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Friday Favorite: The Cold

January 25th, 2013

It’s a bit frigid around here. Nighttime temps have been down to around -5, daytime temps in the single digits. The wind is fierce, making it feel 20 degrees colder than it is. I don’t mind the cold, I bundle up a few times a day to head out to feed the chickens, water the ducks and check on the garage cat. We also bundle up and walk down to get the mail. To me, living in a place where I can experience temperatures below zero and up in the 80’s is perfect, just what I want; I really enjoy the variety!
zero degrees
This cold weather will make the warmth of summer that much sweeter. And the heat of the summer makes this cold snap something to enjoy. I must admit, whenever the temperatures get so cold I think about the people that came long before us that didn’t have cars with heaters and all the warm mod cons we have. The Long Winter definitely comes to mind, perhaps I’ll curl up with that this weekend.

What’s the weather like outside your window?

24 Comments to “Friday Favorite: The Cold”
  1. Mich on January 25, 2013 at 5:21 am

    The view from my windows is bleak, snow on the ground and it’s icy.
    Last night was -8c and daytime temps haven’t reached above freezing for days :(
    Roll on warmer days…I’m just hoping we get a decent summer this year!

    Reply to Mich's comment

  2. Greg on January 25, 2013 at 6:54 am

    Cold here, too! (And I love it!!)

    My favorite part of this post was “mod cons” :) You rolled that out like that is common speak… but I’ve never heard it anywhere. Is that something you picked up, or made up?

    Well, I’m gonna go heat up some breakfast on my electric stove, in my 69º house, with lights, and then get in my heated van to head off to where I need to be this morning…

    Mod cons! :)

    Reply to Greg's comment

    • Susy on January 25, 2013 at 8:43 am

      We picked it up while watching Good Neighbors aka The Good Life an old BBC series. Mr Chiots and I have been saying it ever since!

      Here’s the link – such a great show: Good Neighbors Series

      Reply to Susy's comment

      • Greg on January 25, 2013 at 12:09 pm

        Will check it out!

        to Greg's comment

  3. kathi Cook on January 25, 2013 at 6:55 am

    We also have had temps around zero most of the week. I think our mild winter last year makes it harder for people to handle the cold,but I think if you are dressed properly and make yourself go outside a little bit every day,it’s invigorating. It’s also a good excuse to make a big pot of soup every weekend.

    Reply to kathi Cook's comment

    • Susy on January 25, 2013 at 8:44 am

      YES – invigorating is exactly how I describe it. I enjoy heading out the in the cold, with proper attire of course. Though I have been known to run up to the chicken coop without a coat & hat :)

      Reply to Susy's comment

      • KimH on January 25, 2013 at 11:15 am

        Crazy girl.. and I thought I was bad taking out the garbage.. haha

        to KimH's comment

  4. Adelina Anderson on January 25, 2013 at 9:11 am

    It has been very cold, 1 degree yesterday morning with an windchill of -14 and today it is 3 degrees this morning. I just bundle up, bundle up the kids and enjoy the cold weather. Later on the kitchen will get nice and warm with the oven going and the kiln clicking away.

    Reply to Adelina Anderson's comment

  5. Joan on January 25, 2013 at 10:43 am

    Cold here too! This morning the temp made it all the way up to 6 degrees F. Yesterday it was -2 so today is absolutely balmy! My horse and chickens want absolutely nothing to do with going out – yesterday I put the horse out and he stood at the barn door and whinnied to come back in. I just cleaned out his stall then let him come back in. Even the dogs don’t like being out for long in these temperatures! I’m looking forward to tomorrow – it is supposed to make it all the way up to 20!

    Reply to Joan's comment

  6. amy on January 25, 2013 at 11:14 am

    I save The Long Winter to read during the hot days of summer..lol. It just freezes me! Thanks for the link to The Good Neighbors series. We love the BBC….Is this based on the Nearing’s book? It is snowing here today and I don’t mind a bit:)

    Reply to amy's comment

  7. KimH on January 25, 2013 at 11:20 am

    Its 16° today… and overcast.. ;) Its actually been really nice for the most part here so far this winter.. just this deep freeze we’re experiencing right now.. but Im totally ok with it. At least the wind doesnt blow here too often.

    Like you, give me nice summer temperatures in the 80s and Im a happy girl..

    Reply to KimH's comment

  8. tj on January 25, 2013 at 11:32 am

    …”Mod cons”. My new term for the day. Thanks. :o)

    …I love Winter and all that it entails. The only part I don’t like about frigid cold temps is that I feel for the animals, both wild and domestic, that have to survive it. And of course, the people that are too poor to afford heat, when I think of those things then that is when the fierce cold of Winter truly bother me. Otherwise, bring it on. ;o)

    …Yesterday it was 11 degrees early in the morn’ and got up to a high here around 25 degrees by mid-afternoon. Today we’re supposed to climb into the 30’s, then it goes up from thereon. What I truly want is what you have – snow! Please send some our way, ‘kay? :o)

    …Enjoy your day you two!

    …Blessings. :o)

    Reply to tj's comment

  9. Melanie in Ca on January 25, 2013 at 11:49 am

    Reading all the other comments I’m almost embarrassed to admit it’s 51 degrees outside with patchy fog from yesterday’s intermittent rain. Our daytime highs are mid-60’s, nighttime in the 40’s. But that’s a big change from recent weeks when the wind machines ran every night to keep the sub-freezing temps from destroying the citrus crops.

    I’m grateful to be able to garden year-round with help from occasional light row covers and well-chosen seed varieties.

    I learned about “mod cons” during business travel to the UK but did have to ask and was told “modern conveniences” whereupon I smacked my forehead. Of course!

    Reply to Melanie in Ca's comment

  10. I on January 25, 2013 at 12:09 pm

    I love the cold weather. Today in NC, we are expecting sleet, snow and ice. I keep looking out the window to see if it has started yet. I’ve gone out and walked my daily garden walk to check my mouse traps (for voles) and dump some peelings in the compost. I celebrate the cold weather when it is here. In the summer, I will enjoy the heat until it gets up to 100 with 1000% humidity :) and then I will long for the ice and snow again.

    Reply to I's comment

  11. Heidi on January 25, 2013 at 12:10 pm

    I love the cold weather. Today in NC, we are expecting sleet, snow and ice. I keep looking out the window to see if it has started yet. I’ve gone out and walked my daily garden walk to check my mouse traps (for voles) and dump some peelings in the compost. I celebrate the cold weather when it is here. In the summer, I will enjoy the heat until it gets up to 100 with 1000% humidity :) and then I will long for the ice and snow again.

    Reply to Heidi's comment

  12. Maybelline on January 25, 2013 at 1:19 pm

    My window view is wonderful. Drizzly fog @ 52.

    Reply to Maybelline's comment

  13. Jaye on January 25, 2013 at 1:34 pm

    It’s been beautiful lately (mid 70’s yesterday), cloudy and cool today at 41 so far.

    Reply to Jaye's comment

  14. Joy Giles on January 25, 2013 at 2:04 pm

    And on the other side of the coin we’ve had a few upper 70 degree days here in Austin, Texas. Would like a few more weeks of “cold” weather to temper the summer highs we know are coming. I suppose your -5 degree winter is the opposite pole of our 105 degree summers. Acclamation is the key.

    Reply to Joy Giles's comment

  15. Natalie on January 25, 2013 at 7:07 pm

    It has been cold and it snowed today. I like it (as long as I don’t have to drive in it!)

    Reply to Natalie's comment

  16. daisy on January 25, 2013 at 8:34 pm

    50’s at night with 70’s and sun during the day. Not complaining, but I do look forward to enjoying more seasonal weather (with my seasonal menu).
    I have to admit, I love being able to have the windows open for the start of the new year.

    Reply to daisy's comment

  17. Jennifer Fisk on January 25, 2013 at 10:15 pm

    Even here on MDI, it has been below 0 many night. Today felt like a heat wave as it climbed to 15. It is now 13 and felt mild when I went out to close up chickens and goats and to feed rabbits. Funny how a good spate of below 0 with wind chill can make the teens feel comfortable.

    Reply to Jennifer Fisk's comment

  18. Katie on January 26, 2013 at 9:45 am

    How does little Softie do? Have you gotten her a heated bed yet?

    Reply to Katie's comment

    • Susy on January 26, 2013 at 9:56 am

      Yes, she has a heated bed, but she prefers not to use it.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  19. Chris on January 26, 2013 at 8:17 pm

    Awwe, glad to hear your garage kitty has a heated bed, even though she doesn’t use it..maybe she does at night when no one is looking? :)Is she a feral? Won’t she come inside? :)

    Reply to Chris's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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