Preparing for winter IV

Eenymeeny

good_advice wrote: »

Thank you for sharing the light bulb tip.
I have ordered x3. I love the idea of a bright day light bulb using 20W.
Not looking forward to when the clocks fall back on 26th October.
The evenings are so long when it goes dark from 4pm.

Thanks for the reminder for the daylight bulbs. I've got some, but intend buying more to spread around the house. I do a lot more reading and sewing during the winter months.
Which reminds me, the window quilt thread has been reopened. This year I'm planning on using up a mattress protector which tore around the paper-type sides (note to self: inspect replacements carefully for cloth sides!) and some single quilt covers which don't match in the room now. I can't decide whether they'll end up as door curtains, window quilts or comfy toppers/ throws. At least it'll fill in some of the dark nights!

pm2326

Hi everyone

Its been really warm here today so took myself off for a walk to the shops and managed to get thermal socks for when I wear wellies. Or for wandering round the house on an evening.

I also found a 180 x 250cm red fleece throw reduced to £4 so bought 2 and I'm going to to use them as door curtains so just need to get some clip curtain rings from b&m and thats those sorted.

Felt odd looking for winter items when I was walking round in t-shirt and cotton trousers and sweating buckets ha ha

pigpen

Daylight bulbs.. champion idea... I just need to poke OH up a ladder to check what fitting I need..

bossymoo

I have been cold today, brrr, I put some fluffy socks and a long sleeve thermal top on!

We've done a bit of winter prep in that I've emptied and swept the kiddies wooden playhouse, and put back only what's ok to stay out for the winter. Other toys / cushions have been brought in.

Plus, my stepdad phoned from the North-East and said he's picked a carrier full of elderberries for me. I must have complained I hadn't seen any this year. Imagine they will show up through the week so I'll make us all some of this magic cough syrup - I've just found some little bottles it can live in.

Really need to sort my clothes. All the summer stuff is out of my cupboard but I'm not sure where my winter things are... Although I did recently spot a fluffy cape / poncho in Mr A to cover my shoulders and back on the cooler evenings.

Had some washing out all day (no rain) and it still didn't dry. Damp bits are now hanging near radiators as even the heating flicked on tonight

Cheapskate

Morning everyone, nice to see the thread steadily gathering speed.

It's been lovely weather here for the last few weeks, so all the fleece blankets, jumpers and winter coats have been washed, and I've hung the quilts on the line when it's been sunny to air them a bit. The air was too still to dry yesterday, though, so had to finish off in the tumble drier - there was too much to hang around the house!

I've bought fleece pyjamas for the littlies, and various other bits we all needed, so we're all ok for clothing except wellies for me. I also bought myself some trousers, billed as fleece jogging trousers, from @ldi, £6.99, and have them on as I felt cold last night and this morning. They're gorgeously warm, so I'm off to buy another pair tomorrow!

Got sloe gin and bramble vodka on the go - was gifted 2 bottles of cheap gin so they cost nowt to make. Going to pick elderberries today to make cough syrup, I have the other ingredients and have saved a few small bottles, but need more.

A xo

nicki_2

I went through the winter clothing this morning and we have nothing except some hats, gloves & ice shoe things. :eek: Guess I'll be buying a few more bits than I expected.

[Deleted User]

I had a breakthrough moment yesterday, I wanted to cook some chick peas I'd soaked up but had to go out so couldn't leave them simmering on the hob and then I remembered that Greenbee cooks them in her wonderbag, which is an new fashioned version of the old fashioned hay boxes. I boiled them for 10 minutes on the hob and then tucked them away in my homemade wonderbag cooker and left them overnight. Wow, this morning I've a big batch of perfectly cooked chick peas so I've made a big bowl of hummus and have a batch of falafels in the oven. The house smells woinderful. I think this will save me an awful lot of fuel this coming winter as any bean/pulse will cook in this amazing gadget after an overnight soak and a 10 minute boil. It will also mean that if we do get problems with the electricity supply for any reason I don't have to use up my gas cannisters cooking I can give it a start on the stove and finish it in the wonderbag. It cooks stews, soups, porridge, fruit, is a very good weapon in the kitchen arsenal. There is a thread started by Memory Girl who made the first one if you're interested in making one for yourselves, it's pretty easy and is jolly useful too.Lyn xxx.

BritishBibliophile

I've come down with a cold, but the benefit of it is that it turns out I was out of pocket tissues. Bought a big pack from Tescos for £1.50 so that should last me for most of winter.

Cooking a batch of mild chili at the moment, hopefully get 4 or 5 batches out of it for the freezer. Has to be mild as I'm not a massive fan of spice, but chili over a baked potato is a lovely winter dinner so I have to make some!

mamaninie

following this thread with interest. I have still to draughtproof the door from the garage that leads into the shoe cupboard and then the very very chilly hallway. I think that will just be a draught excluder though as there isn't really space to manipulate a curtain, and I use it daily to access the bikes.

Hoping to start to put the garden to bed soon, and I've just bought a lot of bulbs from lidl and aldi to cheer me up in the springtime! Anyone seen any bargain snowdrop bulbs?

Progress is continuing on the quilt I'm making for our bed, but its a little slow going as its a crazy-complicated one and I only get 10 mins here and there to work on it. http://www.ohfransson.bigcartel.com/product/aviatrix-medallion-pdf-quilt-pattern

slightly dreading the winter bike-commute this year as I changed jobs in June so now I am going a little bit further and on more trafficy roads . I have waterproof trousers which I keep in my pannier all the time, mudguards, a flourescent jacket and loads of lights, but I would be grateful for any tips from more hardened winter cyclists!

pollys

Good afternoon

We have put the outdoor chairs away and brought the dehumidifier out of storage. I've given it a good clean and washed the filter cover, it's drying outside.
This weekend we have taken 2 large green garden bags of cuttings to the recycling centre. The garden is starting to look very end of season.

DW Sports are selling gas canisters for camping stoves at 50p each. The stoves were £8 reduced from £10.

I still need slipper boots from M&S (boots but I wear them as slippers, much warmer with a thicker sole) I also need to buy some gloves, I'm going to keep checking at TKMax, if not it will be the camping store.

We are having sausage, mash, carrot and swede mash, cauliflower and cabbage for tea followed by rice pudding which I am making in the slow cooker, my first attempt. Definitely an Autumnal tea.

Take care
Polly