Brrrrr! Is This REALLY Florida?

When it’s THIS cold in Florida in December, that’s not a real  promising sign it will be a mild winter for us.  

January and February are generally our coldest months and even then we don’t usually see too many days where the thermometer seems to be stuck in the 40’s during the day (and much lower at night).  But that  is exactly the type of weather we have had  for the past few days.  The wind chill has made it seem even worse.

This is the second winter in a row we’ve experienced bitter cold.   The house in Hooterville  is in an area heavily populated with farms, especially strawberry farms,  and many of the crops were  damaged by a long stretch of unusually cold weather we had in January.  The strawberry fields were only re-planted about 6 weeks ago so I’m sure the poor farmers  are moaning, “Oh no, not again!” and worrying about their tender, young plants.

Being new to the Hooterville area last year, I was in awe at some of the wintery sights we saw.  Now…

Not so much.  The newness has worn off for me.  

Those of you who live in the colder climates and deal with  freezing temperatures year after  year…

I don’t know how you do it!

At noon today, there were still icicles  in the orange grove next to the house in Hooterville.

Have a closer look…

Yep, it sure looks like a repeat of last winter to me!   :(

Needless to say,  the fireplace at the house in Hooterville has gotten  a good workout during the  past few days.  When my hubby brought in some kindling wood in an old plastic 5 gallon paint bucket, I knew it was a good excuse  to run out and buy the cute, round seagrass basket (located with the Smith & Hawken items at Target) I’ve been drooling over for a couple months.

On the chalkboard label it comes with, I felt compelled  to write my commentary on the cold weather.

As a lover of  warm weather, green grass, capris and flip flops…

I’m about ready to move farther south.

Or better yet…

HAWAII!