It’s graupeling in Indiana.  As in, graupel is falling from the sky.  I’ve lived in snowy climates almost my entire life, and I’ve never heard of “graupel”.  Do you ever think Weathermen get bored, and make up stuff?  I’m not making fun of them.  We do it in Research.  Example: Epigenetics.  Not a word.  I don’t care how many famous scientists say it, someone, at some point, probably at 2 am when exhausted and foggy from staring at data, made it up.  In all fairness, new discoveries need names.  Precipitation that is NOT hail and NOT sleet needs a name.  The expression of genes not related to the underlying DNA coding begs for a name.  My point is, that for once, a meeting of the minds wasn’t required.  Someone thought it up, wrote it down, got it published, and it became truth.  After years of being pummeled by Six-Sigma committee meetings, the “making it up and letting it fly” is rather refreshing, isn’t it?

With the beautiful “not sleet and not hail” graupel, came the girls almost constant reminder that Hot Cocoa season was upon us.  Why yes, yes it is.  Marshmallows are obligatory.  The cornbread crumbs you see surrounding the mug?  Mandatory for Mommy who requires soup and cornbread almost non-stop through the Indiana Winter.

Last week we were outside without coats on, and this week, we are digging out the winter coats and mittens.  That’s how it works in the Midwest: Fireplaces and Heaters in the morning and night, A/C in the mid to late afternoon.  And we all keep HVAC repairmen on speed dial.  Hope the turn in weather finds you warming up with a mug of Hot Cocoa and staying dry from the pelting GRAUPEL!!