Newsletter chitchat - January 21, 2025

[Cassel]

I guess climate changes are showing in various ways around the world.

Do you find that winters are colder than years ago? 

Do you have more or less snow than years ago?

And how do you measure temperature? 

Let's chat.

[Ann Seeber]

My outside temperature is -8 degrees Fahrenheit this Wednesday morning, Jan. 22. My Echo Show tells me that is -22.22 degrees Celsius. Needless to say, I am struggling with providing edible food to my outside cats. I keep bringing it in and replacing the food that is now frozen with room temperature canned. I do rely heavily on dry kibble that is not prone to freeze but if I get the chance to give them meat, I prefer that. I've even listened to my experts and have switched to the kitten kibble which is higher in protein and helpful to keep them healthy in such cold weather. Lately, I'm only seeing two or three members of the colony, counting the big ex-Tomcat Batman and I can't really count on him at every meal lately. He waits on the neighbor's doormat when he deigns to visit. 

[Anne Lamp]

For the most part our winters have been less cold than years ago and probably less snow also, but the snow here has always been different each year.  We have had a really nasty couple of weeks starting with Jan 5/6 snow/freezing rain storm, and frigid temps the last few days with the lows being close to 0 F and the highs in the single digits or low teens and fairly windy during the day.  Brrrr. I am ready for summer already. 

[Corrie Kinkel]

Like the Canadians we too love to talk about the weather! Our winters have become less cold, but a cold spell is still possible which even can bring some snow but no way what America/Canada is getting. This winter it has been exceptionally grey, foggy, rainy and chilly. Today, 22 January the temperature outside was +4 Celsius, we use the metric system but when my mom was young Fahrenheit was still used. When I was about 6 or 7 we still had a thermometer for the room temperature in Fahrenheit, because mom could not get used to Celsius. Because I learned in school everything in the metric system I got confused and to the joy of my dad she bought a new one in Celsius. The last 8 weeks we had frosty nights with -3 C and during the day +1. I'm glad the weather forecast has a bit more sun and wind which will get rid of the fog. Our summers are mild, the Netherlands border the sea, we have a sea climate a lot like Sue Thomas has in Wales.

[Rene Marker]

It seems like we don't get the big snowfalls that we used to get. I remember winters where we had snow on the ground from December to March but any more, we are lucky to have even minimal snow on the ground for 1 month. This month we've had snow several times but no more than 2 inches. There would be spots where the grass would be showing then get another inch or 2 to cover it. We're on the 3rd or 4th time of snow with grass showing.

As for the cold, I don't remember having as many bitter cold days as we've had in the last few years. I do remember one back in the late 1980's. The Cincinnati Bengals were hosting a playoff game and the temps with windchill was in the -50's F. I believe it got the nickname of "The Freezer Bowl". I also don't remember hearing much about the Polar Vortex all those years ago. Just shows how weather forecasting has progressed with what they have learned over the years.

I think the winter temps overall are a little warmer than they were years ago but the bitter cold temps seem to be happening more often than before.

[Jannette Nieuwboer]

Ik woon aan de noord westkant van ons klein landje. Heel dicht naast de Noordzee. De verschillen zijn enorm. Hier was het een aantal dagen heel erg koud door een combinatie van de lage temperatuur, wind en de mist. Die mist heeft ook nog iets waar wat extra over te vertellen is. Er wordt hard gespeculeerd op de sociale media dat er iets in de lucht wordt gegooid waardoor het extra gaat misten en mensen er ziek van worden. Omdat we de afgelopen 20 jaar amper mist hebben gehad en nu plotseling heel veel mist hebben waar de zon niet doorheen kon komen. Ik las een stukje van een hoogleraar ven een universiteit dat als mensen iets vreemds meemaken bijvoorbeeld een rare lucht ruiken, vervuiling of vreemd ziek worden om zich te melden om te zien of het iets serieus is. Deze professor wil weten of het boze tongen zijn die plot theorieën de ether insturen of dat er werkelijk iets ontsnapt is. Omdat dat niet denkbeeldig is. Zoals een poosje geleden de Covid pandemie ontsnapte ook uit een lab.

Edited January 23 by Jannette Nieuwboer

[Ann Seeber]

  On 1/23/2025 at 7:29 PM, Jannette Nieuwboer said:

Ik woon aan de noord westkant van ons klein landje. Heel dicht naast de Noordzee. De verschillen zijn enorm. Hier was het een aantal dagen heel erg koud door een combinatie van de lage temperatuur, wind en de mist. Die mist heeft ook nog iets waar wat extra over te vertellen is. Er wordt hard gespeculeerd op de sociale media dat er iets in de lucht wordt gegooid waardoor het extra gaat misten en mensen er ziek van worden. Omdat we de afgelopen 20 jaar amper mist hebben gehad en nu plotseling heel veel mist hebben waar de zon niet doorheen kon komen. Ik las een stukje van een hoogleraar ven een universiteit dat als mensen iets vreemds meemaken bijvoorbeeld een rare lucht ruiken, vervuiling of vreemd ziek worden om zich te melden om te zien of het iets serieus is. Deze professor wil weten of het boze tongen zijn die plot theorieën de ether insturen of dat er werkelijk iets ontsnapt is. Omdat dat niet denkbeeldig is. Zoals een poosje geleden de Covid pandemie ontsnapte ook uit een lab.

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Jannette: It would be prudent to have it checked out. It could be any kind of pollution or chemical spill. Good luck!

[Bonnie Ballentine]

I grew up in South Carolina...south east USA. I alway dreamed of snow but it was much too warm in SC. One day my Mother woke me for school and said, "Look out the window." There were 8 inches of snow on the ground! I was so happy I cried...finally, snow! Then Mom told me to get dress and go outside while she fixed breakfast. All the Moms did and all the kids were ecstatic! When we were called in for breakfast, there was another surprise...schools were closed! We had all day to play in the snow. Because there was no snow in SC, there was no snow removal equipment and roads could not be cleared plus our cars did not have snow tires. We kids really didn't have jackets, boots, gloves, hats, etc. They were not needed usually. We also had no sleds or other snow toys. A piece of cardboard can make a pretty good sled. It didn't matter how cold it was. We stayed out all day playing in the snow and built our first snowman, ate our first snowcream and lived a dream come true. I was 14 at the time. One of my most precious memories.

I live in Virginia now...still on the east coast but about 500 mile north of SC. We get snow but it seems less than 40-50 years ago. The cold is pretty cold but not nearly like locations further north. I don't enjoy snow as much now. There are no safe places to go sledding and I am the one who has to shovel the sidewalk and driveway. I'm sure I have shoveled my share since moving to VA. We measure temperatures with the Fahrenheit scale. I have other snow stories here in VA but none as happy as this one.

[Susan Ewart]

  On 1/22/2025 at 12:10 PM, Ann Seeber said:

My outside temperature is -8 degrees Fahrenheit this Wednesday morning, Jan. 22. My Echo Show tells me that is -22.22 degrees Celsius. Needless to say, I am struggling with providing edible food to my outside cats. I keep bringing it in and replacing the food that is now frozen with room temperature canned. I do rely heavily on dry kibble that is not prone to freeze but if I get the chance to give them meat, I prefer that. I've even listened to my experts and have switched to the kitten kibble which is higher in protein and helpful to keep them healthy in such cold weather. Lately, I'm only seeing two or three members of the colony, counting the big ex-Tomcat Batman and I can't really count on him at every meal lately. He waits on the neighbor's doormat when he deigns to visit. 

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It must be such a worry knowing at those temperatures it's got to be hard for them to keep themselves warm if they don't have enough food.  It's a battle to keep thawed food when it's this cold.  I wonder if there is heated dishes like the heated dog bowls for water.  Another high protein food is the Hills Urgent Care a/d.  In Canada it's only available at the vets but it's high protein.  I've had to use it on my prev. cat that were very sick and not eating.  I hope it warms up for you and your charges.

[Susan Ewart]

  On 1/25/2025 at 3:49 PM, Bonnie Ballentine said:

I grew up in South Carolina...south east USA. I alway dreamed of snow but it was much too warm in SC. One day my Mother woke me for school and said, "Look out the window." There were 8 inches of snow on the ground! I was so happy I cried...finally, snow! Then Mom told me to get dress and go outside while she fixed breakfast. All the Moms did and all the kids were ecstatic! When we were called in for breakfast, there was another surprise...schools were closed! We had all day to play in the snow. Because there was no snow in SC, there was no snow removal equipment and roads could not be cleared plus our cars did not have snow tires. We kids really didn't have jackets, boots, gloves, hats, etc. They were not needed usually. We also had no sleds or other snow toys. A piece of cardboard can make a pretty good sled. It didn't matter how cold it was. We stayed out all day playing in the snow and built our first snowman, ate our first snowcream and lived a dream come true. I was 14 at the time. One of my most precious memories.

I live in Virginia now...still on the east coast but about 500 mile north of SC. We get snow but it seems less than 40-50 years ago. The cold is pretty cold but not nearly like locations further north. I don't enjoy snow as much now. There are no safe places to go sledding and I am the one who has to shovel the sidewalk and driveway. I'm sure I have shoveled my share since moving to VA. We measure temperatures with the Fahrenheit scale. I have other snow stories here in VA but none as happy as this one.

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I have used cardboard too and garbage bags sort of work, but it's super bumpy and you feel every bump.