Polar Vortex Means New Stuff!

Would I be weird if I said I like going to the local builder's store and looking at everything - cabinets, counters, doors, etc.?  I am looking for new sink bases for two bathrooms, along with cabinets for above my washer and dryer. Should I go wholesale shopping or just hit the local building store?

We are going there tomorrow to find a new exterior, front door. The "Polar Vortex" that came through last week warped our front door - it wasn't staying closed. I had to put a chair underneath the knob to keep it closed through that inntense cold front. Not exactly safe. It's time to replace it. I don't want to have the wind whip that door open when my kids are home alone!

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Polar Vortex - Gone!

My kids FINALLY went back to school today. They got an extra long Christmas break due to the polar vortex that swept through here, freezing everything up in its path. Apparently, it wanted to freeze the sprinkler lines and sewer lines up at the school as well. That gave the kids a few extra days of time off. Three out of four were NOT ready to go back, of course.

I'm glad the cold front is gone and warmer air is here. I'll take the rain and fog over worrying about the dogs' pads on their feet freezing just to go outside for a couple minutes.

It does seem odd for it to be so quiet here though. They were home almost three weeks. It was nice.

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Winter is Here!

The frigid cold has hit!  I was wondering when it would.  It seemed like during Autumn, we kept getting teased by warmer temperatures.  Wow is it cold with blowing snow and icy sidewalks and roads. 

When cold hits, I want to head south!  Hawaii sounds good to me.  Relaxation, warm temperatures, the smell of tanning lotions (not on me because I fry no matter what with my lily white, ghostly skin but on everybody else).  Love the smell of tanning lotion.

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First Sign of Spring is Here

I saw my first robin today. That means the robins who migrate are migrating north again and spring will be coming to the Great Lake states soon!

The robin was squatting below the wheel well of my car. I thought my husband had hit him but he flew away when I went to the window to look closer. I'm glad the first sign of spring wasn't a victim of vehicular homicide.

Yeah, spring is coming!!

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Projected Path for Hanna and Hurricane Ike

Updated map for the projected path for Hanna. Hanna left behind 137 dead in Haiti.

Hanna is closing in on the Carolinas and Ike will be along soon after. Here is a current map to project Ike's path so far.

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Finally - Rain!!

After almost a month without rain, we finally got rain last night. Not just a sprinkle but a good drenching. My grass was beginning to turn brown and I was using pool water to water my plants, lol. When our dogs played outside, a dust cloud would rise two stories because the ground was so dry. Now they are outside covered in mud (guess it's a trade-off). Our horses were hacking over the sandy conditions in the arena. That should have received a good soak down in last night's storms too. Yeah!!

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Hurrican Dolly Coming to Texas

Texas' southern coast may meet Hurricane Dolly. It is a tropical storm right now but it could become a hurricane by tomorrow. I have family in Texas but my family is in eastern Texas where they are expected to be spared from Dolly. It is also not expected to affect U.S. oil and gas interests in the area for those who are interested. Hurricane conditions are expected in the Gulf coast area within 36 hours.

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Nasty Weather

It's been nasty weather here in west central Ohio since last night. There were tornado warnings for a long time last night to the south of us. We were lucky that we weren't in that long strip of tornado weather yesterday. It is STILL raining and thunder rumbling. The kids didn't like getting on the bus in this a little while ago. There are flood warnings out for our county (we're ok because the nearest body of water is a few properties back from ours so it's not a threat to us). Our television satellite just came back on. I have a lot of errands (pick up class desserts for two classes, get prescriptions, groceries, two bank runs, doctor appointment) to run today and I am not bringing a three year old out in this! It better stop soon. Doesn't Mother Nature know I have things to do today?

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