The Native Iowan

I just read an article, written by an American, about winter in Australia… He was commenting that Aus, the land of sunshine and leisure time, does not build houses for “winter”. That most houses simply are not heated and most folks spend their winters in a house that is colder inside than out…

This guy is right. 100%. Aus does not build houses for “the cold” because it dont get that cold for any lengthy period of time. Or at least this is what Aussies think… All depends on your definition of cold…

This is COLD:

Temps in my valley over the past 24 hours have given us 55/69f or 13/21c. Chilly, yes, but not cold, not deadly, not like Iowa in winter.

Right now I am enjoying the sunshine coming through the windows. I have a hoodie on and am wrapped in a blanket. The little 5kg house-dog lies in a puddle of sunlight on the floor. I went outside earlier and did find the outside air warmer than that inside the house.

To be fair, this is a big, hallow, high ceiling’d place with large single glazed picture windows. The “indoor-outdoor” feel of the place is great but the weather outside easily makes its way inside.

Being climatized to the weather here, I’m fine. Yet I do recall a visit, many decades ago, to Brisbane in winter where I thought it unbearable. I stayed with a friend who, like me these days, did not heat his house. I didnt get it, didnt understand, then. Slept in my clothes, chased puddles of warm sunlight just like the little dog…

To be clear, this house does have central heating. I just dont use it or need it, much. Twice this season I have woke early aiming to get some work done. Being unable to wrap up and stay warm until the sun brought its warmth, I cranked the heater on. It was nice.

Son, Don, and his gaggle of goils are flying in today. No doubt we shall crank the heat up for them…

The Terrible Triplets…

Not to be confused with The “Evil Twins”, this trio is a hell-on-wheels affair. I can tell by looking that 5yrold, Andromeda, will have socks and log pants on soon enough. Her bare feet make me cold just looking at her.

The Evil Twins will be picking the Terrible Triplets up at the airport, then coming here to practice their Hound-Mistress skills…

It being school-holiday time of the year, we’ll have these guys here for a few weeks. May well be a tightrope walk between Suicide and Homicide…

Good news is we have a puppy for each….

And life is guuud.

More later

Wood Not War…