Some call it The Polar Vortex. Before that we used to call
it a cold snap. We have one now that probably won’t relent until the end of the
week. How chilly is it you ask. It was -31F (-35C) when I got up this morning.
AND there was a breeze making the windchill on the dangerous side. I waited
until about 8:30 or 9:00 before putting the horses out after a night in the
barn. It was up to a balmy -25F (-32C) by then, but there was still a breeze.
At least the sun is out and if you stand in it and stay out of the wind it is
tolerable to be out if dressed appropriately which means barely able to move
because you are wearing 40 pounds of clothing.
When you live in conditions like this it helps to have some
diversion. There was a Robert Burns dinner last night in town with some
entertainment. I got to be part of the quartet for the earlier part of the
program providing some Scottish tunes. There was also another musical group
featuring a couple of ten year old girls on fiddle. They were pretty good and
very cute. There was the obligatory piper cranking out some bagpipe music and
two pipers when it came to “piping in the haggis”. A young friend that I hadn’t
seen for about five or ten years was there to play the part of Robert Burns
reading a poetic tribute to the haggis before stabbing it with a knife. We all
had a wee dram of Scotch whiskey to toast the haggis and then it was time for
me to take an exit and get home to put the horses in. I wasn’t planning on
staying through all the ceremonies, but I was on stage and there was no
graceful way out, so I made the best of it. A few more drams would have made it
better, but I had to drive home. Here are a couple of shots using my cell
phone from the stage.
It is noon now and up to -12F The sea smoke is dissipating because the big lake is turning to ice. At least the wind has calmed down. Time to go out and clean the barn.
I don't envy your location AT ALL! stay safe this week!
ReplyDeleteI'm not crazy about the location either, at least at the moment.
DeleteStay safe, stay warm. Even my cold loving self would find that chilly.
ReplyDeleteHaggis? Not for me. Nor whisky either.
It might be a relief, albeit extreme, from your current heat wave. I can handle haggis and whisky in small doses. Kind of like lutefisk and aquavit.
DeleteOh, the ever popular Sword Dance! Stay warm, Jono!
ReplyDeleteAnd no toes were harmed! Although from my close up perspective I they they cut it pretty fine.
DeleteUp to -12F? That's SHORTS weather, Jono! lol
ReplyDeleteNot funny about the colder temps, seriously. A person has to be careful.
My parents always went to Robbie Burns Night locally (there is a strong Scottish history in our area). I expect my dad partook of the whiskey, but my mom was a teetotaller. Me, I just don't like anything stronger than beer. But I've had haggis!
I can wear shorts in those temperatures if I have on my mink lined underwear and wool socks.
DeleteYes, coming out your way to get some of that culture is a bit of a dream for me. You even have a Gaelic College out there! Beer is good!
I love cold weather, but not that cold! You folks are made of sturdy stock.
ReplyDeleteIt does get old, that cold. Relief in sight by the end of the week, though. Above zero temperatures! Yippee!
DeleteI love your fortitude. No way I could do it anymore. But I love reading about it and remembering that climate from when I was a kid.
ReplyDeleteFortitude, yes we have it. Brains, maybe not so much. I think I would like it to be a memory, from an earlier time,too.
DeleteI'm in Tucson now. Hopefully it will have warmed up a bit by the time I get back.
ReplyDeleteIt's OK to feel superior (Lake Superior?) to me, I'm a wimp.
Lucky you! It is supposed to moderate considerably by the weekend. I feel more stupid than superior at this time. At least all my mechanical things are holding together and water is still flowing. I am convinced that year round running water, both in and outgoing, are against the laws of nature up here.
DeleteIt's been pretty chilly here too, but not quite as cold as your temps. -25C at night last week. Thank goodness for my new fluffy fleecy soft warm pyjamas!!!! We held our Burns Night earlier in January, and it was a great success but I didn't blog about it this year. In fact haven't blogged about anything just recently, have to correct that. We had haggis, roast beef, chappit neeps, mashed potatoes etc, but the toast to the haggis was apple juice rather than whisky.... it was a church function and we didn't have a liquor license. Scottish country dancing, Robbie's poetry and some wonderful singing, I always look forward to Burns Night.
ReplyDeleteThe day before I was part of the kitchen crew preparing 70lbs of potatoes and 50lbs of turnips! And I get to warm up the haggis in my oven.
That was my first Burns night and it was fun! Lucky you to be able to tend the haggis! Hang on for the cold! It's coming your way!
DeleteIt's cold everywhere! We're shivering here in Florida because it's supposed to go down to 41ºF tonight.
ReplyDeleteThat's +41ºF. *Shiver*
Above freezing would be a welcome change. We are looking at -40 to -60 wind chills through tomorrow. It takes your breath away and doesn't give it back!
DeleteBRRRR!!!! I remember those temperatures all too well. Here on the Island everybody's whining because it's predicted to go down to -10C for one night, and it might even stay below freezing for the entire day afterward! OMG, the humanity! (Okay, I'll stop now, but I thought you might get a chuckle over what wimps we are here.) :-)
ReplyDeleteRobbie Burns night is great entertainment everywhere. I attended on in Kyiv years ago. The whisky was good and the haggis tolerable after enough whiskey. Sounds like you had a good time, regardless of the cold.
ReplyDelete