A sign of Spring?

I was taking my walk this morning and look what I saw............


A nightcrawler in the middle of the road? hmmmm.......A sure sign of Spring! I love it!

Let it snow!!

Those needing winter weather to help them get into the Christmas mood need wait no longer. Here in northern Indiana it's snowing. UGH! Some of the reasons I don't like winter is directly related to the cold. I can't stand how my lips and hands get chapped. I use so much lotion and chap stick this time of year, or scraping frost or ice off the car windows or having to wait for the car to get warm enough for the heat to work. Driving on snow covered roads can almost give me ulcers. It's quite simple, I am not fond of winter. For hubby and I winter is a tough time of year. I would just love to do what the bears do and hibernate until Spring. But, I can't, so I must deal with it. I will embrace the winter season and let my inner child have some fun maybe perhaps I can take the stress out of the winter season this year. I can think like a child. Remember making snow angels when you were a kid? One year my hubby made a stellar snowman. The grand kids called it Mimi. Papa makes a Mimi every year now for the kiddos. I can feed the birds. One of our greatest joys is our bird feeding stations in our backyard. It is right outside the dining room and living room windows. I love watching the many birds who come to eat. The joyful little calls really lift me up and make me happy and the gorgeous red cardinals or blue jay against the white snow...Sublime! The lively spot of color in an otherwise dreary landscape is wonderful. Put out a bird feeder near a window where you can watch the birds. You will be amazed at how much they perk you up. I can ice fish with the hubby I know, seems a bit odd for someone who hates the cold and snow as much as I do but, if you are catching fish one right after another like the hubby and I did one winter, you kind of forget all about the freezing cold until you have to pee and there is no where to go and it means if you do find a place , you have to take off everything just about, just to go, Brrrr! I'm guessing ice fishing is not a woman thing. But, it is so rewarding to catch more fish than the darling husband of mine. So despite the cold and snow winter weather has to offer. I say, Let it snow!

Brrrrrrr.....snow?

I woke up this morning and this is what I saw.......Brrrrrr!

Autumn days are here again

Do you enjoying the fall season? For me, fall is my favorite season of the year. I love the cooler temps, the smell of burning leaves aah! Summer ending can be very depressing for some. Not for me. although I have to admit I hate to see my garden go. We have enjoyed an abundance of fresh veggies from it this summer. The first day of autumn starts today. It's the day when the sun crosses the celestial equator moving southward, or as they say, the autumn fall equinox. Yes, it won't be long before the leaves will be changing. I have already noticed the daylight hours are already shortening. In the fall there is so many cool things to do and see. Some of the prettiest sunsets here on the lake have been in the fall, with milder temperatures with the heat lifting and the humidity lessening. The beautiful colors from the foliage...could you ask for anything better?Hubby says sometimes the best time to fish is in the fall. The fish either don't bite or they will bite like mad. As the water begins to cool in the fall, bluegill often move into shallower water more often, and midday fishing success improves. Unlike in the summer when morning and evening are the best times to fish. Yep, It is hard to believe summer has come and gone but, fall is a great time to enjoy the outdoors. So, enjoy the season and all it has to offer.

Summer Heat, Summer Fun

Summer here in Northeastern Indiana has finally gotten Hot ! We have a heat wave! With a heat advisory warning in effect. Which means that it is a prolonged period with high temps at or exceeding 100. Now , the way the summer has been going, I thought I would never see that. Summer here has been rather cool with below normal temps. It is really too hot to do much of anything unless you are playing on the lake or staying in the air conditioning.. Anyways, We still had a good time today. Hubby and I had breakfast out really early this morning and I made a quick trip to Walgreen's and CVS. We had my sister and her friend here for lunch She made a large southwestern salad, brought cantaloupe and brownies made from scratch. Which was perfect food for such a hot day. Dad stopped in for coffee and to chat. This is a regular thing every Sunday to have my dad over for coffee. We always love having him stop by. Later, after Dad left, we all took a pontoon ride around the lake and swimming. There is nothing like great fellowship, Good food, and staying cool playing in the water. We enjoyed ourselves alot! For the rest of the day I am staying in the air conditioning and vegetating. Now that sounds good for the rest of the evening. Stay cool everyone!

Be cool - Save energy

I love warm weather! In the spring as soon as I can, I am opening my windows but, when summer gets here and it gets hot and humid, my little trailer gets hot! Hubby and I will hold out as long as we can then we have to run the good ole central air. Being as frugal as I am, I don't like to do that unless I really need to. Some ways I and you can too to stay cool and save energy costs are.......

1. avoid cooling rooms that are not occupied. In my house it is the small bedroom I use as my storage/stockpile room.

2. Use fans to make your air conditioners job easier. Fans, like your ceiling fan improve the circulation and cost only 1/10 as much to operate.

3 Raise your thermastat. We keep ours 78-80 degrees during the day. Every degree you raise your thermastat in the summer is savings. As said before, use fans for circulation.

4.I do my cooking, laundry and bathing in the early morning or late evenings if all possible. Eat more cold meals during the summer. We cook outside as much as possible and use the microwave more. Bake at night if you need to. I never use my dryer in the summer. I hang clothes outside. this is way more energy efficiant and green. They smell so good too.

5. Use lights sparingly. Turn lights off when not in use. Thats something we should do any time of year.

6. Whether its shades, drapes or awnings, sheild your windows from the hot sun. I have mini blinds I close to keep the house cooler. I find this makes a huge difference in its self.

7. Keep all windows and doors shut to keep the air conditioner operating more effienciantly

8.Did you know reflective white roofs cut energy costs 20%? White roofs help deflect the suns hot rays thus reducing the indoor temperature.We do not have this , although we have checked into this.

9.Sip lemonade and think cool thoughts....like how you'll be freezing next winter and longing for summertime again!

Indian Winter??

Where is the warmer weather? When will spring start and decide to stay around?? Is this what we call an Indian winter? After all, they call Indian summer an unseasonably warm and sunny patch of weather during Autumn when the temperatures have cooled down so.....Could it be the opposite-"Indian Winter"- a period of unseasonably chilly weather during Spring?!! April has been crazy this year. I am ready to kiss my winter jacket and gloves goodbye for good. Today as I sort through and get things around for my yard sale this year, any glimpse or hope of having this sale soon is very iffy. I don't have a garage so for me, its the routine of dragging everything outside, setting up a huge tent and tables outside. The weather has to cooperate all week as I setup for the sale and days of the sale. Most importantly it has to be half ways warm outside. I know I don't want to sit outside all day in cold damp temperatures. Perhaps, May will be a bit kinder to us. I can only hope. Anxious for my yard sale? No, not me!