Celebration

While my daughter's family and I celebrate the Solstice (Yule), I hope those who celebrate Christmas, Kwanzaa, etc. have a wonderful holiday and may next year bring bright blessings, good health, peace and prosperity.

Getting older

It's no fun getting "older".  The time change has my body and brain confused as to when to go to bed and when to wake up.  I wish time would be left alone.  My solution?  Put it in the middle and leave it there!  Animals probably get confused, too.
Getting older means the joints don't work as well as they used to and my hands are giving me a hard time.  I can the feel joints in my fingers getting arthritic.  With cold weather coming in this winter is not going to be fun.  I'm looking forward to my trip to warmth in February.
Getting older also means that some things (like names of people or things) don't just pop up in your brain when you're having a conversation.  My excuse?  I just say that at my age there's so much there it takes longer to find it.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.  But it is frustrating when you are having a conversation and you're trying to find a name or a word.  I believe living alone without much social interaction could make it worse so I try to get out and about as much as possible.  Belonging to a quilt guild and being active in a local gallery has kept me nice and busy.
I'm trying to be philosophical about aging.  I've lived longer than I thought I would even though my life was not always a healthy one.  Guess I'm just too damn stubborn.
Y'all have a wonderful day and remember:  Eyes are useless when the mind is blind.

I wonder

I wonder, what with all those promises the politicians are promising voters, if the voters really know what's going on.  All that "free" stuff they're supposed to get "from the government"?  Guess who pays for it.  NOT the government.  Nope.  WE pay for it through the taxes we pay.  And, quite personally, I'm tired of paying taxes so someone can freeload.  Granted, there are those out there who actually deserve help, but I'm talking about those who won't work because they know how to work the system.  A franchise was delayed opening here because they couldn't get any applicants for the jobs!  No one wants to work anymore.  Well, guess what.  The ones who are willing will be the ones to ultimately survive.  I'm talking plumbers, electricians, linemen, mechanics.  All those who are willing to get their hands dirty.  To actually WORK.
And if the voters are ignorant enough to believe the "promises" I feel sorry for them.
Enough rant for today.  Y'all have a good one and remember:  Eyes are useless when the brain is blind.

It's here!

It looks like autumn (fall) is here at last.  The temperature outside this morning at 8:30 was a chilly 46 degrees.  We've  had warm weather up until now which meant I couldn't work outside unless I got up at the crack of dawn.  My medication prevents me from being in the heat/sun for any length of time so my front landscaping looks like crap.  I finally got some of the bigger obnoxious weeds pulled and will be working on the rosemary plants which are trying to take over.  I'd dry the rosemary but the mulch I put down had a warning that plants should not be used as food since there was a weed killer in it.  Won't do that again.
We don't get much in the way of color down here.  Mostly russets, some yellow, very little red although more maples are being planted it seems.
This is not my favorite time of year since it symbolizes an ending.  I prefer Spring since it symbolizes new beginnings.  At least we have seasons here, although some say we only have two...hot and cold.
what's your favorite season?

Politics suck

I am so tired of all the political ads and will be so glad when elections are done and over with.  I know for whom I'm voting and know that the ads on TV contain innuendos (on both sides), some untruths, few actual facts.  Some candidates are backed with outside money, lots of it, and some struggle to pay for air time.  Whenever the ads come on I hit the mute button.  No one is perfect.  We all know that.  I don't discuss politics with friends, or anybody for that matter.  How many friendships have been broken up because both parties were on opposite sides politically?  I care about the person, not how he or she votes.

A Friend's Passing

I've seen this on numerous occasions and thought I would share it with you.  It is so disturbingly true.

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years.  No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.  He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

           - knowing when to come in out of the rain;
           - why the early bird gets the worm;
           - life isn't always fair;
           - and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).
His health began to deteriorate when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place.  Reports of a 6-year old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for sing mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they themselves had failed to do in disciplining unruly children.
He declined een fourth when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
He finally gave up the will to live after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot.  She spilled some in her lap and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death,
     -by his parents, Truth and Trust,
     - by his wife, Discretion,
     - by his daughter, Responsibility,
     - and by his son, Reason.
He is survived by his 5 stepbrothers;
     - I know My Rights,
     - I Want It Now
     - Someone Else Is To Blame,
     - I'm A Victim, and
     - Pay Me For Doing Nothing.
Not many attended the funeral because so few realized he was gone.

Bats

One of the gentlemen, a veteran, who attends the veterans' workshop at the Helen Art Center, makes bat houses.  I saw them at our Christmas in July event and bought one.  Yesterday morning he and his wife came by and installed it.  I can see it from the porch.  Now all I need are bats.  I'm told they'll come, just be patient.  My neighbor used to have them but closed off their access.  Maybe they'll make their way over here.  They'll certainly keep the mosquito population down and maybe some of the other bugs that hang around here also.  I don't know why some people are afraid of bats.  Maybe the horror movies about them?  Yes, I know they can carry disease but it's rare.
This same gentleman is going to start making bluebird houses.  I'll be getting some of those also.  The post holding the one I have finally gave up and crashed.  The bottom had rotted.  I had birds in there all the time so need to get that house up again.  This time on something that won't rot.

Visits

My sister arrives this Saturday.  Then Sunday we are driving to North Carolina to visit my brother and his wife for a few days. This month marks my brother's 80th birthday.  Hard to believe!  Once back here she and I will have a day together.  I don't get to see my brother or sister often.  I'm lucky if it's once a year.  And we've only begun to get together somewhat recently.  There's a large age gap between us.  There's a long story there which I won't go into.  Suffice it to say that my Dad had more than one wife.  It hasn't been until we all started to get much older that we've been visiting.  My sister ( half-sister, but who cares) is the one who started it really and I'm glad she did.  My brother was never really a part of my life.  Partly because of age difference and partly because he was never home.  First it was private schools, then it was the Air Force for him.  My sister is 11 years younger.  She lived in FL, I didn't.  And even when I did live there we didn't connect.  Sad, in a way, that's it's taken all these years but at least we're connecting, albeit sporadically, now.

Power

Had a generator installed yesterday.  And a propane tank.  I'm of the age where I don't want to have to try to start a gasoline powered generator.  It makes my daughter happy.  Maybe she thinks I can't survive without one.  I have to admit that it will be nice to have heat and lights if the power goes off during a storm but I know I can survive if I had to without the generator.  I've done so before even to the point of getting the wood stove up and going in the basement when I had pneumonia.  Should there be a severe ice storm at least my daughter and kids can come up and stay if she doesn't have power.  She has no other heat source than electricity.  Nor do some of my neighbors.  That could be interesting, 'cause I would let them know they could come over to shower and such.  Of course, I might not ever go through the 250 gallons of propane.  The power company is really good about restoring power as quickly as possible.
There are so many people nowadays that couldn't deal with going without power.  Or air conditioning or electric heat.  We have become a nation (world, actually) of wimps and, should the poo-poo hit the oscillator, the only ones who will survive are those who do without now and those who grew up when there was no such thing.
What do you think?
Y'all have a good day and remember:  a day without sunshine is like...night.

Not much

I don't write here very often because I don't believe I have that much to say.  And only very few make comments.  That being said, I'm going to ramble a bit this morning.
I don't watch national news because I don't believe it is news but rather opinion or, in the alternative, sensationalized.  The news stations spew what they have been fed whether true or totally exaggerated and skewed to whichever side that particular station leans.  It used to be that reporters checked stories for truth and fact before publishing or airing.  Nowadays, not so much.
I am all for limited numbers being allowed into this country.  As for those who enter unlawfully, send them home.  Maybe then those who are on the dole will finally get off the collective asses and go to work.  Get their hands dirty, take home a pay check or, in the least, get off the streets....although some of those who hold up the signs begging for money take in thousands a year (and don't pay taxes).  The population of this country is getting too large.  Pretty soon there will be no green space and we'll be taking pills for nutrition instead of food.  Remember the movie Soylent Green?
And maybe we should send those Americans who protest against the wall and limited immigration to try to sneak into Mexico and see what happens.
As for those actors and actresses who say they're going to leave if so and so is elected, why haven't they left?  And why do they think their opinions are so important?  Hell, these days I don't even know who they are.  The really great ones were in the past and many served this country during the wars.  They knew what patriotism is.  Take the male actors of today and put them through basic training and they'll cry like babies and want their mommies.
I have had jobs where I had to clean up after others (believe me, you learn a lot about people cleaning hotel/motel rooms).  Happily, I don't have to but would if I had to.  That being said, would you?
Okay, enough.  Y'all have a good day and remember.....work may be a four-letter word but so is wage.

Weather

This summer has been a wet one.  I can't think of many days where there hasn't been rain.  The weeds are loving it.  My sinuses not so much.  There are days where I feel as though my head is stuffed with cotton, but I can breathe just fine.  Sometimes I feel as though my equilibrium is off.  On those days I just can't do anything but sit in my recliner and move as little as possible.  The companies that make sinus relief medication are loving me.  My throat is sore from constantly trying to clear it (post nasal drip).  Kimberly-Clarke loves me, too.  Boxes of Kleenex in every room.  I'm hoping that when my sister comes and we travel to visit my brother in NC all will be better with the ocean air.
On a better note...I'm now taking two fewer medications!  Thought I had developed an allergy to a replacement generic so I quit taking it.  That didn't do it so I quit taking another that I took twice a day.  Was worried about my "numbers" at my yearly physical but they were all good.  So...two less meds.  I still have the itch problem but not as bad and I can tolerate it.  Pharmacist says it might be the fillers in the pills.  Apparently different drug companies use different ones.  And companies such as Walgreen's buy by the bulk from whomever gives them the best price and it's not always the same company.  I noticed, too, that the labs are different even though the drug is the "same".  Unfortunately I won't be dropping the diabetes medications so I just have to hope that the itching will go away.  Maybe it's the heat and humidity and everything will clear up when cooler weather comes.  Keeping my fingers crossed.

Celebration

Today we celebrate our freedom.  To those men and women who fight to help us keep that freedom I salute and thank you.  I don't do the fireworks and barbecue and parades.  Crowds are not my thing.  I will listen to the fireworks tonight and every other night they are fired off.  If there is a program on TV, say with the Boston Pops, I might watch it and get teary-eyed.  (I am sentimental that way).  Otherwise it's going to be just another day.  To those who burn the flag that symbolizes our country, to those who believe they should be handed everything, I say find some other country in which to live.  In other words, if you don't like it here, LEAVE.
May peace prevail.....blessed be.

Planting

I am not supposed to be in the sun for a long period of time thanks to one of my meds.  Therefore, I got up just at sunrise this morning to plant some of the plants I bought Saturday.  I was just finishing the last one when the sun came up over the trees.  Whew!  I hate it the tI can't stay out and get the weeding done.  They're winning!  I may have found a solution, though.  I spoke to the gentleman who owns the vegetable stand at the end of the road and he informed me that his helper might be able to come after work and help me.  I'll have to speak to him about it.  Even if it's only for an hour a day the garden might start looking like it should.  Otherwise it's going to be up to me to get my butt out of bed before the sun comes up.  Such it is if one want to have a garden.
Y'all have a glorious day.

The sun

After many, many days of rain the sun is finally shining.  Perhaps I will be able to get out and get some weeding done, at least until the sun comes up over the trees.  While happy to see it (and believe me I am) I'm not happy about how hot it's supposed to get.  Because of a certain medication I have to take I'm not supposed to be in the sun for long.  But there's so much work to catch up on!  I've found that if I don't take that medication in the morning but wait and do some yard work first, I don't get sick.  That being said, it's time to get my butt out there to tackle some weeds.  Oh, and the Grand Canyon that the rain put in my driveway.  Although I may wait until after the rain that's supposed to come tomorrow.
Y'all have a great day and remember:  fasten your seat belts...it makes it harder for aliens to suck you out of your vehicle.

Soggy

Feeling a bit soggy right now.  Rain, rain and more rain.  The ditches on each side of the driveway are getting deeper all the time and there's a trench developing across it where the water has nowhere else to go.  Sigh.  Can't get any weeding done either unless I want to get soaked (no, thank you).  So, I've been sewing.  Trying to stay busy so depression doesn't set in.  I also go to the gallery in hope social intercourse will keep away the blahs.  So far it's working but if we have many more days like this.....
Hoping the overflow pipe in the pond can do its job.  Tired of the gray skies.  Really just want to stay in bed and sleep but can't let it get to me.  Send some sun....please.

Whatever

You ever feel "down in the dumps"?  A vague uneasy, not upbeat feeling?  I don't reckon everyone can feel upbeat all the time but this...
Woke up this morning feeling, I don't know, unwilling to get out of bed, feeling something's not right but don't know what.  I need to get things done outside but have to go out before the sun comes up from behind the trees.  Ain't gonna happen.  It doesn't happen often to me but when it does...
It could be worrying about a good friend who had some heart work done and is back in the hospital.  the procedure done was one I'd never heard of....cauterizing the part of her heart that isn't working.  They went in through arteries in her legs and now there's a huge hematoma in her groin.  I don't like the sound of it.
Or it could be that, all of the sudden, I'm feeling lonely.  Ordinarily I'm fine living by myself.  I have outside things that I do with others and am actually quite busy.  I guess it's that plans are made by others and I'm not notified but expected to participate at the last minute.
I just don't know.....sigh.

PB

I slept in this morning.  My little cat, PB, kept me up until past midnight keeping something (another cat, probably) away from the house.  Or trying to.  I didn't know she had such a loud voice.  Just as I'm about to drift away she lets loose with this horrendous yowling, first at the back screen door on the back porch, then again at the front screen door.  I finally had to close the front door which I didn't want to do because I wanted to keep the house cool and there's a nice cross breeze between front and back.  I left the back door open and, luckily, no more yowling.  I'm still trying to wake up.
Y'all have a great day and remember:  he who hesitates may just be taking his time.

Allergies

I never would have thought that when I grew older that I would develop allergies.  Unfortunately for me I have.  Woke up this morning with a wicked sinus headache and the sniffles.  Pollen is in the air.  Not very visible to the naked eye but, since my truck as a yellow/green powdery addition to the paint, I've concluded that pollen is out in full force.  This phenomenon (allergy) has only shown up in the last three or four years and it's getting worse each year.  There's a lot of yard work to be done so I take an over the counter allergy med each morning. I'm hoping that it continues to work.  When I see it's supposed to get up into the 80's I try to get out before the sun comes up from behind the trees to get something accomplished outside.  Today I'm taking the day off from that.  Have other stuff I have to do.  Going to stay in the AC and hope my sinuses stop hurting so much.  How are y'all doing?

I'm back

I'm back from my vacation on Sanibel Island with my sister.  A week is not enough.  Next year, maybe, we'll do two weeks.  Up at the crack of dawn to go walk the beach and find those shells one just has to have.  Fighting conks, shark's eye, murex, scallop, janonia (if only).  Big, small collect 'em all.  Now what to do with them once they arrive in that oh so carefully packed box (I would never try to bring them home in my suitcase).  Guess they'll join the ones I sent home two years ago that are still in their box.  I'll come up with an idea one of these days.....sigh.
One of the advantages of getting up and walking the beach is....exercise.  My legs did protest those 3 miles I walked on the sand every day.  I'm still feeling it.  I'm going to have to come up with way to keep those calf muscles up to doing it again next year (I hope).  Maybe stairs?  I do have those here.  Plus I could (on nice days) walk down to the vegetable stand and back.  That's 3 miles.  Couldn't hurt.   All I have to do is DO IT!  Not today, though, it's raining.  Guess I'll do some cleaning then sew.
Y'all have a good day and remember:  he who hesitates may just be trying to make up his mind.

I'm off!

I'm off!  To Florida, that is.  See ya!

A passing

Received a phone call very early this morning.  It was my ex's wife to let me know that my ex had passed away at midnight.  The cancer must have been very aggressive and fast since my daughter only learned about him being in the hospital about a week ago.  Apparently it was a melanoma on his liver.  I don't know the whole of it but will probably learn at some point.  While I am sad for my son and daughter on their loss, it isn't as though he was close to them.  In fact, they hardly ever heard from him or his wife.  My daughter is the one who made the effort to keep in touch.  It's a shame, really.
I'll be here for them if they need me.

Heading South

This Saturday my sister and I are meeting up at the airport and flying to FL.  Ft. Meyers to be exact.  There we are renting a car and heading to Sanibel Island for 6 days.  We're both tired of the weather we've been having and are looking forward to warmth and sunshine.  We've rented a condo before and I do believe this may become a yearly thing.  We'll be walking the beach at low tide looking for shells (although I have no idea what I'll be doing with what I find).  I still have the ones I found two years ago in the box I shipped them home in.
My sister and I have never really been close.  She is 11 years younger and our lives didn't cross much over the years.  Only in the past few years have we begun to communicate more and try to be together at least once a year.  Guess we both realize that we're getting older and, now that our families have grown, it would be nice to get to know each other better.  Same with my brother.  We communicate more now than in the past.
It's a shame, really, that we were so far apart for so long.

I had a good time at the Pigeon Forge Quiltfest.  Learned a lot of new stuff.  Came home to find out that J now has until 4/2 to get his shit together.  I have also found out that while daughter was away he was drinking and smoking pot which he is not supposed to be doing.  He has accused my daughter of lying to him about when she was going to be home (she didn't) causing her to hasten her trip home.  He bitched about things about the house but never offered to help remedy what he bitched about.  Saw that his Facebook account was closed because of his using a fake name (don't think he's allowed to use Facebook because of his past conviction as a sex offender).  Guess I'm going to have to draw a solid line and let daughter know that either he is out or she can find another place to live.  It's time for him to start taking responsibility for himself instead of making others kowtow and do everything for him.  And if he ends up homeless or back in jail so be it.

Can't do this anymore

I can't do this anymore.  First she says it's over.  Then she lets him stay.  He blames her for every wrong 'though it isn't her fault but his.  He wants her to do everything for him.  He's supposed to find a job but he isn't looking.  He's supposed to go to counseling but he isn't.  He's supposed to find a residential halfway house but he isn't looking.  He's waiting for her to come back from a trip so she can do all that for him.  He's angry that she even took the trip even though she told him about it way in advance.  He says she planned it on purpose that she would leave the day after he got out.  He's probably drinking even though he isn't supposed to.  He's probably fishing on the 'net for sex.  He has until the 28th to get everything done but probably won't.  I can only hope the judge will throw the book at him and make him serve out the rest of his sentence.  He's poison only she doesn't see it.  She says she let him stay at the house after he got out because otherwise he would be homeless.  Let him call his "friends" and stay with them.  Oh, that's right, they aren't returning his calls.  Gee, I wonder why.  She says that after the 15 days are up he's going to have to leave.  I can only pray that she stands firm on it, otherwise a choice will have to be made.  I just wish he would disappear from her life.
Okay, the rant is over.....temporarily.  I'm going away for a week to enjoy the company of friends and learn some new quilting stuff.  Then two more weeks and I get to spend a week with my sister in FL. After that I'm home for the summer.  Maybe I can take my frustrations out in the garden.

Van is moving

My daughter's van has finally reached the end of it's road.  Repairs are no longer feasible or affordable so.....tomorrow she is bringing it up here and parking it and taking my van home.  I'm giving her the title and have advised her that she'd best take good care of it 'cause that is the only vehicle she'll have for some time.  I had a new engine put in it (cheaper than buying a new vehicle).  They don't make Astro vans anymore #@*&%$.  She needs a vehicle that will tow her cargo trailer to the various events she goes to.  The Astro van has been the best investment I've made in the way of vehicles.  People who own them will keep them until forever if they can.  I think the reason they're so good is that the body is built on a truck chassis.
You may wonder why I'm doing this.  No, I'm not rich.  My daughter is unable to work out in the normal world as she suffers from depression, mild acrophobia, agoraphobia, lives alone with two children, and has been denied by Social Security.  I could go on but I won't, I've revealed too much as it is.  Suffice it to say that she depends on me.  No, I don't want her living with me.  I prefer my solitary surroundings and quiet.  I love the kids but they'd drive me nuts.
I kind of hate to give up the van but don't use it much anymore anyway.  It has about 290+ miles on it and still runs like a dream.  I replaced the engine because that way it will run like "new" and I couldn't afford a new vehicle.  Also the repairs on the old engine would have mounted up considerably.  Further, it has a tow package which daughter needs.
K is quite attached to "Rosie" (her van) and wants to let her kids play in it, camp in it, maybe make a planter out of it.  We'll see.  I don't relish the idea of a vehicle rusting out in my yard.  It may take some time but I will convince her that "Rosie" needs to go to the junk yard.
You may not understand but it is what it is.

My daughter

My daughter is coming up today.  We're working on a quilting project together. 17 years ago we did what is known as a shop hop.  This is where one visits quilt shops in the surrounding area.  That year every shop we went to had a different step of making a quilt.  You had to go to all the shops to get all the steps and find out what the quilt turned out to be.....mystery quilt, you see.  We visited all the shops and got all the instructions.  We followed the instructions together and made our quilts together (this was before kids came into the picture).  We both kept the instructions so we've decided to do it again, only this time with different colors.  She does her cutting at home then comes up here to sew.  This gives us some time together which is precious to me.  Her son is old enough to watch his sister for the time mom is here.  We both miss time together.  Maybe when the youngest is old enough to care for herself, mom and I can spend more time together.  Hopefully I'll be able to figure out how to get pictures on here to show you when we're done.
Y'all have a glorious day and remember:  life is too short...it only has four letters.

Enough, already!

It's been colder than usual here in North Georgia.  But then we get teased when it warms up into the 50's and 60's.  Then it goes into the teens again at night, barely breaking 32 during the day.  The flu is running rampant.  Knock on wood I haven't been hit with it.  I DID NOT get the flu shot and the news is that it really hasn't done much for those who did.  My way of not getting sick is to avoid places where there is a crowd of people, like Walmart.  I went to the drug store to get my favorite homeopathic medicine just in case but they were out.  Might get some today if it came in.  I have some at home already but want to stock up on more.  At any rate, needless to say I'm over this fickle weather.  My sinuses are going crazy and I'm keeping those allergy medication companies in business.  This is the first time I've had this kind of problem in the winter.  I'm over it!
Well, at least the sun is shining and it's supposed to get up into the mid 50's today.  A few days from now it's going to be cold again.  Vitamin C is my best friend along with the wonderful oranges my brother had sent.  Keeping my fingers crossed I don't get sick.
Hope y'all stay healthy in this weird winter weather.
P.S.  My daughter buried one of her cats here the other day.  I now have 5 buried here.  Think I should get hold of Stephen King and let him know I have a pet cemetery?

Whither the weather...

Dear  Mother Nature,
I appreciate all the hard work you have to do, really I do.  I know it's difficult to please everyone and sometimes you get ticked off and let us know you are really in charge by giving us hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and such but I have a favor to ask.  Lately, where I live, it's been cold then temperate then really cold again.  I don't mind the cold.  I can deal with it.  But when the temperatures jump back and forth?  Well...needless to say it's been a bit trying.  One doesn't know how to properly clothe oneself.  As much as possible I avoid places that have large numbers of people, such as Walmart because that's where most of the cold and flu bug germs are.  So far this winter I have avoided catching anything.  I hope it stays that way.  I'm becoming a hermit, only going out when I absolutely have to and the makers of Vitamin C adore me.  Also, I've never had allergies before at this time of year but, with the changes in temperature going on, the makers of kleenex and sinus medications are loving me too. Thank you for your consideration.

Heat pumps

To me heat pumps are useless.  Once the outside temperature gets to freezing or below the heat pump can't keep up.  It's in the teens outside and, although I have the thermostat set at 70, it's 65 here in the house.  The heat pump has not quit.  Happily the emergency strips have not engaged otherwise my bill would be twice what it's going to be.  I was going to to have gas heat when I had the house built but, because I thought my daughter was going to live with me and she's afraid of gas, I went with electric.  Coulda, shoulda.  I sit here with cold hands trying to stay warm.  At least the sun is shining so it's warm in the sunbeams coming into the house.  This keeps up I'm lighting a fire in the fireplace.
I'm told that heat pumps take the heat out of the air.  What heat?!  Where is the heat in 17 degrees?  Believe me, the air coming out of the vents is NOT warm.  Maybe warmer than outside but...  If it weren't so costly I would have gas heat installed.  Meanwhile I'll just hunker down and dress warm.
Y'all have a good day and remember....just because it's on the internet doesn't mean you can believe it.