It has arrived.

Officially sunset here is 6:40 but is was already down by 6:25 twlilight is now almost gone.
Perhaps because of the hills in this area.
56 degrees and semi-peeing outside.
Not a bad day really , one of the few near the average but tomorrow, sub-average hit for near a week.

It is supposed to be in the high fifties, low sixties, later this week.
My cousin called and said they had frost down home but up here , while some of Sharon's, even covered, tender plants did not like the cold, squash vines showed no sign of frost.

Right now 52 and light cloudy day with a brisk wind.
I should mow the lawn but probably will not.
Have not used the irrigation system for over a month so we blew out the lines and shut it off.
I know one day, last year I ran it to help ward off frost.

Not bad outside, snow on te ground is melting, ground is mostly frozen.
Comparably average weather is supposed to arrive by the end of this week.
I did not shut off the outside water at home and got a call from the police there my water pipe was spraying water.
Called my cousin to go over an shut off water in the basement.
I was lazy and put a inline shut-off valve that than put the new faucet it needs on.
Well the shut of valve was attached to a quick release coupling that -- released -- thank God for good neighbor who called cops , who called me.
Not sure how they go my number up here though , although it may be because when the County was crapping on me they got it then.

Heading home tomorrow to cover the roses down there.
I have enough leaves this year so I can cover them as deeply as I choose.
I am glad I turned the heat on at home and did not shut if off when I left.

May take a side trip into the Twin Cities to visit some eating joints I have been wanting to go to and maybe hit a casino.

It is said to be 30 degrees right now by the computer weather center.
I shoveled 4 inches of average snow yesterday and another 4 inches of heavy snow today.
Snow blower is still in the shop but I need the exercise.

Day highs are forcast around 30 plus or mnus with night time temps some times forecast in single digits but accuracy is not a trait of the weather service.
26 days till Christmas and I am sure they will go faster than I appreciate.
Merry Christmas.

It is -7 below right now though it was a pretty sunny day.
Went out to start the car wearing a Henny Youngman and jeans.
Got the car started a few minutes ago to warm the car and noticed I had bird feed on the front floor.

Cold air was just that cold air makes you hurry but grabbing the bird feeder and screwing and unscrewing it was rather uncomfortable; nasty thing is even if I had a jacket on I would have had to take my gloves off to re-attach the bird feeder to the hanger.
Critters will be happy though.

At home I put out three pies of fruit and nuts plus three piles of salted peanut for critters, squirrels mostly.
I do not have many corn cobs this year and that actually bothers me.
At home I actually cranked the heat up to 67 about five degrees higher than normal but then I know the wall furnace will run long and I can sit in a reclining office chair with my feet on a stool in front of the furnace.
Slept for three hours that way.

It is 7 Above right now, with the Sun on the downward stroke.
I was supposed to get to 17 today but 7 was what it hit.

It was a good day, my cousin came up and I used the Net to order him a new cell phone, while he saves money now that his quit his land line, his system has gone from buy large number of minutes every now and then to a monthly 15 charge, while his old phone will be worthless soon.
Sharon and I went to the Chinese Dragon for their buffet, excellent and the place had 500 percent, not an exaggeration, more people than I have ever seen before.
Blue sky and sunny with no clouds; in years past I/we would take a day like this and go for a drive to the Twin Cities or some other town just because we could.
My going outside with as few of clothes as possible, or legal, is working as I only wore a vest today with a long sleeve knit shirt and I was comfortable but the vest is a very warm vest.
OH , yes I had pants on.

24 degrees and bright cloudy day
The lard butt family is pigging out on new birdseed I bought and bread scraps.
It is nice to see birds come even with the squirrels pigging out.
We will be getting temps. in the thirties in days coming but the weatherman said we have enough snow it will be a white Christmas.
The frost is not very deep in the ground, so the ground is still fairly warm. We could use another foot or two.