Preparing for Winter

Frugaldom

cyclingyorkie wrote: »

well it was far too hot here!:mad: Have got piles to do and could've done with it being cooler........

this morning however it's dull and breezy and thankfully cooler.:D

still got too much to do before we head off tomorrow!:rolleyes:

I'm guessing by your username that either you're in Yorkshire or else you have an exceptionally clever terrier? :rotfl:

Winter preparation time seems to be running out here, unless collecting rain water in the kitchen via a leak in the roof counts! :mad::eek:

What I have been doing so far:

Gathering cones & sticks for fire
Making paper bricks
Draft-proofing doors & windows
Filling log store
Filling coal bunker
Checking insulation in loft (some of it is now soggy!)
Blanching & freezing garden produce
Picking the first blackberries for stock of jam
Making lemon curd from surplus eggs (I keep hens)
Stocking up on cooking essentials
Wellies and waterproofs at the back door

To do:

Invest in a new camping gas stove
Top up candle box
Hang up the rechargeable torchlight
Keep BBQ charcoal dry - handy during powercuts when it isn't pouring rain
Make more paper logs
Organise winter wardrobe

I also fill the toilet roll tubes as firelighters, but I use cardboard from all the boxes that get used for packaging if it can't be composted.

Still haven't read all the posts in this thread but am slowly working my way through them.

avinabacca

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

OMG I went into town today - the hottest day of the year and couldn't belive it when I saw Christmas cards and gifts in some of the shops already!
It seems that we can't enjoy one season before being rushed two seasons ahead by companies trying to squeeze as much dosh out of us as they can.

Nothing wrong with looking ahead a bit

Hey - if you can't plan and prepare for Christmas on a "Preparing for Winter" thread, where can you?

cyclingyorkie

nykmedia wrote: »

I'm guessing by your username that either you're in Yorkshire or else you have an exceptionally clever terrier? :rotfl:

Winter preparation time seems to be running out here, unless collecting rain water in the kitchen via a leak in the roof counts! :mad::eek:

What I have been doing so far:

Gathering cones & sticks for fire
Making paper bricks
Draft-proofing doors & windows
Filling log store
Filling coal bunker
Checking insulation in loft (some of it is now soggy!)
Blanching & freezing garden produce
Picking the first blackberries for stock of jam
Making lemon curd from surplus eggs (I keep hens)
Stocking up on cooking essentials
Wellies and waterproofs at the back door

To do:

Invest in a new camping gas stove
Top up candle box
Hang up the rechargeable torchlight
Keep BBQ charcoal dry - handy during powercuts when it isn't pouring rain
Make more paper logs
Organise winter wardrobe

I also fill the toilet roll tubes as firelighters, but I use cardboard from all the boxes that get used for packaging if it can't be composted.

Still haven't read all the posts in this thread but am slowly working my way through them.

sorry to disappoint you - no highly intelligent dog here - just a middleaged mum living in York!:rotfl:

shaz_mum_of__2

thanks butterfly brain for the snuglet pattern i have been looking at it puzzled for 10 mins now and have finally figured out its a blanket not a suit:rolleyes:

Could easily make a poncho type think from fleece i think ,i am making my ds a robin hood costume from fleece at the min and its a joys to work with and no need to finish the edges as it doesn't fray

Shaz

kingshir

I LOVE THE AUTUMN AND WINTER! I love the dark nights and the cold weather and if i had my way we'd have moved much further north years ago! I do feel sorry for the people who find those seasons depressing and send you all a hug!

My 20 bags of smokeless fuel was delivered yesterday and OH has filled the outbuilding with cut wood and logs. We had a woodburning (well multi fuel really) stove fitted last year and I am amazed at the heat it throws out, once it is going we open all the internal doors and the house warms up very quickly. We have an ordinary open fire too but as previous posters have said it doesn't give out a huge amount of heat but we still use it occasionally when it is not cold enough for the stove to be on.

We've been blackberry and elderberry picking too and now have 6 demijohns bubbling away:D The Sloe Gin will be the next thing to get on with;) Aah alcohol (especially home brewed), mother natures central heating:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: Talking of home brew, I made some coffee wine recently (using 7 tbs of instant coffee) and it is surprisingly nice, although I intend to fortify it with some dark rum for the xmas celebrations (I love xmas preparations too).

Still loving this thread, it is lovely to hear how everyone is getting on, not just with the winter preparations but life in general:T

Gigervamp

Does anybody know if you can still buy woolly tights? I've seen them for children but haven't seen any adult sizes for years. Wouldn't mind getting some for the winter.

zarazara

I've checked the oil tank and its a third full. I'm happy! I thought there was going to be much less than this in it.

zarazara

nykmedia, how come some of your insulation is soggy? have you got a leak? please investigate, my friend has just had to have her roof joists replaced through then being rotten [slow leak/ raining in over many years]. its cost her £4,000! If you repair whatever it is now it might save you a fortune.

juliapenguin

cyclingyorkie wrote: »

sorry to disappoint you - no highly intelligent dog here - just a middleaged mum living in York!:rotfl:

When I saw your username I thought we might have the first MSE OS dog who could actually use a keyboard as well as ride a bike. Now that would be something...

poorbabe

kingshir wrote: »

I LOVE THE AUTUMN AND WINTER! I love the dark nights and the cold weather and if i had my way we'd have moved much further north years ago! I do feel sorry for the people who find those seasons depressing and send you all a hug!

Thank you :j:j Now if you could 'lean' on my GP to send me to warmer climes from November to end of March, on the NHS I'd be ever so grateful