You can't control the weather

...but you can sure wail, whine, kvetch and complain about it because really, for here, it's JUST NOT RIGHT.

Exhibit A: Where we live, winter is supposed to be temps in the 40s and rain. Yes, I know, people complain about the damp gray days, but it's what were used to, it's what we're prepared for.

Exhibit B: TV news weather reports. This is a mostly dry cold snap, so they can't use SNOWMAGEDDON or SNOWPOCALYPSE. Instead, it's ARCTIC INVASION. Be afraid, be very afraid.

Exhibit C: Recent temperatures at our house (not the farm, that's another story).

First this:

Then this!

(side note from Phrodaux, it was actually colder than this, it was below 10 deg F, but the frog lies, and there is no cake. THERE IS NO CAKE!)

That, my friends, is WRONG. Just plain wrong. We do not live in Alaska or Greenland or Siberia or Antarctica for a number of reasons. Not enough food carts, for one. Our dogs prefer it here, for two. And INSANE COLD is a pretty big factor.

The Fairy Queen is already a person who is always cold, something like 7 months of the year. And now, it takes a solid 5 minutes to gear up for a trip to the backyard with the dogs: t-shirt, sweater, sweat shirt, hoody, big coat, scarf, hat, double gloves. It might as well be a haz mat suit. Even Mo has figured out that a quick out and in is the way to go.

Phrodaux, of course, has been ingenious. To keep the various fountains going (a source of fresh water for the poor parched birds), he has rigged up contraptions that suspend Mexican candles (they burn forever) in the water. It's not a lot of heat, but it keeps a tiny bit of water from turning to ice.

 Every time I checked on this fountain, there was a bird sitting on it:

The garden, of course, looks bedraggled and strung out and sad, with a few noteworthy exceptions. Want a plant that can stand anything? Dry shade, drought, 9 degrees? Plant some epidmediums, people. We know lots of nice nurseries that will sell them to you.

Well lovelies, it's true what they say, you can't change the weather. So stay in, stay warm. If you have the time (and the ingredients on hand, by no means leave the house for provisions!), make soup... 

 

...and cookies. 

 

You'll feel better. And warmer. Trust me.