The polar vortex vs. Wisconsin

That's what they're calling it, a 'polar vortex' has hit the Midwest. Right now it's -14F (-26F), but at least the sun is out. Usually, of course, the sun is out when the temperature drops this low. Wind chills were expected to reach 50 to 60 degrees below zero today. A group of white-tailed deer are huddled down in the ravine behind my parents' house, trying to stay warm. Almost all schools were cancelled today. Although I'll be out and about a little bit today, I'm happy to spend a lot of time snuggled up in warm sweaters and thick socks, hanging out with a kitty or two, and sipping coffee and tea. It should gradually start to warm up over the week, but I have to say, if I wanted to experience northern winter at its most wintry, I think I've come at the right time.

Stay warm!

Cheers,
Kate xx

4 months and counting

As of Tuesday, my stay in Edinburgh will be 1/3 finished. Ironically, I'm sitting in my parents' living room in freezing, snow-covered northeast Wisconsin while I write this, but it's amazing how fast time has flown. Everything seems the same here and yet there are small differences, other than the obvious fact that it was summer when I left and it's really, truly winter now. Houses that were being built when I left are now complete with cars in the driveways and lights in the windows. A business has closed down here, another one opened there. My pregnant sister actually looks pregnant (she's due in a week!)... and my parents installed French doors in their living room. Four months can seem like a really long time, and no time at all. In fact, in the grand scheme of things, it feels like a couple of weeks.

But I also already know that I've settled in Edinburgh and will enjoy going back in a week or so. Classes will begin again and I'll be busy-busy-busy. There's still a lot to look forward to, not least being visits from one sister and my parents in the spring.

But in the meantime, it sure feels good to be home. Even if it is a million degrees below zero! Gotta love Wisconsin. The Green Bay Packers (woohoo!) are playing the San Francisco 49ers in the first NFL Playoff game this afternoon, so my dad's in the process of baking a gametime pumpkin pie, and we'll be ordering in pizza and drinking Coronas while watching it on a gigantic screen. Last night we went out for hibachi at a local much-loved place and a table full of 49ers sat next to us. We didn't get any pictures (I felt that was a betrayal of my Packers love), but we did manage a mutual shrimp-tail fling from table to table, thanks to our cheeky chefs. It got the weekend off to a good start.

So, on that note, GO PACK GO!!

Cheers,
Kate xx