There's the snow. And - look - there's the cellular shades. Better late than REALLY late.
Last night was the first snowfall of the season. There's a thin (1/2 inch) layer of snow sticking on the ground even down here in the flatlands (perhaps 30 feet above sea level, if even that much) so I can only guess that the nearby mountain ranges are nicely dusted with a fresh layer of powder. The ski area owners and operators must be gleeful as hell right about now. (They were probably royally peeved that Houston - HOUSTON - got snow while their own slopes sat chilled but not ready for even the most desperate snowboarders.)
I went outside and took numerous pictures of the first snowfall at my new house (mostly for my mom.) I wanted pictures of the mini-greenbelt to the east, the backyard with its cat- and squirrel-prints, and the front walk with just one set of tracks on it. Mom wanted pictures of the house, specifically. 
I'm sure my neighbors thought I was a little odd. Or they were just too busy getting their morning coffee ready.
Last night my cats all slept curled right up against me - it was that cold. Ursa actually crawled under the covers at one point (somewhere around 4am) and was quite happy. I'd made him a little nest atop the heating pad, between the second pillow and the piled up covers. Naturally, Fog moved in and took over, leaving poor Ursa to sit atop the second pillow - soft, but unsteady and chilly. When I woke up enough to realize the situation, I picked Fog up, put her on my other side, and left the covers "caved" up for Ursa. I drifted back to sleep, but he finally figured out that this little cave-thing would be warmer than his secondary perch.
I've had thermal blackout panel curtains on the windows, and was waiting for my ordered cellular shades to arrive. They're currently "out for delivery", which means that by this time tomorrow I will have both the thermal curtains AND thermal light-filtering cellular shades on all the windows (except the kitchen and master bath.) That will do quite a lot to keep heat in...and, in the summer, keep heat out. (Pretty important on the southern windows, which are both a) the largest windows in the house; and b) recipients of sun all day, just moving from southeast to southwest.) I had actually ordered a double light-blocking / light-filtering duette for my bedroom window, largely because when I sleep I like the room to be pitch black. That lightblocking shade will also help cut the glare from the house out back, which has a full set of porch lights that stay lit for most of the night. (Why they do this, when their yard is oh so very unattractive, is beyond me. But - hey - their electric bill.)
