Preparing for winter IV

[Deleted User]

I have an ashford knitting loom a new present, brilliant idea and also for getting fibre stash down ie making thicker yarn and weaving. Good oh, another quiet relaxing hobby and potential presents in the making

timehas, I am always making crocheted blankets and lap warmers. The grandchildren love them when they come to my house, so cuddly

I need a sit down now, whirling dervish mode this morning. Am going through my food stash ready for winter and have emptied a very full deep kitchen cupboard, I had to go on hands and knees and scrabble inside to see what was in the back, no good. It will now hold my remoska and some large pans. I think I have enough food in for winter, assuming a 6 week lockdown and maybe flu/illness. Only 1 tin of fruit and 3 tins of veg but I have winter hardy kale in big pots and also grow nutrient rich sprouted seeds over winter. Am doing tins and jars today and am not going to add to tinned fruit or veg but will add to the one tin of condensed milk

Umpteen tins of ready to use stuff, organic when I can but also non organic, including tomatoes, beans, ready meals plus lots of packets, jars and tins to make very easy meals. eg condensed soups, veg bake sauces (can add to beans and pasta) lots of packs of casserole mixes and the like. Tinned fish like (easily disguised) pilchards, sardines also posh salmon etc and this is only a sample

I found loads of packs of compressed dates and have coconut oil in jars, lots of large jars of molasses (nutrient rich) more dried fruit like sour cherries, figs, plums. I cook wholefood when possible btw hence the unusual stuff in my cupboards. Will be moving more stuff to cool dark shed later

Blimey it doesn`t stop, haven`t finished but time to get the baking spuds in the remoska

just back for a quick edit: I hibernate in winter hence my squirrel-like activity now. I love winter, the peace and quiet and having all the preps done makes it a very cosy, regenerating time for me, nothing to dread. No idea what winter will bring as yet but am aware that we are in start of a mini ice age so very sudden swings are likely ranging from mild and very wet to deep deep cold. Will drop hints as and when but no news as yet

115K

- We are considering getting gas central heating as we are on economy 7 but wondering whether we should just update our electric system instead? We have a British Gas engineer coming round next week for a quote.

I'm going to see if there is any information on here about what is the best/cost effective solution.

- I want to get the roof cleaned professionally before winter arrives, it has some mossy stuff growing so it needs doing.

- The new winter blankets and fleecy blankets have been washed and put away in wicker baskets.

- I'm airing out the winter duvet today, I cleaned it quite recently so I will just hang it outside on the clothes dryer.

- I've ordered tins of soup, spaghetti, beans and tomatoes as I looked through the stock cupboard to see what I need. My freezer went on the blink recently so I had to chuck some spoiled food away :mad: so it made me think about keeping food that won't go off quickly.

muffin_man_7

Fruball wrote: »

Anybody remember me sealing the hole in my wall, which went from kitchen to outside where the DW outlet pipe went through, with papier mache about 4 years ago? It stopped the horrible draft.

Still going strong! :rotfl:

thanks Fruball for reminding me I've got a few gaps need filling before it gets cold

slowly getting my winter clothes sorted having to have three different sizes of everything makes things harder as I've only a small wardrobe i need to put my new canvas one together that should also give me a space to store all my fleece throws and the 11 scarves i got in the sales i'm planning to join some of them together to make cosy blanket for when i'm curled up on sofa with lappy and mse for company oh yeah and my dog too (just got a nudge from him he usually attempts to push my lappy off my knee he's slowly learning mse is good)

Pooky

Picked up some bargain DM boots in a CS today that were paint splattered and very rough looking - £6 - came home gave them a good scrub, got all the paint off, gave them a good coat of dubbin, they look fab! They will be my most prized winter boots. Same shelf in the CS was a pair of NWT slippers in DH's size for £2!

DD's both dug out their slippers from last year and they're still fine so just me to find for now.

Lap quilts will be going out on the line for a good airing tomorrow and then popped over the back of the sofas.

pollys

Please could I ask, if you have a wool duvet, do you have the wool mattress protector and pillows?
I'm looking at the site Kittie used and wondering whether to get the bed set.

I've just ordered PVC blackout blinds for the bathroom. We have had the current blinds for over 12 years and they are long past it. We have two bathroom windows and we need blinds that are moisture resistant and easy to clean. Twelve years ago we were very limited in choice and the blinds were expensive. Now there is much more choice and we are sure that they are cheaper. We are ordering from the same place, but it's all online now.

We have a yellow weather warning for wind Sunday/Monday. Hoping to get the garden rubbish to the recycling depot tomorrow. I'll make sure that everything in the garden is secure.

Happy prepping

Pollys

sillyinthepast

This thread has helped me so much thank you.

So far I have

Made a door curtain for the front door.
Bought wind up lanterns
Sorted hats, gloves and scarves
Built up store cupboard with the summer bounty
Made blankets for everyone's bed
Making blankets for the sofa
Booked someone to give us a quote for the porch roof as we had a leak a few months back with the rain

I need to
Buy winter boots for myself
Buy slippers for the children as they have had a growth spurt
Buy bottled water - just in case
Sort out a car emergency kit - any help on what in need greatly appreciated
Stock up on dishwasher salt for the path
Make a hot water bottle cover
Buy medicines
Make some elderberry syrup - great for colds and flu
Stock up on batteries
Get a wind up radio

Anything else do you think I need? We have has so I haven't really thought about alternative heating. Is it likely we will loose gas supply?

I am really hoping for snow again this winter. I love it when I don't have to go out of the house knowing I have everything I need.

krustylouise

Put another rug in the kitchen to cover the Lino. Makes such a difference and looks better.

Got the curtain batten painted and the curtain pole up in DD's room Yday and hung her curtains so she now has a blind and curtains, as a result of this she slept from 7:30pm-8am this morning! She not ally only sleeps for 10hours!

Put the thicker duvets on the beds as it was starting to get a little nippy.

Heating and fire are still off, been off since March/April so I'm very pleased with that and is evident on my online fuel bill.

Pennydropped

I live in a council property and the fireplace, when used, is smoking up my bedroom (so obviously not using it at the moment). Council repairs have said they will need to investigate further but haven't gotten back to me in over a month, so while I feel a bit naggy asking them again, I really would feel more comfortable having that fixed. We have gas heat for the winter, but I would like the option of being able to have a fire in the fireplace occasionally on very cold nights, so that I don't need to push up the heat throughout the house, when the living room is the coldest room.

Other than that, still assembling my winter prep list and doing the little things that are easy to take care of right away.

krustylouise

Just ordered DD new hat, scarf and gloves and a nice winter coat. Normally I can't afford to buy her nice clothes from high end shops but this year I could and its all thanks to the thrifty tips off here! Thank you all so much x

TravellingAbuela

I have refused to even think about winter until today but the change in weather has spurred me on. Spring and summer has flown by! At breakfast time this morning I got to thinking it won't be long before porridge is back on the menu. So my first winter preparation is going to be making and freezing individual tubs of compote to liven my porridge up. I have a mountain of foraged berries in the freezer so am going to sort a selection out this afternoon.