Winter Storm

This, from the National Weather Service in Kansas City:

A MAJOR WINTER STORM IS EXPECTED TO IMPACT A LARGE PORTION OF THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN PLAINS. THIS STORM WILL INITIALLY BRING SNOW TO ADVISORY AREA AND AS WARMER AIR ALOFT WORKS INTO THE SYSTEM A MIX OF RAIN... SNOW AND POSSIBLY SLEET IS EXPECTED.

To add insult to injury, there's an "Arctic blast" behind this storm that is expected to bring us a daytime high Wednesday of 18 degrees, and a low Wednesday night of 7.

Once again. WHY are we here?

The other day our friend Gypsy said she'd endure 0 degree temps to visit her family. Sounds good. Folks, it's official. Zero is our limit! If Mother Nature serves up weather with a minus sign in front of it, we are outta here!

After several days of judicious use of propane, we're still over two-thirds of a tank. And, nearly two weeks ago we landed with 3/4 of a tank. So, we're prepared to keep the gas furnace, fireplace and our new, improved electric space heater blasting for the next two days. Thursday's forecast is for sun and double digit temps, so we'll make a propane run then, if we need to.

We made a propane reconnaissance run this afternoon. There's a Ferrellgas facility 4.7 miles from here. And, for a mere $3.33 a gallon (Geez!) we can fill this moose up. (Isn't it interesting how the laws of supply and demand work?) The route is very moose friendly, and though the facility is a bit tight, we're confident we can maneuver our way in and out. Whatever it takes to get a full tank of propane!

Today we checked the temp in our basement bays and were impressed with the results. As promised, they are indeed vented. As long as we periodically fire up the gas furnace, everything down below should stay warm. Well, actually, it would be more accurate to say it won't freeze! Our water bay is facing the north, from whence some brutal winds are promised to accompany this forecasted Arctic blast. At this point, it seems like the most vulnerable area, so we'll add a trouble light with a warm and cozy 60-watt bulb to that area, just as we have with our glow-in-the-dark refrigerator vent, which also faces the cold Arctic north. We'll be glowing from every which way!

Actually, we're very impressed with how our new moose had stood up to chilly temps so far. If the cold north winds kick up, we'll pull in our driver's side slide. The last thing we want to deal with is a frozen slide topper whippin' in the wind. With our fireplace blazin', the new oscillating space heater doing it's thing and a periodic blast of our propane-fired furnace, this place is down right cozy!

We fired up the crock pot this afternoon to save on propane and provide us with some hearty faire for dinner tonight and leftovers during tomorrow's storm. Beginning tomorrow, our agenda is simple: Stay warm for the next 24 hours. With the home fires burning, I'm planning a day of quilting - something I haven't done since we began our journey. Paul has hopes of getting to the gym early, even if it means putting the squirrel in four-wheel-drive. They'll be plenty of space and time for reading, napping, surfing and TV watching. All provided, of course, we have enough propane.

While many of our RVing buddies have already shacked up in warmer climates, we take great comfort in knowing we're not the only crazies out here in the cold. Gordon and Juanita are experiencing record cold on the Oregon coast. And, fellow Tour owners Margie and Bruce are toughing out another winter in Washington before they head south. Mac and Netters have battened down the hatches just south of here and will, hopefully, get just a cold rain out of this much-anticipated storm.

Those folks down south are having fun in the sun while us few brave souls are braving a winter wonderland.

Stay tuned for breaking weather updates.