookies. Yes, I used the prepackaged little squares of dough and they are very tasty. It is the easy way. Sometimes easy is a good choice. 

As I looked out the kitchen window I did finally catch the red male cardinal on the lawn by the shed under the hemlock tree.  It was a fast shot because I believe he saw my movement and he flew away quickly as I had interrupted his breakfast. 

And last, the temperature has risen to +40° and the fishermen have arrived. So far there are six of them. The ice should be very thick and safe. 

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Update: Saturday night it is supposed to go back down to 0°!! 

Awful Cold and Awful Fire

I think we're stuck at -8°! This was at 7AM. At least the sun is shining earlier!

We went grocery shopping and when we returned it was still below zero, but now, late afternoon it is all the way up to +19° so there is hope for a warmup.

Last night in this freezing weather a local family- owned Italian restaurant and pizzeria burned. A local photographer took fine pictures of this dramatic happening and put them on Facebook. I won't snatch any of her photos but hope you may see them by clicking on her FB link and then scroll down to the 42 shots that tell the awful story of the fire. This is an old town with old buildings and it is a great loss.

 Town Fire in Freezing Cold Night

Winter Day

The sun is shining brightly. The lake is completely frozen. There are no ice fishermen in sight. The wind is blowing. Two joggers went by. Crazy fools! I see feral cat prints in the snow. I looked out the kitchen and dining room windows as I checked e-mail and caught a movement on the snow by the shed. She was all alone under the hemlock tree.  I couldn't find her mate anywhere. I wonder if her feet were cold. It's a good thing the windows are clean.

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Cold Enough

Our grandson is an avid fisherman and caught this largemouth bass on a freshwater lake that wasn't yet frozen, but he was sure dressed warm enough to have had an ice fishing experience. Froze his face off!

The below image is his original perch photo made into my creations. It was posing for this picture on a snow covered deck at lakeside.

 First 

 Final-It's what I saw!

Soon there will be ice fishermen on our lake here and they will be very successful as they always are. It's cold enough.

 Please click on image to feel the Brrrrrrrrr!

It is Here!

Old Man WINTER arrived with a bang! Not much snow is covering the ground, but the cold and the blustery winds slipped in overnight. The cinder truck just drove by.  It was 10° when we crawled out of warm beds and is still under 20° at noon.  We intended to go to the laundromat this morning but changed plans. A few more items in the baskets won't make much of a different in load sizes. The Mister helps as it is difficult for me to carry the baskets.

For an unknown reason, I have no desire to bake anything. My knitting projects are finished for the moment. What can I get into now???? The Christmas cards are sent - some via e-mail, others via snail mail. The gifts to family were enclosed. A few gifts to friends were sent and received. I think I just might step outdoors and clean out the cobwebs that are lurking under my hair. I'll have a short conversation with James. Then perhaps I will be motivated to do something productive! I am ready to keep warm.

Please click on image to see my warm and pretty socks!

Tuesday Morning

Our first real frost! And, the lake is really cooling down. My view through the dining room window this morning at 8am inspired me to go out and enjoy the fresh cold air.

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Bright Cold Morning

At 7am I took a picture of the thermometer as it was showing the coldest temperature we have had this season. We know it will get colder but I like to document the start of the approaching cold winter. It was +4° then.

When I looked out 45 minutes later, the sun had risen and the temperature went down 2°! It went to +2°. We have seen this before and don't know why but it is common.

A large icicle has started to form. I asked the mister to not knock it down until it is larger so I could get a picture.

As I looked at the snow covered ice in front of the cabin I see three  of the openings that the lake bottom springs have kept open - for a while. 

AND...something small has left tracks and maybe even a tail swipe - perhaps a muskrat?

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Soon the ice fishing people will come. Maybe we can give away all of the equipment for that sport that we have stored in the shed. It is just taking up room now.