• Bio

Lissa Coffey

Here in sunny Southern California it’s a rare day when the temperatures dip below 50 degrees, even in the winter.  Not so last week, when it actually rained ice!  We’re not used to that here, so it was the topic of conversation everywhere.  And it was the cause of several injuries, too, given the attendance at the local emergency room. I got a call Saturday morning from my step-dad.  My mom was outside putting warm water in her birdbath to melt the frozen water for the birds when she slipped on an icy patch on her patio, and fell on her right hand.  She was carrying a class pitcher, which broke, and she cut her hand badly.  It ended up that she damaged a nerve and her muscles were shredded so she had to have surgery.  The emergency room was filled with people in similar situations. We’re just not cut out for this kind of weather!  California drivers freak out when it rains, but when there’s ice – yikes!  And our poor little plants… our citrus looks so sad.  Our hibiscus is frozen, and our plumeria is in shock.  I covered the plumeria up with a towel but I don’t think it made any difference. And now – the sun is out again!  It’s January and we’re back in the 70’s where we belong.  We definitely need more rain – it’s been a very dry winter.  But hopefully this spurt of sunshine will thaw out the ground and bring some life back to our landscape.