Cold Enough For Ya? (Wayne, Littleton: real estate, mattress, motel)

[mainesnowflake]

This morning it was -12 when I looked at our outside therm. brrr , I'm in the greater Portland area.

[Coaster]

10 below zero (F) this morning here on the banks of the Kennebec. Got all the way up to + 4 by noon.

[gcberry]

Last night we had -13. I'm in the White Mts near Lovell. Yesterday we spent the day at the Musher's Bowl in Bridgton watching the dogsled and skijoring races, and then we went dogsledding! It hovered between 6 - 11 degrees daytime. This is our first winter here in Maine, and we are LOVING it!!!!! (and we're not young, either!) As I told my friends from away, the difference between winter there and here is that Mainers CELEBRATE winter. There is so much to do, if you enjoy the outdoors. In fact, the only season I'm really dreading is spring, due to all the bugs.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by Northern Matt

Is it -9/10C or farenheight?

We had a freezing period with those temps here in england in December but since then it has warmed up. Just keep warm, put a few blankets by front/back doors where the cold comes in like the bottom on the door ect. Worked well for us.

You won't find many leaky doors in Maine. People can't afford to let that much cold air in. We tend to put weather stripping around doors, plastic around windows (if you have older ones), Hay or plastic or a combination of both around the foundation (called banking). Some put quilted fabric over their windows. If we have a leaky door sill we use a lengthwise rolled up towel tied on the ends or a snake-like form filled with small beads, sawdust, shavings, felt or what-have-you called a draft dodger (no doubt named after former President Bill Clinton!)

[starwalker]

Originally Posted by Maineah

If we have a leaky door sill we use a lengthwise rolled up towel tied on the ends or a snake-like form filled with small beads, sawdust, shavings, felt or what-have-you called a draft dodger (no doubt named after former President Bill Clinton!)

We always called it a door snake.

[outnabout]

Well good thing you folks didn't have an ICE storm to go with those temps
Out west, our cold snap was before and after Xmas. Down to -18 one mornin. Coldest I've ever been in was -27, and yes, the water froze up tight for the rest of that winter
57 degrees is about our average for sleeping at nite...kinda makes you appreciate your spouse But, 30 minutes with the woodstove and we're down to the skivvies.
Still, it beats sitting in traffic jams in Florida, right?
Stay warm, spring is on it's way.

[Kiwiluver]

Originally Posted by Maineah

10 below here last night (Freeport) according to my thermometer. Not quite the 13 below they predicted but still plenty cold. The "winter refrigerator"(our breezeway) where we keep drinks,pies,etc. has become the "winter freezer" and we've had to move the stuff to the cellar.
The snow cover around the house is helping to cut the drafts and makes the house feel warmer. Be safe out there. Frostbite happens quickly in this kind of weather. Check on the elderly and infirmed and make sure their heat is working.
This is the time of year the "heat haters" who want to move to Maine to escape the oppressive heat should plan a visit. I'd take 90 degrees outside and an air conditioner running anyday over a gallon of fuel oil per hour being burned to keep it comfortable enough for a sweater in the house!!

Maineah, I got a couple of extra rooms. Come down here last of July, begining of August. We'll do some work in the garden and split some wood! I have been in Maine in the winter for extended periods. It is very cold, but if one dresses properly it is nicer than let's say Iceland! I think it's in our nature to complain about the weather where we live and think it's better elsewhere. I was skyping to one of my 'ol college buddy's in Australia last night, and he is in flooding all over the place around him. I kept thinking,"at least it's summer there" hahaha. That being said, it's gonna be 50 Friday here, I think I'll try and kick over my '47 Indian Chief and go for a ride! My heart goes out to people who can't afford to be warm though. Hopefully there are shelters for them to go to.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by starwalker

We always called it a door snake.

You could use a snow snake but they would smell after a few days.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by Kiwiluver

Maineah, I got a couple of extra rooms. Come down here last of July, begining of August. We'll do some work in the garden and split some wood! I have been in Maine in the winter for extended periods. It is very cold, but if one dresses properly it is nicer than let's say Iceland! I think it's in our nature to complain about the weather where we live and think it's better elsewhere. I was skyping to one of my 'ol college buddy's in Australia last night, and he is in flooding all over the place around him. I kept thinking,"at least it's summer there" hahaha. That being said, it's gonna be 50 Friday here, I think I'll try and kick over my '47 Indian Chief and go for a ride! My heart goes out to people who can't afford to be warm though. Hopefully there are shelters for them to go to.

-4 here this morning....I hear ya! It gets plenty warm here in July and August too. Maybe not Florida hot but we get days in the high 90's and the humidity hangs in there as 80% or better. It does go away after a few weeks unlike Florida! I'll have to say that living here all my life, doing winter activities, I'm still not a big fan of winter. I don't look forward to it and I'm glad when it's gone. Yes I like snomobile riding, ice fishing, smelting, and that stuff but I wouldn't miss it that much if it didn't happen. Back around 2004 or 2005 I think it was we had a couple of virtually snowless/iceless winters. The rivers never froze and we had no snow to speak of. I was happy as a clam. I didn't plow but once and could drive down into the woods all winter . I never even fired up the snow machines at all those two winters. I figured if that was a taste of Global Warming I was ready for it.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Take maximum advantage of what you have. In a dry summer, work in areas that are normally wet without disturbing the ground. In a wet summer, paddle some streams you can't paddle every year. Mainah covered the snowless winters. We may be into a normal one this year. Take bragging photos and Christmas card photos for those years when you can't. It's just a month past Christmas right now and we are less than half way into winter.