While those of us in the grand ol’ U.S. of A were busy baking in the heat like a hot potato in a 375 degree oven, Brazilians were busy cooling their heels.

In the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul , a cold front came swooping in dumping snow on the region. The children were happy to see the snow because they got a chance to build snowmen and have snowball fights.

Rio Grande do Sul has a high elevation which makes snowfall and cold temperatures common. Meteorologist Orelon Sidney cited experts who said the region has had snow 7 of the last 10 years.

What isn’t common is the hail and freezing rain and the large amounts of snow that fell down on several cities. Small amounts of snow is normal. Large amounts of snow is not normal.

The abnormality of the situation has cause concern for those who are in the farming business because the cold, snow, hail, and freezing rain means the crops won’t grow. Folks, crops not growing in Brazil is a bad thing.

Brazil is a leader in the production and exporting of such crops as coffee, soybeans, and sugar. The Reuters folks say that the cold weather has already led to coffee and sugar prices being jacked up on the international market. And y’all know what jacked up prices mean! Many folks won’t be having Folgers in their cups!

Mother Nature, though, doesn’t give a shine from the sun about how important Brazil is in providing coffee to the human population throughout the world.

She’s decided that just to get her giggles from her tickles she’ll keep Rio Grande Do Sul as cold as an Artic icicle through Friday. And just to add a little more frost to the ground, Mother Nature has also decided to make Friday the coldest day of the year.

Mother Nature can be an ice cold woman, sometimes.