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| A camellia that just opened up |
Tonight it is supposed to drop down
all the way down into the low 20s in Savannah… Here on the island, where the water moderates things a bit, it's only to get to 26. That’s spring-like weather for where I have lived
for the past thirty years, but this year finds me in a place where such temperatures are seldom experienced. There have
been warnings on the radio for people to remember the 3 Ps (pets, plants and pipes). Plants and pets are brought inside and water is to be left dripping so pipes don't freeze... What? I did have a pipe freeze last winter,
but it was minus 17 (for those overseas readers, that minus 28 C), and a
strong wind blowing that proved too much for the insulated pipes in the garage under the kitchen. I better not have any pipes to freezes at this temperature, but I wonder what the weather will do to
the camellias in the yard? This is a new variety that’s now blooming; there have been camellias blooming since November.
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| in the lead (actually we were in 2nd) |
On Sunday afternoon it was in the low seventies and I
wore a short-sleeve shirt while sailing. It was a bold move not to cancel
the race because we knew the weather was going to change as a front was moving
in around 5 PM. But the wind was lovely and the races fast. After
three races, we got the boats put up and were having a beer on the porch of the
marina when the guy came out to tell us we were just in time as we were under a
tornado watch and severe thunderstorm warnings. A few minutes later, the
front moved through with strong straight line winds, heavy rain, and possibly a
tornado to the north.
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| Starboard tack |
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| Port tack |
Although I find myself something missing the snow, but I
can’t have everything and the miss feeling doesn’t last for doesn’t last long
for I’m really enjoying being out on the water so much. After all,
the only sailing I did last winter was on ice. I need to get my post up
on my solo 3 day trip into the Okefenokee. I’m not a huge football
fan, but all the interest I had in the playoffs died last weekend with the
Steelers and the Lions losing. Now, if I watch a game it will just be in
the hopes of seeing a Cowboy loss.
Next week I will be in Orlando, but no, it won’t be to
see the mouse or any other theme parks but for a training conference. I
use to enjoy business trips to Orlando in January. I was there last
January when they were complaining about the cold (it was in the mid-30s) and just shook my heads,
having felt like I exchanged the deep freeze for the vegetable bin inside the
refrigerator. I can’t get excited about heading that direction this
year.
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| Heading to safety |
The three P's I like that! No you needed be missing the snow either, we'll send pictures. In my frozen tundra of the world, no school today because of temperatures -15 and etc. but it's the wind chill dropping to such extremes that makes it a triple nightmare. They say a snow storm tomorrow, so I'm thinking it's got to warm up a bit. I laughed too over the leaving the water to drip! But that's the glory of hearing all about your new home town, because everyone has their own struggles and ways of doing things. It's so darn interesting to me!
ReplyDeleteToday, the temps actually dropped to 21 degrees overnight and was colder inland, but clear skies when I was walking the dog this morning. Many schools went on delay--except for my daughters and she didn't think that was fair!
DeleteExactly 100 years ago it was discovered Camellias are as tough as old boots.
ReplyDeleteBefore 1914 Camellias were exclusively a glasshouse shrub but the first winter, the British Expeditionary Force needed coal shipped to Belgium and France. So it was seen as unpatriotic to run furnaces to keep heat in the big house glasshouses. Also most of the gardeners were enlisted. Anyhow, the showing of flower after that first winter was magnificent.
Good luck in Florida.
For some reason blogger is only allowing the old ID.
That's interesting. We had camellias in NC, but they didn't start blooming until late in the winter--late Feb or early March
DeleteDo you want to know something? I've never been sailing. I really need to experience it sometime.
ReplyDeleteWe need to get you on a boat, Chrys!
Deletewhen we lived in florida my wife missed the snow...and on some level i did....though with wind chills below zero today, i would not mind a bit of warmth...ha...or even snow...if it is going to be cold at least give me something to play with you know....
ReplyDeletei miss sailing....
You live in a beautiful part of the world, Brian. I like it all--I know I will miss the mountains, but there are always vacations
DeleteEnjoy it while it lasts. When I moved from the frozen tundra of central Minnesota back to southern Iowa, I laughed at everyone that first winter. "You don't know what a REAL winter feels like!" Then something called acclimatization kicks in and I suffered with everyone else the following winters. If our bodies didn't do something like that, I would spend one winter up near a pole and one summer near the equator and be good to go for the rest of my life!
ReplyDeleteI am sure that will happen--this morning I had a medium jacket which I wore the first time this year--next year or the year afterwards, I may be wearing the heavy one.
DeleteIt is a little cold here, today. I had to laugh - the guy on the radio was reminding people to wear hats and dress in layers. Really? Only in the south!
ReplyDeleteIt was fun seeing folks with their heavy winter coats on, but I admit I had gloves on walking the dog this morning
Deletewe got to 19 last night, which is extremely cold for this region.
ReplyDelete21 here, but that is really cold for here. Stay warm!
ReplyDeletesailing in heavy winds must be a challenge! The winds here are so strong just now that all trains have been cancelled and all bridges closed.
ReplyDeleteIf winds were that heavy, we'd not be out on the water! We'd been in a mess if we were out on the water when the front moved througt
DeleteI don't want to hear your 20-degree troubles! ;)
ReplyDeleteFor the past two days, it has been 27 below zero with the wind chill. Worse, my kids are home from school. Again. Send help.
You are living the dream, sounds like. Awesome!
Thanks for visiting my blog (A Bench With A View) and your kind comment. It looks so pretty where you live and where you sail; glad you were able to get that sailing in before the weather turned on you. Safe travels to Orlando next week!
ReplyDeletebetty
I don't think my comment just now published. Hmmm. You may have comment moderation on. If not - I'll try again. I'm so glad you are getting to live in an enchanted place as you are. Not sure about the camellias, but I think they are as hardy as pansies.
ReplyDeleteThat looks so peaceful. I'm glad you were able to get that in before the weather changed. It's been abnormally cold here in Nashville this week, too. I've tried to stay inside as much as possible, as has my dog!
ReplyDeleteI loved this. It was peaceful and the way it was written reminds me of the diary of a man who might be from the 1800's. So deep.
ReplyDeleteI like that you don't let things like a little frigid weather and possible tornadoes, stop you from doing the things you like. You are an adventurer sir!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds downright balmy to me. ;) Lovely flower and a fine set of sailing pics. Be sure to bring your camera to Florida. No doubt something will be photoworthy.
ReplyDeleteDamn, that's cold! :-) Loved the photos, mate. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
For some reason, whenever my job in NY sent me on a business trip in the winter it was either to Edmonton or Toronto. Brrr. On the rare trip to Southern California, I was always reminded that I used to live there and couldn't remember why I had left.
ReplyDeleteI miss the snow, too, but I'm not going to complain. This is better than being freezing cold!
ReplyDelete