We’ve had more cold than snow so far, our first winter out west, but that’s about to change later on today. We’re living in a townhome that is partially contiguous to one next-door neighbor who inadvertently started a flood yesterday that seriously damaged the interior and walls of two townhomes. We arrived home to find water dripping in front of both garages. I called the management company and e-mailed them, to no avail. Later on I called the Homeowners Association. The management company sent a couple of guys out to pour salt (a few hundred pounds) on the driveway and shovel. Then finally one of the hired hands/shovelers took out his cell phone and took a photo of the exterior damage and presto! The big dude was on the scene.
Apparently the heat was off or too low for safety. Most of our neighbors are not in residence except for a week or two per year. Our neighbor’s maid came in yesterday came in yesterday and it was freezing so she turned on the heat, which, later on, burst pipes that ruined the interiors of two expensive ski properties. We wish we’d had an emergency number to call, because it was several hours before anyone came to check on the problem. It is certainly not the maid’s fault that the owner didn’t have the heat high enough to prevent the bursting of pipes. Don’t worry about us. We keep it (too) warm in here and the hot tub, drained for summer and now filled and at 68 degrees, was maintained just yesterday. It’s just a reminder of how scary the weather can be out here.
I just finished checking on a couple of relatives and friends in the Northeast, where the Thruway is closed in part of NY State and conditions are terrible. Jim took my car a couple of days last week, in the snow and it was filthy so I had it washed today. Even though the washer fluid is full, it won’t spray, so I had to Windex the windshield and back window inside the unheated garage just to be able to see to drive it to the car wash! Yes, I always get the undercarriage wash, as we keep our cars for years and I know what road salt can do to a car.
On the plus side, we’ve read about this BBQ place and tried it last night, first BBQ since we left TX earlier this year! Jim had the brisket and I had a pulled pork sandwich with cole slaw. Yummy! We’ll be back! I should probably get some food before we’re snowed in here for a few days. Cheers, Dee
Cooking with Dee 
The pump is not broken, the washer fluid just froze in the lines so today we got better stuff that goes to -25 degrees so will put it in both cars.
The boss I met yesterday grew up in the same small (400 persons) village as I did. It really is a small world. Looks like we’re spending the holidays in a true Winter Wonderland. The fun part is doing good deeds and helping others who are less fortunate, especially in this economy. Dee
It’s hard enough on me around here when the temp dips below freezing… brrrrrrrrrrr!
I have zero cold tolerance these days.
We had brief snow flurries a couple of wks ago; clear cold breezy weather today.