View from the U.S.A.

It is not strictly allotment business but since I am on holiday with family in the U.S.A. I thought I might record some observations.
We came ready for really cold weather - suitcases bulging with sweaters and thermal underwear, but today has been the first day when it has been below freezing. Up to now we have been within a degree or so of the Christchurch weather but today it turned cold (-1 was the top temperature). I was outside, dressed in padded jacket, fleecy hoodie, + 2 layers underneath, winter walking trousers and fingerless mitts, putting up the exterior Xmas lights. (About a third of houses are decorated outside as well as inside.)
I was lovely and warm working in the shelter of the house until I put my head over the guttering and felt the icy breeze! And the sun was shining! However, there were a few flakes of snow drifting down and we are promised proper snow for next weekend!
There is precious little gardening to do. Everything except the evergreen pine trees is brown and dead. I thought I would sweep up some of the leaves but found they were frozen to the grass. Even the heap of leaves left in the middle of the 'lawn' was so solidly frozen I couldn't move it. Not sure if the grass underneath will benefit from the insulation or die from lack of light.
I wrapped up well with a down coat to walk to the shopping mall but then had the problem of what to do with the bulky coat once in the centrally heated mall! Everyone else drives to the mall but I need to get some exercise somehow!