Welcome to the arctic

[Von]

My shop is poorly insulated and just too cold for me to spend lots of time in currently. Given the forecast, it would seem this is going to be the case for at least the next week.

Have folks figured out any shop tasks they can bring indoors for such occasions? The ones I can think of seem too messy without a dedicated indoor space that can tolerate such. Sharpening for example.

TIA

[wtnhighlander]

@Von, I have, in the past, made use of our kitchen counter for sharpening, plane tuning, and small carving tasks. You need careful cleanup, and a tolerant spouse...

[Mark J]

Something I always do inside is design work.  

The other inside "woodwork" you can always do is home repairs .

[wtnhighlander]

Almost 4 hours of labor got me this far:

I might be able to get out of the garage without sliding into the doorframe, but I won't risk it without good reason. Another deep freeze is coming this weekend, too. 

[legenddc]

About the same here. Seems like being stuck inside for a week is bringing out the best in people around here.
 

Best way to clear it here, aside from a Bobcat, is chop it up with a garden shovel or digger bar. I’ve been salting the ice and going back out an hour later to clear what I can. Rinse and repeat. 
 

At this rate I don’t know when our kids will be back in school. The schools sent out an email yesterday saying they have cleared the schools, but can’t clear the sidewalks and bus stops that aren’t their property. Basically, if you want schools open get you butt outside and shovel. 

[curlyoak]

29 degrees in south florida.  And a power outage at the low. Up and running 4 hours later. A rare occurrence around here! and now the internet connection is blinky

[Ron Swanson Jr.]

Curly, I hope you and the others down there are doing ok

 I saw a picture of a sign today that made me chuckle and think of you: 

 

PRAY FOR FLORIDA. IT'S 42° AND WE DON'T OWN ANY PANTS!

[Beechwood Chip]

On 2/3/2026 at 2:06 PM, Ron Swanson Jr. said:

PRAY FOR FLORIDA. IT'S 42° AND WE DON'T OWN ANY PANTS!

I have a friend who moved from Philly to Houston.  She likes to take long walks and often calls me when she's out walking.  On her last walk she mentioned that no one else was outside, but she still had all her winter gear from Philly so she was fine.

When she first moved to Philly from southern California, I had to teach her about lip balm and road salt.

[curlyoak]

This is long johns weather! If you are not sweating then you are not overdressed. Ad 25 mph wind makes it cold even for snow birds. (seasonal residents) The roads are choked with snow bird traffic. Some milder weather for a couple of days then more below normal. Finally Saturday I will be able to bring the orchids out. Cold weather causes the most work with orchids.

[Tpt life]

I am still fresh enough to roll my sleeves up and laugh at the toque wearing in my midst. I am sure I will adjust away from this callousness eventually. 

[wtnhighlander]

Heck, the activity of clearing ice & snow had me working up a sweat this weekend,  in just a tee shirt, even though the temps were still below freezing.

[legenddc]

Our streak of below freezing weather is finally over after 9 days. Longest in the DC area since 1989. We were supposed to get 1-2" of snow last night but it missed us.

[Ron Swanson Jr.]

On 2/4/2026 at 7:03 AM, legenddc said:

Our streak of below freezing weather is finally over after 9 days. Longest in the DC area since 1989. We were supposed to get 1-2" of snow last night but it missed us.

Good to hear! 

We seem to have come to the end of it too, with comfortable temps for the foreseeable future

[drzaius]

And our non-winter continues with shirt sleeve temperatures. Strange.

[DerekMPBS]

Our winter has been kind of a non-event as well.  We've probably had less than 12" total all season, and the temps have been unusually warm lately, such as the 56 degree temp this afternoon, with temps in the 50's predicted into next week.  35 miles south, in Lewiston, ID, it is in the 60's and my friends are playing golf every day.

Last year, we got a cold spell with snow around the 3rd week of February, so we'll see if we get anything like that this year.  The next polar vortex event is predicted to be east of us, so we might not get anything at all.

[Mark J]

And just like that it's supposed to be 60F.

[curlyoak]

For the next 10 day forecast, lows, low to mid 60,s, highs low to mid 70's. But I may not have a mango bloom...Love the current weather!

[Tpt life]

That’s the low temps. We are in the 80° range. 

[curlyoak]

On 2/14/2026 at 2:54 PM, Tpt life said:

That’s the low temps. We are in the 80° range. 

The center of the state is typically hotter in the summer and colder in the winter than where I live. The weather near the southeast coast is influenced by the gulf stream. But no influence inland or the west coast.

[Tpt life]

On 2/14/2026 at 8:53 PM, curlyoak said:

The center of the state is typically hotter in the summer and colder in the winter than where I live. The weather near the southeast coast is influenced by the gulf stream. But no influence inland or the west coast.

I get it. This is all funny to me. They complained that it was “hot” when we moved here in July, and it was 97°. How do they feel hot when it is 84° in Feb.? I think maybe it’s a humidity level they don’t like here. On a more personal note, I have my first Cattleya about to bloom. That’s a win for me.  

[curlyoak]

The latitude I live at is different weather than the rest of the world at the same latitude.. Because of the gulf stream. It hugs the coastline from south of Miami to Northern Palm Beach. The affect goes 12 or so miles inland as the stream is a mile off shore. Then it starts to veer off to the East. It is 12miles away for me. It influences up to 2 miles inland. Without the stream my weather would be like Jacksonville. We have what is known as micro climes. Quite a few.

On 2/15/2026 at 7:38 AM, Tpt life said:

I have my first Cattleya about to bloom.

https://www.orchidsocietyhighlands.org Is a link to a local orchid society. The best people to learn from is the people that live in your micro clime. Also they typically bring in speakers. And the speakers are frequently growers and bring plants for sale. Not the typical big box offering. And they have an annual show. Another source of orchids and supplies.

Good luck with your cat. Please publish a picture.

  

 

[Beechwood Chip]

On 2/15/2026 at 7:38 AM, Tpt life said:

They complained that it was “hot” when we moved here in July, and it was 97°. How do they feel hot when it is 84° in Feb.?

It all depends on what you're used to.  In the middle of winter when temperatures are in the teens, if it hits 50 degrees people are out in shorts and T-shirts throwing a frisbee around.  In the summer when temps are in the 90s, if it hits 50 then people are wearing their winter coats and every layer they own.

[Ron Swanson Jr.]

On 2/15/2026 at 11:01 AM, Beechwood Chip said:

It all depends on what you're used to.  In the middle of winter when temperatures are in the teens, if it hits 50 degrees people are out in shorts and T-shirts throwing a frisbee around.  In the summer when temps are in the 90s, if it hits 50 then people are wearing their winter coats and every layer they own.

Nailed it, Chip. 

And there's a huge difference between 50 and sunny in the middle of winter, and 50, overcast and windy in the warmer months. 

 

[gee-dub]

On 1/23/2026 at 8:12 AM, Ron Swanson Jr. said:

Leave it to the Canadians to give you some perspective. 

I cry about the cold. They say "-20F? That's cute." And go on with their day in much colder temps. You gotta be tougher 'n a $2 steak to live there!

So many great stories about life's experiences.  We had a manager's meeting in San Francisco.  We got together at "Fisherman's Warf" for dinner.  It was "California Cold".  Those of us from the left coast all had jackets on.  The "gentleman" from Toronto showed up in a Polo shirt as happy as a clam.  We learn what we live.

[Ron Swanson Jr.]

On 2/15/2026 at 8:45 PM, gee-dub said:

So many great stories about life's experiences.  We had a manager's meeting in San Francisco.  We got together at "Fisherman's Warf" for dinner.  It was "California Cold".  Those of us from the left coast all had jackets on.  The "gentleman" from Toronto showed up in a Polo shirt as happy as a clam.  We learn what we live.

This reminds me of Legendary Vikings coach Bud Grant. Back in the days before we had indoor stadiums and practice facility, Bud was notorious for making his players practice, no matter how cold, and not offering any heaters or means of warming up. 

If they complained, they got to learn all about the folks who live in the artic and work all day, every day, in conditions that make Minnesota seem like Miami. 

He was a tough old son of a gun.