Preparing for winter II

kmiller4

Justamum wrote: »

No!!! How do you measure out something like a cup of broccoli? Or a cup of chopped carrots for instance? Surely it would depend on whether you slice the carrots or chop them in fine dice?

I don't mind using cup measurements for the cake I normally make as that uses oil instead of marg so it's easy.

You do have a point about the veggies. If they are chopped fine its not too hard, but larger items are a challenge! Problem with weighing ingredients here in the US is that American recipes are written to be measured in cups not grams. I guess I could convert them though:)

lisakay_2

Hi to all, I post on some of the other threads but I confess to being a bit of a lurker on here! I have a little tip for all you eightlegged phobes...they apparently really don't like conkers, and as conker season is nearly upon us... I am getting my kids to collect them and i am going to put a few in the washing tablet net bag things to have around the house, on windowsills, dark corners etc!

with regards to prepping for winter. I have bought a couple of the asda fleece blankets and am nearly finished tacking them to my bedroom curtains, with the added advantage of keeping the room dark in the day as DH works nights. I will pick up a couple more next time i shop for the kids bedroom. I bagged some long velvet curtains for the front door from freecycle that i am yet to put up(not got a pole yet) and i got some extra roller blinds for the landing, kitchen and bathroom in the TJ hughes sale very cheap. I found a tin of wood treatment in the garage that i will coat the shed in next time we have a fair day.
Dh's next job, now he has finished decorating the hall stairs and landing, is to use the leftover lining paper and paint to do our very tiny kitchen, which is currently painted plaster and gets very cold.
when I've finished all the curtains, and finished sewing on school uniform name tapes, i will be making a couple of extra draught excluders for the doors.
I still need to think about winter clothes, mainly for the girls who have outgrown all of theirs,but also for me as i have shrunk out of all mine .DH can wear last years, and like it!!! although i may treat him to new socks, lol.

Red_Doe

RedDoe have you transport - could you try asking at the fishing places - there might be an empty hanging around from the boats?

Morning all, many thanks for the kind thoughts and suggestions. Tootti, we have no car and the only personal transport round here is the postbus, but I will ask my elderly neighbours to ask anyone they meet including the local crofters to see if anyone has one spare, or if any pallets are going spare. I didn't know you could burn those! I thought they were coated with preservative or something that might give off fumes, but if you can burn them that'd be great!
Many thanks too to the poster for the very kind offer of the tent, I'm going to try today and see if mine will stay up in the livingroom first .... will feel a bit strange having a tent up in the livingroom! But it makes sense that it'll be warmer, especially sleeping at night.
I hadn't thought of contacting the MSP about Scottish Fuels, and will do that. The trouble with a vast area of the highlands nowadays is that many of the 'poorer' folks, for want of a better word, have moved away, and all that's left are holiday homes and better off retired people, who usually don't have money troubles. I guess Scottish Fuels get enough orders from them to not care about people struggling to pay.
I will try highland Fuels though got a vague memory of trying them before and they asked for it all upfront too Sadly, even fifty percent is too much for us to pay out at once at this point in time. Also, maybe they won't want to deal with someone on the verge of bankruptcy?
Hoping everyone has a lovely day. Autumn is well and truly early and here, our fourth day of rain and high winds, last night was cold. Re berries, don't know if it makes a difference but my blackcurrant bushes were laden this year and the birds stripped them all before you could blink! My rosehip bushes are likewise heavy with fruit and once they're ripened I'm going to make rosehip syrup to see us through the winter, rich in vitamin C.

You are all very kind people. Last night I turned off the laptop and had a wee weep to myself because of it. There are so many places on this vast site where it seems to be the name of the game to poke fun at others, or just be plain vicious, just for the hell of it.
The OS boards are different, and I'm so glad they are. These threads seem to be the safe haven for folks who are struggling but still retain their decency and kindness and most importantly, common sense. Off now before I start sniffling again! I blame the menopause!

sammy_kaye18

Red_Doe wrote: »

You are all very kind people. Last night I turned off the laptop and had a wee weep to myself because of it. There are so many places on this vast site where it seems to be the name of the game to poke fun at others, or just be plain vicious, just for the hell of it.
The OS boards are different, and I'm so glad they are. These threads seem to be the safe haven for folks who are struggling but still retain their decency and kindness and most importantly, common sense. Off now before I start sniffling again! I blame the menopause!

Some people on the site in general can be god awful, but the OS boards always feel like home to me - bar when I need a moment of well prepared madness and I cheat on it with the 'special occasions christmas threads' but the people on these boards are lovely. Have never had a cross word with anyone and they are all here offering advice with their hearts and ears wide open. Im sure if I ever met half of them we'd be like long lost friends. I think half the posters on here have most definitely helped and watched me grow up - being that I joined when I was 18, just had Ben, and had a house - they saw me through so much and now look - here I sit at 27, with a 7 year old and a 13 month old (yes shes really that old now!) :rotfl: Im sure thats just aged half the members too! But they are angels and someone is always around at stupid o clock when you need them most. :A:A:A:A:A:A:A:A:A

jem132

Red_Doe wrote: »

Morning all, many thanks for the kind thoughts and suggestions. Tootti, we have no car and the only personal transport round here is the postbus, but I will ask my elderly neighbours to ask anyone they meet including the local crofters to see if anyone has one spare, or if any pallets are going spare. I didn't know you could burn those! I thought they were coated with preservative or something that might give off fumes, but if you can burn them that'd be great!
Many thanks too to the poster for the very kind offer of the tent, I'm going to try today and see if mine will stay up in the livingroom first .... will feel a bit strange having a tent up in the livingroom! But it makes sense that it'll be warmer, especially sleeping at night.
I hadn't thought of contacting the MSP about Scottish Fuels, and will do that. The trouble with a vast area of the highlands nowadays is that many of the 'poorer' folks, for want of a better word, have moved away, and all that's left are holiday homes and better off retired people, who usually don't have money troubles. I guess Scottish Fuels get enough orders from them to not care about people struggling to pay.
I will try highland Fuels though got a vague memory of trying them before and they asked for it all upfront too Sadly, even fifty percent is too much for us to pay out at once at this point in time. Also, maybe they won't want to deal with someone on the verge of bankruptcy?
Hoping everyone has a lovely day. Autumn is well and truly early and here, our fourth day of rain and high winds, last night was cold. Re berries, don't know if it makes a difference but my blackcurrant bushes were laden this year and the birds stripped them all before you could blink! My rosehip bushes are likewise heavy with fruit and once they're ripened I'm going to make rosehip syrup to see us through the winter, rich in vitamin C.

You are all very kind people. Last night I turned off the laptop and had a wee weep to myself because of it. There are so many places on this vast site where it seems to be the name of the game to poke fun at others, or just be plain vicious, just for the hell of it.
The OS boards are different, and I'm so glad they are. These threads seem to be the safe haven for folks who are struggling but still retain their decency and kindness and most importantly, common sense. Off now before I start sniffling again! I blame the menopause!

I like you have found that people on the other threads can we horrible and judgementle on hear every one is so nice like i wish everyone was ...
If only we had a oldstyle support thread for famiely matters :j

tugrin

I want to chip in and say I agree wholeheartedly! I dont think I realised fully how spiteful some of the other boards are until I came here long term! DIY can actually be totallly off- putting sometimes (have been slapped down a couple of times obviously!).
People here are compassionate and thoughtful and give so much of their time and knowledge it is heart achingly lovely sometimes and actually it's great to have a weep because people !!!! SO blooming nice instead of crying because you feel the world is full of nasty self-serving ego maniacs!!!!! I feel I have found my home!
Red Doe - Rose hip syrup - another blast from the past - did you know that country schools were closed in order for the children to go rose-hip gathering during th war in order to make the syrup because of its high vit c content. Necessary in the food poverty of rationing and no imported citrus.
I was slightly put off making it in my self sufficiency days because of the dire warnings about how dangerous the furry insides are as an irritant to the body - sometimes causing death according to my very old books!!!! Now I can google and see that that was scare mongering ( I wonder if it was so everyone would send their hips to the government collection points?)
Pleas can I have you recipe Red Doe as I have lots around me and am 'getting back into the groove' as I believe those youngsters say!
Waiting for the sweep - a new one as the good one is booked up until November!!!! This one is ominously called The CHimney Chappie - not very rural sounding but we shall see.
DD of on a free hol to Devon today - she deserves it she has brought her overdraught down to just over £100 and paid £300 pounds off her back rent by working her **** off for a vile pub manager this holiday - Im glad Ive brought up such a tough kid!!
Bit sunnier here today dont expect it will last but there were dew dangled spiders webs across the gate this am so Autumn is officially here in Norfolk!
Metaphorical uplifting hugs to you all as we start another week of OS.

Rainy-Days

I guess thats the way life is in general Sammy, you get the general nutters in life who tend to walk around the streets and parks and cause trouble in the pubs come kicking out time and then you have the salt of the earth souls who would give you their last penny. It's exactly the same in here I suppose. The deranged seem to pitch up in the pub at the bottom of the main forum page - and despite the odd sound reasoning voice trying to calm their narcissistic rantings - they keep on barking on all the same. Now I treat them like visiting a zoo, it's a good place to go and read for a while if you feel suicidal because you come out of there howling with laughter. And thats just the Walter Mitty characters in there!

It's been good I must say, I was a long time lurker, but finally bit the bullet and found a safe port in which to drop anchor. I have really enjoyed my winter preparation. Mainly because I don't feel the odd one out.

jem132

A few more to cross off my list

[STRIKE][/STRIKE]Door curtain up[STRIKE][/STRIKE]
[STRIKE][/STRIKE]pond sorted [STRIKE][/STRIKE]
[STRIKE][/STRIKE]more loo roll[STRIKE][/STRIKE]

Confuzzled

shoei wrote: »

Here goes my 1st post!!!!

Is there anything I can do other than buying an expensive dehumidifier?

salt in a few dishes scattered around the area, they soak up the condensation... give it a try, if it's not enough you probably need the dehumidifier

jem132

my new list
[STRIKE]Door curtain up[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]All down stairs windows done[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]My stock cupard is so full[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Di-ice[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Pond /garden[/STRIKE]
[STRIKE]Gloves/scarfs wahsed[/STRIKE]