How cold is it? It's so cold I couldn't take the garbage out. When I tried to get the garbage bin out to take it to the curb this morning, I couldn't open the gate. The latch was frozen. The garbage collectors will not pick up bags; all garbage must be in the special, wheeled bins. I'm embarrassed to admit that I ended up putting my bag into my neighbors' bin. That was when it was 2F/-16C degrees out there. It got up to a whopping 16F/-8.8C. It hasn't been this cold since February 19.Already I've had to chop ice on the driveway. I had enough of that last year, and it's only the first week of December. Already the marauding deer have made their way through the neighbors' front and back yards and into my front yard.
But it appears that the Plantskydd I sprayed on the Yew has deterred them for now. Stay tuned for further Yew updates. Now where did I put that long underwear?
29 comments:
Our driveway was so slippery...My husband took the trash out (one can) and had me come out in case he fell. I don't like sloping driveways.I hope we don't repeat last winter.
MMD,
That is cold, miserable, stay inside by the fire or under a down blanket cold! It is nowhere near as cold here but it is unseasonably cold...dipping into the low twenties when it is normally lows in the forties. I think you're right...it is going to be a long winter!
gail
I just kind of have to laugh at you putting your trash in your neighbor's bin. They won't mind but it is pretty funny! Stay warm as best you can and snap some good pictures of the deer.
Oh deer! Oh deer! You poor thing MMD. It does seem like you're going to suffer through this one for a while. I hate our winters, which are nothing compared to yours.
It's cold here, too, but we have no snow yet. Yes, I have a feeling that it will be a lonnnngggg winter!
Carol, May Dreams Gardens
Wait until it really get's cold:)
Your neighbour from the north in Canada.
I'm chilled to the bone just reading about your low temperatures. I'm going to make myself a cup of hot tea to warm up!
Wow, it's still pretty warm there. I don't think that my thermometer ever reached above 3 degrees (C) today although it was supposed to be up into the high teens. That wind didn't help either. The kids couldn't even go outside for any recesses today because wind chills were below zero. They didn't even complain when I told them it would be a good idea to wear their snowpants and boots home tonight and I was in a second grade classroom for a whopping 2 hours today.
It will be a long winter indeed.
You better go find that long underwear and NOW! I have mine front and center. Only 30 here but really nipply. Har! Can only imagine what 2 degrees is like this early in the season. Brrrrrr.
I think it's gotten pretty darn cold pretty early here in NE, too. Not much snow, but cold--a bad combo.... Spring was early this year, so winter is too.
MMD, have you seen the 10 day forecast? Cold, followed by cold and then unseasonably cold! Oh, and snow about every other day to that. We have a good excuse to stay inside.:}
Hooo boy, that's cold! We had a snowfall warning here, so it snowed..and then rained all day on top of the snow. There are icicles on the power lines. I have a feeling we won't want to be driving anywhere tomorrow!
Brrr! I'll be happy to hear if you've found something to deter deer! :-)
Hi MMD,
"I feel your pain." LOL ... seriously though, we got the coldest yet so far last night (single digits too) and still have plenty of snow around as well. I, like others have said, think it's going to be a long, cold and tedious winter (of discontent) from all the early signs.
I loved your trash story! We didn't even put our bin out this week, because it had one small bag in it, and with the temperatures lately, it will all be frozen anyway, so next week ... when the recycling bin goes out. Funny that we have so little real "trash" (organic goes to compost) but tons of recyclables every 2 weeks. I'm just so glad we can recycle all our plastics, glass, paper and cans!
Yeah, just an old hippie here from the "reduce, recycle, reuse" days of yore....
hmmm, "promemb" is an interesting almost word to verify!
MMD, you need Smart Wool socks if you don't already have them. It's cold here too for Oklahoma, although not like yours. Already really cold considering it's so early. That's not good for gardening or the paving industry.~~Dee
I'm sending you warm thoughts from Florida!
Balisha - I developed my snowshoveling OCD as a kid shoveling our sloping driveway. If we didn't get all the snow off, my parents couldn't get the cars up the driveway to the garage. Last winter was something else, but I'd rather have that than bitter cold & no snow.
Gail - I would have loved to have hibernated, but I had to drive the kids to school. Ugh.
Tina - yes, I can laugh about it now. I don't seem to be able to catch the deer in the act. They're pretty skittish around here.
Hi, Stuart, thanks for visiting! It's all a matter of perspective. I keep saying to myself, "it's better than being in Barrow, Alaska."
Carol - at least you've got your houseplants to get you through the winter.
Hi, Guild-rez, I sure hope it doesn't get really cold. I've got a new Lacecap Hydrangea that I'm experimenting with to see if I need to cover it in the winter to get any blooms.
Cindy - I've got a good stock of tea. I drink so much of it in winter that I don't want any the rest of the year.
Cinj - it's just too cold for me up your way! I think the schools coddle the kids; we used to go out for recess when it was that cold.
MA - I keep remembering all those years when it was above freezing at the beginning of December & wishing for snow - ha! I've started seriously layering the clothes. My size 12 jeans aren't fat pants; they're winter jeans for wearing over long underwear & leggings.
Benjamin Vogt - good luck with the cold & no snow. That is a bad situation. Last time we had that, the water main at the end of the street broke & I had some losses in the garden.
Beckie - I don't even want to think about it.
Hi, Blossom, thanks for visiting! I'd much rather deal with just snow, thank you. Ice storms are the worst!
Shady - I don't know if the repellant will work all winter when the deer get really hungry.
Happy Promemb to you, IVG! I didn't even bother trying to get the recycle bin or the Big Green Monster to the curb, it was just too cold. My family makes fun of my husband & me because we take home to recycle the empty bottles & cans from get togethers at my parents' house.
Brrr, that is cold! I may have to stay in Arizona the rest of the winter:) It was 77 in Phoenix yesterday; my daughter and I had to turn on the air in the car when we went shopping. I think I may have a shock adjusting to this cold when I get home next week.
Stay warm!
That cold is bad news. If the deer are already in the front yard it won't be long before they start ringing the doorbell and asking for handouts. A hard winter will will force them to eat things they normally ignore. Better spray everything.
Ick to chopping ice on driveways and frozen gates. Indeed.
Brrr...that is a cold day indeed MMD! Stay inside where it is warm & toasty.
That is some COLD weather girl. Better get the down filled housecoat out too. Brrrrrrrrr
Another delightful northern Illinois winter;) If we get that icestorm later today, your gate latch will be encased in ice. I know I'm looking forward to sliding home tonight.
Marnie
Geez, I am humiliated to be complaining about the weather down here in TN after hearing about yours! Although I could not open the garbage can lid this morning to put the trash in. I live in long underwear during the cold months, I would freeze otherwise.
Frances
I cannot imagine trying to live in such cold weather again. It's a bit cooler than normal even here in Houston, I'm expecting frost on Thursday, and that often doesn't happen until January. But beyond the frost, it's just been cooler than normal so far. I'm beginning to think the early prep I did for my tropicals isn't going to be overkill this year.
It's gonna be a long winter.
Gosh - those sorts of temperatures make us Brit moaning about -4C seem rather wimpish!
MMD, Had to put my snow shoes on to get over here to say BRRRR with you. I have fantasies of what it would be like to live where it snows... cute little knit caps and fur boots and all those adorable knit scarves I try to wear down here but usually have to shed by mid-morning... sitting by the fire with a hot cup of coffee all cozy and warm.
You've kind of dashed my images picturing that trash bin and frozen gate. :-)
Saw your comment over at Fairegarden... where are you landing in Florida in February? It is a beautiful time to visit here.
Try to stay warm.
Meems
Dee - Smart Wool socks? Thanks for the tip. I'll have to check that out. I don't enjoy wearing 2 pairs of socks.
Wicked Gardener - thanks! I'll be experiencing Florida warmth firsthand in a couple of months (if I last that long).
Rose - I can't think of a better place to be in winter than Arizona. I wouldn't hurry back if I were you.
Wiseacre - I learned my lesson last year. Everything they can get at is sprayed or caged in chicken wire. Not the prettiest sight, but once the snow gets deep, you can't see it anymore.
GHT - you know it!
PG - I've started hibernating.
Lisa - there are down-filled housecoats?
Marnie - maybe I should invest in a blow torch. Fortunately, my husband pulled the bins across the back patio & got them out through the other gate.
Frances - you sound like you are suffering just as much.
Nancy - yes, the upside of the cold is that feeling of justification & a job well done.
HappyMouffetard - wimps, wimps! ;^)
Meems - Currier & Ives it ain't! I'm heading for the beach in Palm Beach Shores. I posted last year about the bad planting in front of my parents' building there.
I've heard good things about SmartWool socks too.
After several days in the '60's here in NC we too are about to take the plunge. 36 degrees and windy too, down to 18 tonight.
We lived in PA for 3 years and I well remember all of the ice with the snow. The ice was downright dangerous!
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