Preparing for Winter V

Siebrie

It helps to make a screenshot of the ticket, maybe even put on the start screen; at least you don't need to make an internet connection and look for it.

Green_hopeful

Talking about indoor walking, we often take our elderly aunt to Dobbies for an indoor walk. It’s very smooth so she can use her Zimmer frame. We go for lunch but often share one meal between two or even three. I was thinking of going for a walk there myself because we have been struggling with that chesty cough that has been going around but fortunately I seem to have got over it.

sammy_kaye18

I realise we are in July, having just come through a heatwave and I am currently sat in South Wales at a comfortable 18 degrees and cloudy situation but my mind is still skipping ahead to winter. 

Im hearing old wives tales about the blackberries being ready early and how it means a bad winter is coming, so Im busy emptying the last of last years crops from my freezer and then stocking my freezer with some goods made with seasonal fruits and will be replacing berries with a fresh crop from the garden etc. 

It got me thinking how eveyone else is doing and just having a check in before the BER months are upon us and the weather takes a turn. 

I also didnt know if there was a new thread that I couldnt find so if there is could someone point me in the direction of it please :-) 

amber03

Have been thinking of winter myself recently. I get to the stage where I have had enough hot weather and welcome the beginning of Autumn. With all the heatwaves we have been having I know the harvests are going to be poor this year and people have been commenting on my fb posts about the price of hay etc for their animals in the next few months. Whilst it is nice will give the blankets a wash and rested up. Start buying logs for the fire. At the beginning of august is when I usually begin buying for the C word, tho not got as much to buy this year, usually put tins of food away for that period.x

fionaandphil

We are all thinking the same today, I was just discussing it with my mum!

Our logs are stacked ready for winter, coal bunker is stocked just in case it gets really cold and we just have one more box of firestarter to chop up.  Chimney sweep and boiler service to be booked this week, it will be on us before we know it!

We are also picking blackberries and storing them ready while at the same time eating salad nearly every day to use the gluts there!  Blankets and coats already washed at beginning of summer so they are ready to go. It seems silly at this time of year but we are always glad of it once the cold and wet weather arrives and everything is prepared.

Hope you all have a fun Sunday with all your own prepping

Rosetta92

sammy_kaye18 said:

I realise we are in July, having just come through a heatwave and I am currently sat in South Wales at a comfortable 18 degrees and cloudy situation but my mind is still skipping ahead to winter. 

Im hearing old wives tales about the blackberries being ready early and how it means a bad winter is coming, so Im busy emptying the last of last years crops from my freezer and then stocking my freezer with some goods made with seasonal fruits and will be replacing berries with a fresh crop from the garden etc. 

It got me thinking how eveyone else is doing and just having a check in before the BER months are upon us and the weather takes a turn. 

I also didnt know if there was a new thread that I couldnt find so if there is could someone point me in the direction of it please :-) 

I was just thinking it was time to revive this thread. Good job @sammy-kaye18   For me winter preparation starts when the outdoor shops have their summer sales. It’s a good chance to get fleece lined walking trousers and other warm clothes at keen prices. And I always have a look to see what’s new in terms of solar powered lanterns and other sources of energy in case of power cuts. Anyone think of anything else I should be looking at?

Laura_Elsewhere

Here where the West Midlands meet the Border Marches, the blackberries and the wild-growing yellow Mirabelle plums are ready the same week they usually are- but it is a good heavy crop.

Of course, a heavy crop reflects the weather in spring and early summer, but the old wives’ tales are very persistent!  

I made jam and jelly from four pounds of Mirabelles this week, and I think the jelly keeps the yellow colour most brightly. 

I am also knitting family Xmas presents, cosy squishy warm cowls and scarves in brioche-stitch, so I am definitely thinking ahead to the colder months!  

Also, 18 months after we started trying to re-organise the sitting-room without properly planning anything, I have put my foot down and insisted that we spend all our free time for the next two months properly working on it. I want a useable sitting-room to sit in and read or sew and enjoy watching the weather! 

Primrose

This is normally the time when you discover you haven't saved nearly enough jam jars for all that jam making and bottling activity.  Does anybody have any good ideas on what short term "emergency" items of kitchen equipment can be used as temporary jam storage equipment until enough jam jars can be obtained?  Sometimes fruit is becoming too overripe to delay a jam making process as pectin levels reduce.

Floss

Primrose, I've had success with frozen soft fruits such as currants, rasps & blackberries. You could always make your own pectin from crab or bramley apples & freeze that too?

fionaandphil

I've saved the fruit in ice cream tubs and then made the jam later in the year a few times.  It does seem much nicer making it in winter too when the weather is awful and you are inside with a nice hot jam pot - no wasps either.  I did like making some blackcurrant jam in June though and having that lovely fragrant smell coming from the jam, knowing they were freshly picked that day.