Preparing for winter III

Rainy-Days

It was cold, but bright and sunny today for us, so I put two loads of washing out on the line - the towels only half dried sadly. Nevertheless, the washing basket was empty this morning. If bad weather is coming in then we are pretty much covered. Keeping an eye currently on BBC Weather online by using our postcode for a more accurate gauge.

I have to go to and collect something from Next tomorrow so might have a mini food shop. I looked at the fourpints of milk in the freezer last week and thought I must get that out and use it - I will hold off for a while in the event that the weather could turn nasty.

Nothing major to report this end - not been on recently I know, combination of work and a poorly dog - vet thinks she may have a tumour on her paw on the top and side of one of her toes. We are awaiting the biopsy results back, but if it is malignant they will remove her toe completely. It's a bit of worry but hopefully the sooner we get the answers the earlier Saffy can make a full recovery! Big vet bill of £195.00 on top of the previous £127.98 that we have paid in antibiotics and consultation fees!

prepareathome

Just back from a private function at a hotel an hour a way in middle of countryside, when we came out we found car totally frozen ( was there 4 hrs and wasn't that cold when we arrived )and was colder inside it than outside, had to de ice all windows and have heat blowing a good few mins before it was warm enough to get in but engine started first time thankfully .. Road was icy coming home and just after leaving we hit freezing fog and this on country roads with no lights so we crawled along till we were through it. Home we have clear skies and bitter cold so car bound to be a block of ice again tomorrow.

prepareathome

Rainy-Days wrote: »

Nothing major to report this end - not been on recently I know, combination of work and a poorly dog - vet thinks she may have a tumour on her paw on the top and side of one of her toes. We are awaiting the biopsy results back, but if it is malignant they will remove her toe completely. It's a bit of worry but hopefully the sooner we get the answers the earlier Saffy can make a full recovery! Big vet bill of £195.00 on top of the previous £127.98 that we have paid in antibiotics and consultation fees!

Sending love and healing thoughts for poorly doggie, fingers crossed its not what is suspected.

Hugs

[Deleted User]

Hello everyone - according to the BBC weather forecast this morning we can all stop feeling slightly foolish and start to feel SMUG!!!!!!!!!!!! They said the word SNOW and Cold and February and still they sit on the fence as to where and when - however, there are those amongst us who can say told you so - eh Kittie - well done you!

babyblooz

I had been thinking that perhaps I had been over-reacting when getting everything ready for the big cold snap that never actually arrived BUT it does give you a nice cosy feeling knowing that we have milk and bread and other food in the freezer, wellies and warm socks in the cupboard and lots of activities at the ready if the Siberian blast does hit our little corner of the world. I just think well, now we do have them,even if not for this year but for when we do need them. As we say in this little corner of God's own county 'Well, they dunt eat owt' lol!

mardatha

Does anybody know if there's a trick to keeping hens water from freezing solid? For the past few days I've had to run out 3 times a day with hot water.

ModestyB

Hi all, just a suggestion, we used to have a paraffin fire, the only heat we had, and the smell was awful. We used to be able to get a bottle of 'paraffin perfume' to make it smell better. I don't know if this is still available but I think we used to get it from the hardware shop. HTH someone. One warning about paraffin fires, they make your house very damp and everything gets covered with a greasy film. If you do resort to having one, please don't use it too much. I know they are useful but they affect your chest too with breathing all that yucky stuff in.

Rainy days, I hope your Saffy gets well soon and it's not as bad as you think.

Hugs to all.

jamanda

mardatha wrote: »

Does anybody know if there's a trick to keeping hens water from freezing solid? For the past few days I've had to run out 3 times a day with hot water.

I've heard of people putting a ball in their pond to try to prevent it freezing but not sure how effective it is.

[Deleted User]

If the water is in a bell shaped water dispenser (wierd way of puting it but I don't know official title) you could balance it on a wide flower pot with a tealight lit under it, would need to be in a sheltered corner out of the wind, that should keep the water just above freezing. Don't know how practical a solution that is for you. Good luck!

Rainy-Days

It seems some of us will get snow - others may miss it! Either way it is going to turn very cold indeed with night time temperatures down to -5 this week. The forecast is for a very cold February. Also watch March - in like the lion out like the lamb - as the saying goes!

Remember I said previously about my grandfather saying that when the moon is on it's back bad weather is on the way? Last night the moon was very much on 'his' back and given that old saying has proved right in the past it will come to pass I think again this time round.

I did a small shop at Lidl and Sainsbury's today and popped some things in the freezer. I won't have to go out now until the end of next week so if it does turn nasty I am not fretting about what we have not got or having to make a special trip out either.

I do feel a wee bit glad that all that preparation from last year has been worth it. The wind and rain that came prevented damage to our home and all of the extra odds and ends that we did in preparation for the weather turning very cold even snowy looks like will pay dividends in the next few weeks.