Preparing for Winter

csarina

NualaBuala wrote: »

Csarina, will check out that yarn, it's lovely. I have the striping Regia wool and I love that too - I got it cheap from Kemps online shop but it's not in stock now. No fear since I'm VERY slow and it will probably take me till winter 2011 to finish this pair of socks.

Your sitting room is well and truly decluttered - nice minimalist look! Are you getting rid of the wood burner? It's gorgeous and cosy looking - I would love one like that!

Yes the wood burner is going but is being replaced with a smaller multifuel burner which hopefully will be set back into the fireplace a bit more than it is now. The photograph of the wood burner was taken before we moved in, hence the minimalisy look, it does not look like that now!!

The wood burner used to fuel the central heating but has not done so for the last 5 years to my knowledge and according to HETAS safety standards it is not safe. My land lord says it is, but I am not prepared to take the risk........apart from which it will not stay in over night as the controlsl have been disconnected.



This is what we are replacing it with, much smaller and neater and no awful stone work behind it......much more in keeping with the cottage.

Slinky

csarina wrote: »

I have been looking for thermal socks too. I have some I bought years ago, they are brilliant, but have not been abe to find any like them since. They were socks I wear inside my boots over a thin pair of cotton socks, they are brilliant when its very cold in the winter. I suffer from bad circulation so my feet and hands suffer in the winter. I wear them inside my slippers. Have to take them off and wash them when I go to bed and hope they are dry in the morning.... I think they were made by Bridge somebody....cannot quite remember, but as it was 25 years ago when I bought them I suppose thats only to be expected!!

Could they be Bridgedale? I have some Bridgedale socks I use inside my walking boots. Got them from Blacks a few years ago.

csarina

Slinky wrote: »

Could they be Bridgedale? I have some Bridgedale socks I use inside my walking boots. Got them from Blacks a few years ago.

I think they probably were, I was looking on the internet last night and found some that sound very similar........mind you they were quite expensive.......still if they help to keep my tootsies warm through the winter.......the expense will be worth it. I an going to see how the new wool socks work out first, I might not need to get any if they are ok.

mennie

I have just been to HB and bought all my cold and flu stuff. Cost under £4 for 24 throat lozenges, eucalyptus oil, cough medicine, hot lemon powders and vaour rub!!

Also made 22 salmon fishcakes last night for the freezer. Made with 88p salmon trimming from Morrisons. Some mash I had frozen, sping onions from the garden, a few chilli flakes and coated in polenta.

BARGAIN!! I have portioned them up as 5 lots of 4 and 2 left over. That is 5 1/2 meals for me and hubby for less than £1!!!

Charis

mardatha wrote: »

I dont much like the idea of Scotland getting any colder and darker in winter than it already is Summers are light and lovely but only 12 weeks as it is.

Dunno how you'll feel about this then, Mardatha. Dawn around 10 am in the depths of winter - but the afternoon will be lighter. I though it a good idea at first until I realised that here in the Midlands kids get to go to school and come home in the daylight, which they won't if this goes ahead.

calleyw

I am going to try and make some window quilts.

I am going to cheat. As a local drapers shop is selling 4.5 tog duvets no matter what size for £3.99. These are seconds so can be over or under filled.

Any how seeing as I pretty rubbish at sewing. Here is how bad, when I went to take some trousers up I sewed them up across the bottom so I could not get my leg out :rotfl:

I am not sure how to to secure it to the window and how to secure to the wire/pole that is used.

Any ideas any one. I am happy cutting down the quilts and edge sewing them. But I being rather thick about how to make a loop or hem to put the pole/wire through.

Thanks in advance.

Yours

Calley

blueberrypie

roosterpotatoes wrote: »

Right everyboday,

Since I want to prepare for winter properly,

I want to learn to knit, my sons are 4 and 2 years so not too old to wear proper knitted things and im sure my mum would love a pair of knitted gloves:money:

Can anybody please give me some advice on where to start and what i need

Knitting isn't difficult, but it is *much* easier to show someone when you're sitting right there with them than describing it in words. If you ask at your local yarn shop, they might know of (or even host) a knitting class, or a knitting group where someone will be certain to be happy to show you and get you started. And if you look on Ravelry, you'll probably find a group in your area - just go along and ask someone to help you. As with most things, people who enjoy the skill are generally more than happy to teach others :-)

annie123

Calley I'm sure on the links I posted had info on that, might be worth a read up.

I'm going to try a few ways including:
Sewing a channel along the top and threading a bamboo pole through it, then hang on cup hooks would work, if you have wooden frame windows

Double side velcro glued onto window frame (upvc) and stitched onto quilt should hold it.

To keep it rolled up during the day I'm going to have very long ribbon (or something along those lines) at the top of the frame so when the quilt is rolled up just tie in a bow to keep there.

Have also found that pillow cases make good ready made ones just waiting for quilt/fleece/space blanket etc to go inside. Might be useful for smaller windows.

hth

Katgoddess

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/90154371

Keep seeing these solar powered side lamps on the ikea home page.

http://www.littletrekkers.co.uk/ Still have a sale on. I brought a snowsuit for my toddler from there for less than half price.

Winchelsea

I am sitting at my laptop with no electric light on, but have my trusty IKEA Sunnan lamp at my side, focussed on the keyboard. I have another one on my bedside cupboard for reading in bed. I just click the solar panels out and leave them on my south-facing windowsills every day.

On a dull day the brightness goes faster, but when sunny I get about 3 hours bright light. I'm sure my leccy bills are down since I bought them.