Arctic air has hit Texas! Our temps are in the 20's (F)... and they are hinting that they may get down to 8 degrees (F) by Sunday or Monday. (This is not acceptable) Texas can get cold, but not that cold. Is this due to Climate Change? One weatherman said that this is the coldest Texas has been in 30 years.
The number of accidents on the icy roads just this morning have been horrific. One involved 75-100 cars and had several fatalities. People are being told to stay home due to the roads rather than the pandemic for a change. Schools have closed. With these low temps all outside animals and house-hold pipes could be affected. My daughter is worried about both her pipes and her horses. The horses have blankets and stalls, but they are not inside a barn.
Only good thing about it being Texas is that the cold doesn't usually last more than a day or 2... this time it seems that we may have 4 days of below freezing weather.
We have blankets, baskets, and pet beds, as well as boxes and heat lamps outside for the ferals. We've also opened the garage door about 6 inches so they can get inside out of the cold. This morning there were 8 black cats huddled on the patio chairs under the heat lamps... and one black and white in the blanketed bed on the front porch.
As for myself, I'm huddled on the sofa near the fireplace... and will probably stay for the duration. I don't do well with cold. Not sure if my body simply doesn't hold the heat, but sometimes I can get so cold that nothing will do but to soak in a hot bath or shower until my body temp returns to normal again. Hot tea and layers help too.
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| There is a sofa across from these chairs where I'm huddled with my blanket and hot tea... |
That's my report for today. Those of you who live up north are used to this type of weather... but we aren't and don't do well in it.
However, I do believe that this Arctic air is covering a large part of the U.S., so please stay warm and stay safe. As they say, this too will pass.
And as always, thanks for visiting. I hope those of you who want the vaccine have gotten it already. Most of the people we know here have gotten theirs. We are on several waiting lists, but have not been contacted yet.... but expect to be in the next few weeks.
Hugs, (virtual)
Rian
It has been pretty cold here this week, just after I was boasting about very rarely getting snow it snowed for several days, didn't lay just dusting. Cats are grabbing all the good chairs and staying put all day, lol
ReplyDeleteBriony
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Yes, the ferals are definitely making use of the beds and heat lamps outside... and we've been putting food/water out a little more often in this cold.
DeleteThat is pretty cold Rian! Well to be honest, I'd rather have the chilling temps than all the snow we've gotten this year (in Pennsylvania). Either case, I know it's dangerous, you sound like you're doing the right thing. Hope you get your vaccine soon, I've given up even hoping for a waiting list let alone an actual shot!
ReplyDeleteThey say we're going to get snow between Sunday and Tuesday... supposedly 3-5inches? We shall see. As for the vaccine, I know we'll be contacted eventually... even if it's not until March. Don't want to get out in this weather anyway right now.
DeleteYou have been on my mind today! Now that I read you are cold, I have found the perfect heat retention system, finally, 77 years later. First, a long sleeve shirt. Next a hoodie with a light fleece. Zip it up. Next a hoodie with medium fleece. Looks like a bag woman, and you are warm.
ReplyDeleteYou are spot on, Joanne! I have on a long sleeve shirt, a t-shirt over that, a fleece vest over that (zipped up) and a long sleeve fleece jacket (not a hoodie though). And I keep my heated bed buddy with me heating it in the microwave for 2 minutes ever so often during the day. (Don't care much what it looks like if I can stay warm)
DeleteThat is cold. We have been getting unusual cold also--supposed to hit one degree on Monday. Brrr. Saw video of that terrible wreck in Texas on the news. Glad you are staying home and out of it. Love the idea of the heat lamps for the kitties. You are a thoughtful landlady.
ReplyDeleteStay warm.
It was an awful pile-up (134 cars?)! Unbelievable... and in the early morning so it was dark, cold, and freezing rain. Just awful. Icy roads, black ice... not something we're used to dealing with. Good to be retired and not have to go out, but do worry about those who do.
DeleteThis Arctic area is covering most of Canada as well as a good part of the US. It's setting records for cold in our Prairie provinces, so this is NOT normal, even for our country! We're not setting cold records in our area of Ontario, but it's still WAY below normal and I'm freezing.
ReplyDeleteI'm so thankful that you take such good care of the ferals; take good care of yourself too and stay safe!
I know Canada is getting that Arctic air too. Hope you and Derry can stay inside as much as possible. Stay home and stay warm. The ferals seem to be doing well enough with the temp in the 20's. I do worry how they will fair if it goes down to the single digits. Opening the garage doors and putting out blankets there may help.
DeleteBitter here and some lovely wet snow. I also think ageing has to do with holding the body temperature. If chilled, I have to take a nice warm bath and drink hot tea!
ReplyDeleteYep! That works for me too, Tabor.
Deletemy son lives in texas and i know it is cold there, it must be a bit of a shock!! it's cold here too, but we are used to it. right now it is 26 degrees, with a feels like of 20 degrees!! i wonder if the roads were treated. it sounds like maybe not for there to be so many accidents!!
ReplyDeleteyou have a big heart, to look after the feral!!
The roads were supposed to be treated. They are investigating...
DeleteI saw the pile up of trucks and cars on the news -- horrific.
ReplyDeleteYour fire looks cozy. Don't look for excuses to get off that couch!
The fire is cozy... I tried to take a video of it, but for some reason can't get my videos to my blog site.
DeleteOh, 8 degrees is way too cold, 20 degrees is too. I don't do well in cold weather either. I love your fireplace and those two chairs and can picture the warm cozy sofa. I meant to have a fire going when Dan got home from work but got busy and forgot. We will keep one going all day tomorrow. I worry about the animals when the weather is bad. It so sweet how you make warm beds for the ferals. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHi Henny! It's 20 degrees this morning here. Roads icy. Water dishes frozen. I have on 3 layers at the moment, may go to 4. Stay warm!
DeleteThat is very cold for you and I know your homes aren't insulated against the cold as ours are. It's been bitterly cold here this week, low temperatures between -36 and -40C (which isn't much different from Fahrenheit). Daytime temperatures are slightly higher but with the wind it feels much colder.
ReplyDeleteGood on you for taking care of the ferals and ensuring they're taken care of in the cold weather. Hopefully it breaks soon and temperatures go back to more normal ranges.
Take care, stay well!
I know you are used to the cold living where you do. But I can't imagine it being that cold (-27 degrees F). Our houses are insulated (maybe not the same as yours), but it still seems cold inside. The ice on the trees in your pictures is pretty... but the ice on the roads here is treacherous.
DeleteI saw that pileup on TV, freezing rain making the streets into a skating rink. I definitely would stay home during these cold snaps. We have snow falling heavily and about six inches on the ground already. And it's cold with the wind and below freezing temps. I'm not going anywhere! :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you aren't going anywhere during this Arctic weather, DJan. The streets you walk on could be icy and no one needs to fall and break anything anytime... let alone these days. Stay home and stay safe. It can't last for too long.
DeleteThat fireplace is lovely
ReplyDeleteThanks, John. It is a blessing during this Arctic freeze. It was 4 degrees F this morning... Brr..rrr!
DeleteOops! Arctic temperatures are no laughing matter when you are not used to them. The UK has a moderate climate, lots of rain, grey skies, not much sun but not much snow and ice either. Rather boring, in fact.
ReplyDeleteI love it that you provide so well for your feral cats, during last weeks’ frost I have had nightmares about abandoned dogs and cats left out in all weathers. I even planned to get up at night to see if there any around in my garden; of course not. I live so isolated and stray animals look for shelter among proper neighbourhoods.
You are right, Friko. It was -1 degree F this morning here.... and we certainly aren't used to that. And I do worry about those critters outside. At night I think about them freezing solid in their little burrows... but perhaps they are safe somewhere. The feral cats and raccoons both use the heat lamps on the back patio, and some may go into the garage, but I do wonder what the others do.
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