Preparing for winter II

Nicnax

I've been lurking on this thread for a few days trying to have a read through all the posts. I've never really thought about preparing for winter but I am trying my best to become more organised. I never realised there was so many things to do to be prepared. This thread has given me so many good ideas on how to do this so I'm hoping to get started. Thanks

tugrin

Have spent a vert sticky day with some blackberries. Disastrous attempt at jelly - all potted up and feeling smug. Well, it's a painful condition when your smug face starts to crumble as the 'jelly' cool and its plain to see that in fact you now have 4 jars of blackberry syrup. All had to be put back in pan and re boiled and jars washed and sterilised. More or less same story with the bramble cheese - what has happened to my natural preserving skills??????? ANy way after what seems like an eternity I have some jars of something in the cupboard - dont think this has been my finest hour!!

smileyt_2

Aw tugrin, your post made me giggle I am going to attempt rosehip syrup this week so I will probably have a similar tale of woe.

Just checked the last post dates for surface mail for Christmas. For where I want to send (US and HongKong) it will be somewhere around the middle of October. I am going to try and get organised enough to send my pressies by then as airmail is soooo expensive. It also means I can send more than I normally would be air mail. I want to try and get a wheat-free Christmas pudding for my friend's mum in the States, as she loves Christmas pud but is allergic to wheat. I went to visit them about five years ago and took one in my luggage with me. I declared it as a food item and got stopped by US Customs who wanted to know exactly what it was and why I was carrying it in the middle of June. Lol am I the only person ever to be hauled up for smuggling Christmas puddings?

Have washed and waterproofed my winter coats and that's about it so far for this week's winter prep. Oh, and I tidied my yard so I won't be tripping over things in the dark when I go and put the hens to bed in the winter.

Apart from a couple of days this week, the weather looks as if it is going to hold up, so I might manage to get on to the allotment to tidy up down there, too.

I have a cold. Bah. Not a serious one, just enough to remind me of the misery that a really stinky winter cold can cause. I will be splashing out on some balm tissues this week, to be stocked in case of a stinky cold and not for general use!

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tugrin wrote: »

Have spent a vert sticky day with some blackberries. Disastrous attempt at jelly - all potted up and feeling smug. Well, it's a painful condition when your smug face starts to crumble as the 'jelly' cool and its plain to see that in fact you now have 4 jars of blackberry syrup. All had to be put back in pan and re boiled and jars washed and sterilised. More or less same story with the bramble cheese - what has happened to my natural preserving skills??????? ANy way after what seems like an eternity I have some jars of something in the cupboard - dont think this has been my finest hour!!

That happened with me last week. I just separated the syrupy stuff and diluted it with water as a drink. The more solid stuff was used as a sort of jam.

rosieben

lisakay wrote: »

... I'm still mourning the loss of my favourite scarf, well, it wasn't exactly lost. I gave it away. I don't wish I hadn't, but I also wish I still had it iykwim. I gave it to a man on the park last new years eve. he needed it far more than I ever will. I hope he's still got it to keep him warm this yr!

I'm also wondering, and sorry for rambling, if the girls and I might go and help in a soup kitchen this christmas seeing as DH will be working...

good karma will keep you warm lisa, what great things to do :T

runnerbean17

Well just to update everyone I have stocked up on some loo-rolls from L*DL :rotfl:

Will def have a look for the Nicky loo-rolls next time I go into Home Bargains - one of my favourite shops!

rosieben

runnerbean17 wrote: »

Well just to update everyone I have stocked up on some loo-rolls from L*DL :rotfl:...

<breathes huge sigh of relief!>

Prudent

Just had a lovely read catching up. I am so busy at work that getting time on the thread is a rare treat.

I have done a couple of winter preps this week. I bought OH - who is a postie- the fingerless thick gloves that were reduced in Halfords from £14.99 to £1. In a much bigger spend I bought dd wonderful snow boots from Amazon. These are her main Christmas pressie, but if it snows in November I have said she can have them early as I have plenty of other bits for her to open on the day. She is 19 so past the stage of needing santa to bring surprises! These are the boots:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Patty-Womens-Snow-SILVER-37-38/dp/B004EB3F6W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1315165855&sr=8-1

They are wonderfully well lined and I am very impressed by them. I liked them so much that OH offered to buy me a pair for Christmas, but the sizing is 4/5 or 6/7 and I would need a 5/6. Can anyone recommend any other snow boots?

Prudent

squeaky wrote: »

I have a very specific place for my torch and for candles.

They both live in the drawer that sits between my fridge and my cooker. It's the easiest drawer to find in the dark.

The torch is in the front right hand corner AND... to stop it rolling about and getting lost as the drawer is opened and closed over time... I have a lump of blu-tack more or less welded to the inside front of the drawer and just dab the torch to it. That means I can always find it quickly and easily.

Candles and a box of matches live in a cut down milk container in the far left corner of the same drawer.

That is very clever squeaky. I am going to try and clear out a draw in the dining room dresser and make a powercut area!

SuziQ

Looking for a short wrapround, like a dressing gown but just below bottom length. Need about a size 22/24. Anyone seen anything like his? Would be great for an extra layer in doors.

There are some real bargain fleecy dressing gowns around at the moment-would it be worth getting one and cutting it down to the length you need, then simply hemming the bottom? You would get exactly the length you want that way. You could also make a scarf or snood out of what you cut off!