Preparing for Winter V

[Deleted User]

It's definitely feeling like the year is turning outside today, leaves whirling down from the trees in the breeze, lakeside vegetation yellowing and beginning to droop and much much colder when we had a shower and had to shelter under the trees until it had passed. I'm digging out the old favourite winter recipes again, lots of nice root veg based soups, stews and casseroles to warm us up from the inside out and fuel us for brusquer walks in the shortening afternoons.....winter draws on apace!

shoei

So the winter cold has finally finished me off! I don't generally get many colds but I have had two now in very quick succession and this one has developed into a cough. Probably not helped by spending all Saturday until midnight getting the hay in before it rained and ruined it on Sunday. Luckily all bales in and undercover but I think I really could have done with a rest!

We have the living room painted and floor sanded and stained, not something I would recommend undertaking but with a Great Dane and a Maine Coon hard floors are easier to maintain than carpet. Just waiting for the sofas to be delivered, they should have been in the warehouse a fortnight ago but have been delayed.

As a result there is no furniture in there and we have decamped to the snug which is in the middle of renovations. No plaster and holes in the walls to outside, so I am sat here wrapped in blankets working.

I have bought an electric throw, maybe I will test it out.

We currently have no oil and husband is wanting to swap the oil tank, however, I have hopefully persuaded him that we have enough going on and that it can wait until spring.

We also don't have any dried wood so need to sort that out soon.

I'm also after a log store, we are going to build a big one when we move the oil tank so I need to get a cheap one sorted for this year, it didn't work well storing them in the wheely bin last year and we need them close at hand.

[Deleted User]

Electric heated throws are the best! it's a gentle heat but gets into your very bones on cold days and makes you feel Mmmmmmmmmm!

Are you sure it's colds and not the result of your renovations irritating mucous membranes, I know whenever we have decorating done or building work done I always end up with what feels like a cold but it miraculously goes as soon as 'literally' the dust settles and the house is clean again.

shoei

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

Electric heated throws are the best! it's a gentle heat but gets into your very bones on cold days and makes you feel Mmmmmmmmmm!

Are you sure it's colds and not the result of your renovations irritating mucous membranes, I know whenever we have decorating done or building work done I always end up with what feels like a cold but it miraculously goes as soon as 'literally' the dust settles and the house is clean again.

I hope not as we have the snug, stairs and two bedrooms to do before Christmas and I don't want to be ill the whole time . However, I am sure it is not helping, especially with haymaking this weekend which is always a dirty, dusty job

pattypan4

cosy soft bedding for the first time last night, lovely to get into and a good sleep was had. A summer wool duvet, next stage is a welsh wool blanket over the foot end and then a full length blanket and if it gets colder, the winter weight wool duvet. Extreme cold will be the 2 wool duvets buttoned together


Today, living on my own, I plan to get the winter `justin` meds ready and handy in a box under the bed. A good herbal cough syrup, decongestant, menthol crystals and the inhaler, the neti pot and salt. Paracetamol, time release c, various remedies for nipping in the bud. I must order some immune boosting tabs of a herb I use in autumn. Ginger to be stocked up, peeled and frozen in chunks for hot soothing ginger drinks. All easy peasy stuff, ready for throat tickles. Also doubly important to be washing hands as soon as arriving home and wearing gloves out when using bannisters and door handles


I think my winter rest period has started, slowly but nevertheless I feel it happening. I may bring over the foodstuffs I have stored in the garage. I feel like a dormouse, getting ready.

lessonlearned

shoei wrote: »

I hope not as we have the snug, stairs and two bedrooms to do before Christmas and I don't want to be ill the whole time . However, I am sure it is not helping, especially with haymaking this weekend which is always a dirty, dusty job

I agree with Mrs L - I suffer the same. I find anti histamines help. Just the cheap OTC ones do the trick.

Novice_investor101

I buy my antihistamines once a year from Amzn - £8 for 12 months worth of certirizine hydrochloride. The high street shops charge a fortune for them.

The walk home from work at 8pm was wet, windy & a little bit cooler; & felt odd walking home in the dark for the first time this season. Definitely felt like winter is approaching.
It'll be a wet walk to work in a few hours, I'm glad I finally invested in new warm & waterproof jackets to wear for the daily walk.

Summer duvet still on the bed, with a folded fleece blanket over it. It's still warm indoors & the heating hasn't been coming on. Eagerly awaiting the colder weather as I love the feeling of coming home to a nice warm, cosy house when it's freezing outside!

pattypan4

set for rain all day today and its very dark. I already sorted my winter justin med preps and ordered whatever was missing. I feel like lighting 2 candles in lanterns later, they are sat by the fireplace, I need some cheer. This gloom is reminding me to get outside whenever it is bright, I manage to avoid winter SAD but the gloom drives many people down. I have to get more paracetamol and some matches, can`t think of anything else

MingVase

I like winter and the long dark nights, but agree it is important to stay bright and cheerful and get out whenever possible. I knit to keep myself busy in winter.

shoei

I have some antihistamines so will give it a try, thanks.

Well, we had a power cut last night, which was the 1st in a long time. Luckily hours only lasted an hour but the neighbours were off for 6 until midnight.

I have been a bit lax on the power cut front so must make sure we have lights charged and get some food we can eat if it goes down. We used to get them often and being somewhat isolated if a large area goes down, we are low on the priority list.