Right now, it feels like 14 below zero out there and it’s 11 am. We have a wind chill advisory until 6 pm. We have entered into that phase I call “Ice Station Zebra,” where the faucets in the house have a drip going constantly, where we are wearing more than one layer of clothing, and where we’re still waiting for an oil delivery and we’re nearly on the zero line. We’re not quite there, and we have heat, but I must admit that this ‘hoping against hope’ for a timely oil delivery is wearing thin.
We’re told they’ll be here this afternoon. Today, of course, is the coldest day we’ve had this winter, maybe the coldest day we’ll have all winter long. I know Don and I have a flair for the dramatic, but there’s such a thing as too much drama!
We had the lights blink on and off several times last night, but – so far – we haven’t lost power.
Shoveling yesterday was exhausting. The snow had compacted, so there was about 5 inches on the ground with a 1/2 inch layer of ice on top. We had to chop up the ice as we went. We ended up shoveling in two sessions, with a break in between. At the end of the second session, I cut out early because I had torqued my body the wrong way and had some lower back pain. I felt it this morning, but it’s much better today. I’m usually very careful when I shovel, but when it’s very cold out and you’re tired and trying to finish the job, you can get careless. Anyway, all is well.
So today is about hunkering down, counting the minutes until our oil delivery, wearing a shawl over my flannel pajamas, making sure the drip is going, and taking advantage of the time and space for reading.
I’m going to start reading my book from John Sandoe later today. I spent this morning reading one of my copies of Slightly Foxed, a Literary Quarterly. If you remember, I purchased two copies of Slightly Foxed when I was in London. I really love it. I may subscribe to it. We’ll see.
The one plus? It may be windy, but it’s sunny out there.
Happy Monday.
Glad you are resting today and fingers crossed the oil shows up soon!! It is cold but sunny here in the south. Mom has another Dr’s appointment today so we will be going out this afternoon. Annie is laying in a sun puddle and I’m curled up on the couch with a blanket. Wish I could stay here all day. Take care!
Thanks, Linda. It’s more than a bit stressful at the moment. But there’s nothing we can do other than what we’re already doing.
Yikes! Oil, please hurry!
I know. They just told us that deliveries are taking longer than usual today because of the condition of the roads.
Gulp.
Oh, I hope your oil gets there soon! Here, the wind chill is between-15 and -25! It is beyond cold!
I opened my patio door this morning to let Mojo out and immediately started coughing, due to the cold burst of air! My apartment, which is only 7 years old, cannot stay warmer than 70! The furnace has run almost constantly since yesterday. I love all the seasons, yet winter really gets to me at times!
I am reading, writing book reviews and drinking plenty of hot drinks today.
Thoughts of Spring on my mind!
Still not here and it’s 6:30. We’ve been assured they will be here today. The furnace is still running, but we’ve turned the heat way down and it’s freezing!
hope your back feels better and that your oil lasts and more gets delivered soon!
glad you have sunshine! that helps, doesn’t it? it’s 5 degrees here today and quite windy so our wind chill is probably much like yours. our forecast calls for snow and ice tomorrow. i don’t wish that in anyone, but hope it misses us and you, too.
hope you have a better, warmer day and enjoy your new book!
kathy in iowa
sorry … meant to type that i don’t wish ice FOR anyone …
stay safe and warm, everyone!
xo
It’s not warmer – it’s very cold. The wind is still raging and we have the thermostat turned down to conserve oil.
I think I can relate. It’s 65 in my apartment right now – a bit nippy. Though I should explain – I live in a building built in 1892 as part of a college & which was renovated to apartments in the mid 90s. Part of that renovation, I believe, was thermostats which look really nice but are not actually functional. IOW, the first year I was here I roasted from the heat in the Winter. Even though the thermostat was set at 68, the apartment registered about 80-85 most of the Winter. And turning it down as the Spring came on did nothing as well. Until the building’s furnaces were actually shut down in early May, it was 85 or warmer ALL the time. Beastly hot until the maintenance staff came to install my air conditioning unit. I was determined to try and avoid the same problem this year, so I never turned the thermostat on to HEAT this year. And up to now, it really seemed to work well. Even though I’m not “officially” getting any heat at all here, my room thermometer has been registering in the high 60s/low 70s every day. PERFECTLY comfortable. Haven’t even needed a sweater til today. I’m sure things will return to normal once this Arctic snap passes [it’s supposed to be 45 here in Rochester on Wednesday] but right now, tis quite chilly. But I’d rather be a little too cool now than roasting hot for two months before the AC is re-installed. Hope your oil arrives VERY soon. Peace.
#Resist
#ProtectMueller
It still isn’t here. They’re running behind because roads and driveways are in bad condition.
Hoping to lift your spirits today Claudia…
Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!’
—Robin Williams
April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.
—William Shakespeare
You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep spring from coming.
—Pablo Neruda
No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow.
—Proverb from Guinea
“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.”
― Edith Sitwell
“Spring passes and one remembers one’s innocence.
Summer passes and one remembers one’s exuberance.
Autumn passes and one remembers one’s reverence.
Winter passes and one remembers one’s perseverance.”
― Yoko Ono (no offense to Don to quote the woman who broke up the band)
“Because the birdsong might be pretty,
But it’s not for you they sing,
And if you think my winter is too cold,
You don’t deserve my spring.”
― Erin Hanson
No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn.
—Hal Borland
(this is my favorite)
Thank you so much, Trudy! So thoughtful of you! I like the last one the best, too!
No such thing as too much drama, especially when you’re dealing with the cold. Keeping my fingers crossed that your oil arrives as planned! Keep cozy…
It’s late. We’re still waiting!
Brrr, I’m feeling cold just reading about your temps, Claudia, and those of some of your commenters! It’s in the high 40’s here and is supposed to rise to the low 50’s. If i don’t have my heater on, the temp in my house will not below 64 during the day. It just doesn’t get that cold here’s. I have my heater on 66-67 at the max, and just wear layers. I’m too thrifty (cheap…) to run the heater all the time!
Take it easy with your back today, Claudia. My Uncle wrenched his back shoveling snow and had to have surgery to relieve the pain. He now spends winters in Florida. Hope the oil is delivered and those hard-working delivery people remain safe on those roads.
I can’t believe how difficult it must be for them today. We’re still waiting – they’ve been working all day in these temperatures.
We had about -16 wind chill this morning. Several schools NW of us had 2 hr delays. More snow tomorrow. 3-7 inches. They can’t seem to make up their minds about it. Only a Winter Storm Watch right now.
Hoping your oil has been delivered or is on their way. God bless all of those working outdoors in these elements the next several days! Just opening the door to let the dogs out has me shivering! Hope your back feels better and you enjoy the book!! The sun does help!!
It is SO cold in here (not to mention outside!) We’ve turned down the thermostat and the winds keep raging. Still waiting on our delivery.
Been there, done that. In university, I woke up to a freezing cold house and had no idea why it happened. Growing up in an apartment in Toronto, I had no clue what kept the place warm. When I moved out to attend university, I rented a house in St. Catherines (a rather warm city). My next-door neighbour had to tell me that the house was heated with oil and I would have to order some. Sheesh! What a rude awakening. Ironically, though, after graduating from university I moved to northern Alberta which often has very, very cold and long winters.
And now my heating system is gas. Layering and copious cups of tea are my go-to solutions. I hope your delivery comes very, very soon.
It’s happened to us once before, but only once in our 13 years here. At this moment, we’re still waiting on our delivery. Thanks, JJ.
Claudia, I’m really surprised that your cottage doesn’t have an open fireplace. Wouldn’t that have been the only source of heat back when it was built, unless they had a wood burning stove? How would the occupiers have kept warm? I clearly don’t understand because I can’t even comprehend living in snow, sleet and freezing conditions, having to shovel snow off the driveway and footpath. How do the elderly and disabled manage? I’m really feeling for you and Don and hope that your oil is delivered today.
On a brighter note, what a lovely photo of you and Don (you look so much like my sister…in photos, anyway) and Don’s new frames look really good in black. Love the look of Doug and Rick’s house and beautiful Sam, to!
Beverley
This is a very, very small cottage. It used to have an oil burning stove, but obviously, it was updated with an oil burner many years ago. The oil burner is much more efficient. It just needs oil!
I hope by now you have oil!?? There can never be enough drama when it comes to storms…especially winter ones. It’s really cold today….5-7 inches tomorrow…I think, they aren’t really sure. All I know is, there will be a weather event tomorrow…and there’s food in the larder. Stay warm! ;)
Not yet. They’re running behind because of the poor conditions on back roads. We’re are SO SO cold in here right now as we’re trying to conserve oil and we’re almost at the empty mark. I didn’t think we’d have to wait this long today.
Just hope you get oil your back relaxes ,and you can stay near your wood burning stove. I lived in MI for over thirty years and I do not miss the cold.
We don’t have a wood burning stove. We have an oil burning furnace in the basement.
Same weather here; you’re just a day behind us. Today has been just plain stinkin’ cold. I stayed in all day. Tomorrow – sleet, freezing rain, more snow. Waah!
We have rain due on Wednesday, but it’s going to be above freezing, so it will just be rain, thank goodness, as I have to go into NYC.
Hope your oil is delivered soon.
Marilyn
It came around 9:30, Marilyn. All is well!
Please please please check out the Eden pure or one of those fake fireplace heaters! This is dangerous!!!! I am worried.
It’s not dangerous, Brenda. We have a space heater – if there’s any danger, it involves our pipes freezing and that will not be prevented by a fake fireplace heater or anything like that. That’s why we made the choice to keep our thermostat turned down all day, to conserve oil, yet keep the heat going.
This is a small cottage, but it’s situated in an area that is very windy. With open rooms downstairs, a space heater will only heat little pockets of the main floor. Thanks for caring.
It’s 7:49 here hope you got your delivery
Not until 9:30, but we got it!