Marilyne, I have to shake my head and laugh. You are getting cold weather from the portion of Alaska that is firmly in "Rain Forest" type climate as it is part of the Oregon and Washington climate area or zone. Ketchikan, Alaska holds the record for the most rainfall in North America. The near water brings so much humidity with it in that wet climate zone!

I shouldn't laugh as I froze in Ohio, Kentucky, and Texas. A wet climate can chill you to the bone! What I am laughing at is the same temperature readings are so different in reality. In a dry climate, it is sometimes hard to understand how cold it is because you don't feel it. People here have gotten frostbit because they didn't feel cold.

When we have twenty below, folks are running around in sweatshirts and hoodies and no gloves. And guys wear those ghastly plaid board shorts which really ought to be related to the dustbin in my opinion! When you come in from outside, you only sweep any snow off with a broom as there is no humidity to hold the grains together.

Larry, I am trying to wean Farrah from treats, and I really shouldn't buy them. She doesn't eat her food when she knows there are treats and as she only eats about three-fourths of a cup daily and turns her nose up at any wet cat food, it is a concern.

I also miss hearing from MaryPage regularly but I stay in email contact and what she is doing takes so much of her time and is important to her.

I am getting better, but it is a slow process, and I am overdosing on hot toddies in the evenings.

MaryAnn, lucky you with so many new babies in the family and lucky Sandy! Our family seems determined to have the next generation be the last, even as one of the grands, 27, plans on marrying next month.

We have warmed up considerably and it looks like this will continue, through next month.

With a bit higher temps our snow is melting.  Can actually see the grass and dirt out there this morning.  Nice change.

Joan, I notice the hard ice at Grand Haven is disappearing and there is a lot of loose ice that will disappear soon because we are to be in the 50s all week.  It's been lovely today and was not necessary to wear a coat.  Dot and I leave for church about 8:10 am and if the temp is any where near 45-50, I'll not wear a coat.  I know it won't last, but I'm going to enjoy it while I can.

Mary Ann

Ice seems to be popular this season.  Our freeways between here and Yakima were all tied up with jack knifed semis and lots of cars.  Was awful. This was a few days ago.

Patricia - All I know is that when the weather person say those three little words - Gulf of Alaska - we are in for a cold and icy rain.   Usually about 10 degrees colder than the storms we have been getting lately. (from Hawaii) Possibly, all of the rain storms in Washington and Oregon, originate from the G of A???  I'm pretty sure they don't get the tropical rains up there, like we do here??  I lived in Washington, for a year, (near wjoan), and in Portland, Ore., for a year, and only remember cold storms.

That reminds me - yesterday I was watching a show on HGTV called "Island Life" or "Island Hunters".  They featured a couple who were looking to buy an Island near Sitka.  All the Islands they looked at were gorgeous, and the houses on them were spectacular!  Beautiful country up there! 

Marilyne, it is beautiful because of all the rain. Look at it this way, is your area the same as Scottsdale, Arizona? Climate regions do not follow state or international boundaries. Alaska is the largest state in the union, being double the size of Texas, and larger in size than the next three biggest states combined. These states are Texas, California, and Montana. Fifty-four million acres are set aside as national parks, and much of Alaska's land mass is comprised of wilderness.

Alaska once included four separate time zones, but has now been reduced to two. Additionally, the coastline throughout the state is longer than the entire Atlantic coastline on the eastern border of the United States combined. Alaska includes an area of more than 375 million acres, equivalent to about 570,665 square miles. With coastal waters and rivers added in, the total is more than 640,000 square miles.

Alaska has four separate climatic and geographical zones so what you are experiencing is from the Rainforest zone. We are in an Arctic zone which ranges between on the average, 104 degrees plus to seventy degrees minus. And this is a dry cold because of the lack of humidity. Our thirty below is similar in feel to your zero in a wet climate. Southeast Alaska ranges from seventy above to minus twenty and their minus twenty is more like our minus forty in feel.

When I lived in Anchorage and underwent forty-eight days of straight rain, I insisted we move back to Fairbanks and my husband agreed.

I tried several times to explain this to my mother in law as she thought we all must live underground here. When my husband confirmed what I said, she actually called him a liar!

Patricia - When one looks at Alaska on a map of the US, it always looks out of proportion and much smaller than it actually is.  Even when it's "moved" to the left, sitting beside Hawaii, it's still deceptive and looks even smaller! 

I've always wanted to visit Alaska, but at this point in my life, it's not ever going to happen. I'll have to see it on TV travel shows, or on the HGTV show called, Buying Alaska. It's a half hour series of shows about either a family, a couple, or a single person moving to AK,  to a specific city or rural community.  An agent takes them to see three or four different homes in their specific preferred area, and then they choose one.  Of course, the show features the highlights of that particular town or community, so you get an overview of the whole area. 

Sharks Hockey going on now, so I'm signing off for tonight!

Marilyne, and it always shows both states in the gulf of Mexico. Whats up with that? It's said that if you divide Alaska in half, Texas would be the 3rd largest state

Hi everyone. After a dreary and damp day yesterday we have clear skies and expect to get to 75 degrees this afternoon.  We will go to Sunday School and Church this morning and then out to eat and spend the rest of the day quietly.  I did go to COSTCO yesterday afternoon (and I think so did everyone else in the area as they were very busy).  I came home and watched some of the PGA golf match from California.  They are a day behind and will try to play two rounds today. 

Sandy I got a nice smile from your comment about not being sure what you would do yesterday but it being a nice day to do it in. 

Mary Ann, you sure are more cold tolerant than I am.  Like Marilyne I want a jacket of some type until it gets to about 70 degrees if I am going to be outside.  I bet the days are long for the twin's parents and it will be a long month. 

Patricia, when I lived in Anchorage I had only a light weight overcoat that I wore to work.  We have had such a warm winter that I have only worn my leather coat a few times this winter and last winter I wore it a lot.  I feel sorry for Farrah being weaned off of the treats!    Nice to read that you are getting better.  Interesting information on the size of Alaska related to the rest of the States. 

Marilyne, I can't even imagine the problems one would have owning their own island.  Who do they buy the islands from?  I haven't seen that show.  The Buying Alaska show sounds interesting.  When I lived in Anchorage my job required me to travel quite a bit so I saw several areas of Alaska. 



Joan, maybe the snow will soon just be a memory.  Ice is terrible to deal with on the roads. 

I was hoping I could duplicate yesterday in wearing a sweater as outer coat but when we left for church, our temp was 26 degrees and that is winter coat weather.  Both Dot and I wore our coats.  Maybe next week.  The temp is more like 50+ degrees now.

Jan was going to take Dot to see the twins today but Jan called that she is ill, so that is out.  Jan works hard and gets sore throats easily. 

Mary Ann

Good afternoon,  bright sun not a cloud in the sky. Suppose to get up to 60, did someone say Feb.

Marilyne, I also watch that show Buying Alaska, I never pictured such beautiful homes, although the ones with high ceilings would be hard to heat.

Larry glad to see you both got out. Long days for those golfers.

MaryAnn, When I went out the other day, I did wear just a light weight coat, not my winter one.

Good news.  Our snow in back where I could see it is all melted now.  Was out Friday as had to go to the  Electric Co. office.  the only snow around are the piles the snow plow made.  Hoooope that is the end of the ice and snow.  Terrible accidents from the ice the other day.

wjoan, you can have a lot of snow, but one inch of ice, can be very dangerous. I use to have to drive 20 miles to work every day. It was early, as I had to have the office open to admit the pre ops before 6AM.

some times I would be the first car over the roads, then you would get some darn fool passing. You can be driving safely, but there is always that on car, that has to get there faster. I would get in the parking lot and say a thank you pray, Especially if the roads were icy.

Patricia, glad to see you are feeling better.

lindancer, we are not used to snow let alone ice on the roads.  This has been a terrible Winter so far.  Started snowing in Dec. and stopped about 5 days ago.  We normally only get snow one day a year.  People here are not used to this harsh weather.

Joan, we probably are more used to the weather you've had, but I sure have been liking what we've had.  As I wrote, it was 26 degrees when we left for church this morning, but now it is somewhere in the 60s.  In February, yet!
(Just saw my weather thing below says 60 degrees, who'd a thought it?).

Mary Ann

Mary Ann - I think the East and West coasts are exchanging weather patterns!  Usually, Spring starts here in February, with trees leafing out and flowers beginning to bud or bloom.  Not so this year!  Still rainy and cold, with no end in sight. 

From what I read here in S&F, the weather is unseasonably warm everywhere east of the Mississippi . . .  and the South has been balmy all winter . . . including Texas.  Seems that Larry has been having temps in the 70's for quite a while, in SC.

Here in northwest Florida the weather has been unusual.  A couple of cold days and then a few warm days.  Today is beautiful.

Marilyne, when my daughter left NV and was driving thru AZ and Texas she encountered snow down there.  That was about a month ago now.

Mary Ann.  they are still not letting people visit to the hospitals. Only parents and spouses . Specially in the baby areas.  Good idea I think. Surprised they let you hold the babies the other day. Never allowed here.

Still 69 here today. 3 day in a row.  Wonder what will come next week.  People wearing shorts.

Larry. Was you wife happy with the glasses she got at Cosco? My texas daugher says she will go there next time. She paid $329 last pair and say she could have gotten them for less at her Cosco.

Jeanne, the lady at the check-in desk asked how I was feeling and I told her "fine" so she put a "I'm feeling healthy today" sticker on my coat and away we went.  Maybe because Alicia was with me helped.  Even though distant, I am a relative and while I was in there, a friend came in.  I really don't know the hospital's policy, but I was able to hold the babies because their mother put them in my arms.

I know we've had unbelievable weather, but it is February and I know this will not last.  We are losing snow fast and unless it was in a large pile, the piles are disappearing.  I'll take it as long as they give it to me; I just don't want to have a snowstorm in the middle of May!  It is 60 here now. 

Mary Ann

Hi everyone.  It is another beautiful morning and we expect to get up to close to 80 today.  This morning I want to make Pat some more sausage muffins as she finished up her last two for breakfast this morning.  This evening is the United Methodist Men's monthly meeting.  We always have grilled steak or grilled chicken with a salad, potatoes fixed different ways, and a vegetable item.  Following dinner we have a speaker.  On Saturday I did complete my income tax forms but must wait for one final document to confirm the initial figures they provided and then will go over the returns again before submitting them. 

deAngel, I watched a lot of the golf match yesterday.  There really was no suspense as Johnson was so far ahead and now ranks as the number one player in the world.  He was really on his game.  I was hoping someone would win the car with a hole in one on that designated hole.  If he had then his caddie would have also received a new car. 

Joan, I hope for your sake it is the end of your ice and snow.  It seems like it has been a rather long stretch of snow and ice out your way.

Marilyne, we have many things now in bloom here.  We noticed yesterday that the dogwoods were beginning to bloom as are the azaleas.  Now there is a concern we will have some freezing weather and kill off all of these blooms.  However, only warm weather is predicted for the next 15 days.  We are only about 6 weeks away from the Master's Golf Tournament so know those officials are concerned about their azalea bushes. 

FlaJean, I expect your weather has been much like ours. 

JeanneP, I see people wearing shorts here as well.  My wife was happy with her new glasses and they didn't even have to make adjustments to get them to fit right.  I also have purchased two pair of glasses from them in the last two years and have been happy with them although I did have to have them adjusted a couple of times.  They seem to be happy to do that.   

Larry, Tom got glasses at Costco too and is happy with them.  However, he was not happy with the person who waited on him.  It was something about his computer glasses and I don't know if Tom made an unreasonable request or if the person was having a bad day.  Tom said he would not go back to Costco, but it was the service not the product that is the reason.  Costco is kitty-corner across the county from where we live and I don't do business in the other part of town or county; not that I do much business anywhere any more!  Ha!

Mary Ann

Good after day, got up to 65 here, not as warm as yesterday but again 50 is unheard of in Feb.

Larry, I did watch some golf with Johnson, but then turn to the senior players, and enjoyed seeing Fred Couples win.

MaryAnn, we had a Costco's open about two years ago about a quarter of a mile from me, I have only been in it 3 times. My neighbor goes there for lunch.  They have very good roasted chicken, which he brings me every once in a while.  Being one person it last a long time. I end up making soup.

I don't go to Costco often, but they have the best NY Steaks in the Tri Cities.  I have tried other stores but their steaks cannot compare with Costco.  Far from it.

Texas Daughter has Cosco. Wish we could get one.  I may have them make me a pair next time in Texas. I just use for close work. The Transitional did not work for me. Got a headache. Never had before. The frames just to small.

Still having high 60, 70 here. Just so early in the year.  I am sure we will get the cold back again and them we will really feel it. Doubt snow though

Tom offered to lower the window in the storm door this morning because it is so nice out, but I had him leave it up because we will get more cold weather.  In fact, I think the weekend will bring some highs in the 20s after being in the 50s.  If I want fresh air, I can open the slider and put the screen in front of the opening.

We just got some hamburgers at Wendy's then drove to a park to eat them.  I did not know of the park, but it is a dog park.  A couple of people had their dogs there to let them run - and one dog really was running.  The owner was throwing a frisbee and the dog was bringing it back to him. 

It really is a beautiful day, especially for February, but for any day of the year.

Mary Ann

Still 69 here and suppose to stay all week.  Strange February.
Can't do what I wanted. Post office, Library.  All closed.

Need to sit for awhile.
Been in the kitchen all morning. All needs cleaning up.
I made 5 pints of Pasta sauce. 4 in the freezer and one to go over Ravioli for dinner Spinach and Cheese. Had lots of tomatoes and Mushrooms needed using up. Had some Walnuts left and so I just threw them in.  More Protein now. Not had much meat this past week.. Ground Round was on sale this week so going to make some of the small meat loaves for freezer soon.  That sauce goes good over those..  I really could use a nap.

I have the heat turned off and the kitchen windows open. Feels good. House needs a good airing out.  Fact needs a good Spring cleaning. Sure let things go this winter.  Going to see if I can find someone to come in and then keep them for doing every other week.  I just find to many things I can't do anymore. (Don't care to do it also). Not had enough exercise this winter.

Lake looks pretty calm today. Snow off the beach.

Hi everyone on another nice morning in South Carolina.  Pat has to have a medical test done at 10 am this morning and that will be all that requires us to be away from the house today.  I need to cut up some green onions later this morning.  We had an very pleasant men's meeting last evening.  The food was good and the speaker was a pharmacist that belong to our church who talked to us about Testosterone and the role that hormones play in our bodies and about the importance of certain minerals.  It was very informative. I made two trips to the post office box at the end of the driveway before I realized there was no mail service yesterday. 

Mary Ann, Tom's experience with the service person at the COSTCO optical department is a good example of why stores often lose business. Nice to be able to enjoy a park while eating your lunch here toward the end of February.

deAngel, I am surprised sometimes by some of the golfers that play on the Senior Tour since I remember so well them being contenders or winners on the regular tour.  Nice that there is a Senior Tour when the older men can no longer compete with the younger ones. We often buy one of the rotisserie chickens at COSTCO as they sell them for $4.99 and apparently have done so for many years.  I read once how many millions of them they had sold. 

Joan, we have found the COSTCO meats to be excellent.  You have to buy in a pretty large quantity but meat freezes and keeps. 

JeanneP, nice that you are getting some warmer weather after that cold siege.   We are already in a high pollen season here as the trees and grasses think it is spring with all the warm weather we have had this winter.  So we don't open the windows. 

Larry, our two supermarkets that are close to us both have rotisserie chickens for sale and I think they cost about $6 or $7.  I think it would cost about that much to drive to Costco (and back) to get one there.  Both of these stores are within two miles of here.  We do have a Walmart across the river, but that is about five miles away, so we settle for Meijer or Family Fare (both local).

It is raining here today, even so the temperature is 50 degrees.  I think I saw that we'd be in the 50s through Friday, then on the weekend we would drop into the high 20s.  That is too much a drop in one day.

We asked Dot to join us for supper last night.  Tom had bought a nice roast which he fixed in the crockpot with some vegetables and he fixed some asparagus separately.  Dot always asks what she can bring and I always tell her to bring only herself.  But she always ends up bringing something and it was pieces of coffee cake that she made, so that was our dessert.  She's a good hostess and guest, something I never learned.  Not that I'm bad, I just do not take anything with me when I eat at her place.  Of course, I don't bake anymore, either.  We had a good visit.

Tom just returned home, bringing me my breakfast and coffee.

Mary Ann

The rotisserie chickens are also $4.99 at our Costco.  It isn't worth the drive, unless we're going there for other items as well, because I can always wait until *$5 Friday*, at my local Safeway! Chickens, as well as other ready-to-eat foods are $5, or less.  We get the ad in our paper on Tuesday, and I see that one of the bargains this coming Friday is a loaf of Oven Joy bread for 99 cents.  It's probably one of those soft puffy loaves, that's nothing but air.

Still raining here this morning, but it's a soft steady rain, with no wind.  The wind is what I dislike, because I'm always afraid of trees falling on the house.  Everyday we see a story on the news, about a tree falling and demolishing a house, or a car.  Many people have been killed or injured by trees, so far this winter. 

I know that those of you in the East, are enjoying your nice Spring like weather.  We will get a break soon, I hope.  I notice that our plum tree is starting to blossom, in spite of the weather.  I just hope the buds don't get knocked off by the rain and wind.