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Post by bazookagoof on Feb 16, 2017 2:25:04 GMT
Winter isn't over yet for us over here in Chicago, but it's been extremely mild, much like last year. Actually, I daresay this winter has been even milder! The weather reports back in November predicted another polar vortex, but a few weeks ago it got as high as the upper 50's! We even opened our windows and turned the heat off for a day, just to get some fresh air. We could conceivably get more snow this year, but so far so good. There's a woman I know on another message board that changed jobs and moved up to Chicago from Florida, and I warned her that Chicago winters are the worst! It looks like I might owe her an apology of sorts.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Feb 16, 2017 10:26:34 GMT
Fingers crossed for no snow Baz love and I am quite sure that there will come a time when the information you supplied will be true. Like everything else on the planet, weather is so unpredictable. Our weather forecasts are often very wrong.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by jolovespiggies on Feb 16, 2017 10:36:59 GMT
Haha, I was surrounded in their too Bean hunni, not to mention loads of choccies LOL!! I think we would celebrate it if we had more honey, I love the thought of going out for a meal on valentine's day but then I love the idea of going out for a meal on any day I am glad you enjoyed it Piggles love, the sweeties sound nice. I am glad you managed to get out for our walk, it is always nice when you have been stuck indoors for whatever reason. I hope your little saplings are OK. Hugs Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 16, 2017 18:43:35 GMT
Baz, your winters usually make ours look like sissies, and a friend who lives in Chicago, though I'm not sure what part of Chicago, has gotten quite a bit of snow, or maybe I should say quite a few storms that brought snow. She hasn't been snowed in or anything like that, just lots of clearing away to move the cars, etc. I don't think you owe your Florida friend an appology. The typical Chicago winters will return, probably with a vengeance.
We got anther 3-4 inches of snow, so nothing major. Hubby has cleared most of it with the snowblower and shovel, and is letting the sun melt as much as possible. We're headed for some really warm days, and I'll turn off the heat and let the sun do it's job. We're still getting cold nights, but even those are going to be in the 20sF instead of in the teens. No more snow for a good week, according to the latest forecasts, though that can change quite quickly. I think it's going to be a good stretch of warmer, sunny and dry weather.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Feb 17, 2017 9:53:27 GMT
I would love to use a snow blower, I imagine they are great fun! Fat chance here though LOL!!
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by Bean on Feb 18, 2017 15:33:50 GMT
The sun has been out here all day, but I've been stuck in bed all morning with a dodgy back, so haven't been able to appreciate it! The ice cream van has started doing the round again anyway. It's not warm enough to need ice cream but it's school holidays and not raining, so they see an opportunity!
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Post by bazookagoof on Feb 18, 2017 17:56:32 GMT
Baz, your winters usually make ours look like sissies, and a friend who lives in Chicago, though I'm not sure what part of Chicago, has gotten quite a bit of snow, or maybe I should say quite a few storms that brought snow. She hasn't been snowed in or anything like that, just lots of clearing away to move the cars, etc. I don't think you owe your Florida friend an appology. The typical Chicago winters will return, probably with a vengeance. We got anther 3-4 inches of snow, so nothing major. Hubby has cleared most of it with the snowblower and shovel, and is letting the sun melt as much as possible. We're headed for some really warm days, and I'll turn off the heat and let the sun do it's job. We're still getting cold nights, but even those are going to be in the 20sF instead of in the teens. No more snow for a good week, according to the latest forecasts, though that can change quite quickly. I think it's going to be a good stretch of warmer, sunny and dry weather. So far, the last two winters in Chicago have been extremely weak. As I write this, the temps are getting into the high 60's, and this is only mid-February! I'm turning off the heat and opening the windows for fresh air. I can handle a cold winter, but that polar vortex of 2013 was unbearable. I hope we don't get another one for a long time.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Feb 19, 2017 14:37:14 GMT
Oh Bean love, I hope your pain has gone now, I am so sorry you have had to stay in bed but I know what that is like. Our ice cream van hasn't started here yet but I don't think it will be long. I think probably March will be the first time. It doesn't have to be hot for me to enjoy ice cream which I am sure will be no surprise to anyone LOL!!
Everything crossed Baz love that you don't get another bad one and the temperatures remain at least reasonable. We have been fortunate here but there are one or two places in the county that have had floods.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 20, 2017 17:23:37 GMT
I love the cold, but as you said, Baz, that 2013 Polar Votex was brutal. It also cost a small fortune in heating costs, just to stay decently warm, and I don't like the temp very high in the house. I was wearing my real winter coat, thermal underwear, hats, scarves, gloves with heat packets in them, just to take my walk for 20 minutes. At least that level of bitter cold meant no heavy, wet snow, just lite, fluffy snow. Not too bad to shovel in that cold.
We've had a mild winter, too. Hubby is getting frustrated, as he wants more soups, stews and chili, and I only do that when I want to warm up the house. Haven't needed to warm up the house very many days this winter. I really hope the summer isn't going to be another super hot one like last summer!
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Post by bazookagoof on Feb 21, 2017 3:11:01 GMT
I love the cold, but as you said, Baz, that 2013 Polar Votex was brutal. It also cost a small fortune in heating costs, just to stay decently warm, and I don't like the temp very high in the house. I was wearing my real winter coat, thermal underwear, hats, scarves, gloves with heat packets in them, just to take my walk for 20 minutes. At least that level of bitter cold meant no heavy, wet snow, just lite, fluffy snow. Not too bad to shovel in that cold. We've had a mild winter, too. Hubby is getting frustrated, as he wants more soups, stews and chili, and I only do that when I want to warm up the house. Haven't needed to warm up the house very many days this winter. I really hope the summer isn't going to be another super hot one like last summer! My wife has a Chinese dish called hot pot, and it can be eaten in warm weather, although it's best in the cold season. We haven't had much of a chance to have it this winter because it really hasn't been so cold! For those interested, Chinese hot pot is basically like a fondue- you have a bubbling cauldron of water, and you dip raw meat (mutton, beef) into it, where it cooks within seconds. You then pull out your portion and you're ready to go! (You can add other edibles like fish and mushrooms and the like.) I actually don't mind cold weather, simply as a change of pace from all the heat. It makes me appreciate higher temperatures. I don't even mind snow, as long as it's finished falling and has been shoveled and plowed to the side.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Feb 21, 2017 9:07:04 GMT
They are the sort of fondues I used to do Shades hunni only it was oil in the pan and not water. We used to like steak with ours and as you say, veggies such as mushrooms. Oh dear Piggles love, hubby cross about not having winter dishes. I sometimes have soup in the warm weather but I draw the line at stews.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 21, 2017 16:13:27 GMT
Hubby has decided he wants another eggplant parm badly enough to turn off the heat and open the windows so I'll make it, lol! For him to agree to possibly be cold, just so I'll heat up the kitchen, means he really wants it. He had the last of the one I made, in some of the rye bread as a sandwich, and loved it. I told him maybe this weekend, as temps are going to be too high most of this week to use the oven. I have the heat turned off in the house for now, and will have it off during the day for the next few days.
I don't like the heat. It comes with a lot of humidity, and that makes me swell and makes all of my joints hurt. I keep the house cooled to 68F in the summer, which is cold for hubby, but still too hot for me to cook anything. We do cook out on the gas grill in the summer, if he wants cooked food. He usually does that, as it's way too hot outside for me.
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Post by bazookagoof on Feb 22, 2017 2:52:28 GMT
According to weather reports, we are to get close to 70 degrees on Friday, at which point the temps will drop drastically and a SNOWSTORM is expected on Saturday! Wheeeeeee!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Feb 22, 2017 9:16:06 GMT
I don't like the heat either Piggles love, it makes me feel sick and uncomfortable. I am constantly diving into the shower. Time to stay in and be cosy Baz love with lots of hot comforting food!
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 22, 2017 16:12:02 GMT
As usual, we'll get your weather a day or two after you do, and with less clout. We're looking at temps in the 60s with rain on Saturday, which will be what's left of your weather from Friday. Sunday back into the upper 30s, but back into the mid to high 40s again next week. No snow in sight, but we can use the rain, too. I'm wishing I had my rain water catchment barrels, so I could set them out, but it's a bit too early in the season. We will definitely get temps back below freezing, before the warm weather arrives to stay. Stay dry and warm, Baz
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Post by jolovespiggies on Feb 23, 2017 8:29:16 GMT
You seem to have such extremes in weather Piggles hunni, ours is bad or good but rarely off the scale. It is very windy and cold today but the sun is out for a change. I am supposed to be getting my pygmy hedgehog on Sunday, can't wait.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 23, 2017 17:08:14 GMT
I've been hearing about the wind, and all the damage it's doing. Wheelie bins going on unintended journeys, sheds and fences blowing down, trees and branches down across the roads, and even vehicles blown off the road.I hope none of you get hit by flying debris! Our weather is very variable, Jo. We are at the end of the air current that brings weather in from the Ohio River Valley. We're on the path of the air current called The Montreal Express, that brings cold down from Canada. We're right off the ocean, so we get ocean wind current weather, too, and we're on the eastern seaboard, so we get whatever is coming up the coast. Weather patterns that move quickly across other parts of the country, stall when they get to us because they meet weather patterns from other areas. Meteorologists say New England is the most interesting place to track the weather, as it's always changing, and it's effected by so many different weather patterns. Ooh, pigmy hedgehog! Cute! I hope you two have a great time together
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Post by Bean on Feb 24, 2017 12:03:54 GMT
Doris didn't cause too much trouble round here - it was pretty grim and windy, but our fences are still intact! I think other areas of the country got it worse - one woman in the Midlands died after being hit by falling debris and there were certainly a lot of trees blown down causing travel chaos.
Roll on spring!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Feb 24, 2017 12:06:05 GMT
It is the same here honey although we don't usually have the extremes except sometimes on the coast as you say. They have much worse weather in the north of country and Scotland whereas we are considered temperate. The trouble with this country is that even in summer you can never guarantee the weather being fine.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Feb 24, 2017 17:26:45 GMT
A friend posted pics of Doris hitting the Albert Docks in Liverpool. Wild! I have a feeling there will be a lot of clean up rather than a lot of deaths and rebuilding, and that's a good thing. I haven't heard from a friend in Scotland who has a rabbit rescue with outdoor runs. Despite constantly being strengthened, the runs tend to take the brunt of any storm that comes through Our hurricanes haven't been very exciting for several years now, summer or winter, and that's good. We've had some real doozies, and no one wants those. Massachusetts schools were on vacation this week. New Hampshire schools are on vacation next week. The two states work together to not take the same week off in February, so vacation places aren't innudated, and no one has any fun. No school buses on the roads next week for us, and that's always nice. Getting stuck behind one stopping at every house or every road can make a short trip take a really long time. Torrential rain earlier, not the sun is out, sky is blue and clouds are wispy. I do love New England weather. Wait a bit, and it will change More rain in the forecast for tomorrow, too. After a year if drought, we can use all the rain we can get.
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