January Arctic Clipper

We've been in the path of the latest Arctic Clipper covering the Northeastern United States ~ and the sub-freezing temperatures are not forecasted to leave anytime soon, at least not until the middle of next week. After weather such as this, temperatures in the high twenties and low thirties will seem almost "balmy" when the "warm" winter weather finally returns.

An older family member moved back to the area very recently after having spent nearly a decade in the far reaches of the South ~ and while she welcomed the winter, the snow, and the hills and the mountains again, the relatively sudden sub-freezing temperatures have been a little hard to deal with. She has not complained however, but has simply "holed up" in her home until it all goes away.

Fortunately even during her long sojourn in the South, the habit of stocking up for bad weather never seemed to leave her. And so she was amply prepared when the sub-freezing Arctic Clipper came blasting in. Apparently some old habits don't die hard, they just never die. This particular old habit quickly put us at ease ~ happily discovering that she still remembered how to make it through the winter and the inevitable Arctic Clippers.

We keep an extra close eye on the Four-footed Members of the Family during weather such as this ~ especially the smaller ones ~ to make sure their paws do not freeze when they need to venture outdoors. With twelve inches of snow, it still is hardly any insulation in temperatures this cold, around zero degrees before factoring in any wind chill ~ and they are only too happy to quickly take care of their business outdoors and then stampede back into the house where they make a bee-line to the hearth to warm themselves.

Taking a cue from them (and from the family member who just moved back North), we pretty much have "holed up" at home, too ~ only venturing out for absolute necessities such as snow removal and a few odd supplies. Our pantry stays well-stocked with cider to make hot and the ingredients for hot cocoa for times like these and we have plenty here to keep us busy indoors.

A self-inflicted case of cabin fever is a blessing during weather such as this. All part and parcel of the wonderful season of winter ~ and unlike the family member who just returned to the area to live, you will never find us taking any sort of permanent or semi-permanent refuge where the seasonal changes are not as severe. The hills and mountains and change of seasons have been such an integral and nearly constant factor in our lives that we would not know how to live without them for very long of a time.

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