Preparing for winter IV

Princess_kate

The mention of a sighting of a robin has got me thinking....

Are there signs the winter is coming or how bad it might be? I know something about berries on trees but don't really know what to look out for! Thanks in advance! Kate.

dragonette

The robins started showing their red breasts a few weeks ago here on the west central belt. I suspect it is going to be a hard start to autumn/winter, though it could always ease up.

nicki_2

I have a mini dehumidifier for DD's room!!!! Only collects 300ml a day, but I'm hoping after a couple of days we should loose the waterfall effect on the window in there

Also bought knitting supplies to make DD some long gloves to wear to school. She's all wrist and fingers so normal gloves don't fit right. I'll hopefully start those on Sunday if I can find the pattern I wanted again

XSpender

noodles86 wrote: »

We had a lovely Robin come visit our garden each morning for a few weeks at the beginning of summer, clearly confused! :rotfl:

We seem to have Robins in our garden all year round, I don't know if that's normal. Robins are bottom feeders I believe so if you have a bird table they will bob around the bottom picking up the bits other birds drop.

We had our wooden blinds fitted yesterday and it seemed much warmer last night (and quieter). Not sure if that was the blinds or if it was just a milder night:rotfl: Ordered one for DS room too which should arrive before the end of the month.

I am looking forward to getting my curtains lined this weekend. I am shortening them too so that they dont cover the radiators.

I really need to crack on with the rest of my winter prep as I don't seem to have got very far. I am planning to concentrate on clothing over the next couple of weeks and get DH some layers for work, DS some vests, long sleeve tops and a couple of jumpers. I also need to polish all our boots and sort out all our clothes; packing away the summer ones and seeing if there are any extras we need to get us through this winter. DH in particular needs a good sort (chuck) out. Our wardrobes need to be reorganised so we can see what we have got easier too.

hollieinbloom

Morning! seems a bit milder here today but the sky looks rotten and probably will rain. I need to do some washing as well but it doesn't look like I will get it out. Made a big list of stuff to do this weekend and lining the curtains is at the top. I found some curtains for DD's room and they need some nice thick lining on and taking up too. They are too long and cover the radiator so need to sort that. I've almost finished the scarf for DD. Really excited about that as it's the first thing i've ever finish knitting. When I was younger I would start then give up. I prefer sewing.

Off not to finish the housework for today and gather up any clothes with holes in that need repairing or taking up! xx

PRINCESSX87

Morning.

Weather here is very confusing. Yesterday cold all day, then around 7, It became hot & stuffy.

Now, Its changed again, Pouring with rain, Really dark but hot!

Just had our property visit from the estate agent. I’ve spoken to them about GC. They are telling me that because of the gas supplies not running into our cul -de-sac, We’re not entitled to it, But will run it past the LL of the property.

This weekend is winter prep part 2. I’m hoping to buy the curtain liners for the bedroom as we have fully lined ones for the living room. I have blinds everywhere else for the windows other than the bathroom.
I’m also creating a “basket” on eba* for some other items like, line cover, ect.

So my list is as follows:

Buy liner and line curtains.
Buy e*bay basket (Creating this weekend)
Look out for doggie jumpers
Stock pile food / essentials
Get clothes mended, replaced & sorted.
Buy calor gas bottle (Last thing I‘m buying. Going to try and hold out until nov / dec.)

sketchingkari

I've just finished reading this thread from the beginning and it's been a real eye opener. My winter prep up to now, was just putting heating in, crossing fingers and hoping we could afford it.

I feel much more in control of everything this year and now have tons of ideas to get to house ready, hopefully avoid (or reduce) the condensation issue which has been a nightmare year after year and stop the spiraling fuel bills :money:

My to-do list for now, I'm sure I will be adding lots to it

Hunt through loft for thick blankets and throws
Make draft excluders and stuff with childrens old clothes (cut buttons off first and add to button box)
Line curtains in lounge and french doors to conservatory
Make and hang some curtains across front door
Put up blind in bathroom
Finish crochet lap blanket
knit some squares to make blankets for kids beds

should keep me busy for a while :rotfl:

hollieinbloom

I'm thinking of buying those little dehumidifier things with the little balls inside that work pretty well. I saw them in the 99p store so I think I might get a few for the window sills and see how well they stop condensation from building too much. Not sure how well they will work as when they are full they need throwing away and I don't want to be replacing them every day so If that was the case, I will just buy an electric one and move it around the house every few days. xx

Confuzzled

since i have to dry my clothes in the house (on a high street with literally no where outside to dry clothing) and since it's cooling down and the wind has been almost non existent so my previous indoor drying strategy wasn't working, i tried using the dehumidifier along side having the windows open on both sides of the flat and the downstairs window in the hall opened (creates a great pull of air)

it worked pretty well, i managed to dry 4 loads of laundry in about 36 hours so thanks so much to whoever it was ages ago that mentioned it. i put it right in the center of the airer, making sure no clothes touched it. i then put stuff all along the airer, hanging, sides, front, over the top like you do with one of those heated airers, i did make sure it had some space to let some air in though and wow, it worked a treat

been using it in the upstairs bathroom, neither of our bathrooms have great ventilation and omg i left it on for 12 hours just stuck inside the bathroom door upstairs (as far as i could get it with the extension cord) and for the first time it got so full it shut itself off :eek: good though that it's sucking all that out. i have it in my room right now, since i'm no longer on economy 7 i can run it any old time which is good because it's too loud to sleep with it going.

i think i'll be using it a few times a week just to make sure it doesn't get too damp up there, i will say the upstairs felt very very warm yesterday after pulling all that water out, much to my daughters delight, me i like it cooler in the bedroom but at least it's not damp

nicki_2

The dehumidifier is working great I've only had it on since 10am and already there is a little pool of water in the bottom of the tank :j If it works well I'll invest in another one for my room. Being an end terrace our house seems to be much colder and prone to damp than our old mid-terrace

I've also dug out DD's winter clothes, (I don't really have any, I just layer mine up a bit more ) but they all smell like stale milk so they're in the wash to freshen them up. I'm going to get her to go through her summer stuff that she hasn't worn and decide whether she wants to keep it or donate it.

Bought us both slipper boots last night and they're toasty warm. I bought mine a size too big so I can wear thick socks with them as well when it gets a lot colder. Had to buy two different styles though as DD and I take the same size shoe :rotfl::rotfl:

Once all this laundry and a mad week at work is out the way, I'll be digging out my sewing machine to take up 2 sets curtains so they don't cover the radiator, add some proper header tape to DD's thick winter ones, and no doubt a few other jobs.

Might look into getting some 'nets' for the windows as well. I hate having vertical blinds as they offer no privacy when you open them. I live in a terrace house and the pavement is right outside the window and the houses opposite can clearly see into my bedroom I need to get the door curtains up as well on a proper curtain track instead of having them in a heap on the stairs