A few days ago I left balmy Southern California, where it was a sunny 72 degrees, to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with family in Buffalo, New York, where it’s currently, OMG, 29 degrees.Does the thermometer really go down that far? Apparently so.
There’s snow on the ground here. It’s cold, my friends! I packed warm clothing but I must confess, there is absolutely nothing in my wardrobe that could possibly withstand the level of chill I feel when I walk outside my father-in-law’s house. It is down-to-the-bone frigid and it makes me wonder why anyone would live here when they could live in a warmer place. Like, say, Southern California, for instance.
On the other hand, my mom lives in the Southern California desert near Palm Springs. I spent a week with her last summer and it reached 118 degrees every day. You read that right! I seriously wondered who in their right mind would live here when they could live in a cooler place? Like, say, at the beach where I live.Why do any of us live where we live? Did we choose it? Were we born there and never felt the need to leave? Did we move there with our spouse? Maybe our company transferred us there or we went to college in the area and decided to stay. There’s something that keeps us tied to our area of the country and it’s probably not weather. Well, not completely.
The woods behind my father-in-law’s house are beautiful, especially when the sky is blue and the trees and ground are lightly coated with snow as they are now. People are friendly and greet him with a smile. I can see why he loves it here and why he’s stayed here his entire life. I can also see why his son, my husband, moved away after college as fast as his legs could carry him. He loves warm weather and loves the beach even more than I do.My mother loves the sun and wouldn't move away from the desert for any amount of money.
I have friends in Southern California who, despite having lived here all their lives, can’t wait to move to a cooler climate. They’re exploring towns in Utah or Colorado and I can see their point. Let’s face it, SoCal weather conditions cause fires and mudslides. We have earthquakes. It’s hardly paradise. I’ve had friends who’ve moved away after one too many earthquakes and are so much happier now. One friend moved to Florida and has lived through four hurricanes and she’s still happier than she ever was in California.So why do we stay wherever we are? It’s not about the weather, is it? No, it’s much more simple than that. It’s just ... home.
Where do you live? What do you love about it? How’s the weather? Snowy and cold? Rainy and wet? Sunny and balmy? I’ve got a $15 Amazon gift certificate to give away for the most interesting weather report!!
97 comments:
:D!
Wait a minute, Kate, are you mixing up your life and mine? Are you seriously in Buffalo? I GREW UP IN BUFFALO! I was just there two weekends ago -- my folks still live there.
There's a lot to be said for Buffalo, you know. As long as you can visit for a weekend, show your kids the snow, and then fly back to somewhere much warmer, of course.
Home for me now is green, green, green. Rainy, evergreens, volcanos, recycling, urban planning, oceans and mountains, fog in the morning and salmon in the fall. It's a glorious place!
Congratulations, Limecello!
Kate, I know what you mean about living in California. I was raised in Virginia, went to school in Utah and lived in Idaho. Brrrrrr! We moved to California so many years ago I've definitely gone native. Can't imagine living anywhere else, although many of our friends sell their modest California homes and buy mansions in Colorado or Utah.
Not me. I'm a California girl.
An ideal place to me is being close to the hub of cultural and educational excitement. I live 15 minutes from the state capital, two hours from San Francisco, and the beach, and two hours from the snow in Reno, Nevada.
Ideal! And of course family are here; that's the important part.
Congrats limecello he obviously wanted some cooler weather
Great post Kate well as everyone knows I live in Sydney NSW Australia and have been here all of my life just moved suburbs I am only 30 minutes away from where I grew up.
Here in Australia at the moment it is spring and normally the weather is really warming up, there is only a few days left before summer starts and it gets really hot and often very humid as well although we get southerly busters through often which can cool the temperature by 10 degrees in less than 30 mins. We have lots of bushfires in the country areas during summer and fire fighters are geering up for them but it has been strangly cool this spring I even had track pants and a jumper on the other day not that I am complaining I love the cooler weather autumn and winter are my favourite times of the year but then again we don't get snow and the lowest the temps drop can be around 0 to 5 (usually overnight) degrees celsius but in summer we can reach temps of 38 to 40 degrees celsius.
Today here in Sydney it is a beautiful 24 degrees celsius with a nice breeze beautiful day.
Have Fun
Helen
Welcome to my world Kate *g*. I'm further south than you right now but it's cold here as well. Winter - especially before the Christmas lights go up - is not the best time to visit.
We moved to Ohio when I was in sixth grade. We have four full seasons but we don't have the hot, hot summers of the south or the bone gripping cold of the north (25 degrees will feel balmy up there in two months). I wish I was closer to an ocean, but I'm within a day's drive to the mountains, or the great lakes. We've stayed here due to family, but it's not a bad place to stay.
Another California girl here--I admit to being completely spoiled in terms of weather. It's been cooling down recently so it's in the high forties/low fifties at night and in the low sixties during the day. Plus we're expecting showers tomorrow. I'm not crazy about too much sun, but I can't say the kids love walking to school in the rain ;) (Although I do OK splashing in puddles on the way home from school!) We have so far resisted turning on the heat for the house (the kids have a space heater in their room at night), but I sure am glad to dive under the comforter at bedtime!
And yep, like Jo said, we're close to whatever culture and food you could want, and surrounded by family ;) Yep, spoiled ;p
Congrats on the GR, Limecello!
I'm another California gal. I seriously don't mind earthquakes if you compare it to tornadoes and hurricanes. It's going to start to rain tomorrow so you would be cold here too Kate if you stayed. Well not 29 degree cold maybe in the high 50's.
I was born in the South Pacific so cold weather and snow is so foreign to me. I think I will always live somewhere warm.
One other thing I love about living in LA is that it is so culturally diverse. It's great to be around so many different kinds of people and to have access to their food.
Happy Birthday Kirsten I forgot to add that in my post I hope you have a wonderful day.
And back to the weather Kate something I would really love to do one day is have a white Christmas a dream I have had since I was really young.
Have Fun
Helen
her e in northen california
warm now but it will rain this week so colder with fog.
but i like our weather.
keep warm in you area
limecello, you got it in just the nick of time, before Kisten could snag it.
I agree with everything Kirsten said, except for the urban planning. Seattleites think that's a dirty word. So our hodge-podges have hodge-podge.
In addition to the unrelenting rain, we have pewter skies that hang down so slow that noon can feel like twilight. We have two seasons: rainy and August.
All the glorious things Kirsten mentions are of course there. My house backs into the regional forest and we get animal visits, soaring everygreens in our yard. It's very peaceful and live-sustaining.
Hey, Limecello, great catch on the chook!
Kate, what a thought-provoking post. I live where I live now because it's where my parents retired to and through a series of events outside my control, I ended up here as well. But having said that, I love it. The weather is gorgeous most of the time - although we've had wild storms recently that have been a bit scary. It's never terrifically cold or terrifically hot because we're on the sea and that helps the temps to stay more even. I lived in the UK for two years in my 20s and I loved that too - I like cold weather because I like doing cold weather stuff like eating and snuggling up under a rug and reading (yeah, real action girl here!). But I must say, halfway through my first winter, I had a week in the Canary Islands because I had to see the sun! I think that was the Queenslander in me screaming for release!
I live in NE OH - and really, family and school have dictated where I live. I don't mind it here - but would like to move somewhere else for a few years.
I've also decided I need to live in a temperature controlled bubble. :P 72 degrees at all times. It's in the low 20s here, and that makes me very sad. I was actually in Seattle last week[end] for a conference, and it was avg temp 40-50s, and very little rain. Like a heat wave for me! But I did come home last night to see a deer walking across my back yard, which was nice. I've been to Austin, TX in the summer, and it was miserable. 100+ every day. And in the winter- once it was in the 30s, and let me tell you, at night with NO HEAT that's awful. I melt in humid places like Taiwan and DC - the heat is oppressive, the humidity is high, and blech. Of course it was hotter the summer I was in Lexington, KY, than New Orleans. Riddle me that - but true.
I talked about weather a lot this wknd considering people from all over were there. A few from El Paso thought Seattle was the arctic - as well as SoCal - but the latter admitted that brush fires were bad, in comparison to a little rain. I do like having all seasons, though wouldn't mind a milder version of each. Of course, it is always exciting in a place where it can snow, rain, sleet, and hit 70 degrees [yes a 40 degree temp jump] all in one day. Mother Nature gets busy here in less than 24 hr periods.
This is insane. Lol. The internet is going CRAZY on me. :P Must be the GR's influence. He's crazy to want to come here and freeze his little feathers off :P
But maybe he wanted to commune with the deer and other critters that wander my back yard.
I'm in New York. It's raining right now and it's cold. I love that we get all four seasons here. I'm hoping we'll have a white Christmas this year. It's been a while since we've had snow on Christmas. Spring and autumn in NY is beautiful.
Congrats on the GR, Limecello.
Congrats Limecello!
Miljoonasade: Marraskuu (November):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccpaaZvDL1k
I live in eastern part of Finland, it's winter and it's snowing. Last year there was no snow this time of year and I could still see some spiders making their nets - on the outside. And day before yesterday we had a storm and there was no power most of the day and night. Good thing we can heat at least our sauna stove with wood!
Crowded House - Weather With You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIb6I8gtgtw
I've lived in about 13 different cities during the course of my life - don't ask. BUT, I landed up back on the East Coast in the NYC area. Having grown up here I have an affinity for the change in seasons, the way the trees look in mid-afternoon sunlight and the smell of wood burning in the winter and grass being cut in the summer. I loved Chicago, I loved Boston, I loved Philadelphia, I loved St. Louis, I loved Rome, I loved Mexico but NY - well, it's home. And even though it's rainy, cold to the bone wet here today, I think this is where I'll grow old. There's a certain synergy to that coming back to the place I grew up.
Hi Ladies...
Until 7 years ago I lived in Southern Australia -Victoria(state)
where it was dry, dusty, stinking hot in mid-summer, Winter no snow but sharp cold winds, frosts and not enough rain!
Moved to glorious sunny, rainy,stormy stinking hot in mid-summer Queensland...love it here!
Funny really..but to move somewhere else seems to be a marvelous adventure, new places to see,the unfamiliar places,people and in a way the anonymity!and freedom one has to start a new life! What a great time we have had doing it...I sure many of you will know exactly what I mean!
Cheers Carol
I grew up in Los Angeles. Loved the weather (although I didn't really understand it was "weather" until I moved away.) We moved to Miami. Hot, sticky. Then we moved to Orlando. Still hot and sticky most of the time (although right now it's crisp and cool--loving it!). Visited family in Colorado Springs last week. Temps ranged from low teens with snow to balmy upper 60's (I have a couple of pictures taken from my son's doorstep on two consective days on my blog). We're looking to retire anywhere it's NOT hot and sticky -- thinking of the Pacific Northwest. I don't mind rain--the kind of rain they get there is nothing like the pelting, bruising stuff we get here every afternoon all summer long.
Congrats limecello! Have fun with the GR today.
Kate, I live in WV and we have all 4 seasons, already had a little skiff of snow this year, right now it is raining and not overly cold. I was born and raised here and though I have moved away a couple of times I always came back. I am just not comfortable anywhere else.
OMG, I'm LOL here. I thought Kirsten wrote this post until I read her comment. Sorry Kate, I had no idea you were an upstate girl too. So am I but not Buffalo.
In fact, we're leaving tomorrow morning to head up to Binghamton where it's snowing right now.
But home is Maryland where the weather is perfect, except the cold November we're having this year. I love Maryland because the seasons are so true.
Spring really comes in mid-March. Summer can come early some years, but mostly it starts to get hot in June. Fall usually takes a little longer to start. The leaves really don't start changing much until late October and they start falling in early November. We tend to get our first snow around the second week of December. Not much, just enough to make you say it snowed.
We haven't had a good snowy winter in a couple of years and I have a feeling this year could be one.
Luckily, the snow doesn't last very long around here. And being so close to the Chesapeake Bay, a lot of times areas around us will get snow and we get rain.
Congrats Limecello!
I grew up in frigid Michigan then, after college, followed my family to southwest Florida (which I loved after all those snowy Michigan winters). Eventually, my job took me to northeast Florida then, 16 years ago, we took a trip to upstate South Carolina and fell in love. Four years later we moved to where I now live in northwest South Carolina in what is known at the Golden Corner. I live on a gorgeous lake in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains about halfway between Atlanta and Charlotte and only 10 minutes from a major university. It's a small town where people wave, smile and always say hello. We don't (usually) have extremes in our weather. Summers are hot but not too humid, autumn is gorgeous with leaves changing in late October to early November and (again, usually, but not this year) temps in the 60's and 70's into mid-November. It's been much colder this year. If we get snow, it normally doesn't show up until January and rarely lasts more than a couple days, long enough to enjoy it but not tire of it. Spring usually arrives in March and bursts into full bloom in early April along with the gorgeous azaleas and dogwoods. We do get tornadoes and ice storms in this part of the country but I live in a valley and most weather systems have to rise to clear the mountains before getting to us. By the time they've come back down in elevation they've already passed us so the bad weather typically goes south and east of me. This is my favorite time of year with the crystal clear days, deep blue skies and gorgeous deep blue mountains rimming the beautiful lake. People around here call it "God's Country". I agree.
Forgot this one:
Most 'interesting' weather report. My dad told me about a weather forecast in an Hawaiian newspaper. It was a Biblical reference (and apologies for not being able to put my finger on which one, but I'm sure there's someone here who can give chapter and verse) that basically said, "as it was yesterday so shall it be tomorrow and the next day" etc., etc.
Congrats, Limecello!! Hope the GR doesn't discombobulate your computer all day!
Yes, Kirsten, I'm in your home town! My inlaws live outside of Buffalo and it's beautiful, lots of woodland areas and streams, and there's still some farmland out here. This morning it's in the high thirties but it's supposed to cool down tonight. Brrrr!!!
Jo, another California girl!! I love Northern California! I've got three brothers in the Bay Area and I probably would've moved there, too, but the DH loves it down south. Still, I would love to be closer to San Francisco...some day, maybe? :-)
Hi Helen! I'd love to visit Sydney some day! Your coast of Australia sounds very similar to our California in terms of mild weather and the occasional fires brought by the warm winds blowing through in autumn. The Santa Anas have been wreaking havoc on our dry foothill areas this season.
LOL, I was thinking about you when I wrote this post, Donna! My sister-in-law grew up in Ohio and has regaled us with stories about the weather she experienced growing up.
But when you've got family close by and you can jump in the car and drive to the mountains or the lakes, it sounds like a pretty wonderful place to be!
flchen1, you're in California? I had no idea! Yes, we do get spoiled, don't we? I find myself whining about too many balmy days in a row and crying out for actual "weather" sometimes. But then we get "weather" and I long for the balmy days. LOL
Perrin, you're in LA! We're probably neighbors and don't know it!
Snow is foreign to me, too. The first time I flew into Buffalo, I saw these beautiful shiny crystals floating in the sky around the plane and asked my husband what he thought they were. Uh, snow, he said. He was kind enough not to roll his eyes but there was definitely laughter in his voice.
Today our weather is damp and cold, the perfect day for sitting near a fire and reading a book, except I have to work. What's great about our area is that you there is so much to do. We can visit either Philadelphia or New York for the day, go to the beach or go to the mountains.
Well, it's presently raining. . . alas, it's not all that unusual or interesting, but the interesting thing about the weather is that it seems to be normal. See, here in NJ, one would think that you have summer, where it is hot. Then autumn comes, and stuff starts getting cool. For the past few years, uh-uh. Nope, global warming was all around to be had. But so far, it's been, well, normal. Admittedly, am hoping that maybe it's not too normal as winter goes on. . . (pretty please) because it sure saves on the oil! :)
Lois
Here, Kate...have some mittens.
I live exactly FOUR miles from where I grew up here in Kentucky. Unless I win the lottery and can afford to move to Ireland, I don't see that changing.
We have the four seasons too...and sometimes all in one WEEK!. Today it is sunny, upper cold range with a brisk win. My toes are freezing.
We rarely get a white Christmas either though there have been occassions when I've come out of Midnight Mass to find "Christmas snow" falling...heavenly.
I will say I found it very BRISK during our summer trip to San Francisco. They must know how to survive that constant chill...the fleece jacket I bought is WAY warmer than the one I had back home.
Kate, build a snowman!
Hi Kim H -- another Northern Californian heard from! Keep warm up there!
LOL Keira - I love your two seasons, rainy and August! I'm not sure I could take all the rain in Seattle but then everything must be so green and healthy and beautiful most of the year, so it just might be worth it. :-)
Hey Kate, I'm a California girl, but you know, I always heard that you have have to consume more caloires in the cold so your body can generate heat. So obviously you should be eating more chocolate while there!
My weather story comes from the How Stupid Can You Be file. My husband and I decided to take the boys to the mountains. We had a Ford Aerostar van at the time. It was starting to rain and such, and friends who were from places like PA asked if we'd like to borrow their chains.
Huh? Please, we're in Sounthern CA...
We got caught in a snowstorm and darn near slid off the mountain. We had to be pulled out of a mess by a passerby who a Good Citizen as long as we PAID him. On the other hand, we deserved it for being so stupid. It was horrible and really scary! I cannot believe how stupid we were. The only thing that saved us after that was that we got behind a snow plow.
Helloo, Anna! You've lived in several climate zones, haven't you! I so agree with your cold weather activity of burrowing under a blanket and reading. That's my favorite sort of winter exercise, too. :-)
And I definitely miss the sun when it's covered in clouds for weeks at a time. That's when I must drive to the desert!
Around here we get all four seasons and as far north as Finland is, it can be very warm at summer. On the other hand it can be very cold at winter. At least it used to be... And at autumn the colors are fabulous.
Pave Maijanen - Lähtisitkö
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLlNe6vyokI
Aw Kate, you've made me homesick. Which, I must confess, isn't that difficult this week. I'm always homesick for Ohio at Thanksgiving. Or more like I'm Family-sick. But I got a fix seeing my mom, dad, sister, BIL and neice the first week of Nov., so I should be content.
We live in Texas now. Husband got a job here, so that's why we moved. My kids all have homes/lives/families here, so we're staying. But I hate the super hot summers, dust blowing in all directions...particularly into my house! But winter is mild, (which hubby loves), and at least one or two days of light snow (or ice) let's me enjoy what I love about winter, without getting sick of it.
(hmm...Green beans done...pies and cranberry salad tomorrow...yep...getting ready to feast!)
Hmm, Blogger is having fun with me today...
Hi Jennifer! I would love to get hold of that temperature controlled bubble you're talking about! 72 degrees sounds about right, doesn't it! And it looks like you know what you're talking about with the hot/cold swings you've lived through. I'm not sure I could take the kinds of heat you're talking about. Humidity drives me a little insane, I admit it. I find myself wishing I could crawl inside a refrigerator and stay there until winter!
Oh Jane, despite your rain, I'm so jealous of you getting to live in NYC, my favorite place! Especially this time of year with the holidays coming. The city really comes alive, doesn't it? I love it!
Ooh Minna, good luck with the power outage. Stay warm! Hmm, I guess the storms keep the spiders away.
And I love checking out the videos you send!
Marisa, you're in NY too, and you make it sound so pretty, I can see the sunlight shining through that tree and smell the wood burning. It's obvious you're exactly where you should be! :-)
Hi Carol -- I know what you mean when you talk about the freedom of moving to a new place. I moved quite a bit when I was younger and always resented it a little. But really, a new school or a new job can mean a fresh start and the possibility of redefining yourself if you want to. It's definitely exciting and challenging, isn't it? I hadn't thought of it that way until now. :-)
Here's one more:
David Copperfield - Snow Dream
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7_ISio_9SA
Hi Terry! I have to agree with your "hot and sticky" aversion. I'll do anything to avoid icky humidity. Really. Anything!
And I had to laugh at your photos of snow one day, sunny skies the next! Thanks for sharing those!
Dianna, I remember driving through West Virginia on my way from LA to Washington DC many years ago and thinking how pretty it was and how much I wanted to stop and stay for a while. You must love it very much to keep coming back!
I live in KY and you know what they say about this state, if you don't like the weather give it a few days and it will change. A few days ago we had snow, yesterday it was about 50 and rained all day and today it is down around 35. I am not going to complain about the rain because we went all summer and had very little rain. I will have to say it have been really cold here for November. The real cold weather doesn't come here until January but it has been different this year.
Well, the power outage is over for now, but everytime there's a storm at winter or too much snow on the trees (it can make branches break or trees fall) you just have to live without electricity for a while. And power outages tend to last longer at winter than at summer (thunder).
Hi Christie! Yes, it's me, not Kirsten! LOL
You make Maryland sound simply ideal. I used to love visiting friends who lived near Annapolis. The Chesapeake Bay area is so beautiful, and yum, Maryland crabs! Is there anything better in the world? :-)
I understand it's snowing much more south of Buffalo where you're headed, so have a safe journey and a happy holiday!
PJ, wow! You make your home and the surrounding countryside sound so ideal, so beautiful and charming and warm and fun, I'm tempted to pack my bags and move there right now. :-)
And since I live in countryside power outages caused by fallen trees or branches are pretty usual during storms.
Love the Hawaii biblical weather forecast, Terry!!
Hi Maureen! You're close enough that you can choose between NYC or the mountains? Sounds to me like the perfect place to be. :-)
Hi Lois, thanks for coming by. I think our weather in LA has been effected by global warming, too. It seems like summer never goes away anymore. I suppose I shouldn't complain about that, but I really would like to pretend we have a winter season! LOL
Hi Joanie!!!
Ah, snow after midnight mass. What a sight that would be in Los Angeles. :-)
And you know San Francisco plays hardball when it comes to the weather! It's always amusing to see tourists in the City in July, freezing their legs off in shorts and t-shirts. That never gets old! Hee hee.
But seriously, that wind off the Bay can chill you right down to the bone, anytime of year.
Thanks for this great post. I enjoyed it greatly since weather is an important if not the most influential decision upon where to live and travel. I used to live in the Great White North for a long time. Finally escaped to a warmer and moderate clime which I find wonderful. Deep blue skies, sunshine everyday of the year, dry and soothing. No calamities either. Cannot beat NM. Thanks again. loved it.
It's always amusing to see tourists in the City in July, freezing their legs off in shorts and t-shirts. That never gets old! Hee hee.
Well, I had been forewarned (though some small part of me did not believe it!) and did not pack nor wear shorts.
But I was unprepared during a couple of the gloomy days and had failed to bring my hat, gloves, thermal underwear.
WET cold is worse at any temperature.
And I about fainted the afternoon waiting in line for the creaky cable car ride seeing SWIMMERS come out of the bay!!!!
Oh, he was prepared for the cold...he had a swim cap on!!
I'm all about the right climate. I've gotten lucky and found a place I can really enjoy. I live in Virginia beach and though it gets cold, it's not bone-chilling (most of the time). We don't get snow which is good because I really don't like snow.
It does get hot during the heat waves for a few weeks in the summer but nowadays that happens everywhere. The spring is gorgeous, summer stays longer, and fall (usually) lingers well into December. I've lived below the Mason Dixon line for 14 years after growing up outside Pittsburgh and I love it!
Oh, and I like to live a good distance from the family. Keeps me sane. :)
LOL, Kate!! Yes, I'm looking around in Utah....Born and raised in So CA.........I need seasons!!
You're in front of a fireplace, aren't you??? grumble
I live in northern Minnesota... well some people think it's central but whatever lol
right now there is currently no snow... surprising i know... there is a slight breeze and the sun is out with a "light dusting" of clouds... it's pretty darn cold out though... 23 degrees to be exact... BRRR! Anyone wanna switch places with me... someplace warmer would be nice! :D
Kate, how cool that you're up in Buffalo! I'm only 90 miles from Buffalo - it's where we do quite a bit of our shopping *g*
It's not bad here today - 34 degrees - but yesterday we got hit with lots of snow. Snow doesn't bother me but I would like to eventually live somewhere with a milder climate. Maybe someplace where 40 is considered cold :-)
And even though it's cold and snowing, you'll still see lots of people - guys usually - in shorts. And the first sunny day of Spring where the temps reach about 50, people will be out in their shorts and tank tops ;-)
Hi Jen!!! It's sad how naive we Southern California girls can be. I didn't own a coat until I was 30! How weird is that? So how are we supposed to know about snow tires? Huh??
But how horribly rude of that so-called Good Citizen to make you pay for his help! That's outrageous and very UN-Citizeny. Hmph! Not your fault you don't know anything about snow and mountains and chains and stuff. :-)
Hi Suz! I'm so glad you got your Ohio snow fix this year. And you got to see our Donna, too. Lucky Bandita!!
Looks like you're gearing up for quite a feast. We are, too. I love all the yummy smells this time of year!
Wow Virginia, you're definitely going through some temperature swings! And I agree with you about the rain. I can't complain about any rain coming to Southern California because we're in a draught right now. On the other hand, some people in the fire areas are concerned about mudslides when it rains, so we're in quite a state these days!
Hope you're staying warm!
Hey Minna, glad your power outage is over for now.
The David Copperfield video is great! Thanks!
Hi traveler, thanks for coming by. Sounds like you're all warm and toasty in New Mexico. After all those years of snow up north, it must be a real treat to go through winter with blue skies and sunshine!
Joanie, those swimmers out in the Bay are CRAZY!!!!! LOL
Hey Terrio! Sounds like you've found the perfect spot for you. And LOL on keeping some distance from the family. That was one consideration I didn't mention--but it's obviously important to some of us! :-)
Hi Maureen!! Yes, you're one of my buddies who's trying to get out of SoCal. Can't really blame you. Sigh.
No fireplace for me. I'm warming myself in front of my computer screen! :-)
Gee danie88, it's a lot warmer here than where you are today. It's almost 41 degrees right now. But that's probably not what you had in mind when you thought about trading places with someone! :-)
Stay warm up there in central northern Minnesota!
Beth, are you kidding? You're only 90 miles away from me? We're going to have to plan a get-together with Kirsten one of these days when we're all in the area! Maybe KJ can come down from Toronto and join the party, too!
And I saw a girl wearing track shorts the other night at church. I was sitting there freezing, with gloves, wool scarf and heavy coat, and she just bopped in and sat down on that chilly pew like it was 90 degrees outside. Gives me chills all over again just thinking about it!!
Kate, it was really funny - it was like I had a physical hunger to see the sun. In England in winter, you don't see much sun at all! Even if it comes out, it's only a few hours a day.
It is 27 degrees in Minnesota where I live...brrrr, very cool, but you see, I don't care. You ask why...well, maybe because I am vacationing in southern Texas where it is presently 78 degrees and warm so that I can run around outside in my shorts and t-shirt and then head to the pool to relax and enjoy myself.
Like PJ and Terri, I love the South. Unlike them, I'm a native and have always lived within a hundred mile radius of the town where I was born. I can't imagine calling any other place home.
Winters are usually mild here, although we've had some 20 degree nights this month. It's 57 right now, but the forecast for Thanksgiving is 65 and sunny, which means the grands and dogs can run off some energu outside. If we get a few snow flurries in January, the transplants will laugh when the locals make runs on the grocery stores to stock up on milk, bread, and chocolate. And the question on everyone's lips will be, "Do you think it'll stick?"
Even on the grayest, dreariest days, I can find a bed of pansies or camelias or winter jasmine to lift my spirits. And our springs are glorious. By February, the daffodils will be announcing that spring is just around the bend, and soon after golden forsythia, azaleas in myriad colors, and pink and white dogwood will be blooming in woodland and yard. Peach blossoms and cherry blossoms will join them. And I haven't even mentioned the fountains of wisteria and bowers of roses. I'll take long drives through real, undeveloped country, put the top down on my car, turn the music up, sing along (badly), and once again believe that springtime in Georgia really is a fountain of youth.
Wow, Janga...sign me up!
I do wish the enviroment was as conducive to year round flowers here in KY as where you live.
I absolutely fell in LOVE with all the flora in Ireland...even the palm trees (yup, they grow in southern Ireland)
And when I was in SF, oh my...the blooms rivaled my most favorite place in the world. I didn't take many pics of the Golden Gate bridge but you ought to see the ones I took of the GARDEN at its base!!!
And even though it's cold and snowing, you'll still see lots of people - guys usually - in shorts.
Beth, that reminded me of the time I spent in NDSU. I couldn't believe those guys! It was so cold and they were wearing shorts! Unbelievable. Just looking at them made me shiver from cold. But weather sure changed fast there. The snow had nearly melted, but it was still very cool. Then it snowed, next day it all melted and the day after it was summer. The weather doesn't change quite that fast around here.
Four seasons -and Finnish skaters:
Enigma: Beyond The Invisible
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMI67lbz0Qc&mode=related&search=
Very interesting about that physical need for sunlight, Anna. I guess you wouldn't make a very good vampire. :-)
LOL Shari! I'm guessing you're glad to be on vacation from the cold this week. Sounds like lots of fun in Texas!
Janga, that sounds beautiful. Like Joanie, I'd like to go along on that ride through all your undeveloped countryside and see all the flowers in bloom. Undeveloped land is something we don't have much left of in Southern California.
Palm trees in Ireland, Joanie? Was that before or after you finished your daily wee dram? ;-)
I would love to see the palm trees of Ireland along with everything else, Ireland-wise. I've never been but I'm always in the planning stages. If only I could make it happen. Some day...
Minna, those guys sound as crazy as the swimmers Joanie saw in San Francisco Bay! Crazy!! We're talking yeowwww!! Cold!!
Kristiina Wheeler - Sunny Day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ9dz9Cge1k
I can swim in the cold water (I have done that) when there's a sauna VERY close, but walking around in shorts and t-shirt when it's practically winter? No way!
Very interesting about that physical need for sunlight, Anna. I guess you wouldn't make a very good vampire. :-)
My English teacher Andy had thought that all that stuff about winter depression was just talk. After a couple of years in Finland he didn't think so anymore.
Nope, no drinking necessary to see the Gulf Stream fed Palm trees in the Emerald Isle.
http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2873254970102304079KCCnhF
They grow right along side tulips, rhodrendren, fushia, geraniums...on and on and on.
And I'll hire out cheap as chauffer if you ever get past planning. Just let me rev up the Kia Rio with no radio....
it's a deal, Joanie! ;-)
It's been cold here. Yesterday was freezing. Today it ws 39 degrees.
I live in Buffalo, LOL, so its always like this! I'm so used to it. its actually a bit better right now, its 36, unless the TV has a error, but its dropping again tonight.
Vancouver BC has weather like northern Washington state minus the snow, which means lots of rain and more rain. I don't mind because I can't take the heat of southern climates. And I really love how fresh and green all that rain makes it here. It rarely snows here, and when it does it pretty much cripples the city. But living a short drive away from so many mountains we never miss the snow here during winter. I can't imagine living anywhere else in Canada.
rain turning into ice and snow monday
any winnner
any winnner
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