Preparing for winter III

adelight

I can't believe how warm it is still. In London we've had one day so far when it's been remotely frosty or slippy underfoot. Why couldn't it have been like this last year when I was waking up in a 4C bedroom :rotfl:
Any guesses as to whether it's going to be a mild winter or a late one with snow in april? Anyone else considering getting the veg ready to go out early or planting something hardy out early?

[Deleted User]

I could have done my washing grrrrh. I watched bbc weather early today and it said rain and more rain but it has been blue and sunny all day, apart from one small shower. So much so that I switched the stove off as it was due to light from 11-2. There is a 60 wash sitting in the washer, ready to do but no point unless it hangs out all day. It looks as though the next bright all day spot will be on thursday, according to bbc. I wish they would do less general weather forecasts which always seem to err to the downside. No good to anyone

re veg adelight. I am no way sowing anything early this year, after the shannigans last year but my allotment cabbages will be bolting soon as it is so mild. I am going to have to make more sauerkraut!!

Confuzzled

prepareathome wrote: »

Here temp is 2.2 outside have closed bedroom window for first time in weeks as was feeling a tad chilly in here thanks to cold wind blowing in, no heating on and room is 19C....

Stay warm everyone.....

it's 5C with a real feel of -4C outside right now, didn't have the storage heaters on last night as it was 20C or higher in here all day yesterday, still 18.7C though so not too bad but perhaps i should have mine on for tonight just in case, and i desperately need some washing done anyway

we're due some high winds here again tonight, i really hope they don't blow the bins over again, i had quite a struggle earlier in the week trying to sort them all out (my 4 plus my neighbours 4 in the dark and rain!) so i'm not looking forward to that again!

hope everyone is safe and warm

THIRZAH

Cold here in the Peak District but sunny. We've just been for a walk in the hills and there was no snow on the tops either.

I slipped on a grassy slope coming down and ended up covered in mud so was not best pleased to find that there was a power cut when we got home-it's back on now.

mardatha

Traffic Scotland show a huge traffic tailback up at Drumochter due to heavy snow. Snow gates closed further up on the A9, lots and lots of snow BUT NONE HERE !!! :(:(
Big storm coming tomorrow ane this one will affect right down to the south of England.

singlestep

Happy new year to all of you!

Chillier and showery (rain, not snow) in Glasgow today, Cat.

I don't know whether or not to be disappointed by the much milder winter this year. However, I won't have to step foot out of doors tomorrow out in to the windy weather, so that's a bonus. I have lots left over from New Year and am eating the last of a big pot of soup I made - the 12th portion. Thankfully I had help getting through it because there's no room in the freezer!

Fruball

adelight wrote: »

I can't believe how warm it is still. In London we've had one day so far when it's been remotely frosty or slippy underfoot. Why couldn't it have been like this last year when I was waking up in a 4C bedroom :rotfl:
Any guesses as to whether it's going to be a mild winter or a late one with snow in april? Anyone else considering getting the veg ready to go out early or planting something hardy out early?

I think its been so mild as I am prepared and spent money on Yaktrax, strong boots and storecupboards are fit to burst!!!!

However, I still haven't isolated and insulated the outside tap, so there is still a chance of -10c :cool:

i am also thinking of starting to go thru my seed collection - with such a distressing year 2011, I planted 2 brocolli plants and thats all! Neither have flowered yet but expecting them to in Feb/March... So I have loads of seeds left over and am looking forward to a productive year in the garden


Ooooooh, my solar fairy lights outside came on this evening so light levels must be improving :T

beanrua

singlestep wrote: »

..... am eating the last of a big pot of soup I made - the 12th portion. Thankfully I had help getting through it because there's no room in the freezer!

singlestep-You've just reminded me that I have a huge pot of soup from yesterday that I had forgotten about - will have some now and freeze the rest - thanks- All this preparation and I can't remember I am prepared!!!!!!

prepareathome

Temp is dropping here and wind is getting up and its cooooooooolllldddddd, had to close bedroom window again as cold coming in via wind, yet room itself is 17C so not to cold at all. Just glad the holly bushes I planted out today are near the drive gates ( hubby has decided he doesn't like drive gates there) so they should be sheltered from the wind as unlike the hedges I had planted in beg of Dec they don't have roots going down yet. So if all the hedges including the holly survives that is whole side garden surrounded by hedges which I hope from next year will be a nice protection from southerly winds which is where most seem to come from here and thud against the south facing wall of the house. The East where front door is does get some wind but as houses are about 300m away its not as bad as south and West where back door is, is protected from the trees at end of my garden and side of one at back and also as back garden is a hill the top of back door is the height of the ground at back of garden so wind there rarely touches actual back garden, but the trees bend right into it, but if tomorrow is as bad as they say then likely even back garden will get a bit windy. I have been out in back before now on days when we have had gales and leaves barely stirring on bushes yet above me trees almost bending double, its amazing to stand out there underneath and watch, I keep my eyes peeled though as had odd branch come off or something being blown into my garden from someone elses who is not as protected. At least in side garden with it being so open at moment there is only grass just now, just so long as fence doesn't blow down as that has happened before, but that was old fence, although this one is about 12 years old now. We do have one Black Poplar in side garden - there were four when we moved in ( with preservation orders on them) but two we managed to have taken down before they fell down, was a fight with the council though. Third one we were in process of convincing them that it needed taking down as dangerous when it fell down itself totally blocking the main road, thankfully no cars on road at that moment nor any parked and as it fell at an angle it didn't hit houses across the road, if it had fallen straight it would have taken out two houses. This one they agreed to being topped last year so only now about 40ft high but seems sturdy, not noticed the trunk moving in the wind nor any sign of fungus but will have to keep a careful eye tomorrow. I love trees but when they need taking down I believe they should be not left in hope they will survive a bit longer which seems to be council policy. They were all part of wind break at end of field when this was all farmland and it is sad to see them go.

Right I am so tired, you wouldn't know it from the way I am blathering on, so going to shut this laptop down and snuggle down - should or shouldn't I open window again as I don't like sleeping in room with it closed and once in bed don't care if its cold and dogs have plenty of quilts to snuggle up under and little one sleeps in bed with me ( already she is snug up against my legs under the duvet). Its funny how they always know when I am planning on going to sleep, they jump off my bed and snuggle down without me doing or saying anything.

Stay warm and safe and if you have to go out tomorrow try to stay away from trees, walls or buildings.

Night night ( I hope)

shegar

beanrua wrote: »

Heavy frost here - no snow on mountains. Quite a change after all the mild weather - will get my bubble wrapped house tested properly perhaps! I think I'm well prepared for the cold and snow and don't mind it at this time of year - unless it stops me getting to the airport to go on my hols!
Don't know anything about hollyhocks but mine are still blooming and lots of buds.

Talking of hollyhocks still out, this is what is still out in the garden from summer 2011;;osteospermums,roses,calendula,heather ,margarites, hotlips(slavias),, also noticed today whenI was cleaning out the old birdboxes, all 7 of them, honeysuckle in bud, also roses too...........admit we havent had too many cold nights,frosts, as today was sunny and blue skies and a tad bit chilly.......my son bought me a camera in bird box, so ive been looking for some place to put it , and ive decided to put it where a blue tit as nested for the past 3 yrs, I just hope he will use it..............