It was the coldest Thanksgiving Day Parade in history.  Are we talking global warming?  This is Florida and we’re going down to freezing tonight.  It’s only November 27th folks.

Christmas is closing in fast and I’m not ready.  Something did tell me to get the winter blankets out two days ago.  I listened, but one blanket is in for repair (I know, practice what you preach).  So then what happens?  The girl who repairs them ended up in the hospital.  Oh my!  I have plenty of other blankets, so I’m not worried, but we don’t usually get winter until after Christmas.  Usually January and February is winter here.

Good bye green pastures.  Hello sheets on the sensitive plants and moving the ones that can’t take freezing into the house.  When you think about it, winter is so much easier up north.  Everything outside goes to sleep until spring.  You put the winter blankets on the horses and they stay on until spring.  You set up for freezing temps with your water situation and you hibernate until spring.  Oh that wonderful word – “Spring.”  Down here we have winter for three days, then back to fall/spring temps.  Actually in three days we’re going back up to the 80’s.  Now if that doesn’t make you crazy, nothing will.  One night the horses have winter blankets on and three days later they are soaking wet with sweat.  Plants go back out and get uncovered and you’re in Florida again.

So while we’re on the subject – have you started your Christmas shopping yet?  Are you already done?  It’s a magical time of year.  I remember putting bells on the horses, my friends used to put Santa hats on their horses.  We’d ride without a saddle on top of the blanketed horses just to stay warm.  Now I run out, do what I have to do, and get back in the house, and I live in Florida.  I think back about giving lessons in 20 degrees.  Frozen toes, hoses, water, chopping sweet feed with a shovel, using a hoe to break up the frozen manure on the rubber mat and snow balls in your horses hooves.  Oh the good old days.  When we were kids, we’d put our feet in fresh manure just to be able to feel our toes again.  Yes, I remember it well.

Oh well pack up the memories and move on.  Heat up the apple cider or hot cocoa and get ready for a rough ride through a winter wonderland.  Only 27 days ’til Santa Clause comes to town.

T’is the season for Shop Till You Drop.  Don’t forget your fur babies (not that I believe you ever would), but also don’t forget the shelter animals and rescue groups.  The ones that have been helping the hurricane and fire victim’s are struggling.

Just think – Spring is on its way.  (That’s called the art of positive thinking.)