26- Frigid

Not much to report here in North Carolina. We are facing our 2nd winter event in a week. With snow this time.

This is okay, snow is easier to deal with than 1 1/2- 2 inches of ice.

I would much rather deal with snow.

But let’s talk about the cold. The lowest at night temperature for the week was 11. That’s freezing your hair if you go out with it wet weather. Ask me how I know.

I have made the house as wind proof and water tight as I could.

New HVAC system 2024- check

New siding late 2021- check

New windows late 2020- check

New insulated garage door 2018- check

New backdoor 2017- check

New(ish) roof 2010 -check

I have blankets shoved up to the bottom of every exterior door.

I have a blanket shoved up to the bottom and covering the kitty door on the garage door.

I have energy saving curtains on all of the windows.

I count ourselves lucky to have been able to accomplish all of this on our nearly 40 year old house in the 20 years we’ve lived here. All of them combined to make winter a lot more comfortable. And summer.

We also wear socks and slippers in the house. Yes, both of us. And sweatshirts and warm pants.

But Dot would like to register a complaint. If the sun is shining, why can’t she go out on the screened porch?

Because I said so, Dot. Listen to the lady and stop whining at the back door to be let out.

Enjoy your heated bed, the one in the office and the one on your window perch in the living room.

I’m just gonna go drip the powder room sink and the kitchen sink and open up all the sink cabinet doors. So that the pipes don’t freeze.

Tuesday Top of Mind 1/20/26- Batten down the hatches

This is a nautical term meaning to close all the doors of a ship at sea.

Why?

Because there is trouble a-brewing.

For us in North Carolina it means that there is a fearsome winter storm barreling down from the Canadian north.

It’s gonna be cold.

It’s gonna be precipitous. By that I mean there will be some sort of rain/sleet/ice/snow on the ground.

It also means there will be no bread or toilet paper or milk to be found in the stores.

This storm is due to sweep into the area, along with drastically colder temperatures this weekend.

That’s just ducky!

Best to think about preparation now.

Go out now and buy salt for your steps.

Go out now and buy milk, toilet paper, and bread. If you need to.

Prepare to check on friends and family.

Don’t forget about our feathered and furry outside friends.

In the worst case scenario, from the models that I have seen, we get ice. A lot of ice. So much ice that our energy lines may be compromised and a lot of people will lose power.

Check your windows for leaks and stop them up now.

Double check all the little windows leading to your crawl space and make sure they are shut. Yes, all of them.

Make sure on the coldest nights to leave a faucet dripping, just a little, and all of the cabinet doors open so your pipes do not freeze.

Make sure your car has a full tank of gas. And always have proper winter gear on if you venture outside.

Make sure you have candles and flashlights and batteries. And matches.

Your gas grill is not appropriate for indoor use.

Check your carbon monoxide alarms.

Make a winter trouble plan.

Ugh.

Fingers crossed that it’s going to be just water, maybe a little snow. Snow over ice is no fun, ask me how I know.

It’s been a hot minute (several years) since we’ve anticipated such a winter storm. Make preparations now.

Be safe. Stay warm.

And do not lick any frozen flag poles, no matter if they triple dog dare you to.

FFS Friday 1/10/2025- Freaking Snow

Everyone I know is glued to their radar as they anticipate or dread the coming storm. It was less than a week ago that we were anticipating, or not, snow, in North Carolina. Turns out it was just cold then.

And it has been cold ever since.

It seems that people come down on one of two sides of snow anticipation or snow dread. You either love everything about snow, or you don’t. You either love all the little touches that snow brings such as hot cocoa, closed schools, or holing up in your warm house in your warmest clothes. Or you hate all the little touches that snow brings such as ice dams on the roof, or icy roads, or icy cars that won’t start because it is too cold.

Yes, I am on the anti-side when it comes to snow. I mean it’s pretty to look at but I don’t like to be out in it. I especially don’t like how other drivers react to snow. The thing about North Carolina is that less than 2% of drivers know how to drive in the snow. Others go too fast or drive down the center of the street because they can’t see the markings on the road.

On the healthcare side, patients ALWAYS make it in when there is snow or ice. I have spent more nights at the hospital because of the threat of inclement weather than I care to.

It all comes down to having good processes around snow. I prep my car with a sheet over the windshield and prop up the windshield wipers so that they don’t freeze to the windshield. When we get snow/ice that makes getting out of our neighborhood difficult (we have a steep hill) I park at the park and ride just outside of the neighborhood entrance. I haven’t had to for a couple of years as there has been minimal snow and ice and I also don’t work every day like I used to. I make sure that the cold winter gear is out of the coat closet and ready to use.

And, as always when I drive in the snow, I take it slow and don’t make any sudden movements or sudden braking. I am always watching other drivers and am prepared for evasive action at all times.

Driving in snow and on ice is a lot like handling a wild animal. Slow deliberate movements, don’t make any sudden movements in case you end up in a ditch. When I was at Creighton University we used to make fun of the drivers that ended up in ditches or the ones that we knew were going too fast and got themselves into trouble.

If you need me, I’ll be at home because I am off during these snow days.

Snow. It looks pretty but I don’t like to drive in it because of other drivers.