So can I just say that here on the prairie it's effing cold?! It's not chilly or nippy. It's COLD. I know, I complain about it a lot. But I'm cold. Before I lived in Hawaii, I loved cold weather. Bring it, I would say! I love wearing sweaters and pashminas and scarves and jeans and boots. But they aren't enough to keep me warm when the blustery wind blows through here. Hawaii ruined me, I guess. Four years of 85-degree weather with lows in the mid-70s thins your blood after a while. The other day I realized how cold I was in my own home. I looked at the thermostat. The reading was 65. SIXTY-FIVE, PERSON - I MEAN PEOPLE.
The pond outside of our house has frozen over. We'll have a day where it gets into the 40s, and that's when the Mallard Family shows up to paddle around the water. But now it's got a solid top on it. I just watched a leaf blow across the top and slide around. Amazing.
It's so chilly here, the kitties have puffed up. Tux looks like she's doing an impersonation of a Samoan football player. She's not pudgy, she's fluffy. Her fur kind of sticks out, like a dandelion. Nubbin, naturally, had a standard layer of blubber to keep her warm. She's not as fluffy, but she's still got a bit more fur than she used to. Moose Man was concerned they would not get their little winter coats, as they are from a place where it seldom gets below 70 degrees. There have been generations of kitties who never had to grow a winter coat, and he pondered that maybe they wouldn't grow a winter coat. However, nature has prevailed, and I'm guessing they are thankful for that.
At my job, we have a large, garage-like shed where excess items like bags, boxes, packing materials are stored. I went out earlier in the week to get more shopping bags. Normally this would not be a problem. We were out of one size of bag and I was having to open up boxes to see what we had. I was in the shed for probably twenty minutes and had to go inside before I was finished, due to the fact that I couldn't feel my fingers. They were burning. Burning! It was an extremely odd sensation. I have had my little digits go numb. My fingernails have turned various shades of violet as well. But burning?? I am under the impression that that feeling is indicative of frostbite, but might be wrong.
Until spring, I will just try to layer as many clothes as possible and drink warm liquids - tea, coffee, hot chocolate, mulled cider or wine. I hope you are staying warm these chilly days.
