Winter solstice coffee and weather, 21 December

[ibike2havefun]

Good morning everyone

The solstice is here! The solstice is here! No more shortening days and lengthening nights for the next six months!

To celebrate, let's have coffee! I suggest something in a French roast. What's that you're asking? Why yes, yes indeed! I DO happen to have a pot of just exactly that, hot and ready for you.

It's 40°F and mostly clear in Rockville, but feels like only 32. There must be a breeze. [Checks weather app...] Yup, 6 mph from the WSW, The high will be around 48 with mostly sunny skies. A fine, pleasantly mild winter solstice.

We'll meet some friends this morning to return something Mrs. Fun accidentally retained on last weekend's girl's weekend out, then have breakfast somewhere. My brother wants to talk to me so we'll do a Zoom call this afternoon. Other than that, I've got nothing in particular although a grocery run is in order. I've yet to make the usual cheese muffins for the neighbors, but am low on or out of a couple necessary ingredients.

Stay safe and well everyone and tell your dear ones you love them. Do it today, NOW, for tomorrow may be too late.

 

[Obo]

Morning all, and thanks Keith for the coffee.

I though burning things during Winter Solstices was frowned upon now-a-days, but perhaps roasting coffee beans gets an exception?

Weather here's a rainy and still windy +2, headed to a sunny +6, then back below freezing this evening. Power outages down to just under 10K now. Winds here 48kph sustained and 69kph gusts. Trees are still dancing and it's like a quiet freight train outside.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Obo.

 

[ST1100Y]

The universe spent 13.8 billion years creating you...
And you're doom-scrolling on your dumb-phone...
Have a hot cuppa instead...



G'Day...

its been another dim, damp, non-Kodachrome morning @ 2°/4°C and 93% RH over here...

Sunday, not much planned besides existing, huffing a few breaths and slurping Nespresso... so far I'm at 3 mugs already...

GF had some frustration over the online banking acting up... (same bank as I)...
literally calling their hotline, answering a gazillion security questions for a temp PIN to finally gaining access...

Birdies are all over the food, but despite the new, closer location still not giving sufficient infrared signature for the trail cam...
The cam isn't bad, solar charged, connecting to your phone (not the Inet), so worry free... just a tad too slow for the mini pterodactyls...

Mentally I'm already beyond the holidays, logistics for fixing her NT700VA, swapping the cams in '94 ST's for the hot ones, etc...
Mulling over if I should get me new GoreTex riding pants, or wear down the current ones (which do start to seep during log heavy downpours... this... and that I've gained... pfffff...)
decisions, decisions...

enjoy your day off!

 

[steve3b3]

Good morning and thanks for the coffee, Keith.

It's clear and 38 in MA this morning, rising to 41, later.

Yesterday, instead of going to the gym for leg day, I took the neighbor's dog for a 5 mile walk in the "Outback ".
We went into some trails that are sometimes used by trail riders, among others.
Coming around a corner, I noticed a flock of ducks in the pond that we were walking around. At that point , Mattie let out a loud "Woof", which flushed the ducks. I looked around the corner and found us facing two duck hunters. I apologized for spooking the ducks, and they took it well.
That was the first time in awhile that I'd encountered hunters in the Outback, and a reminder to wear something bright, while out there.

When we got back, I spoke with one of Mattie's owners, and when Christmas plans came up, she volunteered to feed Freya while we're gone.
This will work out better for her, since she's getting frail, and doesn't like being caged. I canceled the boarder, and they understood why.

We drove to the Goodstuff Smokehouse for some BBQ. Baby back ribs and fixin's were just right.

Today, we'll pack for the trip to Oregon , and get freya's food out.
Pick up time is around 2:30 in the morning, so it'll probably be a long day.

Enjoy the day,
Steve

 

[Obo]

@ST1100Y keep the current pants and just "waterproof them" using a DIY of silicone diluted in mineral spirits? (just make sure to do it out doors & away from ignition sources.....)

(which do start to seep during log heavy downpours..)

Unsure if Goretex provides any real protection against falling trees though....

 

[Obo]

@steve3b3 Safe travels!

 

[ST1100Y]

@ST1100Y keep the current pants and just "waterproof them" using a DIY of silicone diluted in mineral spirits?

And compromising the breathability of the membrane?! Nah!
That comfort is exactly the reason why I'm insisting on Gore (any other mock-off, be it Sympatex or D-Dry doesn't cut it... BTDT...)
As said, its only during long, heavy downpours where I 'could' (should?) drag some over-pants on...

And the fact that those darn pants tend to shrink over time...
I'm already eyeballing the Dainese Carvemaster 3 pants... just one size up though...
so I won't run out of breath anymore while trying to button them...

 

[Peppermint]

Good morning, all, and thanks for the Solstice coffee, Keith! First day of winter, booooo. Increasing hours of daylight as of now, yaaaaayyy!!

It's still very windy here, which means that the mildish actual temp of -1°C/30°F feels like -10°C/14°F. Forecast says we'll get some blowing snow this morning, then mostly sunny conditions this afternoon, but the temperatures will drop from here. Looks like the windchill when I venture out to go to work tomorrow morning will be -21°C/-6°F. Eek.

Quite frankly, it's going to be a tough week for me. I have to fit my 20 hours at the part-time gig in around the fact that I'll be hopping a train to Ottawa Wednesday afternoon and coming back Friday evening. So I'll have to work two 8-hour days tomorrow and Tuesday, then 4 hrs Wednesday morning (so a 5 a.m. wake-up all three days), then rush home, grab my stuff and get to the train station which, mercifully, is only 5 minutes from my flat. Then all the hoopla of Christmas (looks like it's going to be a full house for Christmas dinner), then a relatively quiet Boxing Day (26th) before having to catch the train home at around 5 p.m. It's all a bit much, to be honest. I'm sure I'll get through it, but am I looking forward to it? To be honest, um...no. Not this year. Sigh. Oh, well.

Everybody have a good one, stay safe and go safely.

Patty

 

[St-Gerard]

Good Morning everyone, thanks Keith for coffee. Weather blah, windy, above safe riding,or Flying. Temperature 6 C high 7 , humidity 91%. Don't believe in this feels like temperature , stay the blank out of the wind. Grocery store run is on today's agenda and a donation run to Animal hospital With blankets and dog beds,we are down to a 9.3 lb Pom and a over weight 15 year old cat, that don't like any of it. Yesterday organized a small service tray, into a tool box for the house. Getting tired of going out to the Tractor Shed every time the wife needs something fixed or modified. Cheers G

 

[Chris09]

that sounds like a full plate to me I hope you can wrangle in some help with all of that Patty, these kids are good at, well, don't want to get into all of that, I was born in Carlton County, you might know it
It is the first day of the new year on this hemisphere things can only get brighter

 

[SupraSabre]

Afternoon Keith & All from mostly overcast and breezy, Southern Utah!

Currently, @ 1:30PM, it is 60F, up from 40F and heading for 56F. Guess we went a little over. LOL The winds are already up to 20mph, from the SSW. They are just preparing us for what is coming later in the week, from the WSW. It sounds like Kaliforniastan is already getting pounded. Maybe we "might" get some of that, but won't count on it until it hits the ground!

@steve3b3 ; Be sure to take a inflatable raft with you, it might do better in Oregon, than a car, at this point!
Still taking it easy with the hip, but it's doing much better. But Chris is having sympathy pains, now her hip is giving her some trouble. It sucks getting OLD!

Breakfast has been had, lunch soon, but Chris stayed home from church to nap and hoping the hip feels better, after. I'll go grab a Pepsi in the meantime.

Anyone , have a great day on the roads!

 

[steve3b3]

@steve3b3 ; Be sure to take a inflatable raft with you, it might do better in Oregon, than a car, at this point!

Funny, but until I saw your post, I'd never checked the weather out there.
I am aware of the Washington weather, and it's a given that Oregon will have rain, at least below 3000' or so.
When I spoke with my son a few days ago, I had already made the decision to leave my ski gear at home.
Now, where's my umbrella?...

 

[Whisker Bill]

Funny, but until I saw your post, I'd never checked the weather out there.
I am aware of the Washington weather, and it's a given that Oregon will have rain, at least below 3000' or so.
When I spoke with my son a few days ago, I had already made the decision to leave my ski gear at home.
Now, where's my umbrella?...

Enjoy your trip Steve!
Safe travels!
WB

 

[Whisker Bill]

Good evening all!
Thanks for the Solstice coffee treat, Keith!
Patty, enjoy your family! Safe travels for you too!
We’re off to Toronto to Toronto tomorrow, Miss Judy has another appointment with an eye specialist/surgeon on Tuesday. We’ll dine & visit with her niece & husband tomorrow evening, before we settle in at our hotel suite.
Merry Christmas to each and everyone of you!
WB

 

[SupraSabre]

I'

Funny, but until I saw your post, I'd never checked the weather out there.
I am aware of the Washington weather, and it's a given that Oregon will have rain, at least below 3000' or so.
When I spoke with my son a few days ago, I had already made the decision to leave my ski gear at home.
Now, where's my umbrella?...

I'm not sure how far you are from

Gold Beach

I also know Tillamook is under water in places. They are also expecting even more this week.

Have a good trip!

 

[Chris09]

Good evening all!
Thanks for the Solstice coffee treat, Keith!
Patty, enjoy your family! Safe travels for you too!
We’re off to Toronto to Toronto tomorrow, Miss Judy has another appointment with an eye specialist/surgeon on Tuesday. We’ll dine & visit with her niece & husband tomorrow evening, before we settle in at our hotel suite.
Merry Christmas to each and everyone of you!
WB

good one