Polar Vortex Part II

It is now official - this morning we broke the all time record low - not just for January 31, but as far back as the records go.  The old record for our area was -28 set February 3, 1996.  The new record is -33 set this morning.  I remember the old record - I was stringing for a local paper and had an interview that afternoon.  When I went to leave the interview, there was a big red puddle under my brand new Cougar.  The seal on the power steering pump and burst in the cold and I was stuck 5 miles from town.  Because of the intense cold no local tow company was available to get to me before the next day.  Finally the Mercury dealer in Geneseo said he could get it my 5:00 PM  - it was now only about 2:00 PM.  Thankfully the business I was doing the story on was owned by a friend and she agreed to keep the keys and give them to the driver when he came and her business partner - who was leaving then - took me home.  I got the car back about 3 days later and never had any more trouble. Kept it for over 20 year.

Polar Vortex

Today is the day of the polar vortex in my neck of the woods.  Right now the temperature is -13 F and it is noon.  This morning it was -23 F and by tonight it is supposed to be -31 F.  With the wind chills right now it feels like -36 F and we are under a wind chill warning.  I had a doctor's appointment this afternoon but it was cancelled and rescheduled.  That is the second time this season that has happened - two different doctors - once for a snow storm and now for the deadly cold.  Every thing is closed from schools to libraries, from churches to court houses.  And there is not mail delivery - and worse all the quilt shops are closed!!  of course I wasn't planning on going out to shop anyway.

This is the view from my front window.  Hubby got the snow blown out yesterday before the really brutal cold it, and the road commissioner did an amazing job plowing and rocking the road (we are a township road and get no salt) but it is still snow covered and icy and there is a hill to go up in either direction.  This in no way can possibly show the cold.

I'm spending the day on my computer, Then I'm going down to work on my Fun On The Farm quilt by Eleanor Burns ( on facebook) and maybe a couple of other projects I have in the works.

Reading is another good option for the day,

So far this month I've read:

Divine Intervention by Hope Callagahan
Cocaine Blues by Kerry Greenwood
Elegy for Eddie by Jacqueline Winspear
The Race by Clive Cussler
Promise not to Tell by Jayne Ann Krantz

The only new author to me is Kerry Greenwood - her Pharyne Fisher Mysteries.  I watched them on Net-flicks and then my sister told me about the books - I loved it and am looking forward to the next one.

Well, I'm off to do some sewing and hopefully stay warm for the day.

The Holidays are over

The holidays are finally over and I can take a deep relaxing breath for the first time in months.  I have no more Christmas presents to make or wrap.  I have no more breads to bake or dishes to cook for a Holiday dinner.  Now I can sit and sew quietly for my new great-grand baby girl due in May.  I am so very excited for this to happen and am praying for a beautiful, healthy girl.

I've already made her one set of a bib and burp cloth.  There will be a couple of more in the mix.  I'd like to make the traditional Pugsley/Doutt Poncho for babies for her, and of course she will be getting the baby quilt.  I have it started. 

Most of this has to be completed by March 4th as I go in for a knee replacement surgery that day and I have no idea how long I will be unable to go up and down the stairs to work in my quilt studio.  But I'm not going to worry about that now  I'm going keep my chin up and my attitude positive. 

I'm not making new year resolutions this year - just too frustrating to not keep them.  So I'm going to attempt to do my CALM Meditations most days - 3 out of 5 to begin with.  I want to post 3 really good shots every week on my 365 account.  Hopefully it will get me in the mood to do more.  After my surgery I want to get back to my letter-boxing.  Maybe finding at least one a week.   And I have to help plan at least one road trip this spring - and maybe one in the late summer or early fall.

Next time I will be posting my "award winning" cinnamon roll recipe - Bread machine version - so keep your eyes pealed for that.