Preparing for winter IV

fuddle

Thanks Lyn

I get very excited about preparing for winter. I guess it feeds my control/looking after everyone need. There's something about candlelit nights that in the summer I (stupidly!!) look forward too.

I have to think about what I can use to reheat food (outside!) should there be a power cut. I managed beans on toast in that makeshift stove in the roses tin just burning odds and ends from the house... but I'm sure a pocket rocket of some sort really needs to be on my priority list. I'll go look and search the SHTF thread later as I've seen discussions there before.

I'm crocheting granny blankets, (neice and nephew, DD's and one big one for the back of the car) and have part way of the winter car box packed and acquired.

One thing is to acquire, reuse and see what you already have in the house. Year after year there's lists of what people need to buy new. Don't feel like you have to purchase everything but if you do be on the look out for thermals at sale prices, fleece blankets, winter coats etc Last years winter stocks may well be out there at bottom prices during the summer months when people just aren't interested

[Deleted User]

Thanks Lyn and fuddle. I`m not addicted to mse any more, so stay away most of the time, I don`t think I can add more info to posts in the past re preserving and so on, so am just busy here at home. Lottie as well as lots of fleece prep, spinning and knitting, great new hobby re the sheeps fleeces. Just thumb joints to stop using as they are getting sore with old age and too much use, drat. Am being careful as I want to keep on with my hobbies to very old age. Re hair, not had it cut Lyn and love it, too short to tie back yet but keeping nice silver colour with a little bit of interest at the ends. Saved a fortune but that isn`t the point, I just need a tiny cottage in the woods and enough garden for herbs and veggies and you`ll get the complete picture

Fuddle don`t worry too much re power cuts. All of us make do and menders managed as will you, just think cosy times with the family, playing cards by candlelight. Personally I hope they power down all the internet providers overnight and put the power off at 11. The nation will benefit by living more with the seasons

Got to go now, garden open day in the village including the lotties and we are taking turns for security as much as anything. Cycling up as always in my clean and scruffy gardening gear. I don`t care

[Deleted User]

Well done KITTIE, it's tough growing out hair but worth it in the end, stay with it and you'll be pleased with the end result, if you get your cottage in the woods can we come and visit, that would be fun as we'll both look the same by then and really put the wind up the locals, yes? Cheers Lyn xxx.

Hope your garden open day is a huge success, Lyn xxx.

pigpen

The winter prep list of Pigpen.

1. Coats for everyone who needs them. B, C, D, M, J, A, F, E, GS1, GS2, GS3.
2. Shoes/Boots for everyone who needs them. B, C, D, M, J, A, F, E, GS1, GS2, GS3
3. Get a little ahead with gas payments as my Dec bill comes Christmas week and cripples me every year.. I WILL be prepared this year!
4. Kitchen 'stock up' list. Make sure we have lots of non-perishables in case it is too cold/snowy/etc to get to the supermarket.
5. Medicine cabinet refilling. Cold/flu caps, calpol, calpol melts, ibuprofen, calprofen, anbesol, canesten, metanium, cough medicines, throat lozenges, lip balms.
6. blinds up in kitchen
7. curtains.. DD2's room, DD3/4's room, front door, back door
8. Draught snakes.. French doors, front door, back door.
9. Service for electric fire in middle room.. it has been cutting out after half an hour or so.
10. Car service.. December
11. Car bits.. antifreeze spray, screen wash, blankets for tiddlies, spade, cardboard for traction.. it is also used to protect the carpet in the boot from muddy pushchair wheels!
12. in the house activities for the children. I might actually have them doing stuff like stuffing draught snakes etc. I wonder if I can have them knitting squares so they can knit a blanket for themselves!!

I decided doing a new one rather than updating my previous one is a sensible idea.. thought I best do it now as it will take a while to save up for many of these things and some time to get them done.. Well this list is looking pretty much the same as the last one

mummytoo

Hi guys just popped to t3sco and bought 3 tins of de icer for 50p each. I swear my garage must be full of it, I do try to buy it early and can never remember where I put it. Already kept a tin in my boot so I know exactly where it is when the frost creeps up x

Snowy_Owl

That's a good tip about the de-icer mummytoo! I'm on holiday now for the summer and if there's a rainy day, I want to go through this list and get a lot of tips and make my to-do list.

Sale on Hubby's flat should "fingers-crossed" go through this week. Two big priorities are central heating installed and new front and back doors. Then it's getting the bathroom done up properly - new joists needed in part! (a toilet was badly fitted years ago- don't if installed by previous owners or when it was a council house)

In the sgort-term, we are looking to have a sort-thorugh/ clear out of the house & see what we actually have / need. Anything worthwhile, trying a car-boost sale in a month or so's time. Just trying to save up a bit to do these bigger jobs before winter. Little things I can do over holidays is start planning for christmas, learning to use my sewing machine with scrap material I've been saving up, start planning/building up the "pantry" ( old cupboard put in the side spare room)

With my sewing machine, I want to make cushions / blankets as also want to start making a family over the next couple of months! Think this would make a more personal touch!

[Deleted User]

I'm stocking up on tins of stewed steak to see us through the colder months. My local Co-Op has Princes Stewed Steak at £2.69 a tin at the moment which is quite a lot but, is a good product and when compared to the price of fresh meat not too bad for a meal that will feed 4 people with veg. I can use it for pie fillings, stews, pasties and even under mash to ring the changes and because it's already cooked it will use less fuel when I make our meal, Cheers Lyn xxx.

fuddle

Noted Lyn, good idea. Thank you.

Car users, especially those of us who drive older models, it would be beneficial to carry a lock de-icer. I got stuck at the petrol station not able to open my locked petrol cap as it was frozen. I was (not very prep of me) driving around on fumes as it was so drove home and had to get DH to bring me a petrol can. Lesson learned. Lock de-icer in my bag come September!

Anyone know if Ikea are doing cheap fleeces at the moment. I get to go tomorrow!!

Becky_2

My OH is helping a friend cutting a tree today. All the wood will then end up in our house which we are getting for free. What's the best way to dry logs for the winter? We are going to store them outside underneath plastic cover.

We have also been given several bags of wood for burning from various builders so this year we will be better prepared for when we are starting to use the log burner.

Also, we are busy making and drying paper logs. I also have around 50 cones drying that will be used as fire lighters.

I enjoy reading about your winter preparations.

[Deleted User]

BECKY we store our firewood outside in those big wooden crates/cradles that paving slabs are delivered to building sites in. We use them stacked in twos and have a waterproof top for each pair (mostly old lino offcuts or bits of leftover roofing felt). We leave the fronts and sides open to the air to stop the wood getting too wet. Our store is located in the side alleyway sheltered by the house. If the wood is freshly felled you'll need to let it stand for about 6 months to dry out the sap before using it on the stove. Drying cones for fire lighters is a really good idea, if you have any stubs of candles left, you can melt the wax and dribble it over the cones, it helps get them lit and lights the fire faster. Paper logs are magic, we've been making since March and have made about 70 so far, they dry better in a greenhouse or polytunnel if you have one. We use 1 log every time we light up, it seems to help get everything off if you see what I mean. Seems daft talking about winter fires in July, but I so look forward to lighting the first one of the season every year, marks the end of Summer doesn't it? Cheers Lyn xxx.