Warm and cozy

Saturday, 6:58 pm

By Kate

Dec

01

2007

According the weather forecast, last night, we were supposed to have a relatively warm day today. Not tropical, by any means, but...above freezing. Early this morning, I opened one eye and glanced at the time and temp broadcast on the ceiling from my atomic clock. That was about 6:30 AM and the outside temperature was 26° F. An hour or so later I opened one eye again and it said 21°. Huh, I thought, it’s not going in the right direction. It wasn’t long after that we reached a balmy 19°, where it stayed most of the day.

That was unfortunate because I had things to do outside. Even more unfortunate was the wind. It blew a gale. The wind chill must have been down in the single digits. It was not pleasant out there, but I had to tidy up the woodpile and secure it for the storm coming tomorrow evening. This time, instead of steel stakes, I strung nylon rope through the tarp’s grommets and tied them to things that won’t blow away. Like the deck for instance. I’m fairly certain the deck will still be there tomorrow and the next day and...so on.

When I came back in the house, I was about frozen numb. But the house felt remarkably warm at 64°. I didn’t even have a fire going. It had gone out just before bedtime last night and the house maintained the heat, despite the cold and the wind. All that caulking and other winterizing has evidently paid off.

Now the outside temperature is down to 15° and I do have a fire going. Just started it a half hour ago. The house is warming back up and there are some candles flickering, casting warm shadows. There’s some pretty music in the background and I’m enjoying a margarita. The Christmas lights are on outside and I’ll even go so far as to say they are pretty. I’m warm and comfortable and...did I mention that margarita? Life feels remarkably good tonight.