Friday, February 6, 2009   The outside thermometer tells me it’s 30 degrees but when I step out into the wind, it feels even colder.  It’s nice – and novel – to be able to bundle up inside, thermostat set at 60 degrees, wearing sweats and socks and even my fleece jacket.  This is Florida.  We’re not used to dressing in layers.  Eight months of the year we think less about fashion than we do about “what is the least amount of clothing I can wear this hot, humid day and still be legal and inoffensive?“

I usually love winter because that means I can wear long sleeves and high collars and have some variety.  But today I have on more layers than ever.  I keep the house at 60 degrees; sometimes I’ll kick it up to 65 if I’ve been outside, but I like it cool.

Which is a good thing since I have learned that a couple of my windows are not well insulated.  True, they have marble windowsills, which hold the chill, but I reached behind my one blackout drape on a window that right now has a storm panel up on it, and it felt 10 degrees colder between the window and the drape.  It made me glad I have the drape up.  And the storm panel on.

I’d taken a walk around my yard yesterday afternoon and checked on the plants.  I don’t have many ornamentals so my foliage is pretty hardy.  Most of it is under the canopy of oaks and palms that have plenty of leaves, and I knew it stayed warmer and protected under there.  The pines, however, were pretty bare, so I did cover some arbicola and giant philodendron.  My east woods looked like some strange kind of village setting, with indian blankets strewn about. I talked to the plants and told them I knew how strong they were and this brief cold snap was not going to get them, and they agreed.  I knew they were strong, since full moon is in 5 days Monday Feb 9th, so the sap will be rising within them now.  They were strong enough for this.  Mine are a hearty group of plants and trees and bushes.  In AndreaLand, everyone has to fend for themselves and be self sufficient.

So this morning after sun up,  I took a walk around the property to check on everyone and it seems we have no casualities. The banana tree was unwrapped and on her own, so time will tell with her.   The grass felt crunchy as I walked.

I’d gone for a bike ride earlier this morning and knew ahead of time it would feel very cold.  I had on extra layers, good gloves and headed on out before dawn.  Aha!  Something I hadn’t counted on.  Breathing in the air, it was a LOT colder than just the other day when I did a predawn bike ride when it was 50 degrees.  I’m not used to it, so I didn’t know.  I don’t know that I’ve ever had air that cold go into my lungs.  I thought, “oh, I’ll just ride around some and warm up” and well, that didn’t seem to be happening, so I came back in pretty quickly.

It didn’t take long to warm up.  Before my bike ride I’d put my sleep silks and navy sweatsuit into the dryer, along with my fuzzy slipper socks.  As soon as I came in, I poured a cup of hot ginger tea and changed into the warm clothes while it brewed.

Ahhhh!  Life is good!