IT'S WINTER!!

[Nasoosie]

GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY WINTER TO ALL!

I set my alarm for 2:30 am last night, and got up to see a mostly red moon with a bright uncovered sliver hanging in the clear sky here in Orlando. Molly and I watched while it got to totality, and it was eery and beautiful. (Actually, she couldn't imagine what on earth we were doing out in the backyard at that hour!) I wanted to have a good camera with a delayed lens closing, but I had only my cheapie digital (usually more than good enough for what I usually wish to capture) so I didn't even try to get a picture. I noticed a couple of other neighbors going in and out of their houses to watch it, also. It was a display so far above the scheduled fireworks displays of these theme parks down here, and so rare to have happen on the Solstice that I felt privileged to watch it.

I remember watching one other lunar eclipse in the winter, though not on the Solstice, years and years ago when the kids were very young. I made a matress bed on the floor of an upstairs bedroom that had a high peaked roof facing the southern sky, and the full moon shone in on us throughout the hour, or so, that the eclipse was at its peak. I know that Mandy stayed awake for it, but think Goog was too young to have any idea of what was going on. I think I have seen maybe two other lunar eclipses in my life, besides that one and last night, so it's not a common sight, for sure. So much depends on the place you live and the condition of the sky at the time.

So now it's officially winter, and the shortest daylight-hour of the year. It seems as if the Summer Solstice was just a week ago! I don't like the fact that time speeds up as our age goes up----it's just not fair! I can remember when a year seemed like what a decade seems like to me now. Sigh!

Today the temperature is to get up into the 70s, which will be very nice. I see that it's 16 above zero at home, too, so they will have a decent day back in the north country. Mandy will go back to her house for a couple of days to make jams and jellies from all the fruits she picked last summer, and with some of what I picked and forgot to bring with me, too. I sure would love to have some of those frozen raspberries and blueberies down here with me.

I have no clue what is in the plans for today, as I need to hunker down and wait for my pension check to get deposited into my bank account at the end of the month. Bike riding and jacuzzi lolling sound good to me, and a good walk with Molly. I have plenty to eat in the freezer and refrigerator, so no need to go anywhere, except to look for a croquet set for Melissa for her Christmas present. I will check WalMart, and Bass Outdoor World, both of which are very close to me, if I can find them!

I hope all is well with everyone today.

Happy Winter to all!

[Liz]

I too, got up at 3 a.m. and stood outside in the cold for 20 minutes. I did take a couple of pictures which turned out a little fuzzy. Roe and Bandit were quite confused about why I went outside too.







It was a beautiful clear night for viewing from here in central Florida.

I slept in this morning until after 7, am now still having coffee & english muffin, reading the paper. Hope everyone has a great day and the bad weather lets up everywhere.

[avalen]

good morning ladies
not much going on in my part of the world today, guess I'll do more cleaning. I can
remember a time in my life when I was happy to vegetate in front of the tv all day
on days like this, but now it just seems like I should be doing something more.
Have that little voice in my head that says, "if I don't do it now, I might not have
time tomorrow" or "if I don't do it now, it might not get done" you get the jest.
Guess I do have something that needs doing today, am suppose to deliver the
box of truffles to daughter and her bf.
Time for another cup of coffee and maybe I'll make some oatmeal for breakfast.
Enjoy your day and be safe and warm. Echo, there's a storm heading your way,
so hope you stay warm, it just might have some snow in it.

[Colliemom]

Edit postDelete postReport this postReply with quoteRe: IT'S WINTER!
by colliemom » Tue Dec 21, 2010 9:15 am

I too was able to see the total eclipse. When I went to bed, the clouds from this next front were starting to roll in and I didn't have much hope of seeing anything. Woke up around 11:30 and it was total clouds, couldn't see anythng up there. But it was bright out cause of the full moon. So I hopped back in bed. Then I just woke up around 2:30 and noticed it was darker and the eclipse was on. Got up and looked out. Of course the moon by then was directly over the house, so I had to open a window to look up and see if I could see it. And lo and behold, by some miraculous fate, the clouds in the sky had parted and there was the most spectacular sight. The moon going into total eclipse, Orion the Hunter just to it's south and a zillion stars in the sky. Well, I couldn't keep the window open, so went and bundled up and went out on my deck to watch this for awhile. Looked at all the stars and picked out some constellations and even saw some meteors from the Ursid Shower. Only 10 degrees out there, but what the heck. Like you Soos, my dogs were probably trying to figure out what we were doing out there at that hour. I even came in and got my binoculars for a really good closeup. Surprising how a moon that was so big when it first rose, can get so small in the eclipse. As the moon got into total eclipse, the clouds began to filter back in, and little by little, the stars began to fade. By 3 a.m., the moon was getting behind a light cloud cover, you could see it, but not as clear. But by then I had my show, so back to bed and I just now got up at 7:45. So I will probably be a bit draggy today, but it was worth every minute. A once in a lifetime thing I will not see again. Now, if the Northern LIghts had been out, that would have been icing on the cake.

So today I won't be into much. Going to clean house and get that out of my hair. Thought about baking myself some Butter cookies, but I think not. Will be taking the girls for a walk later on and snow is moving in. Not much but some. Maybe a couple of inches if that. They are doing snow dances up here with the big week coming up. The snowmobile trail along the highway here is almost down to drt and by next week will be. It gets all the sand and salt etc. thrown into it from the road plows, so they need more snow. Back into the woods there is enough, but not like it should be. This is the big money making week for the motels, bars, restaurants etc. up here. There will be a zillion snowmobiles running around, skiers etc....It's kind of fun watching people come up to enjoy up north between the holidays.

[AlmostThere]

Morning,
Yep, Winter begins at 3PM! No eclipse sighting here, but enjoyed Liz's pictures.

The last of my X's relatives flew back to Illinois yesterday AM and at the same time my SIL had to fly to AZ because his Dad had emergency surgery for his burst appendix and is now running a fever. My DD is busy washing up bedding and getting her home back to normal, and my DS/DIL made it safely back to CA (flew, left their vehicle here) so he can work a couple shifts at his work and then they'll fly back for Christmas, then drive back to CA afterward.

Today is my league bowling. It's our potluck/Christmas exchange, too. I'm thinking I'm gonna bow out the second half of the year as my eye surgeries are both scheduled for Tuesdays. I already have another gal that can take my place on the league. Plus for me, my mind has enough going on with being executor to my X's Will. I meet with my lawyer tomorrow at 1pm.

This afternoon my DD and I are going to my X's 5th wheel toy hauler and clean that out. There isn't too much stuff inside, dont know about the outside storage cubbies. When my DS gets back from CA we are all going to then start in on the 40 ft. boat. Now there is a ton of personal belongings on it as he lived there at times.

Ok, coffee is hot and there's fresh fruit, too.
May your day be blessed.

[mtngal]

It sure doesn't feel like winter here! Forecast is for the low 80s today. I am looking forward to spending most of the day outside. A couple errands, walking, and probably an hour or so at the driving range.

Rats, no eclipse for me, foggy sky! Someone said next time this happens will be 2097, I'm afraid I will miss that one too.

Back to the weather....last evening we went to a new Amy's ice cream shop near my DD. The playground was FULL of kids playing in shirt sleeves, families at the picnic tables having birthday parties. Anyone who didn't know would guess a summer evening. Last December we had a low of 9* early in the month. Central Texas weather is a mystery to me.

Every time I walk by my radio it goes into extreme static. Is that a problem with the radio or with me!?!

Hope everyone is having holiday fun today. See you later....

[dayspring39]

Good Morning... I did not get up to watch the eclipse... so I did enjoy your pictures Liz...
My friend Marge is coming to take me to Dollar General at 1 today... she was going so asked me if I wanted to go... I went there once before and it is a real interesting place with everything from soup to nuts...
It was cold last night and I had turned down the thermostat it got down to 55 inside... burrr got up and turned it up the heat then crawled back in bed...
I hope you all have a good day
Kathleen

[Echo]

HELLO SISTAHS!!!

Blech! Crappy weather. Rain, rain and more rain. 6 days of it..... Black spots on my body are getting bigger, the skin between my toes is getting longer and thicker but at this time the funny ridges on my neck haven't turned into gills yet. I may end up with a watertight butt if I it keeps going as I turn into a frog!!!

Needless to say there was no Lunar Eclipse for me to watch while outside. Just a completely dark sky and rain drops in my eyes. ~sigh~ Did watch live cam last night and have been watching little videos like Liz's.

Well guess what??? We did find a leak in my bedroom!!! Or at least Kelly did when she was on her knees in my bed putting her laundry away in a couple of boxes. The leak was directly over one of her clothes boxes. She broke down crying. The constant rain and crappy weather is getting to both of us. For sure this week we will have to buy that gallon of roof goop, roller with pan and I will HAVE to get the roof coated and covered. I refuse to put a blue tarp over the thing! Ain't worried about the red neck factor at all, kinda hard to worry about that when I am a red neck. But don't want to look like a trashy red neck! LOL Besides, a big enough blue tarp to cover this thing would cost as much as the goop and supplies. I am not gonna think about and no one is to tell me that there is even the slightest, slimmest chance that the goop wont work!!!!

Yesterday we ran out to the store to get something to eat and quarters for laundry. Truck ran just fine. Got back to the camp ground and while Kelly ran into the laundry room to change out machines I sat out front with the truck idling. She came out and we 'tried' to get back to the TT. Truck shuddered and shook then quit. ??? WHAT THE ??? We did finally get home after much stalling and quitting. Kelly had to walk back to the laundry room to finish laundry after eating supper. Have no idea why the truck all of a sudden started acting so crappy. It had been totally fine until last night. I would wonder and think about dampness in one of the plug wires or distributor if it had given any little problem like that before. But with NO warning what so ever??? Will have to call my son today to pick his brains about it. We just really don't need this kind of problem right now. Heaven only knows how the heck we will afford to have someone fix the truck. Talk about a major bummer and kick. We are living on such a short skinny slightly raveled shoestring now that fixing the the truck would put us under! Have NOT been able to find even a single job that would make it worth while to work at and screw up unemployment. Both of us wishes like crazy that we could find jobs tho. Get us out of the TT and alleviate the cabin fever. And of course the money situation.

Hey Ava. Yeah I see by the weather website I use that there's a good possibility of snow on Thursday! At this point I would gladly take the snow. Friday is suppose to be CLEAR!!! But cooler. Right now it's 44f out there, with the wind rain and dampness it sure feels colder.

I guess that's enough biotching, grumping and moaning. ~sigh~ Off to do another post. Hope everyone keeps warm, cool, dry and safe. Have the best day ya can.

Love to all

[Nasoosie]

Wow, Lenora----your X had a bunch of property for you to be in charge of. What a daunting chore that is for you. But I know you can handle it.....you are strong!

And, Echo----man, what a batch of crappy luck for you two girls! Between the constant rain and the leaks and then the truck pooping out----what next?? I am feeling so very lucky down here in FL, where the temps have been very low for this place, but where the sun has been shining every day. I have no leaks in my trailer, other than pipes stuff---not roof leaks, thank heavens, and this house is warm and comfy. I wish you and Kelly lived closer so you could come inside. Molly would love the company of Shade.

From what I am reading, the rains all over the west coast and elsewhere have trumped the coldness of FL by a mile. I can take coldness any day over constant rain and leaks and greyness and sogginess, etc. If anyone can make it, I am open for visitors down here now!