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Post by colmworthdales on Oct 31, 2014 20:35:23 GMT -1
What on earth is going on. 20oC on Hallowe'en and temperature only fell to 14oC last night. I have not had the heating on for more than an hour a day (and then only the occasional day) this autumn. For the last two days the small solar panels on my roof have generated quite enough hot water to not need any extra power before running a very hot bath.
In the good old days there was frost by now and all the leaves were off the trees.
Today:- 1. Had an hours ride on a very fresh (but unclipped) Mollie so lunged her for 10 mins before mounting, which meant she was sweaty before we set out. I was wearing a shirt and my summer jods - and felt hot myself. She had a lovely cold hose down at the end of it and was dry within an hour.
2. I got a load of washing (including big towels) completely dry on the washing line.
3. Had to water my still-flowering geraniums in their tubs outside the back door.
4. Picked 6 rapidly ripening tomatoes from my unheated greenhouse.
5. Still a lot of Bramley apples on the trees which have not fallen and are still very good.
6. Have cut back on the hay allowances for the cows and ponies as the grass is still growing.
7. And now I am listening to Hallowe'en fireworks in the distance.
If anyone is still doubting climate change is happening, I will throw something at them!!
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Post by Fi on Oct 31, 2014 20:40:34 GMT -1
lol, it's bizarre isn't it?
Not had the heating on at all yet either. Now I don't like cold weather at all, but it just seems wrong!
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Post by harveydales on Nov 1, 2014 6:40:14 GMT -1
Well I'm enjoying this fabulous autumn. The tree colours are exceptional here and I'm not complaining at the warmth. No doubt it will soon be cold and wet again....
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Post by zeldalithgow on Nov 1, 2014 7:12:02 GMT -1
It's all wrong, I hope we don't have another mild wet winter, I'd like a nice cold crisp winter to help get the weight off the ponies plus it makes for nice photos lol
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Post by jap on Nov 1, 2014 7:37:33 GMT -1
we lit the aga a few weeks ago, suffering now lol
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Post by dalesnfellfan on Nov 1, 2014 11:03:13 GMT -1
We've not had the heating on either yet, just lit a fire in evening occasionally, I too am loving the weather and the autumn colours, but it makes me a little sad every day that we can't go for a lovely ride to enjoy it, the dog's getting lots of long walks though. It does seem all wrong though, I also hope we don't have another warm wet winter, much prefer cold and dry, but at least this weather now will make the winter feel shorter. I'm still picking lots of raspberries each day and grass is still growing, I sat outside in the sun with a glass of wine yesterday afternoon, we'll be sunbathing on Christmas day at this rate like he Aussies.  |
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Post by yanny on Nov 1, 2014 12:03:27 GMT -1
It's insane. Cals not had his rug on yet and I've even left Cuba (arab x saddlebred!) out overnight unrugged! Today it's boiling as well. Can't say I'm complaining though. It's better than rain  |
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Post by yanny on Nov 1, 2014 12:06:20 GMT -1
Well I'm enjoying this fabulous autumn. The tree colours are exceptional here and I'm not complaining at the warmth. No doubt it will soon be cold and wet again.... Completely agree!! People who were complaining about the warm weather will soon be complaining that it's too cold/wet. Us british public can't be easily pleased! |
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Post by Debbie on Nov 1, 2014 14:37:23 GMT -1
There's a lot to be said for making the most of unseasonable weather, but I'm another who doesn't like a warm Fall. It makes me uneasy.
We had some sunny/hot/dry weather in October and I wasn't happy until our rains set in. Even then we were in the 60*s when we should have been in the 50*s.
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Post by zeldalithgow on Nov 1, 2014 19:48:13 GMT -1
We've had plenty rain just lately, and it's windy and raining again just now but still not that cold, it was lovely and sunny this morning
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Post by colmworthdales on Nov 1, 2014 20:29:51 GMT -1
Thanks for all your comments everyone. While I certainly do enjoy this weather it does make me very uneasy.
For example:- What are the hedgehogs doing? Trying to hibernate because the decreasing day length is telling them too - or still foraging? We have had no winter thrushes (fieldfares or redwings) arrive yet so presumably they are still eating all the berries up over in Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands which should be feeding their winter birds, instead of coming over here to eat our surplus. My bees are still flying, and I had a queen bumble bee buzzing about yesterday.
And imagine all the official Opening Meets which happened on November 1st (perhaps they still do have an official start to hunting but I am out of touch on that one) - always used to be a crisp chilly (or downright soggy) day - for those with longer memories.
Sure the weather will cool down over next few days - but I still feel IT IS ALL WRONG!!!
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Post by Blackshadow Dales on Nov 2, 2014 0:41:19 GMT -1
I am in NY and we had the coldest winter last year!! Terrible temps, below zero most days, too cold to take the kids sledding and to make snow men. We are hoping for a not as cold winter. We had a very mild summer, hardly ever above 90 even in August. I haven't paid much attention to what the animals are doing. But there is an abundance of the wooly bear worm, and they are mostly brown through the middle. Which of course I forgot what that meant. Either a harsh winter again, or the brown means mild. I agree though the weather is out of sack for sure.
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Post by nedales on Nov 2, 2014 0:48:00 GMT -1
..and cold here (New England) tonight, wood stove on, gloves, hats, and winter boots, snow expected with everything outdoors canceled for tomorrow including hunters pace we'd entered. MacKenzie--we've had lots of woolie bears and lady bugs! The ponies' coats are thick and wooly too so my money is on another frigid winter. The Dales were out in the wind and rain all day today and when I went to collect them for dinner (they came galloping up) I shush shushed them and reminded Lad that this is very Northumbrian weather and he should be enjoying it!
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Post by mikea on Nov 2, 2014 5:53:07 GMT -1
I agree- it's all upside down. I have a banana in the garden, normally it ges cut back in winter down to the ground level, but last year it over wintered without any protection. This year it's continued growing and seems to be in rude health still. My geraniums, which were outside in pots also over wintered, so I left them out again this summer.
Yesterday I thought I'd better go and pick some Sloes, to make my Sloe gin ready for Christmas - normally would wait until the frosts have started, but decided that I couldnt wait any longer as we haven't yet had a frost. It was t shirt weather- and when I got to my usual spot - it was barren - normally its overburdened ? I'm sure is not the fact the they've been picked - it's something to do with last years mild winter not stimulating this years fruit?
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Post by dalesnfellfan on Nov 2, 2014 10:29:44 GMT -1
..and cold here (New England) tonight, wood stove on, gloves, hats, and winter boots, snow expected with everything outdoors canceled for tomorrow including hunters pace we'd entered. MacKenzie--we've had lots of woolie bears and lady bugs! The ponies' coats are thick and wooly too so my money is on another frigid winter. The Dales were out in the wind and rain all day today and when I went to collect them for dinner (they came galloping up) I shush shushed them and reminded Lad that this is very Northumbrian weather and he should be enjoying it! Pleased to hear you're out competing again Meg, hope your class doesn't get cancelled, but just be careful!!
We've had sloes here Mike, but our pear tree which is usually laden with fruit hasn't had one single pear this year, ponies are enjoying an abundance of apples though.
It's colder here today and grey and windy, feels a bit more like November. ![]()
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