Brilliant Cold!

 The day after my last bike ride, the temperature dropped 30 degrees.  Mid-month we were still in somewhat of a cycle - consisting of a cold day followed by a warmer one.  At least that was the case until January decided to plunge us into bitter cold.  Thursday, we dropped during the day from a high of 15 down to 7.  Include blasting winds & by yesterday morning we were at zero with wind chills to -25.

The woods~

This morning, we had an inch of snowdust.  Just enough to almost turn the ground white.  At 9 a.m. when I went out, the sun was breaking through the clouds & the temperature was still zero.  Thankfully there was just a light breeze.

Armillary~

I blew the back deck & back walkway for Finn.  He waits for his coat!  Then, I went out front & blew the porch & sidewalk there - all the way to the Cabin.

What zero looks like~

It was simply beautiful out.  I'll do whatever necessary to get my outdoor time & blowing is easier than shoveling!  It was quiet except for the tweets of the birds that were coming & going from the feeder.

Cardinal on the ground to the left of the post~

In the photo above, the little square black box to the right is the sonic Cat Repeller.  I lost two birds to cats over the summer months.  The neighbor who owns one of the many that run free, bought it rather than contain his cat.  It does seem to help, at least I haven't found any more feathers.  (I saw a post yesterday from a local group working to control the feral cat population in town, by trapping & neutering.) 

Ceramic ball by the Cabin~

I'd never noticed before how prominent the star at the top of the ball is with snow.  The air was so fresh!  Brisk is the kindest word I can use to describe the cold.  By the time I was done - I was sure even with his heated pad - Finn would be ready to come in.  He wasn't the only one!

Echinacea~

I was surprised at how many seeds are still on the Echinacea.  Last year they were stripped by the end of winter, even with the bird feeder kept full.

When I came in~

Butch has been south, making a delivery in Kansas City.  With too much time in his schedule, he's taking a 34-hour reset in New Florence, MO.  He wasn't bragging but mentioned temperatures in the 40's this week.  It seems today the cold has finally caught up to him.  He woke to 4 degrees & about the same amount of snow we had. He'll leave tomorrow for Louisville.  

Butch's view~

We have single digits today, teens tomorrow.  The long-range forecast is for temperatures warming slowly into the 20's with a day or two breaking 30 degrees, into the first week of February. 

Finn is already bored with being inside.  Yesterday I found him in the craft room, sharing the sunshine coming in the south window with my plants.  We're working on a couple new commands to keep him occupied & have play time twice a day.  He's worse than having a toddler!  :-)

Someone Flipped the Switch!

 November, after the record-breaking high temperature earlier, we saw some very cold & gray days.  The month was one of transition.  Finn & I sat out almost every morning enjoying the warmth of our south exposure & sunshine.  Even the gray days have their own beauty & the radiant heater helped!

Our view 11-25-25

I was taking my germaniums in most nights & setting them back out in the mornings.  The ones in the photo have gone through a second year.  I have six others I started last spring.  Getting them through the winter months here, is always a challenge.

Thanksgiving Day - the Marsh~

Thanksgiving was a totally beautiful day!  We walked the property & enjoyed the sunshine.  By Saturday, it was a different world.  Iowa still amazes me as to how fast & dramatically the weather can change.

Snow arrives, 11-29-25

Butch had made another very long drive, up for almost 24 hours, to make it home the morning before Thanksgiving. Sunday night, I smelled gas & our furnace decided to go out.  Butch took it apart & discovered it was beyond repair.  He made a call that evening & met with Steve on Monday.  I told him he was not leaving until we'd made a plan for heat!  Steve said it would take until Wed. for the new furnace to arrive & for the install. (After Butch met with Steve, he pulled out in his nice warm truck!)

12-3 A shiny new furnace~

As promised, Steve & his crew arrived bright & early Wednesday morning.  I was happy to leave them at the task & go to mat making where it was nice & warm!  Kind friends offered us a place to stay, but I'd closed off the guest room, kept the drapes drawn, fireplace going & moved one of our two oil heaters into whatever room Finn & I occupied.  Steve was impressed with how warm the house had stayed.

12-4-25 

Time was of the essence, as the coldest temperatures of the season to date, were a day away.  Late in the afternoon, it was a relief to hear the fan of the new furnace kick on!  By the fourth, the bottom dropped out & we experienced our first negative temperatures of the season.  

12-6 Snow still on the ground~

It's been so bitterly cold, the approximately 3" of snow we received is still on the ground.  More had been forecast for today, but so far, we've remained cloudy & cold.

Finnigan~

Finn & I have been decorating!  December fourth marked the second anniversary of his Adoption Day!  We've decided to designate it as his birthday, too.  Our Vet believed him to be about four when I brought him home, which makes him now six.  He's made so many friends & adores my friend, Doris.  (He is still scared of men.)

He has two female dog friends now: Poppy, Ginny's Pomeranian & Sadie, Carol's West Highland Terrier.  He even knows the Travelin' Man ring tone I've set for Butch's calls & barks when he hears it!  He's one heck of a little guy with a huge heart.  I couldn't have found a better companion.

Another Bitter Cold February~

 It's strange how when I think of the month of February, I always seem to remember more mild days than cold ones! I conveniently forget the days of bitter, record-breaking cold that usually dominate the month!

4:08 p.m. 2-12-25

Butch had been home & was gone again, driving on his birthday.  Wednesday, in the early dawn hours, our first real snowstorm of the winter season blew in.  It deposited about 4" of incredibly beautiful powder snow.  It was also incredibly cold.  We were in the negative digits & only warmed into the single digits.  We received about three 1/2" dustings of snow on top of the original 4".  Shoveling it was a breeze.

10:44 a.m. 2-12-2025 

When I went out back to blow the walkway, for at least the second time, I saw a black spot up in one of the trees along the edge of the woods.  I used my little Canon with the zoom lens to capture the photo above.  I've named him Blackie!  We probably have Blackie I, II & III at least, but who's counting?

11:52 a.m. 2-13-2025

Sunshine the following day made it seem less cold.  I went out to blow the walks again & pretended it was as warm as it looked.  The weatherman said the following days would be even colder.  When I could no longer feel my fingers through two sets of gloves, I'd just finished.

Valentine's day, 4:48 p.m. Tinkle Branch Trail~

Finn & I usually take our walks in the afternoon.  Once the temperatures dropped to single digits, we decided sitting in front of the fireplace would work for us!  We're both missing the walks we've found good days for in prior years.

2-19-2025, 9:51 a.m. 

This morning, we broke the record low temperature going back over 100-years.  Finn has amazed me with his toughness!  He goes out every day & sits in the sun on the deck for at least a few minutes - no matter how cold it is!  Yesterday afternoon we took our walk & ended up at the Cabin.  The heaters were keeping the chill out of the air.

The fifth day of record cold~

The sunshine is wonderful, but I'm ready for some warming!  I finished my latch hook project & my germanium starts are ready to go in pots.  The mother plants are taking up all the window space in the craft room.  Besides taking a few cuttings, I haven't cut them completely back yet, experimenting to see how they do.

A little bloom!

Butch came through today; Finn & I drove up to Sapp Brothers.  Finn started talking the minute we took the exit ramp!  He acted as guard dog in the warm semi while Butch & I had lunch.  Now, Butch is on his way to IN & Finn & I are looking forward to the much-anticipated warmer weather!