Nice, 32 degrees at 8:00

That be cold for my neck of the woods. All I have is a heat pump, nothing like luke warm air blowing at you with an occasional blast of electric heat.

Anything with a large leaf is now dead for the year, have to say the citrus is holding up for now but my navels and sanbokans are not ready to be picked. Tangerines and mandarins are ready to go so I've been picking those guys this weekend.

Had a banana just putting out a flower too, to bad it couldn't have waited for another 3 months or so.

It has been downright frigid lately, it's crazy. What is your high forecast for today Core? I think we're stuck in the 30's today and tomorrow here.

And as if the cold wasn't bad enough, the wind has been horrible the last two days. This has been a yuck ending to the fall of 2010. I just hope it's not a sign of the winter to come.

windchill of 15 here in Sumter today...brrr...got my hot coffee going on for sure!

Compared to the midlands, Core, you're still relatively mild down there. Still, it would be sad if your citrus was damaged. Most mornings, when I check your lows compared to mine, I want to camp out in your backyard. Seriously, I'll be there around 3pm.

Gah .. if it were not for my stinky kerosene heater, micro plush sheets and electric blanket, I would have succumbed by now. I have a heat pump too that can't keep up - I know this because of the "burnt air" smell the blows out when it first kicks on meaning it's using the heat strips (probably should get my ducts cleaned one of these days). The kerosene heater makes all the difference. It can have the living room/office up to 90 degrees in about a half hour. It's a must for days that don't get above 45 degrees.

I keep going out an poking my gingers and other vulnerable stuff and so far everything is firm and not mushy. I'm not even looking at the ensete anymore .. I'll just let it surprise me or not come Spring.

The worst thing about this is that ITS NOT EVEN WINTER YET!

Grrrrrrr

I sincerely hope this weather is not a portend for things to come.

X

Looks like the low was 24 for me, kids finally figure out what cold is. LOL. My kids actually paid attention today wearing gloves and hats with zipped up jackets, may be the first time for that. Another kid at the bus stop was literally turning purple hood not up, jacket unzipped and he couldn't figure out why he was freezing in something like 3 minutes flat. The kids on my street have no city skills the thought of a bus running you over if you step off the sidewalk just doesn't occur to them. Now I will add no smarts what's so ever when it comes to cold weather. Think for Christmas I should take them on a field trip to downtown Buffalo or some place like that. LOL.

Going to pick a bunch more citrus this afternoon we'll see how ever thing holds up, another night of cold coming up.

Ar the sun hit the mushy foliage this morning the rotting greens, especially the society garlic, was starting to smell. A friend in FL also mentioned the frozen anoles, I had forgotten about those poor little guys.

It's almost 1pm here and it's just above freezing outside .. I have about 8 anoles living in the greenhouse .. I usually don't see them until the temp gets above 50 in there .. they are all doing well as I haven't seen any dead ones .. What I am seeing out side though are earthworms that have suicided on the concrete. Once it starts warming up here I have no doubts the stench will be awful.

Brought home two Mexican palm trees and a beautiful burgundy geranium from our California drive...7,500 miles in all...they are looking pretty puny right now, so probably won't make it. Got caught in a 3 day blizzard on the way back from California for our granddaughter's college graduation in Illinois. What a mess! Tried to remember to bring the plants into the motels at night but must confess a night or so that just didn't happen.

The burgundy geraniums are descendants of some that I had when we lived in California. A beautiful color, and they transplanted so easily then. However, if these don't survive, I can get more from my daughter's house. Mexican palms are volunteers from my son's place, and could also be easily replaced.

How I long for warmer weather, and missing our trip south on the boat this year, but I am grateful to be living in New Bern.

Entlie