I’m afraid we shall have to go out today some time, briefly, for provisions. Other than that we’ve stayed home in the warm. Outside, it’s been cold. Dry, but cold. I don’t possess an outdoor thermometer at the moment but I’m informed that a typical ‘in-the-shade’ temperature has been -4°C/24.8 ºF. I know, of course, that this would be considered mild in some places. Here, it’s perishin’ cold, and very, very bad for bronchials in the recuperative state.
Pretty, though, if you can catch it in the right light:
Across the valley and down a bit
So, we’ve been staying home and congratulating ourselves that we’ve managed at last to warm the structure through and get the house up to civilised levels of temperature and humidity. In places there are several feet of solid concrete in our living space, and that takes a while to warm through when a house has been empty a while.
Dolly approves of our staying indoors. And of the success of our efforts to get the place properly warm and dry. In fact you could say that she’s in a general mood of approval just now. Which, on past experience, is rather worrying:
Dolly on the drainer
Your scenery looks lovely, but … icy mist is definitely “indoor weather.”
Is that a crumbling chapel or fortress up on the hillside? Or is it one of those “Folly” towers that the wealthy built in the 1800s? I saw Hussey’s Folly when I was in Dingle, Eire.
Keep snug!
Hugs, ~ Sil
Happy New Year to you dear John, and Dolly and Graham – what a lovely view you have! Having had a bad attack of the bronchials myself I am staying put indoors in the warm and making do with whats in the freezer. Looking forward to another year of reading about your lives in your new bungalow and the medicine walks you will no doubt discover.
I grew up in the cold and believe me 28 F is cold!
If that is Dolly’s approval look I’d hate to see her disapproval. lol btw is your drainer built in?
Oh puhleez! Bonnie, I’d be golfing in 28F!
Heh. If I golfed. And no, it’d be too cold for that too. Joshin’ ya.
All a matter of what you’re used to. 28F would feel frigid to me in the early fall, but now … well, this morning it’s minus 22 Celsius in my yard, out of the wind. The snow is about a foot and a half thick on my barbecue, which is still sitting by the doorstep. My children have been on the highway coming home for two hours, and have another eight hours ahead of them. But for the danger of getting stranded in this weather, the roads are actually better when it’s cold — they’re less slippery than when things start warming up and snow starts falling.
We have been in the deep freeze for about a month. Enough, already!
I hope your wrapped up nice and snug if you had to go out. 24.8 F is plenty cold – especially if you have a wind chill bringing it even further down.
Was it treat or scratch time for Dolly? To me, that is either an expectant look or a ‘whatever are you doing?’ look.
Hmmm … I’m thinking maybe Dolly is waiting for you to turn on the faucet for her. And wondering what’s taking you so long.
Thanks for the info on that Ivy Tower castle remnant, or at least it does have that sort of silhouette. I was just about to ask you if it was accessible, seems you would need a zoom lens! A gorgeous and compelling view out of your window, and one that surely will offer a slideshow of ever changing hues, courtesy of mother nature. I’ll bet you’ll be able to capture it in its many moods as the seasons unfold.
Ah, I remember another picture of Dolly on the sink drainer in your old house, seems she has a foundness for sinks! That’s an interrogative look, a human one at that, what is she really saying? I admire her svelteness, how do you keep her so lean? Thanks for the pictures, much appreciated.
I like your kitty mug
Our Christmas break: A week of no landline phone/power after a windstorm, just prior to Christmas. Then Christmas Eve and Christmas Day were fairly calm. New Year’s Eve, a big storm that dumped 2 feet of snow. Today it was beautiful, and I shovelled out. The temperature is going back up, but we are due for another inch of the white stuff tonight.
Every time that I am tempted to grumble, I just remember how difficult people in other areas of the world REALLY have it. We have kerosene heaters and lamps; and a bucket and rope to get water for consumption, washing, and toilet flushing; and can survive quite well. We then have months of discussing the great blizzard of the year.
Happy hols and best wishes for the new year.
Oh, I think she’s saying: ‘Look – you know I want the faucet on – why are you tormenting me???’
Lovely post, John. And I really like the sink with the drainer. Save it for me, when you change it out and I’ll be right over to pick it up!
G’day to you Miss Molly-Cat. And to John and Graham, what a lovely view out your windows. Is this your longed-for home-sweet-home after all? It feels that way to me. By the tone of your voice when you write. I like the sink, too, with the built-in drainer. I have stainless steel,which I do like, but I’d like to have a stainless drainer built in, as well.
We’ve been having temps near ZERO Farenheit here, so 24 F sounds like a heat wave.
Your Dolly and my Missty look so much alike they could be sisters, right down to the expression on her face. Beautiful cat!