Preparing for Winter

Emstick14

We are stil sleeping with the sash window wide open and just a duvet cover on us (no duvet inside). We live in Cornwall and although the weather has been miserable at times its still been hot and sticky.

It must be getting cold though as we have had a few monstrous spiders already!!

lewis70

Hi All , Very new to all this posting stuff , but here goes ,
Making Jams, Jellys ,Syrups , Pickels and the like .
Drying mushrooms (they have just gone mad )
Finishing my fishing banket so called as I knit while DB is playing with sticks and string , or as he calls it fishing . The blankets is made up of all the oddments of wool I have from when I first learnt to spin .
Just ordered new wet weather gear from the army surplus store .
£50 for gortex jacket and over trousers which might sound like a lot but will mean I can cycle to work this winter . I have cycled all summer so it will be good to keep doing this .
Also looked out the lights for the bike and hi vis thing .
Started the cabbage seeds.
Found a knitting pattern for DIG DOGs new winter coat .
So all in all a busy few days .:D

NualaBuala

lewis70 wrote: »

inishing my fishing banket so called as I knit while DB is playing with sticks and string , or as he calls it fishing . The blankets is made up of all the oddments of wool I have from when I first learnt to spin .

Welcome Lewis70 :wave:
I love the sound of the "fishing blanket", I have a lovely image of you and your DB!

maryb

jackieglasgow wrote: »

I've had my 13.5tog on all summer too. I washed the "summer" one - it's 9 or 9.5togs - today and had it out all day in the sun. It's back in the dryer now, I think I might need both on the bed, even with my electric blanket, but it will be down in the livingroom with me when I'm home alons too, to keep me warm without putting the heating on.

We really need a new suite, ours is 11 years old and although it was really expensive when we bought it and fantastic quality, it is really scabby now, the leather is badly scratched and pitted and stretched, so I want to get a new one before the VAT increase kicks in next year. But...all the shops will have new year sales, which might still be cheaper than buying before then, what do you all think? Not strictly preparing for winter, but it is, because I want my house nice and cosy and the new suite will be part of that.

You'll probably be able to get one in the sales because they start on Boxing Day and the VAT increase doesn't come in until 3rd or 4th January - for that very reason

ChocClare

lewis70 wrote: »

Drying mushrooms (they have just gone mad )
Started the cabbage seeds.
So all in all a busy few days .:D

Welcome and well done for posting! This is very interesting, lewis70! Do you mind telling me the secret of your mushroom success? I have tried kits (which die) and I have bought a packet of spores, but am not really sure what to do with them? Horse manure is not a problem (I mean it, this is not a euphemism!) as we have a horse - I have heard that well-rotted horse manure is a great advantage in mushroom growing, and certainly I do get volunteer mushrooms where I have manured the veg beds - but nothing like a decent growth.

I notice that all my potatoes are ready and my tomatoes look like they're going to all die of blight any second, so I will have some clear ground to plant winter stuff in from this weekend. Any hints gratefully received! (I'm talking to you too, wssla00, who have just finished planting your winter garden!!)

nicki_2

Weather forecast has just said the chance of frost in rural areas in Cumbria :eek: Its August for pity sake! Glad I got DD to pack long socks for while she is away now I'll be putting the quilts in the quiltcovers when I change the beds this weekend. For the next couple of nights I'm just going to wear my winter PJs and bed socks 'cause I can't be bothered fighting with the quilt :rotfl::rotfl:

sashanut

dreaming wrote: »

lurker de-lurking here with a window problem. A few weeks ago I had wooden shutters (which I love, love, love) fitted to the bay window in bedroom.

Just back from hols & not yet caught with the thread, so sorry if this is a duplicate. Can you tell me where you bought your shutters please?? I would really love them for my house - tkyou:D

cookie9

Starting to get organised ofr winter as the last week days have felt cold. A question for some greenfingered OS out there - I have some herbs in my garden such as basil, parsley, thyme and rosemary. Is it possible to freeze these? Thought might work if a little water and herb placed in ice cube trays. Many thanks!

Planning several museum and library trips once weather turns cold so can take advantage of their heatng and get some culture too!

missychrissy

There is a definite feel of Autumn in the air. I heard the weatherman say that yesterday was the coldest August day on record for 40 years. I have switched to my 13.5 tog winter quilt and put a cover on the summer quilt so that I can top up the winter quilt if necessary. My next step, when it gets a little colder, will be to put a fleece or two over my mattress under the bottom sheet.

I work nights (usually 5 a week) and I come in to a quite cold house after a night shift. As I am going straight to bed I try not to put the heating on and warm my bed up with a couple of wheat bags and then snuggle down. When I wake up I usually walk my dog, delaying putting on the heating as long as possible. My dog is nearly 10 years old and she seems to survive quite happily being left overnight with no heating.

I really want to change my inset gas fire with a woodburning stove this year so that I can take advantige of the free wood I come across when I am walking my dog. I need to shop around for the best company that can convert my system and build me a fireplace and hearth.

alec_eiffel

We had no curtains in our smallest bedroom and hadn't seen any I liked at the right price, so I tried the old Ikea fleece as curtains trick and hoped DH wouldn't notice. He did notice and loves it, thinks they look very cute. So free curtains and no more trawling to find any. Thanks for the idea.