Notes from the Hollow

After so much warm weather it seemed odd having a white Christmas in the hollow. The temperature dropped 30+ degrees yesterday while it was raining leading to ice and then a little bit of snow on top. Merry Christmas!

You don't have to wear a t-shirt with the word "PAGAN" across your chest to acknowledge the Winter Solstice. But as warm as it has been in the hollow, you could wear one and still be comfortable. It is past ten at night and still about 55 out. I stepped out on the front porch and my t-shirt (black, no words across the chest) was plenty - no need of a jacket.

I'll read a bit more about the snow falling across northern Europe tonight and how Selagoncy, Russia has a forecasted low of -72 for Sunday (I advise staying indoors, if possible), then I'll turn in and enjoy the rest of this long winter's night asleep. Won't even build a fire in the woodstove.

Checked the outside temperature this morning and saw with surprise that it was seven degrees in the hollow. To keep warm, I thought about how seven degrees is mild compared to the state's record low temperature (-29).

To be honest, I was able to rebuild the fire in the stove with relative ease this morning (I followed the simple recipe of mixing the remaining hot coals with some pine kindling and stacked a few sticks of thoroughly dry oak on top.) Our little house heated up nicely. Agatha the calico cat waits for the stove to be relit and then snuggles up close, quite content with her day.

It is now eight outside, which I notice is the same temperature as in Nome, Alaska. Imagine that.

For perspective, I checked in with the weather station at Selagoncy, Russia. The last reported temperature was three hours ago when it was a robust 58 below zero. If you want to visit, the Selagoncy weather station is located between the Markha River to the west and the town of Shologontsy to the east. I would recommend mittens when you visit this part of Siberia.