Preparing for Winter V

Laura_Elsewhere

I think someone had very cold feet when sitting at a desk WFH and I think I remember suggesting making a foot-cosy out of wool-packaging! :)

SuzeQStan

great idea thank you - I need some mulch

SuzeQStan

foot cosy good idea too but I already have one of those 😊

Laura_Elsewhere

as one heatwave recedes amidst warnings of the next one…!

Next winter :)

a week is a long time in forecasting and it's not yet July, but… an El Nino commonly means the first part of UK winter is wet and windy, and the second half is drier but much colder.

I reckon it's probably worth thinking ahead and seeing how much can be done before the autumn- overhanging branches, gutters that always get blocked, all that kind of thing. And then in a bit, cutting back plants that hang over paths or even removing an overgrown shrub altogether, so they don't soak your legs in wet weather, and where an outside light is in the wrong place or has a timer needing adjusted… all those odd things that are probably easier to do in summer but we forget about them til autumn when we're busy trying to do everything already :)

We have a small fridge-freezer and try to keep one drawer for frozen homemade ready-meals… every year I say that this year I will be organised… but this year I actually will be!

I also need to really exploit the hot weather and go through all our woollens and get them washed and dried and checked over for moth damage or worn areas needing darned or 'run', and see what I need to replace and whether I have the wool already.

And shoes and boots- I do my own cobbling so I need to check for re-heeling or re-soling, and make sure all the leather is supple and ready.

What have I forgotten? I'm usually months later with this! :)

Cherryfudge

Good reminders thanks @Laura_Elsewhere , those are the sort of things I usually 'leave till nearer the time' and then suddenly the time is gone.

One for me to investigate: look into a nice rail to fit near the exit. We have steps down to road level and replaced the path last year. We now have a beautiful level set of steps, sound as a pound, and last winter had no problem with slippery surfaces, but I can't guarantee it will always be so. A pretty but strong grab rail would help to future-proof us.

Laura_Elsewhere

@Cherryfudge I should think you could get something really nice- my mind immediately filled with all kinds of attractive strong handrails… partly because our rented flat has stairs up from the back door which have a literal scaffolding pole bolted to concrete as the handrail, so I do notice nice ones when I see them!! I'm fond of brutalist design but this isn't designed- just brutal! :) :D

I was given some rich red coarse linen a few years ago (curtain material) and I would really like to make it into a jacket- the style of a denim jacket, but made of rich red linen, and then I want to dunk the whole thing into a bucket of Nikwax Cotton- it waterproofs natural fibres but is plastic-free so the fabric is still breathable. That way, I can have a waterproof jacket for cycling to swimming in autumn that doesn't make me get all sweaty and sticky!

Cherryfudge

Thanks @Laura_Elsewhere , yes, I have in mind something with a barley sugar twist and down-curling end! Preferably white and difficult to paint. 😊

Your jacket sounds lovely, do get it made. Cheerful colours for dolorous weather… if you have some left over, a tote bag and umbrella to match - or spats. You will cheer the world up in November when we need it.

VintageHistorian

I bought a new umbrella in Mountain Warehouse the other day. My old one had a metal piece that had spanned off so one of the supporting metal bits (no idea the technical name for it) hangs loose and often gets caught in my hair. I'm going to put the old one in the car as an emergency brolly, and the new one will hang with the coats until it's needed.

My toddler will need some new wellies for the season as his feet are already a bit too big for his current ones. Not a problem with the weather as it is, but it will become an issue in autumn. I'll leave this a bit closer to September though so we can get his feet measured and get maximum use out of them.

SuzeQStan

New jacket ideas sound ace Laura - wish I was talented enough to do that. And cobble shoes too! Even more talent!

We are months behind on our 2027/28 firewood. By now we should have our secondary stores processed and split but my bad back has set us badly behind.

Thankfully last spring/summer we sorted this winters firewood. It’s so much hard work as I know @fionaandphil concurs - gotta plan ahead at least 18 months. All this means we might actually have to pay to have some wood delivered this year - not done that for a fair few years now since our firewood supplier left the business.

fionaandphil

I do indeed @SuzeQStan got it sorted asap and plan ahead 😄 DH did some log splitting a few weeks ago so that is just drying now ready for 2027. We've still got 2 big builders bags to refill for this year, all dried but still needs cut as it's smaller bits of wood, the big logs are already done and stacked.

Chimney sweep to book next while he is quiet in August. I'm also closely following the oil prices as they are dropping daily and hoping to order at a reasonable price in the next few weeks.

I washed a load of throws, blankets and coats while it was hot last week.

Great time to get ahead while the weather is sunny