The Coffee House

SquarePeg · Jan 21, 2026

Current forecast. I have a new art class starting tomorrow in Boston and then it’s going to be pretty cold and snowy after that… on the bright side, it’s frozen soap bubble weather, I stocked up at the library last week and the Patriots are in the AFC Championship game this weekend so at least I’ll have a few things to keep me entertained.

jeffashman · Jan 21, 2026

Howdy Folks! Winter has decided that North Texas needs to be in on the fun, but around here, that means stay home and stay safe. Friday afternoon into late Saturday it will be a "wintery mix" (snow and sleet), which will coat the roads with some nice slick ice, then on Sunday actual snow which will be just enough to cover the slick ice, then everyone and their brother will go for a drive and end up in ditches and hitting other cars and sliding through intersections. That last one will be exceptionally dangerous due to red light runners. Yesterday I watched five people run red because they didn't want to stop (please bring back the red light cameras). Mix that with the ice, and there will be some pain. I told my family, they need to go out today and get their water and 1000 rolls of TP to weather the storms. Temps on Sunday will be between 16F (-9C) to 24F (-4.5C), so that will guarantee icy roads. Sunday night into Monday it will drop to 15F (-9.5C), so I'm betting schools will be closed on Monday to keep the kids safe from the wackos who think their 4x4s will handle the ice just fine.

Experimented with a super easy dish tonight, and got approval to repeat, just not as spicy. Make a marinade of 1 TBS each of turmerec, white pepper, garlic powder, sweet paprika (smoked if you want to add a smoky tang to it), and 1/2 TBS of cumin. Mix all of that in four TBS of olive oil to make a paste and then add chunks of chicken (white or dark, I use white meat this time, Spousal Unit wants dark next time) and coat real well. Let it sit in the fridge a couple of hours to blend. While waiting, chunk up a bell pepper and a large onion. Start cooking by browning the chicken in a cast iron skillet, then add the onions and peppers and cook a couple more minutes, then add a can of diced tomatoes with the juice. Mix it real well and then let it simmer for about 15-20 minutes. After 15-20 minutes, take the lid off and let the tamato juices cook down. Server over basmati rice or with coucous. Delish!

I decided that since I'm probably not going to get the retirement I had dreamed of most of my life, I will just have to continue to create my retirement locally. I replaced the tan bedroom curtains with peacock teal blackout curtains on either side of the bed, and blackout curtains with a picture of an open window looking out on a beach over the bed (there is a small 18"x52" window near the top of the wall. Another wall will have a couple of beach towels from the Cayman Islands, one wall will have a painting of a beach in Hawaii on it (gifted by my in-laws), and the final wall will have a gnome sitting among starfish. I think there's a theme there, not sure... lol. The walls are already a nice light brown, so that worked out very well. Still some work to do, but it is shaping up. The back yard will get a deck, and I will see if I can still use an airbrush and put a large "window" with a beach scene on it on the fence. Some small potted palms and a couple of fig trees, among other things, and it should look good. Fingers crossed the Major Wheeler on the arbor will bloom this next year. There will be a couple of Roselle hibiscus under the arbor, which should make a nice attactant for the humming birds. Will also look for other quasi-tropical plants to continue the theme. I have five years until retirement, so hopefully that is enough time to finish everything up.

Oh yeah, almost forgot, I got a UPS for my computer, one for the router, and one for the fiber optic ONT, so if the power fails, we may freeeze, but we will have internet access for about four to five hours. Fun times! lol

cgw · Jan 22, 2026

Just a light dusting last night. Big dump rolls in for the weekend...

webestang64 · Jan 22, 2026

We might get around 5-6 inches of that nasty white stuff this weekend. YACK!

KJ_North · Jan 22, 2026

We had a foot a few days ago.... another 6 " yesterday and possibly another foot this weekend. FUN WOW!

I go to Mexico for 5 days beginning Feb 6th so that will be my relief.

terri · Jan 22, 2026

SquarePeg said:
Current forecast. I have a new art class starting tomorrow in Boston and then it’s going to be pretty cold and snowy after that… on the bright side, it’s frozen soap bubble weather, I stocked up at the library last week and the Patriots are in the AFC Championship game this weekend so at least I’ll have a few things to keep me entertained.

View attachment 293897

I win!!

Not even sure what to say about the low temperature tomorrow.... :icon_eek:

SquarePeg said:
the Patriots are in the AFC Championship game this weekend

Go Pats! Aren't they playing Denver? With their QB out from that injury, the Patriots should take them. Sean Payton is a cheater anyway and shouldn't have been let back in the league. :soapbox:

We spent stupid money today so our little home is well-stocked with food and wine to get us through the polar express/vortex, whatever they're calling this event. Hubby cleared driveway and sidewalks; I added another suet feeder and cracked corn for my ground feeders. The birdbath heater is invaluable - they're at it all day.

terri · Jan 22, 2026

jeffashman said:
Howdy Folks! Winter has decided that North Texas needs to be in on the fun, but around here, that means stay home and stay safe. Friday afternoon into late Saturday it will be a "wintery mix" (snow and sleet), which will coat the roads with some nice slick ice, then on Sunday actual snow which will be just enough to cover the slick ice, then everyone and their brother will go for a drive and end up in ditches and hitting other cars and sliding through intersections. That last one will be exceptionally dangerous due to red light runners. Yesterday I watched five people run red because they didn't want to stop (please bring back the red light cameras). Mix that with the ice, and there will be some pain. I told my family, they need to go out today and get their water and 1000 rolls of TP to weather the storms. Temps on Sunday will be between 16F (-9C) to 24F (-4.5C), so that will guarantee icy roads. Sunday night into Monday it will drop to 15F (-9.5C), so I'm betting schools will be closed on Monday to keep the kids safe from the wackos who think their 4x4s will handle the ice just fine.

Experimented with a super easy dish tonight, and got approval to repeat, just not as spicy. Make a marinade of 1 TBS each of turmerec, white pepper, garlic powder, sweet paprika (smoked if you want to add a smoky tang to it), and 1/2 TBS of cumin. Mix all of that in four TBS of olive oil to make a paste and then add chunks of chicken (white or dark, I use white meat this time, Spousal Unit wants dark next time) and coat real well. Let it sit in the fridge a couple of hours to blend. While waiting, chunk up a bell pepper and a large onion. Start cooking by browning the chicken in a cast iron skillet, then add the onions and peppers and cook a couple more minutes, then add a can of diced tomatoes with the juice. Mix it real well and then let it simmer for about 15-20 minutes. After 15-20 minutes, take the lid off and let the tamato juices cook down. Server over basmati rice or with coucous. Delish!

I decided that since I'm probably not going to get the retirement I had dreamed of most of my life, I will just have to continue to create my retirement locally. I replaced the tan bedroom curtains with peacock teal blackout curtains on either side of the bed, and blackout curtains with a picture of an open window looking out on a beach over the bed (there is a small 18"x52" window near the top of the wall. Another wall will have a couple of beach towels from the Cayman Islands, one wall will have a painting of a beach in Hawaii on it (gifted by my in-laws), and the final wall will have a gnome sitting among starfish. I think there's a theme there, not sure... lol. The walls are already a nice light brown, so that worked out very well. Still some work to do, but it is shaping up. The back yard will get a deck, and I will see if I can still use an airbrush and put a large "window" with a beach scene on it on the fence. Some small potted palms and a couple of fig trees, among other things, and it should look good. Fingers crossed the Major Wheeler on the arbor will bloom this next year. There will be a couple of Roselle hibiscus under the arbor, which should make a nice attactant for the humming birds. Will also look for other quasi-tropical plants to continue the theme. I have five years until retirement, so hopefully that is enough time to finish everything up.

Oh yeah, almost forgot, I got a UPS for my computer, one for the router, and one for the fiber optic ONT, so if the power fails, we may freeeze, but we will have internet access for about four to five hours. Fun times! lol

Dinner sounds delicious! Spousal Unit is correct that dark meat chicken is better.

jeffashman said:
I decided that since I'm probably not going to get the retirement I had dreamed of most of my life

Hmm, does this mean no private island is in the works?

And here I thought you were aiming for Virginia! :lol:

cgw · Jan 22, 2026

terri said:
I win!!

Not even sure what to say about the low temperature tomorrow....

View attachment 293923

Go Pats! Aren't they playing Denver? With their QB out from that injury, the Patriots should take them. Sean Payton is a cheater anyway and shouldn't have been let back in the league.

We spent stupid money today so our little home is well-stocked with food and wine to get us through the polar express/vortex, whatever they're calling this event. Hubby cleared driveway and sidewalks; I added another suet feeder and cracked corn for my ground feeders. The birdbath heater is invaluable - they're at it all day.

Sunflower seed and peanut feeders were overbooked by chickadees, nuthatches and downies this a.m. as windchills scared 0F. Yup, laying in stuff is never ill-advised when crap weather is likely under-forecasted, i.e., "Cheer up, it gets worse!"

jeffashman · Jan 22, 2026

terri said:
Dinner sounds delicious! Spousal Unit is correct that dark meat chicken is better.

Hmm, does this mean no private island is in the works?

And here I thought you were aiming for Virginia!

Virginia has to have buy in from the better half, so we are staying put. No house in Fiji or Costa Rica, so I'll make my environs look like I'm there.

Yes, for many dishes the dark meat is better, so I'll be buying boneless, skinless thighs from now on I guess.

jeffashman · Jan 22, 2026

I've finally concluded that the Winter Weather hype is actually manufactured by the major retailers and grocers to drive business to the stores. I'm sure the water and TP companies are absolutely thrilled by the bump in profits...

Officially though, we are supposed to have 1/4" to 3/4" ice accumulation on the ground, so life will be precarious whether one walks or drives anywhere. School will definitly be canx for Monday, because too many kiddos have to walk to school, and faculty and staff may not be able to even get out of their parking lots/driveways on Monday morning.

PhotoHobbyist · Jan 22, 2026

100AH 12V LiFePo2 batteries prices have dropped crazy low on Amazon. Now is the time to have one and an inverter to make 120Vac. Prices are now $100-$150 but were $1,000 just a few years ago. I got my battery fully charged, water bottles filled, and winter sleeping bags at the ready. It can run my infotainment, lamps, and laptop for a day. If I use computer monitor instead of big screen TV I can go for several days. Ice storm coming to Atlanta. I'll likely be iced in 1-2 days due to hills.

cgw · Jan 22, 2026

jeffashman said:
I've finally concluded that the Winter Weather hype is actually manufactured by the major retailers and grocers to drive business to the stores. I'm sure the water and TP companies are absolutely thrilled by the bump in profits... Officially though, we are supposed to have 1/4" to 3/4" ice accumulation on the ground, so life will be precarious whether one walks or drives anywhere. School will definitly be canx for Monday, because too many kiddos have to walk to school, and faculty and staff may not be able to even get out of their parking lots/driveways on Monday morning.

We're well-armed here. Complex arsenals of tools, gas cans, blower spares, salt, pickled sand(sand+salt mix). Full propane tanks. Two cases of Bavarian beer, vodka, vino. Food? Too complex to explain. Schools either cancel buses or announce "snow days" when everyone hunkers down. The kid and I maintain the Family Ruin and our place plus a select group of civilized neighbors.
I like shoveling snow to Miles Davis or Sonny Rollins on my Wonderboom.

snowbear · Jan 23, 2026

Our snow totals have been increased. I'm going to try to get incremental shots.

MartinCrabtree · Jan 23, 2026

Storm total forecast for here is 12-24" with possible ice accumulation. As my only transport is a motorcycle I'm going to be here for a week, maybe two. Well stocked with necessities. If the power goes out it could be difficult as single digit temperatures are forecast. Not my first rodeo we'll be fine. F5 has fresh batteries, freezer full of Eastman XX and Shaggy loves the snow. I can't take the cold like I used to (neither can Shaggy) but I still ride year round so am far more tolerant than most. In the end I like winter out here it is quiet and beautiful.