Janet wrote: Almost every day last summer we sat outside and just enjoyed the evening. That was in July and August. Can't do that in Illinois. I beg to differ...my husband and I have a firepit outside and we sit outside with the dogs, roast marshmallows, sear some Salmon, drink copious amounts of hot chocolate and burn some wieners quite regularly. The neighbours come over and join us and friends with their snowmachines drop by when they see the towering flames (as has the fire dept on occasion). We usually stay out until about 11pm. Best nights are full moon when it is so icy crisp that the air is incredibly clear and the snow lays like diamonds in the moonlight. It's 2 degrees Fahrenheit here right now with wind chill of -22F and the boys are out clearing the skating rink on the lake and my other half is stacking the wood for the fire. The sky is so blue and the snow is crisp that you know that it's going to be a great evening. The difference is that it isn't wet snow or sleeting. Our ski hills are packed today and the malls are empty, in spite of the cold. And my dogs REVEL in this weather - Life can be good in the cold - it's all in your attitude. Mary-Anne ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2009. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ ============================================================================