The house was encased in steam yesterday

It was bitter cold up north in MN yesterday, 8 degrees below, the house felt sooo cold, asked my hubby what he could do to bring up the temp.  we have municipal steam heat.  He went down to the basement, adjusted the flow meter to let more steam into the house.  Shortly after, I noticed what looked like exhaust from a car warming up on the street, it was wrapping around the house, front side only, by the street.  He thought this was from the neighbor's dryer vent and the way the wind was blowing.  Nope, it was the pressure relief from our own steam causing the poor visibility.  I couldn't even see the street in front of the house at times.  More small adjustments to the steam system and the outside could faded.  Doesn't make sense to heat up the grand outdoors.  The house was so much more tolerable after it warmed by about 3 degrees.  Today, just perfect indoors.  The temp outside is at 7 degrees, no minus this morning.  What a difference 15 degrees can make.  What a difference being easily chilled after wls can make.  I feel like I am a hot house plant and need warmth. Preheated my spot in the bed with a heating pad before crawling in, drifted off to sleep so quickly that I didn't even notice the chill while I was sleeping.  Yup hot house plant am I.

How are you doing on this Saturday?  Any big plans?  We are going to drive around an look at yard decorations one of these evenings.  I was hungry for poached eggs, haven't had them for a long time.  Settled just right in my pouch this morning. 

Finally got the last of the packing boxes from holiday decorations back in the closet yesterday, what an improvement.  Seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.  Finished most of the Christmas cards, more little tasks nearing completion.  Scheduled to work each night until Thursday.  So far looking like I will be there most of the shifts.  Just enough work for everyone.  I helped finish some of the holiday decorating at work last night.  The gals that started the theme for this year wanted the framed pictures on the walls wrapped in hoiday paper, bows and all and then rehung on the walls.  Looks like gifts hanging in the hallways.  We just take the wrapping paper off them after the holiday and give the place the usual look.  Cool idea.  They decorated in a candy theme this year, plastic candy canes and paper snowflakes strung from the ceiling, gingerbread house (4 feet tall) at the end of the long hallways with stepping stones of colored paper leading a winding path down the hall, very much like the candyland game.

Please do something nice for yourselves today.  Take a moment to be kind to yourself.  Stay warm.  Hugs, Kathy

WOW!!!   minus 8, that is colder than a witch's tit (that is an old saying here).  we got down to 5 one night.  we have central heat, but it was hard to keep it toasty in here.  i don't have as much trouble as most people keeping warm, from what i hear. 

as far as today.  i got up at 5 and put on a roast to take over to my mom and dad's.  we will have lunch with them and i will clean up and do whatever they need done.  then we need to be at the skating rink at 2:30 for my grandson's 12th birthday.  i am going to try and skate a little, probably will pay 5 dollars and skate for a total of 10 minutes. my knees just can't take much more. so that is most of my day. after that i might wrap some presents.  kathy, please pm me your address so i can send you a christmas card. love, vick

Vick, you are focused.  I hadn't heard that phrase before.  Read a post from a MN man who was talking about frozen gonad syndrome during winter.

Enjoy the party, birthday's are always fun for kids.  I got a pair of skates for Christmas when I was in 6th grade, never did learn to ice skate, or roller for that matter.  Didn't like the feeling of the world moving under my feet.  I spent the whole time learning how to get back to my feet after falling.  I had plenty of back door padding back then too.

Hugs, Kathy

Each winter I wonder how you guys do it!   I don't know what that kind of cold feels like.  I would probably stay inside all the time.  But I understand it is a beautiful state.

Hi Dasie,  The trick is layers of clothes and thick coats.  I do love the changes of seasons, just have to whine a little from time to time.  Thankgoodness for heat, electicity and running water.  I don't think I would have been a good pioneer.

Hugs, Kathy

We have been in a lot of single digits and sub zero temps here as well, but today they say we are supposed to have a shot at getting close to 40 degrees. I do hope so! I am sooo tired of freezing.  I sit here now, at my desk, with a blanket around me. Ahh makes it nice and toasty warm. I don't think I'd like the steam heat. I like heat where I turn up the thermostat to whatever temp i want..and the furnace does its thing. Of course I try to keep it reasonable, as I do have to be able to pay the heating bill...lolol

Yesterday I got a bit more Christmas shopping done. Also bought a drapery rod and curains for my living room. The window in there is huge and I put up the rod and curtains and this took quite a while. Had to pre-drill and put in wall anchors first. Now..I am thinking I needed 2 to 4 more panels of curtains to make it look right. Ughhhhh. I also got the bedding sets, linens, etc for the 2 new beds that are in the grandkids room / extra guest room. Got the 2 beds all put together as well. Put out and hooked up some outside christmas lights and decorations, that I have been procrastinating on, met one of the tenants for the duplex there last evening too, signed the lease and got the rent and deposit. The other side will be done moved into the 26th of December. So this is about squared away. Oh yeah.. and decorated my mantle..just a bit. Was just busy busy busy all day!

Today, Candice is coming over and we are going to "erect" the Christmas tree. It is 9 ft tall. then decorate it. Thank goodness it is pre-lit. Also plan to get the rod and curtains up in the guest room, and on the double doors with windows in the dining room. Then need to finish putting the main guest room together. Going to do a bit more christmas shopping, wrap the gifts, then package the ornament for the swap and get it ready to send out monday am. Also have to meet the flooring guy at the mobile home rental and get my key back later today when they have the flooring finished. AAHHHHHH... Tired out just thinking of it all.. now I need a nap! lol.

I wish you all a wonderful and positive day. Kathy, get a great sleep!

Patrece, same thermostat as for furnaces.  Just turn the dial and it gets warmer.  Some kind of adjustments needed at the main steam valve in the basement from time to time.  It is odd to not have a furnace, no filters to change, no pilot light to deal with.  There is a round handle on the steam pipe that sits nest to the water heater in the basement.  Then the electical thermostat control next to the steam valve.  Billed based on the square feet of steam used each month, kind of like a water bill.

Keep up the good work on getting your new place put together.  Give Candace a hug for me this afternoon. Dennis joined me at the gym for a bit before football games started this afternoon, headed back to bed myself.  Getting my Christmas wish, Dennis to join me for walking at the gym.  I told him this Christmas my gift would not cost $$, just time.  I want him to be healthy too, looking forward to many more years together.

I ran around and did errands after walking on the treadmill.  Needed to be out in the sunshine while it lasted.  Dark when I go to work, just getting glimmers of light when I go home.  Miss the light part of the day.  Take care everyone.  Hugs, Kathy

Oh Kathy,
that sounds aweful. If it dips into the low 40's as a high here is southern alabama we freak out. I can not imagine minus degrees. LOL I am still without socks and its not too bad at about 50 degrees and raining today. thanks for all you suport I love to hear form you it always makes me smile. stay warm and Have a Very Merry Christmas

Mendy

I can't get over the changes in your face(so slim).  Looking great girl.  After several days of colder weather, we kind of adjust, then positive numbers feel slightly balmy.  Just wait during late Jan. and Feb. we can look at getting -20 to -30 degrees at times, then add the wind chill.  No one spends much time outdoors at those times.

Merry Christmas to you as well.  Hugs, Kathy

It was about 36 here today which is so much warmer then it has been the last couple days which we had a wind chill of -15. The sun actually melted some of the ice from the storm we had tuesday. We have natural gas in our house and our whole house, but my room and basement was very fridget. Ends up what I thought was a foot warmer by our kitchen sink needs to be on at all times to keep the house regulated.
It was a pleasent saturday. Met my husbands parents half way (they live about 1 1/2 hrs away) to get our camera that we had left there last week then I went to visit my friends mother in the hospital. For the remander of the night I took pictures of the kids by the Christmas tree, wrapped presents and relaxed with the husband after we put the kids to bed. Hope you have a great weekend and are able to stay warm and cozy!