It's COLD Outside

And it's going to get colder. The local paper said something about 12f for a high tomorrow. That's not really cold, just colder than it's been lately. Most of January has been on the warm side, mid 30s, felt more like March. But this weekend we're finally approaching the cellar as temps at night should make it to zero. I've only seen one evening temperature hit below zero this winter and that was a only a measly -1. Not very cold at all for up here.

The sun is out though and that is nice. It's been very overcast here and I've read somewhere that Michigan is the 5th cloudiest state in the country. That doesn't bode well for people with seasonal affective disorder (SAD). That's one of those mental things that make you feel less "up" in winter. Probably has something to do with my lack of motivation in getting anything done around the house. But really who wants to wash dishes whether the sun is shining or not?

The ducks aren't enjoying this cold snap as much as the dogs. The stream (more of a creek really) they've been puttering around in has pretty much frozen over except for one small spot halfway down. They've got about a 2 x 3 foot section and it probably won't be there at all tomorrow. They'll have to resort to swimming in that nifty little artificial pond DH and I made for them out of a plastic 55 gallon drum and a submersible pond heater.

The dogs actually spent the last hour laying on their beds out in the sun. Though it's only around 25f the sun was melting the skin of snow on the deck. We had another 2 inches over night and I shoveled away most of it this morning. There are still large patches here and there that are much deeper, but as I have a lot of deck (it wraps around the house) I would be shoveling all day to clear it off. Too much of it is frozen ice now anyway and I'd probably injure something trying to remove it.

I suppose though I ought to go outside and enjoy a little more of this nippy sunshine because tomorrow it probably will be gone.