It is 26 degrees right now, at noon, in north 'Bama and the wind chill is 10 degrees! Tonight the areas north of us are supposed to get sleet, ice and possibly snow and they don't know how far south the line will come...

We survived the Blizzard of '93 and have propane heat etc. so we'll survive whatever this time too. I lived in South Dakota for a while a few years ago and loved the cold. Then when I came back to 'Bama I nearly froze? Do your bodies really get more use to the cold or is it a different kind of cold, as for as moisture content and so forth???

My rabbits are all bedded down with extra hay and the dogs have iglood houses that they get in TOGETHER so they stay warm. The housecats are laying around like they just want to sleep ALL DAY. Animals sense the outside weather even when they are inside. Why is that???

-- Suzy in 'Bama (slgt@yahoo.com), December 12, 2000

Answers

Do you ever get used to the cold....well I grew up near Chicago,and yet now that we are 10 degrees and have had 30 degree belwo zero windchills last night and yesterday in south west Missouri...I would have tosay that up north, I never felt so cold!

They say that when you live south your blood thins...I doubt that, though I know I tolerate cold less well and tolerate the extreme heat better in this our second year here. somaybe there is something to that?

We are expecting up to 10 inches of snow tonight and tomorrow-on top of our two inches of ice from yesterday...winter has arrived. :P

What I am worried about s our animlas-our goats are from TX-they look cold. and the chickens-are they going to freeze? I knwot hat probably sound ignorant...but I can't help but wonder-our chicken house is not entirely enclosed-it is usually much milder in the winter-windows face south and are just screens, no insulation in the chicken house. Hope the girls do okay.

Animals do sense weather changes-God must tell them!

Peace and blessings, Sarah

-- Sarah Cate (heartsongacres@juno.com), December 12, 2000.

Didn't get any snow here where I live in MN but it got down to -14 F below zero last night. (Wind chill -51 below) Its 1:30 in the afternoon now and still hasn't gotten above zero. I know that the weather guessers are predicting it might get up to the 20's by the end of the week and that's going to seem like a heat wave. There will be people wearing short sleeve shirts with no jackets if we hit the 20's. I get you just get use to it. As for me, it gets harder as I get older. Now I run (not walk) from the heated vechicle to the house. Just thought you guys would like to have an update from MN.

-- Bill (sticky@2side.tape), December 12, 2000.

Suzy, I work in Huntsville and will be right in the middle of it trying to drive the 40 miles home. I'm just glad I'm not in Chicago where my relatives live. I plan on taking an extra cooler of food and a sleeping bag (I was stuck at the plant in 93 and 97).

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), December 12, 2000.

Here in Northern NY its cold,windy,snow and sleeting ! Kids are home from school .Winds are gusting to 60 miles an hour .We came from the coast of Ct.where it is always damp .Up here it is much dryer and doesn't go through your bones.What I can say is when it get down to - 35 it never feels that cold.

-- Patty (fodfarms@slic.com), December 12, 2000.

For some reason the same temperature will feel colder down south. I'm originally from Texas. I know 30 down there is a lot colder than it is in Missouri. I've visited Tx during the winter and even though the temperature was a bit warmer there it always felt colder. Might have something to do with humidity levels or air pressure. Something I have noticed is it doesn't seem to be as cold now as when I was a child. I remember winters in Texas being bitterly cold. Papa and me would have to take feed sacks and light them and then hold them under the faucets at water troughs to thaw them out enough to water the cows. We'd also have to bust water on all the troughs and ponds. Since I have been more or less grown I know we haven't had to do that. I heard that parts of Tx are getting snow...maybe the weather patterns are returning to what I knew as a child.

-- Amanda in Mo (aseley@townsqr. com), December 12, 2000.

It got down to zero last night here, I'm not sure what it was with the wind chill. For the first time, I saw frost needles on some of the goat's noses. It gets a lot colder than zero , so not sure why this was the first time. I think that we get acclimatized to the weather over time. My mom came up from CA one summer and was shivering, fully dressed with a sweater on, it was 90 degrees out! The natives were running around in shorts!

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), December 12, 2000.

Most of my comments were already made by other people. But here's an observation of mine -- has anyone else noticed this?

Using 60*F for my example: 60 feels colder when that's as high as it's going to get than 60 feels when it's going to get warmer (say a high of 70). I hope that made sense . . . .

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), December 12, 2000.

Hi from Northern Maine! It gets cold here but usually very dry in thee winter mths . We had two daysalready in the negative numbers. THe boys had a blast playing outside. It is the wind up here that makes it so hard to deal with. We have lived here all our lives. I guess you just get used to it. I know that it is easier for me to deal with the cold than the heat. Even our summers are too hot for me. Our chickens don't have any trouble with cold, its drafts you need to worry about. Our coop has one large window on the south side, this we cover with plastic in the fall when we know the cold is here to stay. In the fall take it off. Our barn cat usually stays by the house all day, windy or not. We get a lot of wind here as our cabin faces the mountain. Winter is my favorite season. My hubby's least favorite as he is a logger. Well I'll stop here and let someone else talk for a while!! Michelle

-- michelle (tsjheath@ainop.com), December 12, 2000.

It was 60* yesterday afternoon, and I was mowing the yard. Still mowing in the howling, ever increasing to 40 miles per hour wind. It got real cold real fast, and was -10 wind chill this morning. BUT, this cold snap is only supposed to last a couple of days here in Kentucky. We'll get back up to 40's and 50's middle and end of this week. If the wind isn't blowing, it dosen't feel sooo cold. You guys up there stay warm, it sure looks cold on the weather channel.

Funny thing, the geese only came by one morning this year. And stopped. Usually it lasts for a few days. Wonder where they are? Maybe they know it's going to be a mild winter, wish wish wish.

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@msn.com), December 12, 2000.

You're right Joy - 40 feels warm after it's been 20. But 40 when it's been 60 is downright chilly! Here in Ohio - the 60 mph winds last nite shook my house a bit!

-- Dianne (willow@config.com), December 12, 2000.

Hello from the land of snow, western NY. We had 70mph wind gusts last night with snow and freezing rain. So far this year we have had 52 in. of snow and it's not even winter yet. Looks like it will be an old fashioned winter. I worked outdoors for 40 yrs and it's a matter of dressing for the cold and staying warm. Don't believe the old saying that you get used to cold. It always feels the same every year, more so when you get older. I don't think my wife and I could take the heat and humidity down south so we stay here.

-- Gerald S. Rozanski (Grozanski56@cs.com), December 12, 2000.

It's funny, in the spring when it gets to be 60, we are running around without coats. But in the fall when it hits 60, we are grabbing our coats and turning on the heat.

I've been trying to get my goat pen closer to the barn. Working on it in 30 degree weather isn't bad as long as the sun is out (long johns help). It was 45 today that made mushy ground but there was a wicked wind that cut right threw you.

I hate the winter. When my husband retires we're going south.

-- Dee in NJ (gdgtur@goes.com), December 12, 2000.

Suzy, We were living in 'Bama, over near Meridian,MS during '93. I know exactly what blizzard to which you refer. We were 150 miles north of Mobile in a town called York. We made a cute snowman that had arms made of sticks. One arm bent at the elbow, the other arm was stuck up in the air and we put a glove on the end of so he looked as if he was waving at people. When we got all done making him, we looked across the street and only then did we notice that the woman that lived over there had made a snow LADY and it looked like our man was waving at her lady!

I believe the cold in the south is less tolerable because of there being more moisture in the air. It really does go right through to your bones. I grew up in Florida and never could figure out why "winter" clothing showed up in the stores when school started. It was still HOT.

When I married and moved to MO and spent my first winter outside FL I was in Shock. It took a while before I understood the importance of thermal underwear and layering clothing. Now, living in MD, I live in thermal underwear all winter and feel practically naked when spring comes and I can't wear them anymore under my clothes.

The wind started up last night and has been really blowing all day here. Our chickens will probably be fine but I will need to switch to a higher watt bulb. The door to the coop sags a bit and that needs to be fixed but they lasted last winter that way and they probably will this one too.

-- Heather in MD (heathergorden@hotmail.com), December 12, 2000.

"Put another log on the fire--Cook me up some bacon and some beans". Don't remember who sang that dumb song but that's purty well what we do when' we're snowed in. Snow has to be real deep fore I can't get out. The old Chevy 4 wheel pull will go when dogs can't. Course it's a 3 wheel pull right now. Gotta fix that blasted front axle tomorry. If it snows a bunch, that is. Mite help old jeep cut a BIG tree into firewood. Stay warm ya'll. Matt. 24:44

-- hoot (hoot@pcinetwork.com), December 12, 2000.

Checking in from Central Maine: my nostrals are freezing together- hate that. Blankets blocking drafts under the barn doors so the kitties and horses don't freeze like our water pump out there did last week. I do prefer the cold to the heat in summer-suphocates me. I love being snowed in! Especially in the early mornings when the world is silent and the snow makes everything look so clean! I love to watch the horses play in the snow. Our dog gets a kick out of it as well. Keeps the kids occupied, too. I love winter!

-- Epona (crystalepona2000@yahoo.com), December 13, 2000.

Minus 20 last night in Northern NY

-- Patty (fodfarms@slic.com), December 13, 2000.

Suzy,

I moved to N Alabama last year from Florida. This is my second winter. Moisture has a lot to do with being cold.

We previously lived in Jax Florida and some years ago a couple moved in down the street. They were from Ohio. They later told me they almost froze that first January. In Jax we'd get some fine, week long nor'easters (air temp=45, wind speed=25-35 mph, humidity >80% or mist). They couldn't stand the 'wetness'.

Anyway, I've almost adjusted. And I like having 4 seasons here rather than the 1 & 1/2 that I got in Jax.

My .02.

jd

-- jd (jw_hsv@yahoo.com), December 13, 2000.

Hi all, I'm glad someone brought up the weather- I was starting to think I was just too wimpy for 'bama. Everyone keeps telling me that this isn't the norm, but I'm freezing my HINEY off over here! *G* The wind keep whipping around the corners of the house and howling in the cracks and it sounds spooky- my 4yo dd keeps asking me Who's there? LOL I'm off to the kitchen- this is perfect baking weather. Everybody stay warm!

-- Kristin, in C. Alabama (positivekharma@aol.com), December 13, 2000.

Alright guys, I spent the last 11 years in Central Florida, and I am now in Flagstaff, Arizona! And yes, I am freezing!! As well are my Florida Nubians!! I just wanted to tell you what I observed yesterday. It was sunny and crisp out (still cold at 18 degrees), but the wind was whipping like crazy!! I heard my "girls" (goats) hollering and went out and put on their sweatshirts and gave them some warm molasses water. Went back in the house. I continued to hear them holler, so I went out to inspect them again, gave them a little hay....again, same song and dance. Finally I bundled them all off into their house and closed the door, and there was peace. Less than an hour later, a fierce winter storm blew through with 4 inches of snow! Lasted all night. Now, do you suppose those goats KNEW that storm was coming and they wanted a warm house? Just found this observation a little puzzling... Sissy

-- sissy sylvester-barth (jerreleene@hotmail.com), December 13, 2000.

It's been around 20F here at night. Today, the temperature got above freezing, which felt nice. No snow this past week, which was sort of disappointing. The pond is frozen over, so it's fun to watch the geese and ducks slide around on it. Going through a lot more feed! Hauling out a lot of water!

I put an old polarfleece jacket on Roy, and a hooded sweatshirt on Siegfried, our two Nubians. They look like a crew team! The ground is frozen hard, so no mud...actually I like THAT a lot. Supposed to warm up and rain tomorrow, so maybe we'll see snow first.

Weather and darkness like this makes me want to sleep. It's good that Advent happens this time of year! Waiting, waiting, waiting. Time for introspection......and knitting mittens....

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), December 13, 2000.

Our first Winter in Alabama..yeah! I definetly do not miss driving in Pennsylvania this time of year. I recall last year crying my eyes out as my Blazer skidded to and fro on the icy hills only to arrive at the prison and have nowhere to park because of the snowdrifts. All day long I would worry about what the drive home would be like in the dark! I was so tickled yesterday...took a job in homecare and asked what their policy was for "inclement" weather. I was ready to demand that I be able to take a day without pay in nasty weather, or i would just quit...(oh the joys of not having to work)..anyway, the response was that in icy/snowy conditions, the local EMTs (God bless em) take over for patients who must have a visit, and the agency closes because the HIGHWAYS ARE CLOSED...I was staggered. I have never lived anywhere where they close all the highways because of ice or snow.They will issue an advisory not to drive unless you have to, but not actually close ALL the roads! 1970, Portland Maine..blizzard conditions December 24th..they closed all roads in and out of Portland, but there was about 18 inches falling with more on the way. We spent the night at the Lord's Inn. Each day, I become more and more fond of Alabama! God bless.

-- Lesley (martchas@gateway.net), December 13, 2000.

It's definitely the amount of moisture in the air that makes the difference. My father, who lives in Tok, Alaska, where it gets VERY cold in the winters, used to come out and spend part of the winter with us in Oregon and he always said that he got colder at 35 degrees in Oregon, where it was usually raining, than he did in Alaska at forty degrees below zero (or even much colder), but very dry.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), December 14, 2000.

Here in IL we can survive anything - bitter cold, wind, humidity, deluge, drought, hot humid summers... You have to be hardy, and careful.

-- Jean (schiszik@tbcnet.com), December 14, 2000.

As I said above in my previous answer, I was born in Chicago and my yankee mother taught me to layer. I don't use any winter coat, just one to three quilted flannel cover shirts. One large for down to 32 deg, an extralage over that for down to 15 and a xtra extra large on top down to 0. works like the liners in a field jacket. Best part, the 3 covershirts can be bought at dollar general store for five to ten apiece, a lot cheaper than a parka and a lot warmer. If it gets colder than that, I'm not out in it. And don't forget the longhandles.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), December 14, 2000.

thanks for all these posts!!!

It is STILL COLD here in north Bama!! I just came in from feeding and watering the rabbits in their rabbit barn and their little ears are cold! But they are well protected and have plenty of hay to burrow down in.

When I lived in South Dakota for a few months in 1995 I ran around with blue jeans, regular socks and shoes, a turtle neck and a little cordury half coat and I was perfectly fine...even in minus-five degree weather....but here even dressed like that I freeze when it's in the 20's!

-- Suzy in 'Bama (slgt@yahoo.com), December 14, 2000.

It's still cold here in Kentucky. Don't forget to unplug or turn off your electric fence in this ICE. Boy, we are covered still in ice. It was supposed to melt yesterday, but it didn't. Saturday is supposed to be 55 and then snow Saturday nite??? Wow.

I hope the ice melts today, as my driveway is 1/2 mile downhill! My husband gets out to go to work in Louisville, he has a minivan, but my big 2 wheel drive truck, don't know if I could stop at the bottom! I went in the ditch once at the bottom and the tractor had to pull me out. There's a cattle grate about 20 feet from the end, and you go up over it and then down. Do you think I can make it ALL the way UP with a round bale of hay in the back? (The farmer keeps them inside his building untill we need them) How are you all doing in this ice?

And I am getting the snowballs out of the horses feet all the time, this stuff just sticks in there like a ball. 40's today, so hopefully it will MELT.

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@msn.com), December 15, 2000.

Arggh. We still aren't entirely cleaned up here from Monday's snow storm, and now we're supposed to get more snow, plus rain/sleet mix. Yuck. I hope they're wrong and the temps drop and we get only snow! South central Wisconsin.

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), December 15, 2000.

Just to fill y'all in....we lost about 1/2 a large maple in that ice storm Wednesday night. I was awake at about 3am worrying about the cars and should I move them so I sat up and read my Bible....about 4am I decided to go back to bed. Within a minute of having laid back down there was a tremendous crash dh and I sat bolt upright in bed...branches had fallen just outside our window onto both cars below. One branch bounced off the hood of the newer car and the rolled over onto the older car and kind of caged it in. The old car sustained only a 1-2" dent and a bent antenae. The other car will have to have a new hood and fenders. Shortly after that we were back in the house and the floor began to vibrate. We ran back outside to find that on the other side of the same tree 1/2 the trunk had split off and dropped across the driveway. If THAT had fallen on cars we would be shopping for new ones.

I thank the Lord that no one was hurt and the cars will be fine. The house could have been seriously damaged if things had fallen just a little differently. And what if I had moved the cars and it happened then???

Three sheds out back, including the chicken coop, almost got hit by other large branches as well. As it was, the branches fell just between each of the buildings. I can't imaging having to find housing for all 26 birds if their coop was destroyed. Then again.....there might not have been that many birds left.

-- Heather (heathergorden@hotmail.com), December 16, 2000.

Grew up in NW Minn.; now in SE Wisc. I don't know if they are secretes, but #1, Keep your head warm. If you head is cold, the first heat you lose is in your feet. #2, polypropylene underwear. It works. Unfortunately, the newer and more expensive, the better it works. #3, layer away the sweat.

My 2 cents. Marty B.

-- Marty Boraas (boraas@miliserv.net), December 16, 2000.

Cindy,

Spray the inside of your horses hooves with Pam cooking spray. It keeps the ice/snow from attaching. Any grease works but Pam is so easy.

Good Luck

-- Stacia (OneClassyCowgirl@aol.com), December 17, 2000.

Thanks Stacy, I'll use greese. It's Freeeeeezing here today! -20 with the wind chill. We are ok but it is cool in the house, warm compared to outside, but not toasty warm at all. I am wearing my coveralls inside. Suzy are you allright?

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@msn.com), December 17, 2000.

We had a really weird thunder storm last night. High wind and lots of rain. It would have been deep if it had been snow.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), December 17, 2000.

Well, it's snowing again here in So.Cent.Wisconsin -- 7-10" again before it quits. It was doing the same thing LAST Monday, except today the wind isn't so bad. They're closing things right and left again. I gotta go shovel.

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), December 18, 2000.

I forgot to put this in. I wear knit hats in the winter. If I have to shovel while it is snowing, the hat gets very snowy and wet, especially with my head heat melting the snow. I wear a shower cap over the knit hat. I look like a real dork, BUT the hat stays dry and I stay warmer.

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), December 18, 2000.

Here in north central Alabama it was nearly 80 Saturday, then tonadoes that killed 11 and injured 100's and damaged 100's of homes, then it was 18 Saturday night with 3-4 inches of snow and a high of 26 Sunday. It is 40 today on Monday with another 2-3 inches of snow expected tonight with a low of 14 and I think they said we would not be above freezing the rest of the week. You might think that's goofy weather for the south but this is Alabama!

-- Gary Mattox (gmattox@integrity.com), December 18, 2000.