First Freeze Fall 2016

Sipping my coffee, I looked out in the backyard and saw white covering the ground.  I told my dear husband it snowed.  He said, "no, it's only frost." Then I remembered there was a freeze warning in effect 'til 9:00 A.M. this morning.  

What a pretty sight.  I hope we will get some snow this winter in Texas.  :)

5 Ways to Winterize Your UTV

Winter can be tough on your UTV. Even with modifications and cold-weather equipment, you still have to contend with snow, sleet, ice and freezing temperatures that can sneak into your engine and steal your power.

The good news is that there are certain precautions you can take to lessen winter's deadly grip on your UTV. They may not be foolproof, but they'll block the worst of the elements and keep you running no matter how many polar vortexes come your way. Here are just five tips for winterizing your side-by-side.

1. Check Your Fluids

Make it a point of checking your fluids before you head out. If they're too frozen or chunky to be operational, you'll need to warm up your UTV before you can take it anywhere. This is also something that should be done gradually and not all at once.

2. Be Careful With Your Antifreeze

In the same vein as the above, remember that winter comes with different rules for antifreeze. More specifically, you shouldn't be topping it off with water anymore. That can induce swelling in cold temperatures.

3. Throw Out Your Old Fuel

If you haven't ridden your UTV in awhile, you shouldn't take it out with the same old gas that's been sitting in it for months. Your engine can get so gummed up with bad fuel that it stalls in the middle of the wilderness, and what will you do then?

4. Buy Cold Weather Parts

Look for UTV parts that are made for snowy banks and icy terrain. For example, you might buy track systems to get through the slush or skid plates to protect your vehicle from chunks of frozen ice and dirt. You should also look into things like windshields and cab enclosures to keep the frost out of your face.

5. Check Your Tire Pressure

If your UTV goes from cold to hot to cold again, your tires can start swelling and deflating in time with the temperature. This will result in a loss of tire pressure that might require you to purchase completely new wheels.

When the temperature starts dropping, these tips can be the difference between a dead UTV and one that powers through the snow no matter how thickly it falls. If you're serious about staying on the road despite bad weather, follow these guidelines for winterizing your side-by-side.

www.sidebysidestuff.com

There Is Always Sunshine After The #Snow Storm

Beautiful sunrise.

Snow on the back porch.

Well I think this is considered to be the last freeze of the Winter season before the Spring comes.  It was snowing like crazy overnight last night due to the Winter storm.  I think we got about four inches of snow here in our area. I was very excited to go outside to play for a while in the snow with my little girl.  I know she'd love to build a snow girl again. :)

But my darling daughter woke up around eleven o'clock in the morning so I went took a few pictures of the outdoors with the snow.  Our front and back porches were covered with snow.  I couldn't even see the driveway.  My husband said he had difficulty backing up on the driveway when he was going to work.

DD wakes up slow so I let her have a little breakfast - chocolate milk and peanut butter sandwich.  Then we went outside after awhile.  We made two snowmen - a snowgirl and a snowman.  This time they're a little bigger than the previous one we made last weekend.  We played snowball fight. She had so much fun.

The temperature rose a bit this afternoon and the snow started to melt slowly and became slushy.

Winter Wonderland In North Texas

Snow on the trees in the backyard.

So we got snow again today.  The winter storm advisory took effect at 6:00 A.M. this morning until 6:00 P.M. tomorrow, Saturday night.  We had about 2 inches of snow here in our area.  Dallas and some parts of Northeast Texas had snow up to 4 inches deep. The temperature was between 26 to 29 degrees Fahrenheit all day.

We didn't have plans to go out this morning but my darling daughter asked for Chicken and Cheese Wraps for breakfast.  I don't have them in the refrigerator so we drove to the gas station close by to buy the food that she's wanting.

A dove up high in the tree.

DD checking how deep the snow is.

Since it's below freezing temperature, I decided to buy a stack of firewood. It sells $25 at the gas station.  Pretty high priced.  I built a fire at the fireplace as soon as we got home because we were shivering cold. :)  My husband came home from work at about 1:30 in the afternoon.

The ground is all white except the roads.

Wordless Wednesday: And We Had Snow Today

www.brightbundles.com

Winter Storm Brought Ice And Sleet

It's ice, not snow. :)

Today was super cold.  It's below freezing temperature all day.  Due to the winter storm we are getting these ice and sleet here in Texas today and tomorrow.  Is this the last freeze prior to Spring?  I'm not sure.

Anyway, my dear husband didn't have to work today so it's a 3-day weekend for him. :) We went outside to let DD play a little while.  My honey's truck is covered with ice and there are icicles on the window panes.  He said there's a forecast of possible snow in the morning.  We'll see.

Yay! We Got Some Snow Today!

It snows in Texas today.  Winter in Texas is complete experienced snow again this year.  :)  It was 17F early this morning and I didn't know it was snowing until I opened the window from darling daughter's bedroom.  I was so excited and I told DD about it.  She wanted to go out right away.  But we waited for the snow to accumulate and get thicker so I can let her make a snow angel.  And she did.  DD was so happy to see and play in the snow.

I thought we won't get any snow this year because it's already late for the winter season.  But still there's possibility because it's not Spring yet.  I bundled DD with three layers of clothing.  The third clothing on her is the winter jacket, fleece pants, snow boots, and gloves.  I was very confident that she was comfortable and the winter clothes kept her warm.  The snow flakes and cold breeze on her face made her nose run though.  

But we had fun playing for a little while in the snow.  At least Mother Nature has given Texas some of her snow before the winter ends.

Darling daughter's first snow angel.

Our first photo in the snow in 2014.

Looking Forward To Feel Well Soon

It's almost a week and I still have cough and colds.  Body aches are gone though.  I hate it when I get sick.  It's no fun at all!  Winter surely is not a good season for me.  I get allergies and stuff.  Thankfully my family didn't feel awful (so far so good).  I am doing my best to protect my little one from being sick.  Drinking lots of water and eating more veggies and fruits really helps.  

On the other hand, we went to see daddy and our two friends at a Mexican restaurant for lunch.  After a nice lunch, I took my little girl to the play area at a mall nearby so she can have play time.  She always enjoys that.  

I am looking forward to feeling well soon.  

Good Thing It Didn't Rain Sunday And Monday

Good thing it didn't rain Sunday and Monday or else we could've got stuck with thick ice, freezing temperature, and no Internet connection.  It was VERY cold three days ago and the lowest temperature was 15F and the highest was 25F and stayed that way the whole day Monday.  We just stayed home and lit the fireplace again.  I wasn't feeling well, though, because I had abdominal cramps (I hate!).  Thanks to my dear husband for cooking supper and taking care of DD and me (I love him!).  We were bundled up to stay warm.  Winter clothes are very handy.

Though it's quite raining today, it is not very cold to the point that it'll freeze.  Good thing because if it did rain last Sunday and Monday, I guess we're still waiting for the melting and the internet connection is frozen too.

Wordless Wednesday: Trees Are White

Weekend Snapshots: Sleet And Icy Weather On DD's Birthday

Oh man!  Winter storm is here.  And it is bringing sleet and ice which makes it very difficult and dangerous to drive.  We got freezing rain here in Texas and the temperature dropped to 14 degrees Fahrenheit which is below freezing.  The freezing rain accumulated immediately and turned to ice overnight.  Bad timing because today is our darling daughter's birthday.  Awww...

Because there's icicles everywhere, tree limbs were broken and fell over power lines somewhere that caused power outage since 6 o'clock in the morning until 3 o'clock this afternoon.  So my husband drove us around the neighborhood to look and check.  Then we ate brunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant (thankfully they're open).  After having our meal, we went ahead and buy some firewood for the fireplace.  This is the very first time husband lit the fireplace since he bought the house in 2004. We thought, because of the very cold weather due to the winter storm, the firewood will cost a fortune.  But we only paid $20 for a big pile of oak wood.  Which is good. 

Daddy lighting up the fireplace.

 

 

The birthday girl. :)

So the power was out until 3:00 P.M. this afternoon.  My husband wasn't able to roast the pork.  We told our daughter earlier that the folks are not coming over because of the bad weather condition.  But my cousin and her family was able to come over for dinner.  I quickly fixed broccoli cheese and rice, adobo, corn on cobs, and banana pudding.  My husband bought a rotisserie chicken.  Gladly my cousin and her family were able to come because DD was kind of unhappy when I told her that the guests aren't coming because of icy roads.  But as soon as I told her that Audrey and Alexis (my cousin's daughters) are coming over, her face lit up with cheer.

Even though the weather was bad, DD still had a great birthday celebration with her cousins.

Trees bent because of heavy ice.

See how heavy the ice on that tree?

Icicles.  See where the drops stopped and formed to ice.

A tree branch broken and fallen on the side of the road.

Sunscreen Is Not Just For Summer

Are you worried about facial dryness?  Change of seasons can also be the reason why our skin gets dry especially in the winter.  Help your skin stay beautiful all winter long with these simple tips.

• Moisturizing needs change in the winter.  You may need to switch to a more hydrating moisturizer and use it more frequently.
• Hot water is drying to skin.  Bathe (or better yet, shower) in luckwarm water.  And always pat dry and moisturize while skin is slightly damp.
• Sunscreen is not just for summer.  Winter sun can also damage skin, so remember to apply sunscreen to face and hands.
• Dry, hot indoor air can cause more skin problems than the cold outdoors.  Turn down the thermostat and turn on the humidifier.
• Harsh peels can strip oil from your skin, and alcohol-based toners are drying - avoid both in winter months.
• Don't forget your lip balm:  Lips can become chapped and cracked in winter.

And if your skin has problems that needs treatment, see your health provider.

OlayProfessional.com, Readers Digest January 2011

Smart, Simple Tips For Winter Wonderful Skin

The combination of cold air outside and dry, hot air inside can wreak havoc on your skin.  These simple tips can help.

• Moisturize more oftn, especially immediately after showering and before bed.
• Take lukewarm showers and use a moisturizing body wash like Olay Ultra Body Wash, or try Olay Ultra Moisture Soap bar.
• Use a humidifier to keep inside air from becoming too dry.
• The skin on your hands is thinner and has fewer oil glands.  Always wear gloves in cold weather, wash hands with warm, not hot, water, water, and moisturize often.
• If your hands and feet are very dry, moisturize heavily and sleep in cotton socks and gloves at night.

I know more of us women, even men, are struggling with dry skin in the winter.  I guess, with the help of these tips, we can maintain a healthy and moisturized skin all season.

Winter Wisdom from Olay Ultra Moisture

Winter Snow Storm

It's winter storm in North Texas. The snow started falling down at midnight last night. The forecast says it will be cold until next week. Ah, winter weather.

I wish I can play in the snow but nah...maybe next time. We had about six inches of snow today. The road is sleek and scary to drive on. My honey went to work but came back home from halfway to his office because of the slippery road. We saw a couple of cars went into the ditch at the intersection close to our house. I am thankful he came home safe.

I hope you all have a safe weekend. Don't go out if not necessary. Enjoy the company of the family in this cool winter weather.

Winter Weather In Texas 2011

It's freezing cold this morning. The wind chill is getting into my bones.

When I was driving to McKinney for a doctor's appointment, I see beautiful white snow everywhere...the trees, roof tops, road sides are filled with snow. It is beautiful! Our yard was covered with snow, and, I think it is over three inches thick.

The cold weather did not stop me from taking pictures when it was snowing on Sunday. I put my green coat and boots on in addition to two layers of clothing, then my honey and I took videos and pictures outside. It's a wonderful experience every year.

I am looking forward in the coming years to play in the snow with my daughter when she grows up. I bet she will love it.

Organically Healthy Garden

This year, Spring officially starts on March 20. But as early as now, we are beginning to see the green colors around us again. The trees inside and out of the apartment complex is starting to grow their leaves too. My roses, on the other hand, are not doing any good. They were very pretty and blooming last year until the winter came. They started to wither then I saw little bitty white bugs around their leaves. My father-in-law told me to spray organic bug control on the leaves to kill the bugs. The bugs eat the leaves and nutrients, which cause the plants to die. Spraying bug control keeps harmful bugs from ruining the plants' growth.

My honey's parents have a very beautiful garden in the backyard of their house in Tyler. Their roses and other flowering plants bloom bunches of flowers. And their ornamental plants are very healthy! My father-in-law does most of the gardening work. He takes care of his plants and the garden itself. He likes watching TV shows about home and gardening where he gets information about good organic pest control products as well as effective gardening tips.

There is no doubt his garden will look very pretty this Spring. And I cannot wait to see my roses bloom again.

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