Preparing for Winter V

Cheapskate

Quite cool here last night and this morning, even DD (who's a real hot bod) is snuggled up in a blanket to watch tv - smells autumnal even though we're still in August.

Lyn, we keep a stock of add-hot-water drinks and snacks, too, sweet and savoury, which I need to replenish now so that we have plenty in for colder days. Now that we don't have to do school runs, I want to have decent stocks of those sorts of things again - I'd got a bit lazy with my pantry before July, just popping to the shops on a daily basis if things were running low - but before long the pantry/fridge/freezer will be back to normal levels, so that we can say put on lousy weather days.

Going to tackle the garden if the rain holds off today, plenty of pruning to do, and then elderberry picking with DD. Also going to de-junk all the too-small clothes and decide if any of us actually NEEDS anything replacing for the winter. The wool stash is gradually being used up for crochet blankets for sofas, beds, and the car. I do love this time of year - planning and preparing to hunker down for shorter, colder days - must be all the Scottish and Viking genes... :rotfl:

A xo

[Deleted User]

Today I will make a batch of ripe tomato chutney using home grown tomatoes, apples and onions. Yesterday I made apple jelly, the day before that I made spiced apple chutney. I guess that although these things traditionally autumnal they stretch the 'summer produce' right through the winter months. They certainly make the food I prepare during the colder months more interesting. The jellys I make from apples, redcurrants and blackberries certainly are useful to give stews and casseroles a 'lift' of flavour and I add a tablespoonful to the 'gravy' element in them as they start to cook. I guess the preserving can also be seen as preparing for winter.

Wednesday2000

I really felt the drop in temperature yesterday and last night. I have been sleeping with just a thin satiny comforter, but I think tonight I might need a fleecy blanket too.

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

I'm buying in two portions of something 'instant' that only needs boiling water to make it edible when it's reconstituted every time I go into town.

That is a good idea, I'm going to do that too.:)

Cheapskate wrote: »

I do love this time of year - planning and preparing to hunker down for shorter, colder days - must be all the Scottish and Viking genes... :rotfl:

So do I!

My great grandfather was Scottish so maybe it is that.:rotfl:

LadyhavershamLost

Autumn is definitely on the horizon here ... back to work for me -I work in a school - and smallest people requesting bedroom windows shut before bedtime.

Our local shop have disposable bbq's on sale for a ridiculously low price -just over a pound, so I picked up a few to stash for emergencies or winter BBQs....

Some of the shops have started getting in Halloween bits and supermarket shelves are becoming less summery.

Just hope the sun keeps shining!

dingdongsaving

Back from a wee holiday and enjoying catching up with you all with my pot of coffee.

We have blackberries, sloes, damsons and plums preserved or frozen now, but I know we'll be out again today and tomorrow as there are so many on our lane this year and we've been away for 4 days.

We have started 'decorating' with our woodland treasures now too. We always do this, and pine cones are a must by our fires. Our youngest has tiny bowls and baskets full of trinkets on each table and we can't wait for conkers!

My son got his fleece bed throw out to lay over his feet last night too...it's coming! :T Nothing like a fresh September morning.

[Deleted User]

I always start to 'gather in' pine cones, conkers, nuts etc and have a bowl made from the root of an elm tree that lives in the hearth with them in until next spring when the buds begin to pop.

sammy_kaye18

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

I'm buying in two portions of something 'instant' that only needs boiling water to make it edible

That is such a good idea MrsLW that I may just steal it. My son doesnt like things like this too much but when in a bind and there is no power I think I can talk my boy round.:D

mardatha wrote: »

I don't want to go back to all of the old stuff but I'm glad I experienced it, every experience we live through teaches us something doesn't it - or should do

Exactly worthwhile lessons and every year brings a new experience to tackle

Cheapskate wrote: »

I'd got a bit lazy with my pantry before July, just popping to the shops on a daily basis if things were running low - but before long the pantry/fridge/freezer will be back to normal levels, so that we can say put on lousy weather days.

planning and preparing to hunker down for shorter, colder days - must be all the Scottish and Viking genes... :rotfl:

I too have gotten a bit lazy with my pantry and we have had a littl ehsop open nearby which I seem to frequent a lot lately - which I need to get out of the habit of. I got a chest freezer last year which takes about £40 - £50 to stock but with the summer holidays it seems to have been filled with things for the kids that were easy/quick to cook - so Im trying to use it all up this coming month and get a load of meat and veg back in.

Also I had one of those DNA tests done for Xmas last year - my results were
Great Britain 78%
Ireland 12%
Europe East 7%
Scandinavia 1%
Iberian Peninsula 1%
Italy/Greece 1%

I definitely have Viking and Scottish genes :-) Im made for the colder weather :D:D:D:D


Well we just went to the shop and brought a chicken, so that is our roast dinner for tomorrow that Im hoping to stretch out afterwards - I forgot how much fun the challenge of a rubber chicken is but I will be lokoing up recipes and ideas in a minute. I also have 5 portions of frozen blackberries in the chest freezer at the minute, 2 in the smaller freezer (on the firdge freezer) and we just picked another 2/3 tub full on the way to the shop, so thats a start. I dont know whats going on with the weather but this second wave seems to be moulding just as fast as the first. I keep going back every few days though to pick the freshest ones that have just turned so I will have a good few portions but the winter hopefully either to use in crumbles/pies etc or to turn into jam. I went to see our apple tree that we scrumped last year and all the apples are looking rotten and have been eaten by worms already, even the ones we can see from the top - its not going to be a good year for us foraging I dont think. :(:(:(:(

Besides that I need to crack on with Winter prep - I am going to sit at some point this week and go through the old clothes - my husband is off for the next week though so I will still have a child home :rotfl: so it may be the week after before I actually get some time to myself to do things I want to do undisturbed but I will get busy making lists now

[Deleted User]

DD1 took the DNA test and came out as Viking, Scandianvian, and North German.....we're made for the colder weather too!

Bigjenny

Good idea MrsLW about instant things, have made a start and will get more over the next few weeks. I also need to get a hand can opener as mine is electric, and quite a few canned goods can be eaten cold, baked beans, rice pudding etc.

Would also like to get an indoor Solar Lamp but most of them seem to be for outdoors, any one have any suggestions

[Deleted User]

Ikea used to make SUNNAN solar lamps, like a reading lamp and later a hanging solar lantern called SOLVINDEN. They sometimes pop up on Fleabay and will both charge fully just in the light on a windowsill not necessary to have full sunlight. I have one of each and both will give light for around 12 hours on one charge. It's not bright but is bright enough to see what you're doing indoors.