Preparing for winter III

23rdspiral

Hey all, we've been really today and ticked quite a bit off the list... I've moved 1 of the wood piles, extracted a pallet from the back of the big shed, put it down, then put the wood back on top! (me!!) OH was adamant the wood store would be built by now, but of course it isn't so doing that plus weighing down a tarp on top should keep the logs usable. He chopped more logs and kindling while I did this.

And so I also tidied the shed... Could only get in a foot before, now there's floor space and even a chair!! If he dares to criticize because he can't find any tools, (now all tidy on a previously upended shelf unit), then I won't be blamed for the bad language!

I've just labelled 31 jars of jam/jelly/chutney, am happy they are no longer on the kitchen surface, and am wondering where on earth to store them! Tomorows dinner is in the SC (woopsied stew pack veg, woopsied turkey steaks and casserole powder bb4 09!!), and dinner tonight will be a friends own shot, hung, and processed vennison sausages with roasts and woopsied veg. And am now having a well earned rest in front of the stove

Hope you're all warm and safe tonight

kmiller4

Hi all--
I haven't posted in a bit because I am very busy at the university with the the end of the term approaching. Weather here has been quite nice-- really no snow to speak of thus far and temperatures about the same as yours. I always feel so stressed this time of the year even though I am really very well prepared for the winter and Cmas as well. Just so much to do in such a short period, including holiday baking, tying up loose ends for this semester and getting prepared for the start of the next.
I hope everyone is doing well. I'll try to pop in as I am able. I miss you all!
Kathy

Eliza_2

Artichoke, not sure where you are but the Cat and Fiddle and Snake Pass have both been closed.

Hope everyone stays safe. At least it isn't as bad as this time last year so something to be grateful for.

Blue_Elephant

Random question, not sure it's the right place but sort of on topic as I'm stockpiling "just in case"

I bought two lots of "fresh" bread from asda, you know, the baked on premises stuff. The person on the bakery counter said that they don't recommend freezing it, but given I know some of you guys freeze home made bread, I should be ok shouldn't I?

please help!

pollys

DS has just announced it is snowing here in West Yorkshire. Feeling snug and warm, take care if you need to journey out this week.

Pollys x

Rummer

Hubby just went out to the shop and the streets are solid ice :eek:. So not looking forward to the drive to work in the morning!

Eliza_2

Blue_Elephant wrote: »

Random question, not sure it's the right place but sort of on topic as I'm stockpiling "just in case"

I bought two lots of "fresh" bread from asda, you know, the baked on premises stuff. The person on the bakery counter said that they don't recommend freezing it, but given I know some of you guys freeze home made bread, I should be ok shouldn't I?

please help!

Did they say whyever not? Can't imagine any reason at all - all kinds of bread from cheapie sliced to artisan/ home made/ posh stuff freezes brillantly! I tend to slice it first then freeze, then you only need to take out as many slices as you need. It's usually recommended to fill a freezer with bread if there's spare space in it (unlikely to happen with any of us lot!!) to make it run more efficiently.

Go for it.

rosieben

Blue_Elephant wrote: »

... I bought two lots of "fresh" bread from asda, you know, the baked on premises stuff. The person on the bakery counter said that they don't recommend freezing it, but given I know some of you guys freeze home made bread, I should be ok shouldn't I? please help!

I can't think of any reason why they don't recommend freezing except they hope it will go off so you have to buy more, sorry, I'm such a cynic!!:D

I have frozen their bread in the past as well as bread from other sm's; it may be their dough is frozen, but once cooked its fine to freeze again. In fact I read in the Home and Freezer Digest - wish it was still around! - in the 70's that you can refreeze bread quite safely and I've done that on many occasions.

Eenymeeny

Cold but no snow here..yet! Nice to see the Derbyshire references. We used to have family living in Tideswell, it was often a bit of a lottery whether they would get home or had to stay in the pub at Bradwell;):)
Stay warm everyone :grouphug::santa2:

prepareathome

Well done Tugrin, I assure you having another half does not mean you have help, mine has been around these 33 years and when it comes to DIY or laying a carpet etc he is as much use as a 6 week old baby, in fact less use......I have always done everything myself from decorating to laying carpets, although this year with the inheritance I did actually pay for our new stair and hall carpet and lino in living room to be put down. Got to admit I felt totally spoilt watching the guy from the shop do it all. He did a great job and most people coming to the house think we have actually got flooring down in living room the lino looks and feels so real, but with the dogs it was to dangerous to actually have flooring. I doubt we will ever afford to have it put down by someone again. Though being 55 am hoping that the lino will last us now, just put different rugs as old ones wear out as inheritance is now just a figure on our bank statement as its all gone now . We had just had painted stairs for past 6 years as couldn't afford even the cheapest of carpets for it and painted floorboards and rugs in living room, but floorboards are not in the best state so didn't look good enough to stain and varnish. There were so many gaps in them I have definitely noticed how much warmer the living room is now the lino is blocking all those. Have a look round charity shops for old bedding and you can make yourself some nice cushions for the bed to add colour and warmth. I have been looking for these but not seen any in colour I want as walls in living room are just plain white as we have lots of pictures and photos all over them, but couches are cream leather and curtains velvet gold ( lovely and heavy and do keep warmth in, charity shop buy for £5 last year) but although floor is honey coloured room does seem coldish, so want to do red cushion covers to add some warmth to it. Am hoping to go into town on Tuesday with friends and we plan to go to fabric shop so hoping I might pick up some remnants to make the covers nice and cheap as looked on-line and although you can get fabric cheap with the cost of PP it worked out even in the cheapest place £12 just for 2ms of the cheapest cotton ( cotton £3 and PP £9). I did pick up a massive cotton ks sheet in charity shop for £3 other week and a turquoise cotton double duvet set for £5 and going to use them to make some new pillow cases for the beds as the quality of both is really good and not a break or mark on them, but not what I want for living room. If I cannot get right colour cheaply as most likely wrong time of year to want red, as so many use it for Christmas things I will see how much dye costs and might dye them instead. I did treat myself I admit to a cheap sewing machine out of the money ( £43 on sale) its only a basic but then I am only a very basic sewer, so far just made a draught excluder, filling it with the insides of cheapest pillows I could buy, far cheaper than buying stuffing and don't have anything else in I could have used. I used to sew everything by hand including curtains but cannot do that any more unfortunately as hands hurt to much. Just try to see beyond what the items are if you see anything nice in a charity shop and if it can be made into something else.

Hope we will see a photo of your gorgeous room when you are finished

Stay warm everyone, hugs to all