Cold in the Desert

We returned from L.A. on Sunday to find that something had happened to our heat. We didn't think much of it until the temperature in the house started to obviously plummet while the thermostat said that the heat was on. We have taken steps to remedy this problem, but while the wheels of Lennar's warranty service slowly turn, we've been left pretty cold.

Contrary to popular belief, it does get cold in Las Vegas in the wintertime, and our lack of heat has coincided with a cold snap. At night, the temperature has gone well below freezing, and daytime highs have hovered in the mid-forties. Consequently, the temperature in our house is now around 55. Pretty cold for an inside space mostly covered with ceramic tile.

Nevertheless, we're all right(Target has a two-for-one space heater deal right now), but we have
been worrying about the cat. How warm can she be? Sure, she wears a fur coat everywhere, but she's naked underneath. Never fear: as of this morning, she has gathered almost every blanket we own around her and nested on our bed near our south-facing window. She'll be fine.

Our houseguests!

In late October, close to that special spookilicious time of year, our first overnight houseguests arrived! One by plane, one by CRV. One from the land of 10,000 lakes, one from the land of 10,000 collagen-injected lips (although she herself has escaped this curious local custom). Both brought housewarming gifts...the pizza pie quilt and a Longaberger basket!


Now, these were by no means houseguests ready to exploit and use their gracious host and hostess. No, no. These houseguests planted lovely plants, in an attempt to help us "potscape" our yard for now, until actual landscaping becomes a reality. The result was very nice! Though I have to report that both the basil and the pansies have died.


We had a great time -- saw the Liberace "play-alike" play just like the man himself in the piano bar at the Tivoli Gardens. Then we saw him AGAIN on Saturday, performing on Liberace's shimmering Baldwin at the Liberace museum. My mom even requested "Happy Birthday" for me when we saw him at the bar. (He also played "Always," which we all sang along to!)


We also hiked in Red Rock, visited our local yarn store , and of course, the houseguests also kept Lyra entertained.


It was a really great visit, and it was so nice to have family staying with us in our home. What fun! Hopefully we're getting this "good host" thing down. I think Buckwalter may have gotten a little carried away when we all started knitting. But what an awesome homeowner...he sure knows how to take care of his house, and how to help out when yarn needs to be wound.