Preparing for Winter V

Primrose

Keeping garden table and chairs out for a little longer, hoping for an Indian Summer in September. Had breakfast out on the patio yesterday morning so it felt rather like the last of the Summer Wine. Distinctly chilly breeze this morning.

Thriftkitten

Good Morning Preppers, Tis a very dreary wet and soggy morning here in st Ives, Cornwall..
I have already been soaked this morning trudging up to let the chickens out, however, the look of sheer delight when they saw I had some left over chopped up spaghetti from last nights spag bol made it almost worth it.....
I am off to work this morning, down to our little Fudge Shop, I'm not quite sure if it will be stemming busy or just tourists bustling along looking for cafe's to take refuge in so I will be taking my 3/4 finished sock with me that I have been attempting for almost 2 weeks now... It's the Winwick pattern that someone suggested. I really loved this because never have I been able to follow a pattern of any kind and I must say, I've almost finished my 1st sock... Delighted is an understatement...:T:T:T
I have also purchased the book, I know there is no need when the blog is available and f*cebook has their own page, but I feel that if I can pass this down to one of my children in years to come they will find as much joy as I have at being able to crack this sock knitting lark that has sent chills down my spine for many years... I wish I was able to show you all a photo, but i don't remember how to upload pics on here, however, if you are on the winwick F*acebook page my name is lisa see and my proud 3/4 covered foot is available for approval this morning:eek:
I have managed to completely overhaul the airing cupboard and sort all the fleecy sheets and pillow cases ready for cosy nights ahead...sofa blankets have been dug out, washed and ready to provide their service for the year and I am eyeing up any old knitted garments thinking about how thrifty I could be by pulling the yarn out and making something new... I'm even surpassing my own expectations of thriftiness this year....
The rain is coming down in buckets here and although I'd rather cozy up on the sofa watching my gardening programs and knitting more, I must get ready for round 2 of getting soaked as the fudge lovers are calling.... Happy Sunday Preppers may your day be full of crispy roasties and ballooned yorkshire puddings :rotfl:

[Deleted User]

Our garden furniture is all brushed down and ready to go back into the shed, it seems early but the garden is already looking like autumn, falling leaves all round the village in drifts and 'tree fruits' like acorns and pine cones down on the lanes in drifts. September really does seem like a turning point in the calendar almost to the first day as it had a very different feel to it all on September the 1st this year.

sammy_kaye18

Well yesterday was spent clearing the front garden - it now looks heaps better now and nice and clear so I think that has had a lot to do with my mood. I always feel a bit 'meh' when the BER months start as much as I love them - but I think with the house being upside down from the school holidays it is now regaining some normality now that I have blitzed it a bit. The bathroom, kitchen and living room are all clear, the hallway is tidy and now the front garden has all its recycling lined up and its de-weeded and swept and I began tackling the back garden yesterday and got most of the grass cut and any rubbish / debris picked up. I was hoping to tackle the bind weed but the weather is rubbish today. :( I might wait until the colder weather and then use that as one of my warming exploits.

Inside though I have a few bits to get listed on local selling pages that the kids have outgrown - realise my son needs a new jacket since he has outgrown his and the kids have put in requests for gloves, hats etc....I have dug out my scarfs and snoods so they are currently washing.

Im scouring the interweb for some pretty blankets - I dont want them too festive but Id like to be able to keep them on until and over Xmas :-)

Trifle is made - well jelly is setting and custard is cooling, will make a start on dinner at 3pm, hubby is home at 4 today so it will be cooked for 5 :-) roast chicken, stuffing, roasties, yorkshire puds, veg and gravy. not to shabby but haven't made a roast in ages and just thinking that my oven isn't all that big. Might even make the stuffing into balls and then freeze them ready for Xmas. :D

skogar

Lovely to hear of everyone's winter preparations. Yesterday we went picking hedgerow fruit. Need to have a count up of jars and check how much jam we can make as I think the no of jars will be the limiting factor as usual.

peedie

Goodness how the weather is changing.
I noticed today how the leaves are beginning to fall already and the evenings are starting to draw in.
I'm sitting here still with all the windows and backdoor open, though I do have a cardy on. There is a nip in the air today. I do so hate not feeling able to change the air in the house. I'm out as work all day and in the winter with the doors and windows closed it feels though I'v breathed the same air 3 times.

Had a bit a a busy day today, jumpers down from the loft, the thicker duet aired on the line. Bach cooking chicken curry and a bean and tomato casserole to be portioned up for the freezer. As long as I remember to take them out of the freezer in the mornings, its lovely to come home to a hot meal I can just blast in the microwave when its dark and cold outside. Love it.

Candles and matches located. I do love a candle or 2 through the long evenings.

The prep for the coming months in underway here. Mind the way time seems to be going so fast it will be here before we know it.

babyblooz

It's definitely colder here in Yorkshire today! My summer bedding plants are looking like they are on their last legs and will soon be ready for the bin. I will be sad to see them go as they looked so very cheery!

I do feel a bit chilly today, even inside with a thin jumper on. Rooting around in the cupboard today I found my last bottle of elderberry syrup so may take some of that later on. It definitely warms me up from the inside and is supposed to be anti-viral so hopefully it will make me feel a bit better.

Foodwise, I've been dry frying burgers and sausages for the last few weeks and draining the fat off into little pots to keep for adding to bits and bobs to make fat balls for out little birdy friends come the colder weather. We have been adopted by a robin, doves and wood pigeons as well as the usual visitors this year so I wouldn't want them to go hungry.

I have made strawberry jam already and have some blackberry prepped to make tonight. I also have four pounds of plums ripening up on the windowsill so they will be jam before long. Then I must get out in the next few days and pick some elderberries but as I put them in the freezer for a few days before I prep them (it's easier when they are frozen) I need to make some space first. I have managed to squirrel away some of my husbands favourite seeded loaves for ten pence each so it might have to be toast at every meal for the next few days, just so I can make some space.

Oh and I emptied the potato bags last weekend and have now got some very nice red ones and lots of smaller whites. Not that big a lover of potatoes but I will be able to do something with them I suppose. If I use up all these goodies it saves spending so much in the shops and that leaves more money in the bank for the gas and electricity bills.

I have a large bag of apples collected from some spare ground but they are not that good as they don't soften up properly when cooked so not sure what they might be used for, but the horses are always happy to chomp on them so will be recycled one way or another.

Ooh and I managed to find some nice reduced Christmas cards in our local Barnardo's shop last week. They had 75% off so I picked up a couple of packs. Every little helps!

Laura_Elsewhere

sammy_kaye18 wrote: »

My husband looked at me slightly demented when I wrote disposable BBQs - we have an actual BBQ but no charcoal etc so I think Ill grab whatever is cheapest.

PLEASE be very very careful if using disposable BBQs or non-disposable ones, anything with charcoal.

Even AFTER it's been put out, charcoal gives off deadly fumes. When you read those awful stories of families dying in tents, they have often put the disposable bbq outside in the tent porch but the fumes seep through and kill them. You can close as many doors as you like but carbon monoxide will come through the smallest cracks. It produces the fumes whilst burning but also after it's gone out. Cooks passed out and died quite often in historical times when charcoal stoves were used in kitchens.

You can't smell it, you can't see it, you can't taste it. It kills.

If you must use a disposable bbq, you MUST use it outside in an open area, sorry for all the underlining and bold, but really - it's far too big a risk. The only way a disposable bbq would be safe would be to use it outside in the open which it doesn't sound like you're planning to do - even using it in a shed or empty garage could be deadly.

Really, ask your local fire station about using disposable bbqs indoors and watch their faces...

Charcoal is deadly.

BBQs kill if used indoors.

Laura_Elsewhere

Sunday 3rd Sept really was properly autumnal - we even filled our 'stone pig' (19th century ceramic hot water bottle that can stay hot for ten hours (no, actually hot, not just tepid)) and wore our thick house-socks.

This morning is a season of mists so I'm taking my little pail for a walk to see if I can find any mellow fruitfulness! It's not only weather for my stripey slipover over my shirt, but for a cardigan and tam-o'shanter as well! Although I'm still wearing jeans rolled up to my knees and ankle socks with my boots

Damson and apple crumble tonight, with custard...

Primrose

Wise advice from Laura_Elsewhere. Better by far, if you need an emergency cooking facility, to buy a cheap canister gas one ring hob. These can be used indoors or outdoors and are much safer, as well as being suitable for repeated use. Lots of examples here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=camping+gas+case&!!!!!mh0a9-21&index=sports&hvadid=2979000885&hvqmt=b&hvbmt=bb&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_9r01zngg6i_b