December 27, 2010

Take Good Care Of Yourself...

If you live in a state where you're currently digging out from under inches or - Heaven forbid - feet of snow, I don't expect you to have an ounce of sympathy for me. But, honestly girlfriends, it's going to be freezing down here the next couple of nights!

Handsome and I spent time yesterday afternoon protecting a few of the ornamental trees in our yard. Now, it looks like all the pygmy date palms are wearing shower caps! Let's not even talk about the fact that all my good sheets are now out in the yard. sheesh!

I'm not going to show you what the plants in the Holidome or the back yard look like, either. My huge star jasmine bushes (planted when we first moved here) are safe, but look like they're in a witness protection program hiding under sheets - and the covered plants in the Holidome make it look like we're getting the ceiling painted! Stylish, don't you think?
We've really perfected our technique of whipping those sheets around as we wrestle control from the wind. We've got quite the collection of heavy duty clips and clamps to secure the sheets to the trees so they stay in place. We're quite a sight to behold.

These protective covers will only have to stay on the trees two nights at the most, but it's the second time we've had to do this already this winter. Perhaps the next snowbird to cross the border will close the door behind them. It's really cold for those of us used to southern Florida weather! I've become a real whimp since we moved here...and I love it!

I remember being in first grade in Wisconsin. My teacher's name was Mrs. Kerr, and I loved her dearly. I recall the end of one specific school day that winter. She was helping each one of us bundle up so that we could walk home. Our parents didn't drop us off and pick us up each day. We walked - in my case three blocks - home. I had warm clothes to wear and a particularly jaunty black and white scarf. As she bundled me up, she sang "Buckle up your overcoat, when the winds blow free. Take good care of yourself. You belong to me." I still smile when I think of this sweet teacher.

I hope that wherever you are, you're warm and safe from your weather. If you have to travel, please be careful, and "take good care of yourself. You belong to me."

16 comments:

  1. Love the shower capped trees in your Florida landscape. We are expecting more snow this week. I am not fond of it and we did get lots of damage from the first heavy wet snow just before Thanksgiving. Stay safe and warm...

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  2. Hon' I know just what you mean. I'm up here in North East FL in Jacksonville and I don't want to walk out of the house. One day it's near 80 and a couple of days later it's a low of 23 - Whew! It even snow on the other side of town Sunday. Can you believe that. Lot's of pics from viewers on our news here. I'm pretty sure my bougainvilleas are dead and my Christmas cactus, as well as plenty of others. I didn't cover a thing this year. But I love your shower caps.

    Stay warm.
    OOOXXX's...Tracy :)

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  3. Hon' I know just what you mean. I'm up here in North East FL in Jacksonville and I don't want to walk out of the house. One day it's near 80 and a couple of days later it's a low of 23 - Whew! It even snow on the other side of town Sunday. Can you believe that. Lot's of pics from viewers on our news here. I'm pretty sure my bougainvilleas are dead and my Christmas cactus, as well as plenty of others. I didn't cover a thing this year. But I love your shower caps.

    Stay warm.
    OOOXXX's...Tracy :)

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  4. Hi Donna
    Well, the weather in the whole country is topsy turvy. Nope, don't feel sorry for you. Its all part of the program. I do feel sorry for the farmers down there though. You stay warm too! I know your blood must have thinned since you moved down there ~lol~ Better make that pup a sweater!!
    Be Warm.

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  5. My first thought was "be thankful you didn't have to break into the stash -- sheets are good ;)" Although if this keeps up, you might have a new sewing project, a shopping trip for fabric and some elastic. Shower caps for trees -- sounds like an Etsy novelty. We are in Ohio and have had 2 days since Thanksgiving out of the 20's. So while i appreciate that it is harder for you to be so cold, we don't like it much here either. Good time to be at the machine or hand stitching in front of a fire.

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  6. It has been very cold here for about a month. Winter arrived way too early and now the neighbors are calling with stories of heating bills being sky high. I guess I will have to dress in layers and wear a miner's hat to keep the bill down!
    Debbie

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  7. Donna, I hear you! It is freezing here in Charlotte and we had snow! I lived most of my life in northwestern NJ (in the mountains) and I have also become a whimp to cold weather! This is the coldest now snowiest winter we've had since moving here over 6 yrs. ago! Keep warm my friend and I'm sure your plants and trees thank you!

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  8. Donna, that is so sweet. Thanks for sharing that memory with us. Our weather is really up and down this week. Chance of freezing rain tonight, 60's by Fri., 30's by Sat. Hope your trees are fine. They look cute with their hats on. Have a nice day! Twyla

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  9. Good Morning, Donna,
    I just love the sweet memory you shared of your first grade teacher. She was obviously a very special woman!

    Have a terrific Tuesday ~Natalie

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  10. Donna, espero que suas plantas/arvores, resistam bem a neve .Aqui no Brasil , muito calor , verão total, só acho ruim as fortes chuvas nos finais de tarde.

    bjim e bom ANO NOVO

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  11. Hope you and your plants stay warm and safe! The weather has just been crazy lately!

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  12. Awww what a beautiful memory you passed on to us, thank you.
    It is always nice to see palm trees this time of year, even if they are wearing hats.
    Many blessings Donna, hope your Christmas was wonderful
    Rebecca

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  13. Hola querida,

    He pasado para desearte un feliz 2011!!!!

    Besos,
    Lany

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  14. Your trees and shrubs look so cute in their protective "coats." We did indeed receive a foot of snow, but we are enjoying it. We enjoyed it even more since we were both safe and warm in the house. Thank you for wishing those of us who faced the brunt of the blizzard well wishes! Theresa

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  15. All teachers should be like that! what a sweet story! Is it really gonna freeze over at your place? Weren't you just recently swimming in the pool? Talking about differences!

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  16. Donna, I live in central Texas and can relate to protecting the vegetation. I have little winter blankets for all of the urns in our yard as well as for some of the beds. Last year even the blankets didn't help many of our plants survive the two weeks of deep freeze we endured. ;-) Just not used to that here. It took me all year to get things looking good again. So good luck. Hope you don't have severe freezing.
    Love the story about your 1st grade teacher. I taught 1st grade and can relate to helping the little ones pack up, bundle up, and get out the door. It's a major accomplishment of the day at times. LOL

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Blessings, Donna