BS: It's Snowing...!

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Bill D
Date: 28 Jan 09 - 08:16 PM

a repost from Winter 2004....thread 65933


"one of the greatest inventions of mankind is the microwave, because you can take cloth bags of rice, beans, Bulgar wheat, etc...and zap 'em for 2-3 minutes and have a warmy-bag that will last for 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on size and where you stash it. I had one inside my jacket as I drove tonight and I could slip my gloved hand in like Napoleon and un-chill de fingers! And for the feet at night! Oohhhhh!

Take my word for it...it is worth having a small microwave unit if you do NOTHING else with it!

(we also have a commercial plastic thing with a pouch that can be either zapped with microwave in winter or frozen in the summer)"

and SRS's reminder

"
Bill D--a small clarification for anyone not familiar with those wonderful bags--the grain is otherwise uncooked! "


(I just made two more with old socks...doubled.... 3/4 filled with plain rice)

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: gnu
Date: 29 Jan 09 - 06:10 AM

Almost exactly like our last snow... only about 5", then some sleet and some freezing rain, and it's gonna start raining soon.

Hope youse guys down south didn't get it as bad as last storm.

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Big Mick
Date: 29 Jan 09 - 08:52 AM

I have a number of those bags, Bill, and I am quite sure a good portion of my electric bill goes to warming them nightly. Cherry pits are a great filler for these things and they retain the heat a long time.

Amos ........... you are a musician, so count off with me ...... ready??......... 1 and a 2 and a 3 and a 4 ...........BITE ME!!!!!!!.

Mick, missing SoCal.

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Bill D
Date: 29 Jan 09 - 11:06 AM

I draped my car with a large 3 mil. sheet of plastic Tue. night...and this morning I started slowly bending and breaking up the 1/2" of ice coating it; all the while standing on about 1" of icy 'stuff' on a sloping drive. I 'almost' fell down, but survived. Will finish the job later....

(That trick with the plastic has worked well on several occasions when the predictions were accurate about the weather. Sure beats chipping ice directly off the car!)

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 29 Jan 09 - 01:30 PM

Since Curmudgeon's under doctor's orders to not shovel snow, I went out and got rid of the snow cover on the fuel oil vent pipe. An inch of white ice over the snow, too. Bit dicey trying to break up the ice, remove the snow, all the while reaching OVER another mound of snow.

And, of course, I had to actually FIND where the pipes were, since there's about 3 feet of snow next to the house and steps and stuff.

Our plowperson (neighbor) and another neighbor shovelled out the path to the driveway and the steps and part of the deck yesterday just before the precipitation (by then it was mostly sleet or freezing rain) stopped.

Gotta go upstairs now and change clothes before heading to work. At least I didn't have to drive in the muck yesterday.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Charley Noble
Date: 29 Jan 09 - 05:03 PM

We didn't get a s much snow here in Maine as expected, only about 6 more inches with a top glazing of ice. Unfortunately, the combination of weather this year has conspired to create massive ice dams in the gutters, and we now have water trickling down the walls and ceilings in several areas. Today we went up on the roof and showeled channels in the valleys, two feet of snow off the perimeter of the roof, and sprinkled "snow melt" pellets all around. The gutter are frozen solid and there doesn't seem to be any way to clear them unless we get more sun. I am tired!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Joybell
Date: 29 Jan 09 - 09:27 PM

Water? Snow? Cold? Ice? What are these things?

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: goatfell
Date: 30 Jan 09 - 03:56 AM

it uslly does in winter

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: maire-aine
Date: 30 Jan 09 - 06:08 PM

Until the sun set, we had sunshine and snow at the same time. But, the good news is that there's no snow in the forecast for next week. And I even heard one weather guy use the word "spring-like" for next weekend.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Charmion
Date: 31 Jan 09 - 11:18 AM

Watch yourself on that roof, Charley. Strong men die in this town every year falling off the roof while trying to break up those ice dams in the inevitable mid-winter thaw. If you live in a three-storey house (as I have lo these 20 years) it's a job for professionals -- pros with major accident insurance, that is.

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Sleepy Rosie
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 06:06 AM

Here it comes again for me toooo....
And this time it's fairy dust. And it will settle!
Especially as it's forcast for the whole week.

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 06:22 AM

Candlemas tomorrow... watch out if it's clear and sunny, we're in for another blast of winter before too long!

It's lovely here in London today... sunny, small fluffy clouds but the air is as cold as charity and those small, fluffy clouds are coming straight out of the east.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 06:56 AM

I was right... those small fluffy clouds brought some friends and now, less than an hour later, it's snowing. It's been dry here the last couple of days so it's likely to settle. At the moment it's not much, but it's only just started...

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Arnie
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 07:22 AM

What a joke! There's a few flakes of snow here in S.East England and the local radio BBC Kent is whipping itself into a frenzy of snow reports and phone-ins about the weather. Just been to the supermarket and it looks like it's under seige - people are stocking up just in case they're not able to make the shops for a day or two this week. I've just bought the usual amount of stuff and refuse to partake of this seige mentality! However, my wife is making some delicious tomato soup from our summer toms and this will no doubt sustain us whilst we cope with 2" of snow for the next couple of days. I hate to think what would happen in the UK if we had to cope with the sort of conditions our US friends are experiencing - our trains grind to a halt with only the lightest sprinkling of snow and we are totally unprepared for anything more serious.

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Rasener
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 07:31 AM

A few flakes here in Market Rasen, Lincolnshire UK

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 07:38 AM

The wind is shifting round to the Nor-east and those fluffy clouds have brought all their friends and relations along. Now there are no blue patches and much smaller snowflakes... I love snow!!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Rasener
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 07:47 AM

I hate snow. not good for people with leg problems.

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Sleepy Rosie
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 07:55 AM

Snow is a goodly thing. Still get that kick when seeing a virgin blanket covering the ground in the morning. Though of course it does have a disturbing side effect of bringing out the 'evil big brother' personality that lies lurking secretly beneath the surface niceness of otherwise civilised boyfriends, male mates/colleagues and uncles... Who abuse their superior snowballing skills against us rubbish girlies (well, I'm a rubbish shot in any event) for all they are worth while the snow lasts.

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 09:50 AM

OOOh!! A veritable blizzard outside now... hard, dry snow pellets coming in at an angle of about 45degrees... and a sudden drop in temperature - either that or the heating just cut out.

We could be in for an interesting evening...

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Sleepy Rosie
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 11:02 AM

Looking out of my window and listening to Childrens Corner

In town earlier, and watching the little kids getting excited was so sweet!

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 11:25 AM

Just started and stopped again in Chelmsford. Light dusting like sugar over cornflakes. Blue sky in the distance. Such an odd thing to see while it is snowing.

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 11:47 AM

Up to 6 inches predicted. Damn! I should have gone shopping. Now I may be forced to cannibalise my partner.

I am safe. He's a vegetaqrian.

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 12:06 PM

It's been off and on all day with this snow... fat flakes, thin flakes, hard flakes, soft flakes, everything but corn flakes has fallen out of the sky today, out of a variety of white, grey, brown and yellow puffy, fluffy, streaky and hazy clouds, blue sky and now a solid grey-blue sheet.

There's a light 'doughnut' frosting on the houses opposite, but I want more!!!

I would cannibalise my partner but a) I'm on a low fat diet and b) eatin' people is wrong! Or so say Flanders and Swann!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Amos
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 12:17 PM

Oh, dear. My iPhone has weather forecasting in it and it tells me the projected daytime temperatures will be between 65 and 75 degrees F. next week, but it will rain on Friday. SIgh. Rain!! And the temperature will plummet to 61!!


I hate winter.



A

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Charmion
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 01:05 PM

Amos, please shut the f*** up. Or I may have to come down there and kill you.

Any excuse for a winter holiday in a warm climate ...

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 01:36 PM

Charmion

If ya kill Amos, would you mind sending a 10 pound package (partial to rump) this way? Then I can save my partner for other emergencies like keeping warm when the power fails.

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Bill D
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 01:50 PM

The disgusting thing about where Amos lives is that it is ALSO usually temperate and reasonable in Summer!

But, since that area is susceptable to catching fire, I am not TOO jealous.

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Llanfair
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 01:50 PM

The kids are getting really excited. It takes about three inches of snow for a "snow day" to be declared here, because the school buses can't negotiate the steep hill up to the high school.
There are few hills between us and Siberia ( Chernobyl resulted in contaminated sheep on our hillsides), so we've no idea what to expect. There have been flurries all afternoon, and a bitter wind...

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Phot
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 03:25 PM

WE HAS SNOW!!!!!!!!!

Ahem,.......It is now pecipitating in a semi frozen format,and giving a faint Dickensian hue to the grubby town of Aldershot.........Merry Christmas!

Wassail!! Chris

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Mrs.Duck
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 05:03 PM

We've got our 3 inches now. Trouble is we don't have any hard and fast rules about snow days and I will probably have left home before they decide to declare one! Booked a trip later this week to see new born lambs on the farm so hope it warms up!!

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 06:42 PM

I got my snow too!!

It's been hurling itself down at a rate of knots since about 6.00pm and now at 11.30pm there's about 2-3 inches - not bad for a sprawling metropolis!

The cloud cover is so low down that the street lights are being reflected back onto the brilliant white snow which is resulting in the most amazing light. I took a picture with no flash, at about 11.15pm. The world is a sort of bright tangerine colour and there are children out there even now, playing in it. Judging by the amount of camera flashes punctuating the evening, many of my neighbours children haven't seen snow like this ever.

The wind has veered round to the north and dropped a lot from this afternoon, so this cloud is here for a while. Getting to work tomorrow is going to be 'interesting'. I suspect there will be a lot of people calling in 'sick'...

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Phot
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 07:01 PM

we have around three inches too! Sod work, I'm staying in bed! But if the old Disco was still on the road,......FUN TIME! But I have front wheel drive, boring, Skoda Octavia 20 valve turbo, wheelspin at 60 MPH in third(in the dry)

Anyone got a seres 111 I can borrow?

Wassail!! Chris

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 07:08 PM

No but my army boots and I are going for a stomp tomorrow... :D

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Ebbie
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 07:09 PM

"one of the greatest inventions of mankind is the microwave, because you can take cloth bags of rice, beans, Bulgar wheat, etc...and zap 'em for 2-3 minutes and have a warmy-bag that will last for 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on size and where you stash it. I had one inside my jacket as I drove tonight and I could slip my gloved hand in like Napoleon and un-chill de fingers! And for the feet at night! Oohhhhh! Take my word for it...it is worth having a small microwave unit if you do NOTHING else with it!

Bill D--a small clarification for anyone not familiar with those wonderful bags--the grain is otherwise uncooked! (I just made two more with old socks...doubled.... 3/4 filled with plain rice)

Bill, thanks. During our cold weather earlier this winter I've been wondering how much it would cost me to buy hand warmers to hand out to the homeless on the street. I contacted REI a few weeks ago and they wouldn't give me a price break, but they do have a bulk rate...

Utilizing your method is something I can do. I can get old socks from the local thrift store. I already have the rice and strong cord. I can even use the conventional oven when I know that I'm going out, and will be meeting them. Since I walk my dog three times a day I meet them frequently.

Our current weather isn't cold, just sloppy. But cold is sure to return.

Again, thank you.

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 07:26 PM

Gee, Liz, if I'd known you wanted snow, I'd have sent some back with Micca! Maybe a couple feet worth...

Meanwhile, I have plenty of do-it-yourself snowman kits that I'm willing to sell cheap -- shipping and handling extra.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Bill D
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 07:32 PM

Oh, yes, Ebbie! You will love those. You can make them in 2-3 sizes, and filled to YOUR specs. I just leave room to tie a knot in the end of the sock.

(I do suggest 2 socks,one inside another, if they are not tightly woven & sturdy. Loose rice can be bothersome.

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Amos
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 08:03 PM

Charmion:

Please come down. I'll talk you out of homicide and we can go see the sea lions sleeping in the surf at La Jolla, catch a tan, and see the zoo.


A

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Bill D
Date: 01 Feb 09 - 08:13 PM

Ebbie..(and anyone who's curious) here's our collection of rice-filled warmers/ The cute ones were gifts....the socks are my creation.

I used them recently after removing the plastic sheeting of ice from our car.

Been chipping at the ice in our drive for 3 days now. It's not real thick, but sure was hard and slippery!


BTW-- a moderate size sock gets maybe 1 1/2 to 2 min in microwave. Err in side of caution until you get it calibrated.

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 12:59 AM

Sorry Linn, no taker today!

WE GOT PROPER SNOW!!!!

Yes, the UK, (or at least the South East bit of it) has proper snow for the first time in decades!

It's STILL snowing, about 12 hours in all now, and although it can't compete with most of the US and Canada, we've really not had snow this deep, and certainly not in London since I moved here nearly 20 years ago.

In fact, I don't remember snow ever getting beyond 4" since the early 1980's.

But today, we have about 6"! It's not looking good as far as travel is concerned, England isn't used to coping with this amount of the stuff, but I'm hoping to get out there with a camera before the kids wake up and start tramping in it.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 02:15 AM

Got 6-8 inches here in Hornchurch. Cars have got stuck in the street as it hasn't been cleared or gritted. Paul has dug out the landrover where the snow has drifted. The trees look beautiful!

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Phot
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 02:34 AM

We have a good foot of the stuff! Now we are watching the muppets trying to drive in it! I've phoned work and been told to stay put!

Khatt can I borrow one of Pauls Landies?

Wassail!! Chris

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: skarpi
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 02:39 AM

happy for you all , enjoy it .

we have snow here 50 cm high here my home town .

all the best Skarpi

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 03:12 AM

I suspect there will be a lot of people calling in 'sick'

It is official LTS - just heard on the radio that today is National Sickie Day.

I have emailed my boss.   I am off sick, because I am in masses of pain. I love the snow, but my arthirtis doesn't. I have been awake since 2:45 am and that is with pain killer. If I feel better and less drugged later I have some work I brought home on flash drive I can do and claim back some time.

Bus service in Chelmsford suspended, so loads of people will not be going in to work today. My husband's work Chelmsford College closed.

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Rasener
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 03:25 AM

Glad I don't live down London area anymore. Wouldn't like to be doing the M25 today.

The kids are moaning becuase the school hasn't shut (yet).

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 03:41 AM

I used to do big snow sculptures. piccie of one of my snow sculptures

Wish I was well enough to do so again.

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Will Fly
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 03:54 AM

The Russian snow has arrived! I thought something was up when I peeked out of the bedroom window this morning and saw men in fur hats serenading the street with balalaikas (just had to join in) and a stout lady hailed me with a cheery "доброе утро"... I'm now just heating up the samovar while Mrs. F. dances a troika in her nightie with the postman and the milkman.

VT - so sorry to hear of your woes. Hope some relief comes soon...

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 04:04 AM

Apparently there are NO mainline trains from Kent to London, or Kent to Sussex. My lectures today that I was due to give at London South Bank uni are cancelled. I suspect the one main and one back road on and off the Grain peninsular will be closed before long so then I will be irretrievably here.

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Phot
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 04:33 AM

I have been told not to go to work! Hurrah!!

Just waiting for the pub to open now.......................

Wassail!! Chris

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Wolfhound person
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 05:06 AM

I've hardly any......in Northumberland, on the coast. I think it's gone past us to land on the hills.

But "I wish the ca'ad East wind would nivvor blaa"

Paws

Subject: RE: BS: It's Snowing...!
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 02 Feb 09 - 05:51 AM

100