Oh, November!

These past few days have been absolutely glorious.  Sunshine and 70s in November mean only one thing - get outside and enjoy it!

I spent Monday afternoon raking leaves, not that you would know it now because that same part of the yard is again covered in leaves.  But that doesn't really matter.  I got to be outside.  In the sunshine.  In November.  I'll take it.

Bright leaves and brilliant blue skies.  It would have been a shame to stay inside all day.  I filled up both trash toters and two paper leaf bags and set them out by the street to be picked up Tuesday morning.  Of course, then on Tuesday morning I read something on Facebook that said there are scientific reasons for not raking your leaves.  Oh well.  I may keep that in mind, in case the weather isn't so nice next time the leaves need raked...

There are still a few leaves left on the tree, and they'll end up on the ground soon enough.  Along with those that have already fallen.  After I raked on Monday.

I got outside for a bit Tuesday and today, too.  Because I had to.  I told Jeffrey he should play hooky from work this afternoon and we should go for a ride on the motorcycle, but he couldn't.  Unfortunately.  I almost went walking again just to get out, but I ended up working in the garden instead pulling out the old bean plants and the lettuce that went to seed and dried up.  It will be interesting to see how much lettuce comes up in the spring.  There are still a few peppers on the plants and quite a few tomatoes so those plants will stay until the weather changes drastically.  Which it will.  They (the weathermen) keep saying it will.  We can all choose to ignore that, right?

What did you do with this amazing November weather?

It's Cold Out There!

I walk nearly every morning, all year long.  Even in the winter.  My cut-off temperature is -20° with the wind chill.  If it's that cold, I stay in.  That means yesterday and today I did not go walking. Instead, I stayed in and did some exercise videos off YouTube, which worked out perfectly fine yesterday, but my internet went down for a bit this morning, and I was regretting that I haven't downloaded some of these videos for just such an occasion.  In the meantime I ran up and down the stairs - enough times that my quads were burning - and did some crunches and stretches, until the internet came back and I could do one of the videos.

Yesterday when I got up it was really windy, the kind of windy that could have people calling a roofing contractor calgary to replace missing shingles.  Thankfully, we've got a nice new roof with a great warranty.  Those shingles are not going anywhere!  And neither was I.  Besides the wind, there were icy looking little snowflakes flying around, and it did not look like fun at all.  Even if the wind chill hadn't been -20° I'd have been tempted to stay in.

This morning it looked much better.  No real noticeable wind, certainly not the kind that would have anybody calling roofing calgary, and the sun was shining.  It couldn't be that cold, could it? My phone said the air temperature was -5°, and the television said the wind chill was around -25° - even colder than yesterday.  That sunshine was very deceptive.  YouTube videos or no YouTube videos, I'm glad I didn't attempt to walk anyway.  I went out later this afternoon, after it had warmed up some, to get the mail and take some trash out.  I put my coat on, a hat, and some gloves, and I was only out there for a few minutes, but that was enough to discover that no matter how nice it might look out there, it was bitterly cold.

It's supposed to be a bit warmer tomorrow.  I'm hoping to finally get out there and walk.  I'm happy to have YouTube exercise videos as backup, but there's just something about getting outside in the fresh air.  Maybe I'll just double-check those shingles when I do...

What a Drop!

...and I'm not talking about a roller coaster, because I like those drops.  I'm talking about the major drop in temperature from yesterday to today.  Yesterday we were in the 60s.  Today we were in the 20s - with windchills in the teens.  Yep, somebody said it could feel like winter out there.

Not that I'm complaining.  Really I'm not.  More I'm just kind of amazed at the difference a day makes.  I'm also really feeling for those people on the East Coast who still don't have their power back.  I just heard on the news that 72,000 people are still without power.  Still.  On the one hand, the cool weather has probably made it easier to save some of the food from the refrigerators , but on the other hand, it's hard for people to keep warm when there's no power!

I know the power companies and the landlords have been doing their best to get everything back up and running.  Power workers from all over the country and mississauga electrical contractors and others have gone to help out - but it's been a really big job.  So, let's all continue to remember those who have lost homes and possessions, and those who are still without power even now.

And always remember to appreciate what you have while you have it.  So, major drop in temperature - and I'm thankful for power and heat and a warm bed to sleep in - with a cozy cat to snuggle up with me.

Dress Appropriately for the Weather

I changed the sheets today.  I did not put the flannel sheets on.  Thankfully it's not quite time for flannel sheets or electric blankets.  It's supposed to be 70° this week!  I even slept with the window open last night, and I'm planning to leave it open at least for the next couple nights.  I don't even care if it gets a little chilly!  (though it's not supposed to)

That's right - I really don't mind getting a little chilly when it's a natural chilly - as opposed to paying to be cold by running the air conditioner.  If it's actually supposed to be chilly, I can live with that.  Then it's time for those flannel sheets - and sweatshirts and socks.  I love fall weather and wearing warmer clothes.  The problem is when it's summertime, and I'm wearing summer clothes like shorts and tank tops and sundresses, and I don't think I should have to bundle up.  So I only turn the air on when I absolutely have to - like when it's in the 90's with high humidity for several days straight, or when the rest of the family complains too much.

A typical home air conditioning unit. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I did learn this summer that it's important to run the air conditioning at least once in a while, whether we need it or not.  The first time we turned it on this summer, it would not work.  Apparently, the motor froze up because we don't use it enough.  Thankfully we have a neighbor who worked for a company that specializes in heating and air conditioning systems, and he came down and checked it out for us.  He was able to get it going that night and then get a new part and fix it for us for a reasonable price.  That really helped us out and helped our neighbor out a bit, too.  It was a very hot summer, so even I appreciated it - and that's saying a lot!

I don't know if you've seen the commercial where the man in jeans and a flannel shirt is fighting with himself, trying to keep himself from turning the thermostat down?  He's too hot - obviously, since he's not dressed appropriately for summer - and he wants to turn the air conditioning colder.  Instead of putting some summer clothes on!  The commercial is trying to sell some kind of air conditioning system that would allow this guy to cool his rooms down so he isn't all sweaty in his flannel and jeans.  I think the point really is - dress appropriately for the weather, and you don't have to cool your house to the point of refrigeration in the summer, and you won't have to turn the heat up so much in the winter.  Just a few degrees either way can make a huge difference on your power bill.  Also, I don't think I'd dislike air conditioning so much if stores, restaurants and other public places would adjust the temperature so that it's comfortable for people who are dressed appropriately for the outside weather.

Too Hot for Fireworks?

Fireworks (Photo credit: bcmom)

We always go to the fireworks on the 4th of July.  Except for that year they shot them off on the 3rd, and we didn't know they'd changed the date until we showed up on the 4th, only to find the place deserted.  But other than that, we always go.  We really enjoy watching fireworks.

This year we decided not to go.  It was just plain too hot.  The temperature in Milwaukee got up over 100° today, with very high humidity.  The highest previous temperature on the 4th of July was 98, back in 1990.  Yeah, on a day like this, even someone like me who doesn't usually appreciate air conditioning can be thankful for it.  It hasn't been that hot in Milwaukee, on any day, for 17 years.  It hasn't been this hot since before we moved to Wisconsin.  Summers in Wisconsin are usually very very comfortable. 

We just couldn't find the energy or motivation to leave home to go sit outside in the heat, with no shade (until the sun went down), and wait for the fireworks.  So we stayed home and watched fireworks on tv.  They're not quite the same.  OK, they're not really the same at all, but we didn't have to go anywhere.  We watched both the New York City show and the Boston show.  They were both good, but I like Boston's the best.  New York had Kenny Chesney performing on a rooftop though.

While we're talking about fireworks, here's a video I put together last year - when we saw fireworks both on July 3rd in Milwaukee and July 4th in Waukesha.  These are the Milwaukee ones.

Fireworks (Photo credit: bcmom)

It turned out to be a good thing we didn't go to the fireworks after all.  The show had to be stopped because of a grass fire - so we wouldn't have been able to see the whole show if we had gone.  That would have been just plain frustrating.

Anyway, I hope you all had a great 4th of July, whether you stayed in and chilled like us or picnicked, partied, and enjoyed your local fireworks.  Happy Birthday, America.

Coming Out into the Sunshine

It's fun to see how the warm weather brings everyone out.  This weekend people were out riding bikes, walking their dogs, grilling, riding motorcycles, just generally hanging out outside - and, of course, wearing shorts.  Around here it seems that, when the weather gets above freezing, people just have to wear shorts, even if they're still wearing the winter coats.  I don't really get it, but this weekend - and the rest of this week - it really is shorts weather.  I wore my shorts when I went walking yesterday, and this morning.  (See, this is something I want to remember - March 19th, wore shorts.  Also, took flannel sheets off the bed and put regular sheets on.)

Will this warm weather last?  I guess we'll see.  We have seen snow in April, and these warm temperatures are not normal for this time of year.  Usual high temperatures are in the 40's with lows in the 20's.  Is it time to get out the kohler power washer and wash the deck?  I'm not sure about that, but Jeffrey did get all the deck furniture out of the shed and put it back on the deck.  We had some company this weekend, and the kids spent quite a bit of time out on the deck - and Jeffrey and I have been enjoying our dinner out there the last couple evenings.  We even had grilled steaks and potatoes for dinner last night!  Tonight while we had dinner, we enjoyed watching the neighbor's kites dancing in the sky.  We're definitely enjoying the weather while it lasts - and I doubt you'll hear us complaining if it doesn't end up getting cold again.

If it does get cold?  And snow even?  That's OK, too.  This time of year any cold or snow won't last long.  It's definitely not worth packing up the suitcases or ladies duffle bags and heading for warmer climes!  Considering that while we've been enjoying the warmth and sunshine, it's been cold and snowy in places that are normally warmer than we are, there's just no guarantee that would help anyway.  The weather is just plain weird!  Hopefully 80° days in March won't mean unbearably hot summer days - or I really will be wishing I had a pool, and the rotate & lock above ground pool ladder ne121 by lumio to go with it!  Either that, or the guys will be wanting the air conditioner turned on, and I'll be freezing in July - and wishing for March weather!

A Walk in the Snow

Image by bcmom via Flickr

Snow again today.  Yes, it's finally looking like winter in Wisconsin.  They said it was supposed to start with sleet or freezing drizzle early this morning and then change to snow, but it was already snowing by the time we got up this morning.

We are going to have to change our morning schedule!  Since Jeffrey stopped walking with me, I haven't been getting up until he gets up to get ready for work.  While he's getting dressed, I make his lunch, and then Weasley and I see him off, and I go for my walk after he's gone.  That works just fine - unless it snows and the driveway needs shoveled - because there's no time to get it shoveled before he leaves for work.  He did quickly clean off his side this morning while I finished up his lunch, but it just got covered again practically as soon as he cleared it off.  So I'm waiting until later, when it stops snowing, before I go out and shovel.  I don't have to go anywhere today...

I did go for my walk after Jeffrey left for work.  Two miles in the falling snow!  It was really nice.  The new snow is a lot better to walk in than the slush and slippery patches left from an old snow.  I keep thinking I should get some Alpinestars Tech 10 Boots or some kind winter walking shoes, but so far I've just made do with my regular walking shoes.  I'm not sure the mesh in the tops of my current ones is the best idea for winter, though. 

By the time I got back, I was having a hard time seeing because of all the snow on my glasses, and my hat, coat, and gloves were covered in snow - but it was all worth it.  And definitely better than sleet or freezing drizzle.  Those would have kept me inside.

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And We Have Snow...

I'm sure I'm not the only one, but when the weatherman on the news says that we're going to get snow - I'll believe it when I see it!  Well, I believe it.  The snow started shortly before 9 this morning.  Of course, the jury is still out on how much snow we will get.  I think they're saying 4-6" and lots of blowing, but so far we've just got a dusting.  It's coming down quite steadily, but the flakes are really small so they don't pile up too fast.

I'm hoping it doesn't get too bad, at least not 'til a bit later.  I prefer to stay home when it snows and don't get out unless I have to, but today I have to because I have an appointment with the dentist this afternoon.  Well, I could have rescheduled, but I'd have to wait another two weeks and who knows what the weather will be like then.  So, I'm going.

It's not that I can't drive in the snow - I just prefer not to.  And it's surprising how many people have forgotten how to drive in the snow since last winter.  The first real snow of the season always seems to catch them by surprise, which doesn't make much sense.  After all, we live in Wisconsin!  Now, a snowstorm in Texas where they're not used to snow could cause a real Houston migraine, and that would be entirely understandable - but we're used to snow here, or at least we should be.

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January?

It's been hard to believe that it's actually January the last couple days.  It's been sunny and in the high 40's to low 50's.  Seriously - sunshine and 50° in January.  In Wisconsin.

Not that I'm complaining.  I could get used to this.

They were saying on the radio yesterday morning that the golf course in the area are making thousands of extra dollars because people have been out golfing.  In January.  In Wisconsin.

Yesterday I thought I heard someone riding by on a motorcycle.  In January.  In Wisconsin.  I bet people are even breaking out the saddles and horse riding helmets and going for trail rides.

We're all plenty happy to put winter on hold.

Until tomorrow when we're supposed to get several inches of snow, and we'll have to forget about golf, motorcycles, shirtsleeves, and sunshine - and pull out the snow shovels.

And learn to drive in the snow again.

What I Like About Fall

I like all the seasons.  My favorite one is always the one we're in.  I figure I can't change it, so I might as well enjoy it!  So right now my favorite season is Fall.  I like the cooler weather after the heat of summer, even though we usually don't get super hot summers in Wisconsin.  I love the colors on the trees as the leaves change.  I love the smell in the air - except when there's too much smoke in the air from burning leaves.  I love wearing jeans and boots and hoodies.  And I love that it's finally soup weather!  You just can't enjoy a good bowl of soup in the summertime.

Once winter gets here, it will still be great weather for soup and boots, but we'll have to start wearing heavy coats and hats and gloves when we go out.  A hoodie won't be quite enough.  I'll still wear them around the house, though.  I like the zipper ones best because I can take them on and off without pulling them over my head and messing up my hair.  We keep the house fairly cool in the winter, so I definitely need to wear a sweatshirt, but when I get busy baking or doing dishes, I need to be able to take them off quickly and easily.  That's why I love the zipper hoodies better than any other sweatshirts.  They're even good in the summertime, when the guys in my house turn the air conditioning on, even though I shouldn't need them in the summer!

That's right, I enjoy the cooler weather in the Fall because it's supposed to be cooler.  I don't like artificial coolness caused by air conditioning.  I love sweaters and hoodies and all the other cooler-weather clothing; I just don't like it in the summer time when it's supposed to be warm!  To each season its own time, and I love it when it gets here - but not before.

He Just Said a 4-Letter Word!

Image by bcmom via FlickrThe weatherman is using a 4-letter word - SNOW!

He's using another one, too - rain - but I'm not so worried about that one.  It's the idea of snow for the first time this year that has me protesting.  It can't be time yet, can it?

It's kind of like when Jeffrey used the F-word - FURNACE - as in, "I think it's time to turn on the furnace."

It can't possibly be time, can it?  Time for heat and flannel sheets, electric blankets, slipper socks, hot chocolate, sweaters, soup, boots, and all the things that mean winter.  I was just enjoying Fall!

Hard to Believe it's October

The weather has been so sunny and warm and nice for the past week or so.  It's hard to believe it's October!  I'm not complaining at all because I know soon enough it will get cold.  I think maybe we enjoy these warm, sunny days in Fall more than the warm, sunny days of Summer - just because we know they can't possibly last, so we appreciate them more.  I try to appreciate the weather no matter what it is, but it's easy to take something for granted when it's what you expect.  Soon enough the neighbors will be putting on the solar pool covers, the gardens will be completely done for the season, and we'll even have to turn the furnace on, but for now I'm enjoying every minute of the nice weather.  If only I could get outside in it more...

The beauty of warm sunny days in October - besides the before-mentioned sun and warmth - is the cool nights!  Warm in the daytime, cool snuggle weather at night.  I love it!

Rain!

We woke up this morning to the sound of rumbling thunder.  As Jeffrey was leaving for work he told me I needed to come see the clouds.  So I grabbed my camera.  They were pretty cool – storm clouds moving in.

I wish I could have caught some of the lightning that flashed through them, but I’m not that lucky.  I watched the clouds for a bit, until I started getting wet and then retreated inside the house.  Since then we’ve had, not continual rain, but periodic downpours.  The yard and the garden can definitely use it, but I catch myself wondering if I really want to go out today.  Not that I think I’ll melt if I get wet, but it’s more the kind of day for curling up with a good book.

Can I Open the Windows Yet?

When Jeffrey came home from work tonight, he asked if I was feeling all right. I didn't know what he was talking about, and then he said that he thought I would have turned the air conditioning off and opened the house up.

I was wanting to, but the forecast this morning looked like it was going to be relatively nice today and then heat right back up tomorrow and stay hot for the rest of the week.  (I use the word 'hot' loosely because my idea of hot and everyone else's idea of hot seem to be different)  So, to avoid complaints from my guys, I just decided to leave the air conditioning on.  But then, this evening, the forecast had changed a bit - and tomorrow looks really nice, too - so maybe I should have opened the house up.

We've had the AC on since last Saturday, and it will probably be on all this week, too - which is a really long stretch for a Wisconsin summer.  Tomorrow looks really nice, though.

It's Going to Get HOT

-- I typed this post once, but for some unknown reason, Blogger logged me out, and everything I'd written was GONE! --

The past few days have been gorgeous!  Yes, I do like hot summer weather, but I would be perfectly happy with an entire summer of days in the 70s and cool nights perfect for snuggling.  Unfortunately, that's not going to happen.  They say it's going to get HOT and stay HOT through next week.  And humid.  You know what that means - air conditioning!

Hopefully I won't turn into an icicle.  I hate when air conditioning = refrigeration.  I don't want to have to put on a sweatshirt when I should be able to wear summer clothes.  I don't want to be wishing I had some fireplace inserts to switch on for some extra warmth.  I turn up the temperature on the air conditioner as far as I can without it getting too stuffy in here, but I still get cold.  And yes, I'm watching the news right now as they tell me how dangerous this heat is and how hard it will be on people who don't have air conditioning, so I know I should be extremely thankful.  I'll just do my best to appreciate it and go outside periodically to sit in the sun until my toes thaw out.

For now I'm going to enjoy having my windows open with a nice breeze blowing in.  I don't know when I'll get to do that again.

I Love this Summer Weather

My parents are here visiting.  They live in Kentucky, where the summers are hotter and more humid.  Of course, their winters are much more mild than ours here in Wisconsin - so I suppose there's always a trade-off.

I'm not complaining at all.  I love our Wisconsin summers, even though I also enjoy a little heat.  I just don't enjoy heat that is hot enough that my guys want to turn the air conditioning on.  When the air is on, I freeze inside the house and have to go outside every so often to warm up in the sun, or I turn the temperature on the thermostat up until I'm not freezing - and then it gets stuffy in the house. 

Thankfully, we don't often get that kind of heat.  And, when we do, it doesn't last long.  We have enough days that are warm enough the neighbors can take their above ground pool covers off and enjoy some time in the pool, but not so many days that I have to close up the house and turn the air on.

Today was a perfect kind of day - blue skies, sunshine, and a nice cool breeze.  It was cool enough that my cute little Kentucky mom had to wear her sweatshirt part of the time, and my dad sat outside on the deck enjoying the sun for a while.

Last Year This Time

Today is not just our wedding anniversary. It's the one-year anniversary of the Eagle Tornado.  Yes, last year we celebrated our anniversary by having a nice dinner on the deck, and then later a tornado roared through our neighborhood and left a path of destruction.

Last year this time, we were walking around in the dark, checking to see if our neighbors were OK, just beginning to get an idea of that destruction.  It wasn't until the morning came that we really got a chance to see the damage.  (Eagle Tornado, the Morning After)
 

All the pics - here.

Today and tonight we've had plenty of wind and rain, lightning and thunder - but thankfully no tornado this year!  We'll be happy never to have another one of those.

Spring? Summer?

It's almost the end of May.  I figured it was time to put regular sheets on the bed instead of the flannels, so that's what I did when I changed the sheets on Monday.  I took the electric blanket off the bed, too.  Which will be really nice when the weather actually gets warm.

Today, though - cold and rainy and windy, not feeling remotely like Spring.  I know it's coming, eventually.  Or maybe we'll just skip straight to Summer.  They're saying on the weather that we could hit 90° on Sunday.  Who needs Spring anyway?  We're just going straight to Summer!

Time for Flannel Sheets?

November 9, and my outside thermometer says it's 69°!  Sunny and almost 70° degrees in November - gotta love it!  It got chilly this past weekend so we actually had to break down and turn the furnace on, but I turned it off again yesterday and even had some windows open for a while.  It was laundry day and time to change the sheets on the bed.  Because of the chill of the weekend, Jeffrey said he wanted the flannel sheets on the bed, but I had a hard time actually putting them on when the day was so warm.  I did it anyway, because it gets cooler at night, and it's supposed to be cooler by the end of the week.

While I was at it, I went ahead and put the electric blanket on the bed, too.  Hopefully we won't have to actually turn it on anytime soon, but we'll have it when we do.  Since I always forget which way the blanket goes so that the control on my side of the bed controls my side of the blanket and the control on Jeffrey's side of the bed controls his side of the blanket, I noted it on my LiveJournal several years ago - so I can look it up when it's time to put the electric blanket on the bed.  You'd think I'd remember one of these days.  But I don't.

How Long Can it Last?

It's November, and I'm putting off turning the heat on as long as possible. We did turn it on the first night we came back from Utica, but I turned it off the next day because the weather was so nice, and I wanted to have the windows open.  Thankfully we have had wonderful weather, through most of October.  It's been great for all the work we're having done on the house.

Yesterday Jeffrey and I went for a little walk around the neighborhood, checking on some of the other houses that are being redone and rebuilt.  It was so nice Jeffrey said we ought to go put on our leather jackets and riding boots  (and gloves) and go for a motorcycle ride.  And we would have, but since he just had surgery on Wednesday, it wasn't a good idea. 

We'll just have to hope that the nice weather holds on for a bit longer.  I won't have to turn the heat on in the house, and maybe we can have one last ride before he puts the motorcycle away for the winter.