Steve - I'm wondering how accurate these predictions are myself.  Last winter, we had some amazingly warm weather, and that's when I took that picture of one of our bank temperature signs.

Maggie - if your mom learned how to handle all that machinery, she must have been an amazing lady.  That stuff scares me, as do a lot of the furnaces I see in some of the homes up here. 

Diane - we've been having some really warm weather here, too, for this time of year.  The last few days have been in the 80's, and normally we're in the high 60's maybe low 70's.  I'm not a skier either, so personally I don't mind the milder weather, but I know a lot of people who depend on snow and cold weather during our winters.

Thanks for reading and for commenting!!
Ann

Hi Jay - yep, not great for the northern areas where they do depend on snow and cold weather.  Most of the ski areas can make their own snow, but they need cold weather to do that, or at least to have it stick around for the skiers. 

My house is pretty efficient, both in the winter and summer - I have plaster walls and they retain the heat very well, and keep it really nice and cool in the summers, too.

Do you use a woodstove?  For some reason, I think I remember Monika mentioning that, I think.....

Ann

Hey Mariana - we sure have been having some unusual weather all around the country this year, haven't we?  Really weird for you having 80 degree temps and to have them talk about snow at the same time!

Hi Missy - I guess we're all having some unusual weather with temps like that.  80's here for the last few days, although it's supposed to cool down tonight, with the breezes coming off the ocean instead of out of the south like they had been for a few days lately.  Our leaves here have barely begun turning, although we have a few trees here and there, and then a branch or two within some trees, but still about 98% green everywhere you look.  I've had my AC on in my car for days now.

Many thanks for the comments!!
Ann

Hi Jeff - I'm not rushing the seasons, not at all!!  We had some fairly cool weather late summer, too, but pretty warm weather lately.  It seems the weather all over the place has been a bit odd, and it makes you wonder how they can actually predict what may happen months from now.  But so far, they've been right with their prediction of warmer temps in October. 

Once in awhile, I like a hard snowstorm like you mentioned - a chance to stay home from work and not feel guilty.  Almost like the snow days in school!

Thanks for reading!
Ann

Jay - alot of work for sure, of course that's only hearsay as I have no woodstove or ever have.   I do have a fireplace, but have never used it!

Neal - nah, another few weeks and we'll still be looking at decent weather.  Many years, it's well after Christmas before we see our first snow.  Contrary to popular belief, most of our Christmas' up here in my area are not white at all, and sometimes not even below freezing.  Being right here on the coast, our winters are usually quite moderate, somewhat different than even just 30-45 minutes inland. 

Not knowing what your views are down there where you are, I'd bet my views here are nicer all year long!  Even though I'm from Florida, I still much prefer what I have up here for views.  I have a hard time with the kind of heat and humidity down there that you all have.  Maybe when I'm MUCH older....  ;-)

Thanks for commenting!!
Ann

Hey Midori - enjoying whatever comes our way is the best way to think.  I even like rainy days, but not too many in a row though. 

I'll let you have Florida weather and I'll keep my weather up here.  As I mentioned in my comment to Neal, even though I'm originally from Florida and have a lot of family in the Central Florida area, I just really can't take that heat and humidity except for my visits down there seveal times a year.

You could always come up here for a visit when we have some snow.....

Ann

Monika - I'm guessing that was you and you just weren't signed in.....that was weird weather for a January, wasn't it?  I think we had a couple of really warm days then.  That was a nice treat back then!

Ann

Katerina - I guess the Northeast uses predominantly oil for all of our heating, but who knew that that would make us the largest end user area in the world??  Yes, I am from Florida originally, and I have a lot of family all over central Florida.  I know there are plenty of snowbirds who head south for the winter.  The town where I'm from swells a bit during the winter months because of that, and then come tax time, they all flock back home!  Thanks for stopping by!

Hi Paula - I wish I knew!  The Old Farmer's Almanac has ben the mainstay up here for many years, but they've been wrong a number of times, too.  And NOAA, well they have all the latest greatest technology to predict with, but I often wonder just what they see that they can make predictions for months out.   I'm hoping your dad is wrong, too!!  Here in my area long the coast, we rarely have snow on the ground on the holidays.  Once in awhile we get lucky and have a little bit for Christmas, but I'm always in Florida for Christmas, so I don't get to see that except in pictures.

Thanks for the comments!!
Ann

Hi Rita - It seems like the whole country has been having odd weather all over the place this year.  We'd had no rain for some time, and then we got a couple of days of rain the last 2 days, with more to come later this week.  I hope you get some soon as well.

Thanks for reading!
Ann

Hi Jackie - I'll be doing the "Happy Dance" right along with you!  I was so happy to hear those predictions - I hate paying the prices we do for heat up here, but I also love the change of season to winter.  It means spring is on its way!

I must say I was a bit chilled yesterday, too.  It was rainy and dreary here, so I know what helped make me feel a little cold.

Thanks for reading!
Ann

Hi Jay - yep, it was just a tad chilly last night for that game.  It was really windy, too, which didn't help the temps.

The reduced humidity must be nice, with temps in the high 80's ......  hope that's not too much for you to 'suffer' with!!!   ;-)

Ann