How's the weather?

[BikerDoc5968]

Originally Posted by Bird Song Farm

Hi Kiki,
We didn't quite make -28f here in beautiful downtown Dover-Foxcroft but -27.8f was close enough! Yes, I'm having trouble with my sunroom also. So far I've only 'lost' one, actually, it is in ICU but it lost all but one leaf and I believe the grim reaper is just around the corner.

All these phals in spike and on hold, guess it will make for a lot of blooms at the same time when and if things ever warm up!

Our furnace died last Tuesday afternoon and I almost had an anxiety attack before it got fixed. Thankfully it happened in the afternoon and was repaired before nightfall, the electric heater kept the worst of the cold at bay for a couple of hours.

Keep the home fires burning, a warm up is on the way with two snow storms back to back predicted for Sunday and Monday..........what fun!!
Al

Well, Al I'm glad to see the cold and snow haven't buried you, yet!!!!! And Kiki glad to see you're ok as well. I think of my Maine friends and wonder about you guys and the weather.... while we are about -2 early this AM, the sun is shining and the GH warm but it is definitly more difficult to heat it with this cold weather.... I am thankful our temps are not what you and others are experiencing!!!!! Try to keep warm, only about 67 more days til Spring.....Spring what's that!!!!

[Bird Song Farm]

It makes me feel extremely fortunate. I can turn the heat up or the A/C on. I am so sorry for the people that go hungry and are cold. Especially for the children. We talk and complain about our weather be it cold or hot, we forget that hundreds of thousands of people are cold, hungry, and their future is bleak to say the least. Let's take a minute to thank our lucky stars to be living in the U.S. although there are folks here that are also suffering. Check your cupboads and make a trip to your local food bank today. Your little 'gift' can make a difference.
(Al steps off the soap box and returns you to your regularly scheduled program)
AL

Originally Posted by rogerman

I know people think that Thailand has no problems with the cold, BUT how wrong could they be?
I live in central Thailand and i have got it easy. I have two duvets on the bed. NO aircon or fan and it was a FREEZING 61F this morning....... Further north in Chiang Mai it is below freezing level and there are huge orchid farms that way..... Not to mention a huge percentage of the countries vegetable crops. We don't have any heating facilities here at all...... Most people especially the poor don't even have a jacket or a blanket to sleep under.

These people are used to living in heat around 120F

How would you feel?

[Jkelee]

Hey ya all!!
It's sucks down here!!!
Only 51 @ 11:30am!!

[Phantasm]

We have been hovering at around 50F for the last week, much better than the prior few weeks!

[Swamper]

Originally Posted by Bird Song Farm

It makes me feel extremely fortunate. I can turn the heat up or the A/C on. I am so sorry for the people that go hungry and are cold. Especially for the children. We talk and complain about our weather be it cold or hot, we forget that hundreds of thousands of people are cold, hungry, and their future is bleak to say the least. Let's take a minute to thank our lucky stars to be living in the U.S. although there are folks here that are also suffering. Check your cupboads and make a trip to your local food bank today. Your little 'gift' can make a difference.
(Al steps off the soap box and returns you to your regularly scheduled program)
AL

I agree, fortunately I don't take this for granted. I always remind myself and my friends how fortunate we are to be living down here. I was fishing this weekend in shorts and a teeshirt and was telling my friend this looked like heaven...here's a pic right beofre we left.

[camille1585]

I've been hearing about the cold spell in the news, and it sounds prettyThe US is not the only place getting unusually cold and snowy winters. (well, unusual for this decade). It's nowhere nearly as cold, but still... The country had below freezing temps the first 12 days of january. It was actually -15°C ( a balmy 5F for you guys) and the dutch were overjoyed since they could organize this big speedskating race on the canals for the first time in something like 15 years. Everyone was out skating the canals last week.
In France, there was tons of snow and very freezing weather. It even snowed 20-30cm in Marseille and parts of the french riviera. The last time this happened was 22 years ago.

I'm thinking of all of you in the northen USA. Keep safe, keep warm, and take care of the orchids!

[kiki-do]

Originally Posted by rogerman

I know people think that Thailand has no problems with the cold, BUT how wrong could they be?
I live in central Thailand and i have got it easy. I have two duvets on the bed. NO aircon or fan and it was a FREEZING 61F this morning....... Further north in Chiang Mai it is below freezing level and there are huge orchid farms that way..... Not to mention a huge percentage of the countries vegetable crops. We don't have any heating facilities here at all...... Most people especially the poor don't even have a jacket or a blanket to sleep under.

These people are used to living in heat around 120F

How would you feel?

Wow, thanks for explaining what your area is like. You're certainly not use to temperature drops like that! I feel bad for all of those who have no jacket or blankets to have "just in case." I would absolutely feel awful about that.
Those of us here who experience all 4 season weather, have bought or been given, many layers of clothing throughout the area so most of us are well prepared. In fact, there are "human angels" among us who gather to knit mittens, hats, and then donate them. Also gathered are boots, parkas, quilts, afghans, and various snowgear that others may need. It's a major event that starts in the summer. The hospitality of others is amazing.

[Ross]

Yep, I'm cold also, but does anyone remember back in the 70s (heck I remember back in the 50s ) when the Midwest got record snows and bone-chillin colds? Back then I tried heating with wood (a pretty successful experiment, thank you) but the wood stove was pretty local, didn't help the basement or 2nd floor much - maybe a little. I am really exited by Al's response, because having been in SE Asia and having witnessed the living conditions there, we (even North Dakota ) can count our blessings because we generally prepare for this type of weather. I might gripe about how much gas I go through this winter in the "big mean snow-eating machine" but you know what? I can get that gas and I have the resources to deal with this. Think about parts of the orchid-growing world where people have no clue what to do with this weather My daughter's family heats with wood and are on a limited income. There are 6 in their family. Right now the wood furnace (not a small heater, but a dedicated wood furnace) cannot keep up with the cold. They are supplementing the wood heat with electric heaters and propane furnace. These things add up to huge bills. So for those here with the means to keep themselves warm (right now I don't care about your location) count yourselves among the privileged. As rogerman stated so well, "These people are used to living in heat around 120F. How would you feel?" How does anyone feel when the weather is so extreme just all of a sudden? Folks living in the Dakotas do so with the knowledge they have to put up with that cold. Folks who live in Florida do so with the knowledge they don't! But quit complaining about the heat Now, as Al said so astutely "(Al steps off the soap box and returns you to your regularly scheduled program)"

[rogerman]

Well said Ross. Just doing normal everyday living is a burden when all you have is flip-flops, shorts and a t-shirt in freezing temperatures.

[Bill_NeOh]

In Ohio we had -18 last night and -10 the night before. I have a 14x10 cedar greenhouse with a heater that is handling the cold just fine. My only real issue is when the temps fall into single digits the hardware on the greenhouse door ices up and locks me out of the greenhouse. All I need is a day where the temps go into the 20s and I can get back in. I checked and watered everything Tuesday and now I'm waiting to get back in. Hopefully it will be today, tomorrow at the latest. At some point I need a fix to this problem. The last several winters have been mild and I didn't really think this was going to be a long term problem but with how cold this winter has been I guess I better make some mods this summer so this doesn't happen anymore. Makes me a little nervous.