It’s official, last night was the coldest of the winter so far.
Hubby adjusted the heating so that the temperature indoors didn’t drop below 17º C.
It was running practically all night.
Outside, according to the met office, temperatures dropped to minus 8.4º C in places.
Maggie woke me up at 5.47 this morning, desperate for a wee. I got dressed, dragged on my coat, hat and Hubby’s gloves as I couldn’t find mine, and let her out into the back garden. Two paws on the frozen grass, a squat, ecstatic relief and then back indoors.
It was frosty and the car was white with a sickly blue tinge.
Back in bed, Maggie gave me another ninety minutes or so, then it was Hubby’s turn. This time she obliged with the other.
Hubby came in, told me it was bitterly cold and we had freezing fog. Looking out of the window, I could barely make out the back fence. Maggie gave me another half an hour and then we got up. Not as good a lie in as yesterday, but a lie in nonetheless.
Her first walk of the day was round the park. The pavements aren’t too bad, but any puddles are frozen solid.
The lake is a mass of ice. And it’s thick, thicker than last year. Hubby couldn’t break or even crack it with his stick.
Photos: ice on the lake last March
We were anxious about the ducks, but they were all at the other end of the lake, swimming around in a channel of about two feet of moving water. I said they’d probably all got together in a group and said ‘After three, everyone fart!’ to melt the ice.
Do ducks fart I wonder? Now there’s a thought for the day.
A small flock (or colony is another collective noun in case you wanted to know) of seagulls were standing on the ice. They didn’t look too pleased.
Saying that though, it wasn’t too bad for us. I had on a heavy parka today with my scarf, gloves and woolly hat. Hubby was triple wrapped as he wears his body warmer on top of a thick jumper and then a heavy coat on top of that. Maggie was also dressed against the cold and content to trot along, doing the usual second motions of the day. Things there are settling down again thank goodness.
Back home, I’m preparing chicken curry for our main meal today. Hubby has an INR blood test at 1pm, so we shall be having an early dinner. Hopefully the car will have defrosted by then, though according to Accuweather, the temperature here is minus 3.
pensitivity101 
With windchills we were at -40F here yesterday. Schools were closed yesterday and today! Right now it is -15 Fahrenheit, feeling like -33. We did have our heat bumped up a couple of extra degrees yesterday, but we got an Emergency Alert from Consumer Energy asking everyone to lower down to 65. They are worried about having enough Gas to keep everyone warm. I bumped ours down 5 degrees. Stay warm 🙂
OMG. Where are you????????
I am in Livonia, MI
That is cold.
Hubby has looked Livonia up and it is described as a ‘safe’ city. I hope you don’t want to visit your library as that and government offices are apparently shut. The emergency warming centre is open though. We have nothing like that in the UK! We just get cold or colder. Keep warm!!
We do love our library, but wont be venturing out of the house at all today. All libraries and rec centers are open for people who need a safe and warm place to be. Livonia is a safe city. I grew up here and moved back here to raise my family. Much love, happy Thursday!
Sounds like a lovely community in which to live
😀 I will never look at the ducks on our local pond the same way ever again! 😀
Did you read my Twack post? It’s one of 14 collective nouns for ducks. Nobody believed me at darts (there were a lot of 22 scores that night) so somebody looked it up on their ipad or whatever it is phone. Lots of surprised faces……. most probably seeing me a little differently!
Just looked and commented. 🙂
Thank you for taking the time! With so many ducks here, I was curious, and certainly didn’t expect what I found!
I feel cold just reading your post!
For the record, we keep the house at 18 degrees, and I’m sitting here in a tee shirt! This is usual for me, but Hubby still has his jumper on as he feels the cold more.
18 is a bit cold for a t shirt!
It is indoors though, and the jumper and coat goes on to go out. I just get really warm and can’t work in sleeves.
That’s true. I am good till I am moving around. But when I sit down to write, I feel a chill creeping in.
We found that on the boat as well as here, so taking the dog out, getting the circulation going and coming home to a warm house is heaven!
Exactly.
Yes I can confirm Yorkshire was cold as well. But not as cold as the mid west states in America.
No, I’m getting loads of feedback from across the pond and counting my blessings. Hubby feels the cold more than I do, but when I get cold, then you know it’s damn cold for the UK!
I’m in Canada. This morning was -33c windchill. Yep, I am staying inside. Ducks farting? Inquiring minds want to know.
If I hear or witness one, I shall do a post on it!
Keep warm and safe
You too.
-25 C with the windchill here this morning. Been like this and colder for days.
We’ve got it all to come. It’s the wind more than anything else here, yet we’ve just been out and it’s really mild again!
It’s not going to warm up here until the weekend — and to be honest I’m not counting on it.
Stay warm and safe!
I know it might sound silly but make sure the dog’s on the lead, there is nothing worse than when you see them having fallen through the ice. Keep warm!
It’s not silly at all. Maggie doesn’t chase the ducks or geese, but should there be other dogs around, especially ones we don’t know, we usually clip her just in case.
Excellent.
🙂
Enjoy your temperatures! We are currently at -22C with a forecast of -35 to 40C. Ray’s walk will be short today! 🙂
So I am hearing Colin. Practically bikini weather over here in comparison to what you guys are getting. I should be saying Lucky Us!!!
🙂
A little bit nippy, what?
I can’t even imagine it!
Just a tad!!
Ah! So you dud get out today! No prettiness at all here, sadly. Just Brrrr! But at least we got out for a druve!
Had to go out for Hubby’s blood test. It’s been milder this afternoon, but it’s getting cold again now, and with clear skies, we’re in for more freezing temperatures.
I am like you. Can’t stand sleeves. Wear T shirts.
🙂