Friday December 23

[Shirlv]

Morning All, rain pounding my windows and 47° predicted for today, rain turning to snow , accumulation .05” or dusting. Prediction of 25° tomorrow. I’m exhausted trying to keep up with weather. I will think about it tomorrow. Will need to put all faucets on a drip and hope for the best. #3 granddaughter said 7 month old loves books. I checked Amazon and offered baby’s first library. It said delivery tomorrow which would be amazing. Steel cut Oates and fruit for breakfast and something with French fries for dinner.lol Stay warm and be safe

[Othersharon]

Morning all. Buddy and I went outside a bit after 7 this morning and it was 37. Right afterwards the wind started and I’ve been watching the thermometer in the kitchen drop like a rock, it’s now saying 12. Seems like every time I glance at it it drop a degree! Plus the rain has changed to snow so it’s not nice outside right now! Glad I don’t have anywhere to go today. My lights have flickered a few times so hoping I don’t lose power but at this point it’s a real possibility. Hibernation seems like a good option right now! Jump in bed and pull the covers over my head until spring!! Have I mentioned that I’m not a fan of winter?!? So other than that there’s nothing really going on today. I’ll just putter doing things in the house. It’s about time to bundle up and get pup outside again. I know I need to keep a close eye on him and hope he’ll do his business and come back inside with me fairly quickly. He likes to roam free out back but I think this is the time to leash him so I can control the situation. So that’s about all I can offer this morning. Hoping all west of me are getting through this weather and any east of me be prepared. Stay safe and stay warm.

[SoCalGalcas]

Good Morning, it is 51*, clear and sunny here this morning. I love my crock pot. Put a chicken breast in, some lo na chicken broth some spice and have a nice meal 5/6 hours later.
O’Sharon, I missed what breed is Buddy.? He sounds adorable. Did you say you bought “steps” for him? I bought steps for Hazel, four steps. Makes it much easier for her to get on the bed. I wish I could get her to go down as well as up! I use “Chewy” for most of my dog supplies. Is there a better site?
I just read that it is The Rocky Mountains that are protecting Calif. from this horrendous storm.
So good to hear from Donna. You helped us keep track of the Florida forum members. I can understand though why you would want to move closer to family.
Lyn

[Cudedog]

. . .Did you say you bought “steps” for him? I bought steps for Hazel, four steps. Makes it much easier for her to get on the bed. I wish I could get her to go down as well as up! I use “Chewy” for most of my dog supplies. Is there a better site?
Lyn

Good morning, Lyn. I also have "steps" for my Big Joe. I just shoved them up against the bed, and in a few days he figured out all on his own how to go up and down them.

I also use "Chewy" for most of my dog supplies, other than dog food. Easy website to use, really fast delivery - I quite like Chewy.

Anne

[OregonLuvr]

Well interesting morning here. We got nothing and it is warmed up to 42 right now. Was only 35 when I got up and took the dog out. North of us was a sheet of ice, Laura had lots of ice and a little snow on top of it. She is working from home. My doctors office changed my appt yesterday to 11:15, now called and changed it to 2:15 LOL He lives in Eugene so has to come 70 miles south to Roseburg. I dont really care, they offered me another day but I would prefer to get it over with today and nothing on my agenda so it will work. So will just hang out until 2pm. Already took my shower so I am ready. I will have lunch before I go. Barbie and Lyn are having the best weather of all of us right now. We are supposed to be 62/49 on Christmas day..........wont complain about that.

I have had steps for Emma since she was just a tiny pup. She learned quickly how to get up and down. I dont want her injuring herself jumping off my bed as it pretty high for a little dog. I go between Chewy and Amazon depending on who has the best price for what I want.
So a Mocha is on my agenda for now.

[gypsyrose1126]

Its afternoon and it has warmed up to -7. We are not getting the blizzard like winds they predicted, maybe later today. Hope everyone has a happy, safe Christmas and if you are driving be extra careful.

[Colliemom]

Good Afternoon from here too. Been watching the snow coming down all day and piling up. Not having extreme wind gusts, but occasionally they gust to 37. They say the highest winds are supposed to come tonight and the Lake effect will be barreling down here after that. I was out early this morning right after day break and cleared about 4 1/2 inches of snow out of my drive and there’s least that much if not a bit more out there now. I am going back out again very shortly to blow it out again and that will probably be the last of it for today because it will be getting dark in a couple hours. Not that I can’t do it after dark because I have a light on my blower and lights on the garage but it’s not necessary. The county is concentrating on the primary roads today and they said that they will do the subdivisions tomorrow. Everybody is hunkered down and nobody is going out. One did go out this morning while I was out with my blower but they were not gone very long, so I’m suspecting he may have just run down to Waters and came back. The temperature is about 15° with a wind chill of about -1 I think. This has been a really dry snow so it’s been very easy to blow. Thankful for that. But it is nice and cozy in the house looking out. Hard to remember that it’s Christmas weekend because with this storm going on, sure doesn’t seem like it.

I just put up the ceramic Christmas tree and the chalet that my mother made way back in the 80s. So I have a little Christmas scene here. Piper is laying on the floor chewing on her bone and Molly just came in from outside. She was laying out there for a while, then she decided she had enough. They will be climbing the walls by tomorrow.

So that’s my news from this end.

[Irmi]

Hi ladies!

Shirl, Sue, O'Sharon, Martha & so many others, please stay safe & warm during this wintery blast so many of us are getting. It is currently 62 degrees here in central FL and it looks like we'll wake up to about 30 degrees in the morning. Steve moved 3 of our large potted plants into the back room of our casita, also known as my music room. Two other large plants are wrapped in a sheet with hopes they'll survive the unusually cold weather.

We went to a meat market in Wildwood for the first time today and bought a 5 pound boneless rib roast for Christmas Day. Steve will cook it on his Big Green Egg and I'll make a few sides to go with it, including mashed potatoes, gravy and broccoli in a cheese sauce. By the end of the week, we'll be close to 80 degrees and I can't wait.

Tomorrow is the Christmas Eve service in church and I'll be keeping an eye on the traffic on 75N to see if that will be the best way to go or if we need to take another route, which could easily add 30+ minutes to the trip. It takes one hour each way if the weather and traffic are perfect and they like it when I'm there.

I think Barbie & Karen will be the warmest of all of us, so everyone, please stay safe. If you don't have to go out, stay home.

[Bethers]

I had stairs for Peaches. It was her back hips that were going. She immediately learned to go up them. Jumping down they land on the front paws/legs. Nothing I did would convince her to use them jumping down as that didn't cause her any pain. What can I say! Like Karen I use Chewy and Amazon. I get the best deals lately on Amazon using subscribe and save so most of Ty's food comes from them.

I'm trying to handle it cooler inside than I like because I don't want to run out of propane. Fingers crossed. After tonight I think temps will stay above freezing so if I do, it won't bring freezing pipes, etc.

Ty rolled in something when we were outside this morning. I stopped him quickly, but not quick enough. We came inside and so did the smell. To cold for a bath but I've wiped him down a couple times best I can.

[Redetotry]

It got down to -7 last night with a lot of wind. We had a little rain yesterday and then about 3 inches of snow. The high today was 6 We haven't gone out and so far power is on and I have water dripping from faucets in kitchen and bathroom. I think the high is going to be 22 on Christmas Day. It was too bad out to take Emma to her trainer today and she was not happy. At her usual time to leave and nothing happened she decided Nancy was coming to pick her up, which she has done only a few times. She spent a half hour at the front window with the curtain pushed back looking for her.

I have steps for Pippa to get on the couch. The first time I showed them to her she ran up them and back down. Guess she figured she had learned that trick and hasn't used them since on her own.

I hope everyone stays safe and the warm up comes as fast as the cold came.

[JudyJB]

I'm in Napa and spent today with my son and his family. Can hardly tell grandkids are around since they are 15 and 17 and spend a lot of time in their rooms. Did have grandson drive us out to Office Max to get some supplies. We all got him stuff he needed for flying, like special maps, glasses to practice flying by instruments only, red light to use in the dark, etc. He is planning on being a pilot, so his parents are paying for flying lessons so he can get his pilot's license. Because of the cost, he will go to community college for the first two years and then to a four-year college with an aeronautics program. He is ready to solo now, so it is good that he is a very responsible kid. I got the cats some treats with catnip and son gave each of three cats a few. Oldest cat who is 22 years old and barely walking around liked them so well she spent the next few hours trying to lick my son's fingers!!

Chilly, but not horribly cold here--guess the mountains are protecting us. Would still rather be in warmer place. Days are getting longer, at least. Tomorrow we are going to DILs parents houses, so I made some sugar cookies in the shape of Christmas trees. Made two big batches, one for each house and group, and will bring along frosting and things to decorate them.

Took RV in for diagnostic evaluation yesterday and found out I am going to have to spend a ton of money. Need new front shocks, tie rod ends, steering shock, and most importantly, new and beefier rear springs. The last will be the most expensive. They are working on an estimate of part costs and labor estimate, but that will take a couple of days because of the holiday and weekend. Might have to spend a few extra days in Napa to get it done, and might just get essential stuff done right now. Yuck!!!

[BarbaraRose]

Hard to remember that it’s Christmas weekend because with this storm going on, sure doesn’t seem like it.

Snow always put me in the Christmas spirit. I especially liked seeing it snow (lightly) on Christmas Eve. I didn't mind the snow nearly as much as the bitter cold. I do remember quite a few Christmas's that were at least -20*! Not fun!

It was too bad out to take Emma to her trainer today and she was not happy. At her usual time to leave and nothing happened she decided Nancy was coming to pick her up, which she has done only a few times. She spent a half hour at the front window with the curtain pushed back looking for her.

Awww! That is sad!

Another long busy day but did slow down by the end of the day. Tomorrow there will be 3 of us for just 6 hours. My manager was gonna book a perm but I reminded him that there will probably be several women coming for blowdry styles and he is the only one who does them of the 3 of us, so he shouldn't be taking a perm too (which he has to do too).

After work tomorrow I need to find some decent looking strawberries for my X-Mas goodies for the party. Strawberries are not in season here right now so not sure what I will find.

Stay warm and cozy!

[snowball]

I did get out and spent money way more than I should have and still didn't find anything for mom... my youngest shops at Target a lot I go and I can't seem to find anything ... that said I still spent a lot there... and their clothes??? didn't see anything that I thought were something mom would wear so I think I will tell her that her gift is a perm just need to make the appointment.. it's figuring out how to do it... I called and the phone message said we have no receptionist so you need to go on line and make the appt... I just need to figure out what I am doing wrong to find them... but I also think I will wait till her cough is less pronounced...her lift chair is not working right now but the next time she goes to use it might be... I did find where the batteries go but didn't see how to get them out 9 volt so need to look and see if we have any that size.. the other night I heard this loud crash thought what in the world a bin full of cassettes cd's and what not also batteries fell so just gathered them up and put them back guess I need to take time and really put them in order and see if 9 volts magically appear...
I never used Chewy just because of where I typically was but my sister uses them a lot...
she texted me saying that mom's gift would be late due to weather but something from Nuts. should be there and to check and see I didn't see it we will hope that it's just not there as it's been snowing today I was going to go early to shop so I'd miss the snow but it started a couple hours early so still had to go out in the snow... and suppose to snow later tonight again but it's not that big of a % so who knows...
we actually warmed up it's 16 right now at least we are out of the negative
I'm working on the border of my crocheted afghan now... have 6 more rows to go ... just out of curiosity I did the math to see how many stitches there is 285 stitches... 154 rows... I didn't write down the figure but a lot of stitches...
Anne what is the name of your book I wanted to mention it to a friend and forgot the name of it...
Donna have a safe trip to your new home.... I can understand wanting to be closer to family
everyone take care and be safe out there in the unseasonably cold weather that we are having right now...
sheila

[Acadianmom]

It got down to 21 last night and never got above 32 today. The wind was blowing so hard I could hear it blowing stuff off the porch. It blew the trash bin over but I woke up early enough to pick it up before the truck passed. The raccoons must not have been out last night or there would have been trash all over the yard. On the way to town I noticed that the fields that had standing water had Ice floats.

I had to go to Lafayette to take my son for an MRI on his back. The traffic wasn't too bad except getting stuck in a traffic jam caused by an accident. Someone not paying attention rear ended a car at a light. I was trying to wear a mask at the doctor's office but it was making me cough too much. I had to sit in the car with the heater running. I stopped at a Dollar General on the way home and OMG what a mess that store was in. The coke delivery person had stacked drinks right in the door way and you almost had to climb over stuff to get in. They had so much stuff stacked in aisles you couldn't get down some. They try to run those places with so few employees and now they want you to check your self out.

It has only gotten down to 24 so far tonight and it looks like it's holding there. It's suppose to get above freezing for a little while tomorrow.

Barbie, I don't envy you having to work tomorrow. My son wanted to go shopping and told him you do know it's Christmas Eve tomorrow. Amazon to the rescue. lol

Martha

[Cudedog]

. . .as it's been snowing today I was going to go early to shop so I'd miss the snow but it started a couple hours early so still had to go out in the snow... and suppose to snow later tonight again but it's not that big of a % so who knows...

Anne what is the name of your book I wanted to mention it to a friend and forgot the name of it...
sheila

Hello Sheila, sorry to hear about the terrible cold there, but glad to know that you and your Mom are improving, health-wise. The name of my book is "Christmas Jones", thanks for asking.

Christmas Jones
https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Jones-Anne-Parr/dp/1090240902/ref=sr_1_7?crid=LM1PI4XJSI58&keywords=Christmas+jones&qid=1671895083&sprefix=christmas+jones%2Caps%2C143&sr=8-7

I am really enjoying reading everyone's "Storm Stories", wherever you are. Please keep posting them!!

LOL, I don't have much to say on the storm front. Not storming here, predicted to be a balmy 60 degrees here today, although the fog may be rolling in at the moment which might make things a few degrees cooler if it hangs around.

Wishing all of you the Merriest of Christmases, wherever you may be.

Stay warm and stay safe!

Anne