Preparing for winter.......

Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 03:27

Good Morning all. I had posted Monday morning and had thought it went thru but something happened and it's not here.

I've been making my list to prepare for those winter months that are coming. I don't think it's ever too early to get ready for that. As I've been moving I've been taking inventory what I have and where I'm keeping it since a lot of things are going into storage since I don't know how long I'll be back in this house. I think I'm pretty set but am always on the look out for improvements.

I've 2 pair warm water proof boots in good repair. One pair I keep in my truck. Speaking of, I've a survival kit for my truck - 25 miles may not seem like far but in bad winter weather it feels like 100. I keep 2 wool blankets, some type of easy to eat food (I'm diabetic and have to be prepared for that too), whenever I go to work I put a fresh jug of water in the truck so it's not frozen, a heavy metal can with shredded paper and broken up sticks in it, a small battery radio with extra batteries, flashlight, and an extra cell phone charger to plug into the lighter. Oh, also dry warm wool socks and an extra sweat suit.

For home I'm getting ready to put plastic on the windows (they are old and drafty) and have some rope caulk to seal gaps. I've put some insulated outlet covers on, a clean furnace filter, and have back up heaters in case of outages. Right now I don't have a stove so am cooking with electric griddle, 2 table top electric burners, a toaster oven and crock pot. I'm ok with it but in case of outage I'll really miss my gas stove as I was able to use it during outages. Hmmmmm, I've stocked up on propane for my camp stove, have plenty of dried wood for the grill so I can cook if the power is out. (lots of wooden matches too) I've a wonderful cast iron dutch oven so I can make bread, rolls, biscuits, ect if I need to all on the grill. Pretty cool.

Extra blankets are all repaired, clean and ready to use in a moment's notice. The flannel sheets (I know, a novelty but oh so cozy) are also out. Warm slippers to keep my tootsies toasty, and nice warm heavier socks are ready to slip on. The flannel shirts and sweat shirts and pants are out and freshened up as well. My jackets are patched and gloves matched. Hats are found and make sure no holes are in them.

I've stocked up on my favorite teas as well as have some ginger tea and mint tea for those days/evenings that my body isn't feeling good. Soup fixings are ready and my shelves are lined with a few jars of home canned soup, stew and chilli for my "lazy nights". I still need to mix a batch of hot cocoa mix. I may add dried mint leaves to it this year for a new flavor. I could also use some vanilla flavor creamer too. Hmmmmm....... decisions, decisions. As far as other food staples go, I'm about as ready as I can be. I've close to 8 months worth of flowers, sweeteners, canned/dried veggies and fruits, meats, baking essentials, yeast, grains, beans, ect..... I've plenty of baking soda and vinegar for cleaning and laundry as well as fixings to make up a good 6 batches of laundry soap. Bathroom essentials (TP, hygeine, dental, ect...) are to par as well as pet food (although not 8 months worth LOL) I've some meat in the freezer but it's very small so not much on hand. I've some in my parents freezer tho.

The shovels are in good repair, gas is mixed and ready, snow blower is in working order, I've some pet friendly salt left from last year and was able to get a couple containers on clearance this past spring. 

I splurged and picked up some books at the Good Will and a couple garage sales and put them in a plastic container so I didn't read them until this winter. I love to curl up with a good book and a nice steaming cup of tea or cocoa on a cold winter day/evening. Since I've been soo busy moving I also have saved the couple magazines I subscribe to for such times as well. I've some crafting projects as well as cards, puzzles and some puzzle books to keep me occupied. As a last resort, plenty of movies.

This will be my first year without a stove - went without an oven for about 4 months a couple winters ago but still was able to use the stove. Other than that, it's pretty much like other years and I've done just fine so we'll cross our fingers, pray, and make it work - enjoying every moment of it.

Love and Fuzzies - have a wonderful day all!

Michele

Untitled Comment

Posted by mesarah011 on Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 03:56 - Link

Wow - that's quite the amount of stocking!! I try to make a backstock of food when I can, but right now it's rather pitiful - no more than a month's worth (*maybe* two, since Todd and I don't usually eat lunch at home) of cooked-ahead-of-time freezer meals that I made and basic goods like flour, rice, cornmeal, canned goods, etc. Part of the reason it's so hard is that I don't can myself, and canned goods at the store are SO expensive - beans and veggies run .80-$1 per small can, and canned soups are $1.50-$2.50. I'd love to can my own things, but I don't know how. :-( I really want to learn, though!