So, this is what winter feels like...

...if I recall correctly (after so many years in the south) this is what winter feels like!  We've been experiencing temps down to 10* at night with highs in the lower 30's.  Still, it is comfortable to go outside with just a light jacket on (short periods only).

  The rig is staying nice and warm.  We are using about 70 gallons of propane each month, which isn't too bad, but the cost is at $4.55/gal, meaning each fill is around $300.00.  A bit of a bite out of the budget, though one we'd accounted for.  Electric is high also.  Our bill this month was $307.00.  Reminds me of Houston in the summer with the A/C on all the time.  **Reminder to self** add this cost to the budget!  This is the one area I'd not figured would cost so much, but we should use very little in the summer, so I can do my own balanced billing.

  We had another water hose fail.  The extension we'd added to the Pirit heated hose froze during one of the 10* nights.  Yes, it was heat taped, and wrapped with insulation.  No clue why it froze, but we bit the bullet and purchased another Pirit hose in a 25 ft. length this time. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008VM889E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 I'm kicking myself for not doing this as soon as we realized our 12 ft. Pirit would not suffice for length.  During the 2 days it took for the hose to arrive from Amazon, we just filled the fresh water holding tank and used that.  Since the Pirit is rated to -42* we should not have another issue.  **fingers crossed**

  Yesterday, we added an inline water control connection to the Sani-Flush on the rig.  Now John can access the valve easier when draining and rinsing the black water tank.  Now all pipes are wrapped extra well with insulation, padded, protected, heated.  Hooray for us.

  The little space heater we'd placed in the arctic entry cycled so often, it would trip the breaker in the RV.  Another bright idea from your's truly, run a cord from the outside outlets (on their own breaker) to the arctic entry.  Secure it with heavy duty cable ties, drill a hole in the side wall of the arctic entry, plug the heater into that cord, and close the opening for the RV outside outlets with insulation to cut down the draft.  We also changed out the quartz heater (which had a fan, thus high electric use) for an oil heater our son gave us (left over from his time up here).  It worked out great!  Temp inside the arctic entry is now averaging 65* and no more draft.  I'm so smart (John's words, not mine).

  We still haven't seen any real wildlife on the property, but a  neighbor's chicken continues to make visits.  She eats our grass, doesn't leave any eggs as payment, which is rude.  To pay her back, the pups have found out she's fun to chase.  That'll teach her!

  Update on my hip replacement...I'm now walking indoors and outdoors without any assistive devices.  Now I can really take the furbabies on their walks.  I've even been able to walk in the backyard (which is very uneven & weed strewn) without any problem, though I do take it slow and steady.  I don't want to risk falling and ruining the beautiful work Dr. Vanderbilt did.  My left leg is now 1cm longer than the right one, but with a small lift in the right shoe, I'm good to go!

  We are still anxiously awaiting the first really good snow.  The couple of spits we had in October were not enough for me to build my snowman.  Olaf is getting a bit depressed awaiting his rebirth.

  Got the box with everyone's Christmas presents mailed out.  Greeting cards are next on my agenda.  I plan to make my own photo greetings, but I really did want some snow on the ground to make it more seasonal.  Guess I just have to be a bit more patient.

  

  There have been too many fires destroying homes so far this year.  A very sad time for so many in our community.  Job losses are also occurring at a record pace.  The community pulls together for this and helps each other out.  We all help with food, clothing, furniture, whatever we can give.  Wasillians take care of their own.

  John and I are planning to volunteer to help with the Community Christmas event.  We've been looking at a variety of areas where we can be of assistance.  This is one of the nicer perks of being retired, you have more time to volunteer.

  We went to vote today, and I was pleased to see a larger turnout in our precinct than I'd ever observed at polling places in the lower 48.

  One big event we'd been looking forward to was observing the aurora borealis.  Finally had a clear sky last night, and the borealis was active.  I was asleep & missed it.  Never again, I've downloaded an app for my iPhone that will alert me when the borealis is active.  I plan to get some great pictures of it for sharing with my readers.

  The change from DST to standard time has resulted in our seeing the sun set at 4:30 in the afternoon, and not come up until after 8:00 am.  Just makes me lazy and want to sleep in.  Hey!  I'm retired, I can do that!!!

  Will post again at a later date, when I have more to report.  But as a closing note---Happy Birthday to me!!