Thanks your for the helpful suggestions. The Committee for the Advancemnet of Windmills (CAW) will take up your idea of wrapping oil-soaked rags around the shaft and lighting them on fire so as to keep the bearings from freezing.
“Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.”
We are also trying to come up with a new mannerism that is more environmentally friendly, and to include the terms “bearings” and “windmills”.
[Actually, it wouldn’t surpise me if it isn’t due to the “brass monkey” effect of dissimilar metals. Or, Californian lube rated down to 56 degrees F.]