Preparing for Winter V

VintageHistorian

I made an apple and blackberry crumble for DH, who's been eating it happily with some ice cream.

Company have started replacing the windows as we speak! There's now some very large holes in the house and the cold air is getting in.

I need to give some blankets and cushion covers a wash while it's still warm enough for them to dry outside. However that won't be today as it's drizzling XD

pattypan4

blimey heck that was quick, the sheepskin boots and slippers have arrived and are warm as toast. I have just sprayed them with a protector and can see me wearing them all winter and beyond. Did some unearthing upstairs and found warm gloves and wrist warming fingerless gloves. No two ways about it, its harder to keep warm these days, age

Lucy5781

We've had building work all summer. Heating system updated, combi boiler and underfloor heating in the new extension on the back of the ground floor. All windows replaced, though new sills not finished so gaps everywhere still.

Waiting to get things back into the kitchen and bathroom this week. Re sort all our food stocks etc.

Think we're all good for coats and waterproofs, need to check DD's sleeping bags, will need higher tog 18mth+ ones soon (she's now almost 17mths).

I think the car needs supplies. There's small blankets for both the kids but nothing for me and DH or DsS if he's with us. No food or water. We've had the car a year ��

smeeth

Shropshirelass wrote: »

Local geese doing practise flights in well-disciplined V formations all weekend, sure sign of coming chilly weather.
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Geese getting lots of practice here too, noisy lot!

silverwhistle

Shropshirelass wrote: »

There are a large number of oak galls falling off our big old oak tree, I have never seen so many.

I was playing football yesterday but as a substitute I was waiting in the blazing sun to come on until it got too much and went to sit in the shade of an oak. Had to clear myself a spot as the carpet of oak galls was so thick..

mummygems

Things i need to sort for winter

1 - Winter boots for the kids (and possibly me)
2 - something for the kitchen and bathroom windows to keep the chill out (our walls are so so thick we cant drill easily into them so struggle with anything like blinds). I am wondering about the blinds that attach to the UPVC seal (may ask my Nan for these as an xmas present)
3 - something for the hall/kitchen floor because its just bare tiles - we need either proper tiles/flooring or some big mats to hold us off til we can afford better flooring
4 - Stock up on meds and canned goods and make sure freezer is full
5 - finish taking down the cherry tree in the garden as its far too large now (and other garden bits)
6 - See what we can do about my sons bedroom which is always bloody cold! His is the box room and its above our front door/open porch so I am not sure if this makes it colder. Its painted blue which my mum says makes it colder (old wives tale) so might re-paint that lol

Its still ok weather wise here (Essex). Although our local paper reported we are due to have 25oC weather end of September and then a beast from the east in the new year (I will believe all the weather when I actually see it). We don't turn our heating on until 1st November (unless its very cold on the evening when showering!).

[Deleted User]

We've ordered a full load of wood for the stove which will be delivered in a couple of weeks time and will fill the second wood store to the brim and then some. Hopefully it will be some time until we need to fire up the stove and I hope we've then got enough wood to see us through the whole winter. I'm stocking steadily on tins of things I can make winter meals from and am going to check things like hot water bottles etc. to make sure they're in condition to use and haven't perished. We're OK for batteries, HWK is always on the ball with that and the solar lamps etc. that we have are constantly charged on the windowsills. Have enough tea lights and matches so all I need now will be the waxed jacket for warmth and windproof in the really cold period but I have a knee length waterproof anyway so will at least stay dry.

D&DD

Boiler check completed and all is well and the heating/radiators seem ok having been testdriven.


I've finished the top of DS3's quilt just need to sandwich,back and bind it now. He doesn't want it heavily quilted so shouldn't take too long now,then on to the lapquilts for the sofa.

[Deleted User]

Yesterday we checked the store cupboard, we have enough in there to do us for at least 2 weeks if we get bad weather. We live in a village and going out either way we have 2 long, large hills, not good on snow and ice as I found out 2 years ago.

Will keep the food cupboard in the kitchen stocked as well, there is another weeks food in there. Want to sort out the freezer so we can get extra meat in there. I have enough bread flour to last us several weeks.

Bag of frozen plums in the freezer, we have rasps, blackberries, plums and apples in there. Large bags of mixed veg and peas in there as well.

I did put the heating on the other day, it was freezing, everything worked ok, so no probs there, its switched off again now. Fleece blankets on the chairs and settee. WE still have the summer weight duvet on the bed with a quilt to pull up if it gets chilly in the night.

[Deleted User]

I made 12lbs of damson jam from the tree on the allotment last night, it's a loose set but tastes nice and will go into store for the colder months.