Thursday, January 11, 2024

A Bambi on Ice Weekly Link Round-Up

 


We've had a series of winter storms move through Phoenix this week. The high temperatures have only been in the 50s, which is very unusual. You can see desert dwellers bundled up like they're jumping on their dogsleds and heading for the North Pole. The sight made me laugh when I first moved here, and it still does because, although I do own a coat, I've only worn it once in the past five years. (My rememberer doesn't go back any farther than that.)

Denis put on his sleeveless fleece vest along with his shorts and t-shirt, hopped on his scooter, and headed over to Target to pick up his prescriptions. Having been outside myself, I did raise an eyebrow at his attire, but the man is usually a veritable furnace of body heat, so I let it go. When he came back, he was almost frozen solid. When I left him to come in here to finish this post, he was bundled up in an afghan and drinking a big mug of hot tea. When I'm finished here, I'll check to see if he's thawed out yet.

For three mornings straight, the water has been frozen almost solid in the birdbaths. This so rarely happens that it completely discombobulates the birds who are used to their morning baths-- especially a large flock of starlings. Shame on me... I did have a laugh watching the clips from the birdbath camera showing starlings slip-sliding across the frozen surface. I guess they don't like hard water! Hopefully, this film clip will run properly so you can be amused, too.
 


 
Wherever you are, I hope you're nice and warm and well supplied with plenty of food, drink, and good books.

Enjoy the links!



►Books & Other Interesting Tidbits◄
 
►Book Banning & Censorship◄



►Channeling My Inner Indiana Jones◄
 
►Channeling My Inner Elly May Clampett◄
 
►The Wanderer◄
 
►Fascinating Folk◄
 
►I ♥ Lists◄


That's all for this week! Don't forget to stop by next Friday when I'll be sharing a freshly selected batch of links for your surfing pleasure.

No matter how busy you may be, don't forget that quality Me Time curled up with a good book!

16 comments:

  1. Glad to read that starlings visited Casa Kittling and not strange men. Hope Denis thawed out. It must be strange to have such cold weather. It's cold here, but that is usual for January. But I believe in curling up with a good book, tea and snacks with the cool air blowing.

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    1. Yes, Denis did eventually thaw out. He told me that the next time he tries to do something like that, I should say something.

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  2. Here in Houston, we haven't had any freezing weather yet this winter, but it is predicted for this weekend. We shall see. The idea that anyone would find it plausible to ban Ann Patchett's books is a strong indication of just how unreasoning and unreasonable the book banners are. But no surprise there, I guess. My bird baths and feeders have been busy with White-throated Sparrows this week so I guess it really is winter even if it hasn't seemed like it yet. The sparrows know.

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    1. Yes, the birds do know. I was thrilled to see a spotted towhee at our birdbaths. It had been awhile since I'd seen one, although it used to be a regular winter visitor.

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  3. The video of that bird slipping around on your frozen birdbath is so funny! But bundling up when it's in the 50s? We've been down in the low 20s this week in Salt Lake and 50 degrees sounds absolutely balmy to me right now. :D Have a great weekend, Cathy.

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    1. Heat and cold is all relative. Once you've been regularly baked by temperatures in the 120s, 30s-50s seem pretty darned cold! LOL (Besides, I still think it's funny to see people dressed for the Arctic Circle here.)

      You have a great weekend, too!

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  4. I laughed at your description of Denis on his quest. I do know that you guys aren't used to such cold temps. We're in for a cold blast starting Sunday night until Wednesday or so they say right now. They keep tweaking the weather forecast. As long as we don't get moisture with it, we can cope. No more ice, please! Have a good weekend!

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    1. Sounds like you're getting our leftover cold weather. I agree-- no ice, please! May your weekend be ice free!

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  5. As Dorothy said up above, Houston will be getting its first hard freeze of the winter on Monday night/Tuesday morning when temps are supposed to dip down to just below 20 degrees. I'm not so much worried about us, but the outside plumbing doesn't do well around here when this happens so I've been wrapping pipes, draining sprinkler systems, and insulating faucets this week. I'll never get used to cold weather. :-)

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    1. In central Illinois, Mom and I had to worry about the pipes freezing whenever a winter storm came in from the east. I'm glad I don't have to deal with that anymore.

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  6. We're having lots of chilly rain here, which is not my favorite but still warmer than having it all as snow. I would like A snowstorm, or maybe 2, but not having it completely freezing during winter is one of the reasons that I like where I am.

    Your video cooperated for me, and I enjoyed your confused feathered visitors. Now, I'm off to start in Nairobi, and then work my way down the list of links.

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    1. One January, I went back to Illinois to celebrate my grandfather's 80th birthday. While I was there, we got 15 inches of snow. Grandpa went out with his snowblower to clear all the walks, etc. and he was shocked when he looked behind him to see me finishing up his work with my shovel. "I thought you'd stay inside out of this," he said. "I think it's fun. I get to fly out of this in a couple of days and get back to the sun and warmth!"

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    2. Exactly! I like a short visit with snow, not having it (and the related temperatures) around for several months.

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    3. I like to go "visit snow" and then come back home. While I've lived here in Phoenix, we've had snow flurries a few times, and the natives are so gobsmacked by the sight that they forget how to drive. Of course, they're not much good driving in rain either...

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  7. Oh, wow! I guess the comment I left before didn't get posted, Cathy. At any rate, we've been having a cold spell here, too. And a lot of people find it hard to adjust to a lot of cold Don't tell *me* there's no climate change! I hope you and Denis keep war. I'll be in touch when I'm back from that temple. Maybe I'll visit that shipwreck in the late spring, when it's warmer in Green Bay!

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    1. Denis and I are staying warm. (Just think of all the afghans I've made!) I agree with you-- I wouldn't check out that shipwreck until late spring. January is no time to visit Green Bay.

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