But It's Not November...

Last week we had temperatures in the 80s. It was still feeling quite a bit like summer. They told us on the TV weather that it was going to cool down, but I don't think we really paid that much attention. I mean, the weather forecast is pretty much always wrong...

    - Are you wearing a hoodie, pants, socks?

    - Is it November?

    - Do you pay the gas bill?

Or maybe we just expected it to be a bit cooler - not a lot colder.  But we've had quite an extreme temperature change, and it's really starting to feel like fall now. It's been cool enough when we crawl into bed at night that I've wished quite a few times that I had put some warmer sheets on the bed last time I changed them - maybe not the flannels yet, but perhaps the t-shirt material ones instead of the regular cotton sheets. But, it was 80° when I changed those sheets, and I wasn't ready for warmer sheets...

Jeffrey's also mentioned at least once that maybe we should think about turning the furnace on. It's not bad during the day - I've even been able to open up the door to the sunroom the last few days and let the cats out there - but climbing out of bed in the early morning (while it's still dark. WHY is it still dark?) is a bit chilly. A little heat might be nice, but it's not even November yet! Like a date on the calendar really makes a difference.

Honestly, the most important question on the thermostat in the pic is - "Are you wearing a hoodie, pants, and socks?" If you're not dressed properly, you really can't complain about being cold. Or hot, for that matter. There used to be a commercial showing a guy in jeans, socks, and a long sleeve flannel shirt always trying to adjust the thermostat to make the air conditioning colder. Seriously, buddy? Dress for the weather!  Apparently, you can save quite a bit on your energy bill just by adjusting your thermostat a couple degrees up or down (depending on season).

So, now that the weather has cooled down, we're wearing the long pants and putting on socks - and holding out for November. How about you? Have you turned on the heat yet?

Happy Solstice!

or, so that's where the 12 Days of Christmas came from...

I signed up for a free ebook last night. (I admit, even though I will never have time to read them all, I am seriously addicted to downloading every free ebook that crosses my path) This morning I got an interesting email from the author entitled Yule - The Pagan Holiday That Celebrates the Sun.

Celebrated on the winter solstice, Yule is a holiday dedicated to the return of the sun. Pagan deities associated with the celebration include: all newborn gods, sun gods and mother goddesses. Kris Kringle, the inspiration for Santa Claus, receive the honour of becoming the Germanic Pagan God of Yule. The winter solstice, as the first day of winter and the longest night of the year, has been celebrated for centuries. It signifies the return of the light, as the days become longer and the countdown to the life-giving spring begins. The Yule festival lasts for 12 days and involves great merriment and feasting, as well as many traditions each with its own meaning.  (read more)

I wasn't expecting that - guess I should check out that free book soon.

Seriously, I've known all my life that the origins of Christmas stem from paganism, though I don't really know all the details or haven't paid that much attention. Or actually care that much. It's enough for me that God gave us days to celebrate, and I have no need to look for replacements.

I have wondered what this 12 days of Christmas thing is when my calendar only has one day marked.  (and these days it seems that one day is stretched out more and more) Of course, the 12 days of Christmas come from the pagan holiday too. Why am I not surprised? (I think extending it beyond that is all retail)

Of course, there are many people who have celebrated Christmas all their lives with no clue that it has any meaning except for celebrating the birth of our Saviour. Others used to know the pagan origins and believed God when He said that He is not pleased when we attempt to honor Him by adopting the ways of the nations (pagans) around us, but somehow they have forgotten or decided it doesn't matter anymore. Or maybe God changed?

I'm pretty sure God hasn't changed. That would call into question a whole lot of other things besides holy days and whether or not pagan traditions can somehow be made acceptable and even honorable. So, I'm going to continue celebrating the days God set aside in the Bible - appointed times that remind us just who God is and what He has planned for us. Settling for pagan traditions painted and prettied up by man seems kind of hollow by comparison.

How to Keep Your Home Protected Through the Winter Months

With winter fast approaching, it's only natural that you'd want to make sure your house is fully prepared for all of the harshness that the weather can bring. Given all of the issues that can arise from an improperly maintained home, it's no wonder that many people are worried about how to make sure their house is as well protected as possible. With that in mind, here's a look at some of the best tips out there to make sure your house can handle everything that the winter brings and then some.

Waterproofing

Although it's easy to think that the biggest problem with the winter is the coldness it brings, the dampness can actually be one of the biggest problems. For one thing, damp areas typically attract insects, and that's a fact that's no different in the winter than it is in the summer. If you want to avoid all manner of pests breeding in the area around your home, then you'll probably want to make sure that you invest in some kind of exterior waterproofing. This system can help ensure that your house doesn't get any unnecessary leaks and that you and your family aren't exposed to anything that might cause you to get sick.

Reinforcing Your Roof

You'll also want to do something to make sure you're not letting go of any of that valuable heat you have. If you find yourself running an incredibly high energy bill, then it's likely that the issue lies with how your heating is being handled by your house. More specifically, your roofing might be to blame. If you can hire a contractor to take care of your roofing needs, then you should be able to help keep your heat contained so that it won't become a bigger issue when the winter really picks up in ferocity. Similarly, if you have a fireplace, you should consider investing in some kind of maintenance service for that as well, as you can never be too careful.

Getting Your Furnace Checked

Consider hiring a professional to check your furnace at the beginning of the cold weather season to ensure that it is working at full capacity. Sometimes just a small thing can make a huge difference in the efficiency of your furnace, and in your power bill. If you can't hire a professional, at least be sure to change the filter regularly.

While protecting your home may require an investment of both time and money, it will ultimately be worth it in the long run. No one wants to see their home fail to provide proper shelter for their family, and these steps will hopefully ensure that you keep the cold outside where it belongs and the heat inside with you and your family.

What's Your Winter Exercise Program?

Winter!  We had our first real snowfall of the season overnight, and that means it's snow shoveling season again.  We got about 5 to 5-1/2 inches which had to be shoveled off the driveway this morning before Jeffrey could leave for work.  Thankfully it was pretty light and fluffy, so it wasn't too hard.  We got the main part of the driveway finished, and then I shoveled the side after he left.  Overall, it took about an hour, and then I went back out when it actually stopped snowing and cleaned the driveway off again - along with the end of the driveway where the plow had thrown some extra snow.

Did you see that?  We actually had a truck with a plow go through our neighborhood.  Today.  Last year we had snow on the weekend - either Saturday or Sunday - and our streets were not plowed until Friday.   So today is pretty amazing, at least for here.  In Wisconsin, it was normal for our streets to be plowed right away.  Here, well maybe they're figuring out what they're supposed to do with this white stuff.  I've never lived in Indiana before, so I just assumed they got snow in the winter...

I'm counting all that snow shoveling as my winter exercise program - along with my walking, of course, and the exercise videos I do.  If you're looking for some good exercise videos, be sure to check out BeFit on YouTube.  They have some really good ones, and they're all free.  I do mostly some of the BeFit in 90 videos and the 30 Day Abs videos.  Between the Chest, Legs, & Buns workout I did yesterday and the shoveling today, I'm a bit sore!  But it's a good sore.

I am going to have to find a better way to log my shoveling, though.  I have been logging my miles and exercise on the Walgreens Balance Rewards site where I get points for all my miles and other exercise, and I was logging them on BeeWell for Life where all my miles and other exercises earned points and then they donated to charity. (They're currently revamping the BeeWell site, so I'm not sure how it's going to work when it gets back)

It wasn't until this summer when I started logging all my steps for mowing - 11,000 steps/2 hours, every week - that I realized they were getting off easy - and I wasn't getting all the points I was probably entitled to - when I just logged snow shoveling as Winter Sports. (it's a winter sport, right?)  So I'm going to start counting the hours.  I could also carry my cell phone in my pocket a time or two just to see how many steps it takes to go back and forth and up and down and over the whole driveway to clear it off.  But, whether I know how long it takes or how many steps I'm walking while pushing a shovel, I do know it's good exercise.  More so when we get heavy wet snow, but we'll deal with that if and when it comes.

What's your winter exercise program look like? 

Why You Should Never Get Rid of Anything

It never seems to fail - as soon as I get rid of something, I need it!  Never mind that I hadn't used it, worn it, or needed it in ages.  Not until I didn't have it any more.

The only way to avoid this problem is to never get rid of anything.  (I hear there are TV shows about people like that.)

This time I'm regretting that I donated a pair of hiking boots before we moved. We tossed, gave away, and donated a lot of stuff, and I hadn't worn them in ages, so off they went to Goodwill. And we moved.  And I never thought about them again until last week.  Wouldn't those hiking boots make good winter walking shoes?  Where did they get put?

So I looked through all my shoes, hoping that maybe I'd just thought about getting rid of them.  Maybe I still had them...  No such luck.

The problem is I got a new pair of walking shoes.  They're light, and airy - probably really nice in the summer when you want to keep your feet cool.  But not exactly perfect for cold and snow and ice.  I know, I should have thought of that when I bought them, but I didn't - and they were the only pair that really felt good on my feet, so...

So, I found an old, retired pair of walking shoes, and I've been wearing them on those days when the streets are covered in snow and ice.  I hadn't been walking in a couple days because of the cold and wind chill, but it was actually above zero this morning so I bundled up, put those old shoes on, grabbed my walking stick, and went for my walk.

Everything was warm, except for my toes.  Why were my feet so cold?  When I got home and took my shoes off, this is what I found:

The side of the shoe was split open - letting all the cold and snow into my shoe.  Of course my toes were cold!

And it wasn't just one shoe - it was both of them!  Maybe that's why these walking shoes were retired in the first place?  I should have gotten rid of these and kept the hiking boots!

I bet my new walking shoes will be warmer than these.

Winter Sport or Weight Lifting?

Once again I've started my winter exercise program - snow shoveling!

Actually, I walk like usual all winter, unless the roads are too snowy or icy, or if the wind chill goes below -20°, like today.  I just add some snow shoveling to the program, as needed.  Yesterday it was needed 4 times!  I suppose we could have waited until it finished snowing to shovel, but it was some pretty wet and heavy snow, so we shoveled every few hours, just so we could keep up with it.  It was heavy enough when we only had 2 or 3 inches to clear.  Imagine if we'd had to try and move the entire 12 inches or so all at once!  As they said on the news, doing that could be 'bad for your body' - not to mention hard!

As it is, we got plenty of exercise yesterday, and I can definitely feel that I did something.  The muscles are a bit sore!  Shoveling definitely works different muscles than walking or the exercise videos that I do.

The driveway is on the other side of the snow-covered bushes.
*snow enhancement courtesy of Google

It was really nice getting outside yesterday, even it was to work.  The snow coming down was absolutely gorgeous!  It was a bit frustrating to finish shoveling the driveway just to have it completely snow covered again, because the perfectionist in me wants to get it done.  Perfectly.  Yeah, no such thing.  That's also why I always want to get the driveway done before anybody drives on it - so there won't be any snow-packed tire tracks to deal with.  Thankfully yesterday was Sunday, and we didn't have anywhere to go.  So no tire tracks.  Until the last time we went out to shovel.

Back Yard from the kitchen window

Somebody had decided to pull into our driveway, probably to turn around, or get out of the way of another car.  Since there didn't seem to be any snow plows out, the street was pretty much one lane of tire tracks forged by whatever vehicles had to come or go.  While we were out shoveling one time, two cars met on the street and had to back up and maneuver around one another to get by.  One of the drivers seemed to think it was the other guys fault for not paying attention and driving down the middle of the street.  Never mind that there was really nowhere else to be!  I guess the next guy found our driveway.  Oh well, pretty much the whole driveway is a packed layer of snow now, since the temperature dropped overnight, and the wet snow froze to the driveway.  Frustrating at the time, though - couldn't he have just pulled into the driveway of someone who had already driven in or out and packed their own tire tracks into their driveway?  They never would have noticed.  Or probably cared.

It was probably our own fault, anyway.  The time before, we had shoveled out to the part of the street where cars had been driving - so that we could actually get out if we had to.  It was like an invitation, really.  Or at least we made it easy for them.

More falling snow courtesy of Google,
but it pretty much looked like this ALL DAY

My biggest question in all this is - not whether snow shoveling should be classified as a winter sport or weight lifting - but where are the snow plows?  In Wisconsin the plow would have gone by several times over the course of the day, and we would have had to shovel that mess of heavy, wet, slushy stuff off the end of the driveway every time.  I guess I don't miss that heavy, slushy mess, but passable streets might be nice.  Then again, I'm not going anywhere...  And Jeffrey only has five minutes to work.  Or maybe 10 when the roads are in this condition.

How's your winter exercise program going?

Snow Shoveling is My Winter Sport

Snowing (Photo credit: bcmom)

We shoveled the driveway 3 times today.  Sometimes it's hard not to just wait until it finally stops snowing to actually go out and shovel.  It just seems like it's a losing battle - shoveling while the snow seems to pile up as fast as we remove it.  Ok, it's not quite that bad, but seeing that layer of snow on the parts of the driveway we already shoveled is a bit discouraging.

What would be even more discouraging would be waiting until the snow finally stops coming down - and having to face a driveway covered in 6-7 inches of snow.  It was definitely much better to tackle it a few inches at a time!

Still, on a snowy day like this I am very tempted to stay inside and curl up with a good book, use the internet to read breast cancer information and facts and how to write an effective cover letter, or watch a good movie or two - glancing out the window frequently just to watch the snow come down, because it is really pretty.

Instead I made chicken soup, pita, and yogurt, washed towels, washed dishes, and I don't know what all, including all that snow shoveling - and barely got to sit down at all.  I'm counting all that snow shoveling as a winter sport and logging it at BeeWellforLife, and they'll donate to a good cause for everything I log.  It used to go to an organization that supported women living with breast cancer and their families, but now the donations go to the American Diabetes Association and an organization that helps women who are living with or are at risk of heart disease.  I just like that I can donate to something good just for doing something that I'm doing already - usually walking, but in this case shoveling snow.

Also, remember those breast cancer facts I wanted to read?  Turns out that regular exercise is one of the factors that can reduce your chance of getting breast cancer.

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...

It's Cold Outside

We had below zero temperatures this morning.  It was sunny and looked like a nice day, but it was cold.  Now, normally I walk every morning unless the wind chill is colder than 20 below zero, but I didn't even go outside today.  I just believed the thermometer!  Actually, I was going to go walking, but Jason spent the night with us last night, and about the time I woke up this morning and was thinking I should get up, get dressed, and go for my walk, Jason woke up.  So I just didn't end up going.

Instead we stayed in, had our coffee, and enjoyed our grandson.  We also enjoyed the fact that we have a nice snug house and a working furnace.  It certainly wouldn't do to get to the coldest day of the year (so far) and have furnace problems and have to call for furnace services hamilton or something like that.  The power was out for a couple hours last night, and it started to get a bit cold in the house.  It was enough to make us appreciate the furnace when the power came back on and the heat kicked in.  Sometimes we tend to take these things for granted instead of always realizing how good we have it.

Speaking of taking things for granted, it might not be a bad idea to think about a service like furnace cleaning hamilton just to get the furnace and everything associated with it checked over - sometime when we're not really depending on it.  They say maintaining the furnace, whether by checking and cleaning the filters regularly or by getting a professional check-up and cleaning, will help it run more efficiently and save on energy bills.

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.

How to Warm Up on a Cold Day

Yesterday it was in the 70s.  Today it was 31° when I got up. Talk about a major temperature drop!  It did get up to 48° today, and I did turn the heat on before I went to bed last night, because they were talking about wind chills in the 20s this morning.  Wind chills!  I think winter is on the way...

Here are some ways to warm up on a cold day, without turning the heat up, which can get really expensive.

1. Bake something.  The heat from the oven will warm up your kitchen, and you'll have some yummy baked goods, too.
2. Wash dishes.  You know there are always dirty dishes - especially after you just baked - so warm up by getting your hands into a sink full of warm sudsy water.
3. Curl up on the couch with a blanket and a good book.  Who said you have to accomplish anything?
4. Curl up on the couch with a warm cozy cat. Or a computer.  Or both.
5. Exercise.  There's nothing like getting your body moving and your blood pumping to warm you up.  Even running up and down the stairs a few times will do it.
6. Drink a hot cup of coffee or tea.  It will warm you up from the inside.
7. And the most basic of all - dress appropriately!  Put on some socks and a sweatshirt. It's winter.  You're not supposed to be able to run around the house in shorts and a tank top.

I'm sure there are plenty more tips for getting warm and staying warm on a cold day.  Let me know your favorite ones.

Friday Fives

Elizabeth over at Table for Five has started a new weekly meme that's pretty simple.  Just share a list - of anything!  I keep meaning to join in, but just haven't done it until today.  I think I've only missed a couple weeks - it's a new meme - but I'm thinking maybe I should post a list of all the reasons I haven't joined yet.  Or not.

Actually, I was just reminded of a post from a couple years ago called Thoughts on Shoveling Snow, and after reading the list, I realized all those thoughts are still true - so why not share?

Thoughts on Shoveling Snow:

Image by bcmom via Flickr

1. I really don't mind shoveling snow - unless it's really wet, heavy, and deep, like at the bottom of the driveway where the plow goes through, and in front of the mailbox.
2. Sometimes I'd like to wait until it actually stops snowing so I can shovel the snow all off at once, but I don't like to drive through it or have anyone else drive through it.  Tire tracks in the snow just make it harder to clean off the driveway.
3. Even if the snow isn't super deep and heavy, shoveling the entire driveway is still good exercise, especially when I have to do it multiple times a day.
4. I really wish the neighbors didn't have snow blowers - not because they get their driveways cleaned in less time with less effort, but because the gas fumes really bother me and sometimes give me a headache.  So much for crisp, fresh air.
5. It doesn't seem to matter which gloves I wear, my fingers always seem to get cold.  I did recently get some fingerless gloves with a mitten part that pulls over the end - what do you call those?  Glittens?  I'm hoping that will help.  If not I may have to find me some mittens and see if that helps, keeping my fingers together so they can keep each other warm.
   

I also wondered why I seem to want to spell shoveling with two l's - it seems like it should have them!  And I should update that those glittens do a better job of keeping my fingers warm, except when the mitten part comes off and exposes my fingers!  They need velcro to keep them closed.  Or I need to get a pair that fits me better - these came from the men's department.

If you'd like to join in with your own list and grab the button, be sure to visit Table for Five!  You can also enter your post here and then go visit other participants.

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• A Walk in the Snow (alwaysbcmom.com)
• Done for Now (alwaysbcmom.com)

Done for Now

The snow stopped, and the sun started to come out, so I thought I better get the driveway shoveled.  The snow was kinda heavy, and it took me a while to get it done, but the driveway is all cleaned off - for now.
 

The wind was still blowing, it was starting to snow again when I came in, and then the snowplow went by - so I'll at least have to go clean off the bottom of the driveway again, if not the whole thing. 

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.

Not So Cold After All

I'm feeling kind of cold today.  Blame winter!

Truthfully, it's plenty warm enough in here, and I really am thankful for a heated house and warm clothes!  When I was growing up we heated our house with a wood stove.  Actually we heated 2 rooms (sort of) with our wood stove.  Sometimes it was so cold that we could stand right next to that stove until the side of our body next to the stove was burning up - while the side away from the stove was still frozen!  I don't think that stove was very efficient...

Going to bed was an adventure.  We did not heat the upstairs where the bedrooms were, and we did not have electric blankets on our beds.  We'd pile the blankets on the beds and wear flannel pajamas, and lots of times we'd heat a brick on the wood stove, wrap it in a towel and take it to bed to keep our feet warm.  Still, there were lots of nights I thought I'd never get warm.  Only to wake up (sometimes with snow on my pillow) in the morning when mom or dad called up the stairs that it was time to get up for school.  I must've gotten warm and fallen asleep somewhere along the line!  But having to climb out of my now-warm bed into the frigidness of my bedroom - not fun!  The best thing was to just get it over with, jumping out of bed and getting dressed as quickly as possible.

Looking back on it now, I should have slept with my school clothes in the bed with me, so I'd have warm clothes to put on.  But, I was a teenage girl who never could decide what to wear - which is again hard to believe considering the only things I ever wore to school were t-shirts and jeans.  I did probably make up my mind faster in the winter time...

Nope, it's not that cold in here after all!

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!

I Think I’m Being Mocked

I just wrote that post yesterday, about Spring being on the way.  At the end of the day yesterday, there was absolutely no snow on the deck.  None.

A storm moved in overnight.  We were supposed to get rain (most likely) so Jeffrey and I didn’t get up to go walking this morning.  But when we did get up and he was getting ready for work, I looked out the window and realized that instead of rain, we were getting snow – and we should have gotten up and shoveled the driveway.  I figured it would be fine; we couldn’t have gotten that much, and I could just shovel later when it stopped.  Then the plow went through right before he had to leave, throwing all that extra snow at the end of the driveway – so we had to at least shovel the end of the driveway and probably Jeffrey’s side so he could leave.   That’s when I realized the snow might not be that deep, but it was wet and heavy and still coming down hard – so I better shovel the whole driveway while I was at it.  Otherwise I was afraid it would get too deep and heavy for me to move it.

It continued snowing heavily for some time even after I came in.  Nope, today it doesn’t look like Spring at all.  Tomorrow, who knows?

I'm Not Gonna Learn How to Fly

It snowed again last night, so instead of walking, Jeffrey and I shoveled the driveway.  It wasn't really deep or heavy, so it didn't take us too long - but we didn't have time to walk, and it was quite slippery (slickery) underneath the snow anyway.  So, when Jeffrey left for work, I thought I'd try this Fame Dance Workout DVD that I got from the library.

I went downstairs, pushed the coffee table out of the way, and started the DVD.  There are 4 different dances on the DVD, and I'm sure they'd be great workouts, but I started with the instructions for the first one, and I got lost right away. 




Mostly it's the fact that they are facing me, telling me to do this with my left foot and that with my right hand, and I'm completely and totally turned around and putting the wrong hand in the wrong direction and kicking the wrong foot, and....  (suggestion for you workout DVD makers - mirror images)

So I gave up, turned everything off, and came upstairs.  No need for post workout supplements, I just had coffee!