when kenny got home from work, he pulled out a small space heater that we had from our old house (that 50-year-old brick house in the city with the 50-year-old furnace) and put it into the laundry room. it's on the first floor, but it's not insulated. so last night, the water line to the washer froze. fortunately, it was ready to do my laundry by this evening. it's so toasty here in the office (which is right next to the laundry room) - i normally freeze when i'm at the computer in the evenings. now i can stay here all night!

Sues - as i told you earlier today, i'm thinking about you these bitter days...i KNOW how hard this is for you. better days ahead - i promise! unfortunately, i can't promise that they'll be too soon - although the groundhog DID predict an early spring this year! ;)

Brent - bimmer? is that short for something? is it a gadget that gives you advice for the day? if so, i want one.

Savannah - see, i love the cold weather. i actually feel sorry for people who have to celebrate christmas in shorts and t-shirts. but this weather is actually REALLY annoying. :) so yes, i'd love to be where you live today!

Serina - when kenny read your comment he said, "i've always heard about the brick in the bed thing, but i've never actually known anyone who did it!" Jason is now famous in our household as "the guy we know who slept with hot bricks like they did in "Sense and Sensibility." :)

regarding a wood stove...we looked into purchasing one for our enclosed back porch a while ago, but couldn't swing it then. it's a dream of ours to have one as well, and i can see why you don't just up and install one in your city house (unless you road-tripped out here to get all the free wood you could possibly want!). we actually found a great, inexpensive, 99% efficient gas stove that heats the entire first floor of our house (which is pretty spacious) on normal cold days, and we are able to shut down our oil furnace during the day. we use the oil at night. but on days like these, it only heated up a portion of the first floor. but a wood stove is one of our long-term goals!

________________

i did respond to a bunch of the comments in the previous posts, but the comments section was getting far too long and skinny with all the comments. i love hearing from you - but all the empty "green space" was driving me nutty.

HOWEVER...one of these mornings, you'll wake up to a new and improved smithical dot com. kenny is very close to finishing up the customizations on a new blog for me (i know NOTHING of blog design), and i'm excited about a few new features:

- the comments section is "hidden" like in most blogs. you'll have to select a link to get to the comments. this will allow all the space in the world for all of those readers who have not yet commented but are dying to (ha!), and for me to respond to every single comment, if the spirit moves me.

- you'll be able to leave your web site/blog address in the comments - just like in any other blog.

- new pictures! see those adorable little eyes peaking out at you from the top of the screen? that's sawyer when he was about 6 months old (that's younger than adam is now!). he's 2 1/2 now. we need a new "masthead" - and one that i can change regularly.

stay tuned...