Urban Myth: Florida is always warm and balmy...

We're freezing down here! Literally! We were at freezing last night, and tonight we are expected to get around 29. And I am in south Florida, near the Everglades. The rest of Florida is even colder. There are reports of snow flurries around Orlando, frozen ponds in mid to north Florida. It's cold!

I've already had my chenille plant hit by the freeze...
It's the one plant that got hit by the freeze last year, too. Something about that spot makes it vulnerable. But it came back after it was frozen last year, and it will probably come back again this year.

But the poor animals. We went to go out to breakfast this morning, and Trouble (the stray cat) ran off from the front bed where he'd apparently been hiding, looking for a dry, warm spot. I've been worried about him. So I put the dog carrier out back with rugs and towels in it, and covered it with an old sheet.
If he comes around the backyard as he likes to do, maybe he'll take shelter in it.

And I put a small carrier in the front entrance with a towel over it, and left the screen door open.
So he's got a spot out front, too. We'll see whether he uses either, but at least I tried. It is just miserable outside.

Folks: Please bring those animals in. It is way too cold out to responsibly and compassionately leave your animals outside. Even down here in "balmy" Florida.

And then there were two...

The other day I mentioned this guy- "The Interloper". I just call him Trouble for short. He used to like to come around and start trouble by growling and yowling at my cats when they were on the lanai. He's settled down now, and doesn't start so much trouble anymore. Just sort of stops by, and finds a cozy spot for a nap in the front or backyard.

Today I was opening the blinds to the french doors when I heard Simon growl. I've never heard Simon growl before! So I looked to see what had him upset, and looked up just in time to see an orange and white butt walk by. Well, where in the heck did that come from? I went outside and found this...
Great. Now there's two of them to start trouble! Now you see why I don't go looking for animals? They always find me. One of these days a dog is going to wander into my life the same way that these cats always do. Or my yard. The only spot that I've found that might be big enough to let these guys in is behind where the trash cans are stored. There's a bit of a gap under the fence there.

Trouble 1

+ Trouble 2
=Trouble²

That's "Animal Math"! And there's no other solution it equates to!

(NOTE: You have no idea how many minutes I spent trying to figure out how I would do "squared" on a computer keyboard! But I figured it out! NumLock + ALT +253 = ²!)