Watcha Doin' - 2017.1 edition Showing 4,601-4,650 of 5,020

[Sandra, Moderator]

I remember a few winters back when of Travis' neighbors made a huge snowman and we saw pictures in facebook

[Travis]

Yeah last year was the first year in several they couldn't build BA snowman. We got snow but then it would rain a few days later. Cold and warm all winter and they couldn't get the conditions they needed. Maybe this year. Time will tell

[Kristie, Moderator]

I think Travis jinxed us! It's snowing like crazy here. lol It's not supposed to stop until at least sometime tomorrow evening.

[Travis]

Lol. I heard its even snowing in northern Texas. Whole country seems to be getting a piece.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I saw that too! Crazy.

[Cherie]

All of you can keep your snow. We are clear but cold here in Northwest Oregon. No rain until next Saturday, according to the weather channel. If it stays this cold, though, we will be in for it because as soon as the rain hits the frozen roadways, it is black ice. I'm still trying to get my rain gutter fixed. My temporary fix did not hold.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

A friend in San Antonio just posted pictures of snow. Stay warm you Northern Hemisphere types!

[Sarah]

@Travis - a while back you mentioned Hungarian mushroom soup to have with cornbread. Well I made both today and they were awesome even my partner liked it and he's not all that fussed on soup.

[Travis]

Awesome Sarah! Dang. Now I want some

[Sarah]

Lol. I also made christmas pudding flavoured vodka which I'm very excited about.

[Lisa]

Sarah wrote: "Lol. I also made christmas pudding flavoured vodka which I'm very excited about."

Christmas pudding flavoured vodka sounds interesting, Sarah.

[Sarah]

Lisa wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Lol. I also made christmas pudding flavoured vodka which I'm very excited about."

Christmas pudding flavoured vodka sounds interesting, Sarah."

It's a hairy bikers recipe I was told about. It only takes a few days to steep so it will be ready for Christmas so you still have time if you fancy it https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/ch...

[Lisa]

Sarah wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Lol. I also made christmas pudding flavoured vodka which I'm very excited about."

Christmas pudding flavoured vodka sounds interesting, Sarah."

It's a hairy bikers reci..."

Thanks for linking the recipe, Sarah. I might give it a go :)

[Lisa]

Well, the snow that was forecast did actually materialise for once. We have got quite a covering in my area, at least 5cm so far, which is a lot for us. Unfortunately, despite it being forecast, the local council didn't bother to grit at lot of the roads so people are not getting anywhere fast at the moment. I live on a big, steep hill and it's not been gritted so it's quite slippery. I don't mind getting snow but I don't get why the councils don't take the proper precautions and grit the roads. It's almost like they want everything to grind to a halt.

[Sarah]

No worries. Do you have snow Lisa? My mum and aunty who I know are in your general area have snow this morning. I'm annoyed as they keep sending me pictures. We had rain, no gale force winds. The snow is due soon and is supposed to snow until the early hours of the morning. Fingers crossed it will settle although the ground is a bit wet. It's not snowed since we've had the boat and I want some snowy boat pictures.

[Lisa]

It's my YLTO anniversary today. I joined the group 5 years ago. Those years have flown by. I'm so glad I decided to join, I have made some great friends here and have really enjoyed my time with you all. Here's to many more years 🥂🙂

[Lisa]

Sarah wrote: "No worries. Do you have snow Lisa? My mum and aunty who I know are in your general area have snow this morning. I'm annoyed as they keep sending me pictures. We had rain, no gale force winds. The s..."

Looks like our posts overlapped. Yes, we do have snow here. Quite a bit so far and it's still snowing. It could turn to rain again around lunchtime but it might snow again heavily later this afternoon and evening. My cats are absolutely loving it. They keep going outside and jumping in it 😊 Hopefully you will get some later, Sarah, so you can get your snowy boat pics.

[Sarah]

Lol. Yes they did indeed overlap. Yes it's annoying when they don't grit. It's been forecast for ages too. I know some places they are prioritizing certain roads but only in areas that it's bad enough that they are struggling to keep up like up North.

Congrats on your ylto anniversary Lisa!

[Peggy]

Congrats Lisa!

It started snowing here about 2 hours ago and there's about 2-3 cm now. It should snow for about 1-2 more hours and then it will turn stormy with rain and fierce winds.

I'm making pumpkin soup and after that I'll put up the christmas tree.

[Sarah]

I was going to put up the boat Christmas lights but I'll have to wait now. I'm not leaving the boat unless it's to take snowy pictures. Keeping everything crossed.

[Travis]

Ok. We just call it sanding the roads. Although it can be a mix of salt and sand kind of depends. Our town doesn't salt it's more used on the main highways and highest traffic roads. Anyway what do you use to grit your roads. I use coarse grind limestone in my own driveway but that's more of a convenience thing since we buy 50lb bags of it for the barn floor so cows don't slip

[Sandra, Moderator]

Lisa wrote: "It's my YLTO anniversary today. I joined the group 5 years ago. Those years have flown by. I'm so glad I decided to join, I have made some great friends here and have really enjoyed my time with yo..."

Congrats, Lisa!

[Sarah]

It's called gritting but the council's use rock salt to grit the main roads, so that's motorways, dual carriageways and A roads. Country roads tend to get left as do side roads in towns/cities.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Happy YLTO anniversary, Lisa!

It seems like it’s snowing everywhere! We got about 3”,’Aubrey 4”, here. That’s a good snowfall for us. They don’t treat the roads here because we don’t usually get much snow and it melts quickly. But, we also call it sanding, even though it’s usually salt & sand.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Teehee I break the everywhere!

It's midnight -

[Kristie, Moderator]

Yes, Rusalka. lol Wrong season for you! If it was snowing there, we'd probably be having some global warming discussions right now. Though it did snow quite a bit in Texas, which was surprising.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Kristie wrote: "Yes, Rusalka. lol Wrong season for you! If it was snowing there, we'd probably be having some global warming discussions right now. Though it did snow quite a bit in Texas, which was surprising."

It snowed in Tasmania on the weekend. As in a couple of inches. It happens lol.

Conversely, I remember my first Christmas in Tassie at Lexx's Dad's place about 8 years ago, and my Mum called me from Canberra and it was about 7 degrees and they thought it was about to snow. It didn't, but the weather gurus thought it may.

We are a country that likes to challenge expectations.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Rusalka wrote: "We are a country that likes to challenge expectations."

Haha... love this!

[Rusalka, Moderator]

I think imagining Australia as a petulant 13 year old yelling in a squeaky voice "YOU DON'T KNOW ME" and stomping helps a lot.

Ignoring the fact that it's been separated longer than other continents. It just helps when trying to understand our weather systems.

[Margo]

we have a bit of snow here too - a sprinkle but no doubt it's enough to bring the country to a standstill lol

[[deleted user]]

It's snowing in Sandhurst, Berkshire too. Seems to be stopping now though and it hasn't settled either so that's good.

I'm hoping the weather stays clear for the rest of the week as I am flying to Canada for Christmas on Friday and I really don't want any issues ;-(.

[Sarah]

Just had a run in with the local youth. Walking along the towpath and 4 teenagers were on bikes coming towards. As they got close to us they skidded in to a massive puddle and drenched us. I swore at them. These kids have been stealing bikes, beating people up etc along here recently. So frustrating.

[Janice, Moderator]

Happy YLTO Anniversary, Lisa.

It's 5C here right now and melting. We went from copious amounts of snow in November, to it melting away in December. I better take advantage of it, and get my Christmas lights on my deck.

[Lisa]

Anna wrote: "It's snowing in Sandhurst, Berkshire too. Seems to be stopping now though and it hasn't settled either so that's good.

I'm hoping the weather stays clear for the rest of the week as I am flying to..."

Sounds amazing, Anna! I'm sure you will get there with no issues. I think some areas are due to get a bit more snow tomorrow but it doesn't sound like anymore is forecast after that.

[Lisa]

We put up our Christmas decorations today. The house is looking nice and festive now and looks even better with some snow outside.

[Travis]

We got a foot of snow from the other day. Another 2 inches today and the potential for 16 inches by morning. Problem is lake effect snow is impossible to forecast. You could get feet of snow and a mile away sun be shining and no snow all day. Just depends on the band it could be dropping 6 inches an hour then shifts slightly south or something and the sun come out and it's over. Basically. It's winter in the north country. We take what we're given

[Peggy]

Suddenly the weather forecast for tomorrow is even worse than today. Lots of snow, and people are being advised to stay at home instead of go on the road or take the train. Especially the evening rush hour will be bad. Not looking forward to tomorrow... I have a 1 hour 20 minute train ride to work and I have a class from 14.45 to 16.30. So I can't stay at home and have to travel during the worst time of the day...

[Cody]

Sarah wrote: "Just had a run in with the local youth. Walking along the towpath and 4 teenagers were on bikes coming towards. As they got close to us they skidded in to a massive puddle and drenched us. I swore ..."

saoory about that Sarah :(

hope everyone is enjoying their snow (not you Rus obvs) in manchester we got perhaps 3 inches of snow snow on friday night and then it rained and was gone by 4pm. manchester style i suppose

[Peggy]

Rusalka, I was suddenly wondering: what are Australian Christmas songs like? Do they sing about heat, summer, sun and beaches?

[Cody]

Peggy wrote: "Rusalka, I was suddenly wondering: what are Australian Christmas songs like? Do they sing about heat, summer, sun and beaches?"

i am fairly sure that i read somewhere that 'land down under' by men at work is australias christmas number one every year.

i have been known to joke a lot though

[Sarah]

Peggy wrote: "Rusalka, I was suddenly wondering: what are Australian Christmas songs like? Do they sing about heat, summer, sun and beaches?"

Ooh good question!

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Peggy wrote: "Rusalka, I was suddenly wondering: what are Australian Christmas songs like? Do they sing about heat, summer, sun and beaches?"

Not that interesting unfortunately. We have all the usual Christmas carols, although White Christmas playing always makes me want to punch someone, same with fake snow on windows. It's not a White Christmas!!!

Obvious one - White Wine in the Sun by Tim Minchin. This completely captures the modern Aussie Christmas feel.
https://youtu.be/9U-OdJIgZu0

When we were kids and Rolf Harris wasn't in jail, Six White Boomers (kangaroos) was a frequent player. Now it's usually the Russell Coight version
https://youtu.be/vDrmCQcW3V0

Aussie Jingle Bells comes up a bit which is a bit of fun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnJ8j...

Traditional style one, The Three Dovers. But most people wouldn't know it's not a normal Christmas carol. My family loves traditional carols though, so this has made an appearance https://youtu.be/1wqoFg6Vabo

One about our birds - Carol of the Birds https://youtu.be/85XtT8F4YvY

And the one that gets stuck in my head something chronic, which I have never heard again until doing this, is this song we sang for my Year 4 Christmas concert. Christmas Where the Gum Trees Grow https://youtu.be/k-icGNwt9z4
Now I will be singing "When the bloom of the Jacaranda tree is here, Christmas time is near!" all day...

[Cherie]

Thank you for the Australian Christmas songs, Rusalka!

To a minor degree, it is like having Christmas in Southern California. No snow, wasn't cold, etc. That is where I grew up in the '50s through early '70s before we moved to Oregon. If the smog was thin enough, we could see snow on the mountains that surrounded the Orange County/Las Angeles basin.

[Janice, Moderator]

Six White Boomers was a favourite here.

[Sarah]

Thanks for the xmas carol links Rusalka. I forgot about the Tim Minchin and Rolf Harris ones - I knew those already. I see what you mean about the traditional carol - very much like the others on the surface but the lyrics are different. The Jingle Bells made me smile. Oh and thanks for the one you sang at school. It's very sweet but I'm going to have that as an ear worm now too.

[Travis]

We got about 18" of snow last night. Got up at 1 am to plow driveway just finished about 430. Is it time for bed yet. Lol. I quit drinking coffee quite some time ago due to stomach issues. Well I found I can drink coffee just while some take cream or sugar I take rolaids. Mmm caffeine. I don't know why but tea just doesn't have the same kick as coffee does

[Margo]

Thanks Rusalka! I loved the tim minchin one :-)

My favorite aussie xmas songs are from my childhood and the memories are now tainted with horror - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmL3m... via @youtube and the rolf harris version of The Little Boy That Santa Claus Forgot - they broke my little heart :,-(

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Sorry. It's been an ear worm for me for 25 years. Sharing the love.

[Peggy]

Thanks for the links Rusalka!

[Peggy]

The weather is really bad here today. There's this code-system, yellow, orange or red, and it has just been scaled up to code red. Boyfriend usually drives to work in 20-25 minutes, it took him 90 minutes today. I have class to teach today, and I'm getting tons of emails from people asking whether they have to come. To be honest I don't understand why the university is not closed today, but it also annoys me that they ask these questions while I also need to travel for almost 90 minutes by train and can't be sure if I can get home tonight.

Also, I think you people from the US and Canada would fall off your chairs laughing if you saw what the fuss is about here ;-) This is probably a light dusting for you, but our whole country is a giant mess.