Well Thursday started out below freezing and by late afternoon it has warmed up to a balmy 40 degrees. We ask our selves what did we agree to get into with this winter adventure? At least we saw the sunshine and blue skies which helped as we are use to both on a daily basis in warm almost always sunny Florida, oh well.
I started the day with a well before 6 roll out as I had lots to do on my mine as we get ready no only for family to arrive but for what is being called a major storm with first rain, then snow and temps for highs in the 20's and the lows in single digits. I'm beginning to think we may be snowed in for a spell or at least cabin bound with 6 adults, 7 kids and a dog and with the basement being very cold which limits your ability to at least have some extra space. Well I satisfied the cold basement as neighbor Gerald blessed us with the use of three of his portal electric heaters.
We headed into Galax, Va for a major shopping trip as we filled two shopping carts of groceries and goodies before gassing up at a 1.95 and then heading home to unload. We had a late lunch of some salad we brought from Florida and then I headed down to put the battery in the golf cart and get it started. I mentioned to neighbor Gerald the possibility of one of the heating elements in the hot water tank maybe going bad so we set the thermostat up about 10-15 degrees hotter. I'm hoping that may take care of the issue of the tank not keeping up with the use and the extremely cold water coming into the tank. If not, I'll hopefully with his help solve the issue before all of the company arrives and change out the element. The heater is just two years old so it shouldn't be a bad element, but we will see. I'll use his Ohm meter and check the resistance later this week. He also loaded us up with several packages of ground venison which is truly a blessing as we love deer burgers grilled medium with a slice of cheese on top, delicious and so good for you.
We headed over around 5:30 to visit and have supper with Jake and Katelyn and little 7 month old Skylar. She is such a cutie and is in the top 95% for her age in height and weight. She is very aware of her surrounding and was taken back at first of us but later warmed up with smiles and coo's. Katelyn had grilled chicken thighs and smashed taters and a grape salad and along with Nancy mixed vegetable casserole we ate "high on the hog" as the old timers use to say. She also had made a homemade egg nog which was very good and we a glass after supper during our game of Spades of which the gals came back and won after we were slaughtering them from the beginning, oh well. We so enjoy playing games with them as both are game players like we are. It was cold on the ride home around 9'ish with temps in the low 30's. The skies were clouding up as this front moves into the area bringing rain and snow later in the week.
It's raining this morning(Thur.) as I'm making this post and according to the forecast today is a wash out. I was hoping to get in another hike to the top and say hello to our neighbors there, but that doesn't seem likely at this point in time. We have lots to do here in the cabin as we get ready for Friday's arrival of sister Dee and Mike for an over nighter and then again for both Bobby and Amy's families who arrive on Saturday for over a week. We will have 6 adults and 7 grands for at least several days. Bobby is surprising Annsley and Gabe with a snow skiing trip to W. Virginia for an over nighter and we will watch the twins along with Amy's family. I sure hope the weather allows us to get out of the cabin during that week.
Well that was about it for the day as the mini split keeps the cabin on the main floor very comfortable. I'll fire up the units upstairs and those in basement today to get the whole cabin toasty. So far we have a curtain between the two floors to keep the heat from rising which really makes a difference when the up stairs in not being used. It's our first time since purchasing the property in '92 to come here during the winter months. Bobby wants this to become a tradition so maybe we will every other year as Amy's family visits Kansas every other year and Bobby has Annsley and Gabe the same during the Christmas holidays. If we do I'll have another mini split installed in the basement for heat and to act as a dehumidifier. The cold is something we have to adjust to but so has been the heat and humidity in Florida. The mountains are bare of any colors which is a downer and of course I do miss my garden and the wholeness of its produce as well as the work involved, LATER
