-10F (or -23C) …. Brrr

When that third eye kicks in and wakes me up at 5 am - hmmm, the intuition that something is afoot, as Sherlock Holmes would say. 

Ahhh yes, kitchen pipes are frozen - I’m guessing I didn’t let the hot water faucet drip quite enough - completely preventable. 

There’s been a heater blowing under the dishwasher to keep the water supply line as warm as possible  - when it freezes the repair is almost as much as a new dishwasher  (yep-been there more than once.) Fingers crossed that won’t happen this time.

Off to warm up the kitchen! So on this frosty Wednesday morning,

this is what I see,

this is where I’m sitting,

this is what’s keeping me warm-a steaming cup of mint tea.

Oh, it could be much worse! 

So I’ll just spend the day in the kitchen keeping an eye on things - I’ve been wanting to test making homemade Pop-tarts®️ to sell in the “not-shop”  -  this seems like as good a day as any to try.

In the meantime, I’m thinking it’s perfectly acceptable to have a s’more for breakfast; what do you think?

Brrr…

Well January has come in with an icy blast! Like so many of you we have sparkling snow paired up with swirling frosty air. 

There have been deer in the backyard, scurrying raccoons and possums, and so many birds at the feeders – such a variety of beautiful colors along with their endless chatter! 

A dear friend gifted me with this terrific cowboy/chuck wagon coffee pot - I promptly filled it with birdseed, making it so much easier to tote outside to fill feeders rather than trying to lug a big bag -  I love it!

The power has stayed on and the pipes haven’t frozen - knock wood, as the old saying goes…oops, did I just jinx myself?!

However, this is coming in the next few nights – very low temperatures for here, with a predicted wind chill of -25 degrees F. 

Today feels like the calm before the storm - it’s sunny and 38° F…down right balmy! For the first time in ages, the space and propane heaters are off and the dishwasher is getting a much needed break. I’m doing laundry, the wood bin in the kitchen has been filled, and later Bailey and I will take a walk back to the woods to stretch our legs and get some fresh air. There’s nothing more to be done - bring it on Old Man Winter - I accept your challenge!  

To stay in the wintry mood, I’ve just finished Laura Ingalls’ The Long Winter – now I’ve moved on to her next book. I found the audiobooks online, so with headphones on I’m listening as I go about my Domestic Goddess chores 😉.

In the evenings, I’m reading the first Harry Potter book and my daughter and I have been watching all of the Star Wars movies – nope, I have never seen all of them. It’s been a wonderful way to spend these long, dark evenings while there are no outdoor jobs to tend to. 

Last week I wrapped up my latest MaryJane’s Farm post. You can find it here if you’d like to take a look:  Rural Farmgirl

Well, that’s the latest from here…if Winter weather is coming your way, I hope you are safe and warm. And if you are West where the wildfires are, know that there are thoughts and prayers for you.  

here comes the snow!

Happy New Year to all! 

I've been catching up on blogs...thanks so much for sharing your holidays with all of us. From decorating, to food, to adventures outdoors, it's been wonderful to see how everyone has spent their days!

A quick catch up from here...

Christmas found me baking (and eating way too much!) Enjoying twinkling lights, secret surprises, and movie marathons.

New ornaments found their way on the tree,

 

and I always laugh as I hide the pickle ornaments!

The kids look for them and then when the ornaments are found, the reward is a silly gift. In years past it's been a board game, last year it was Elf Sundae glasses and all the sweet treats to make sundaes, this year they received giant gift bags filled with their favorite salty snacks.

My son had the terrific idea of playing Clue by candlelight...it was fun!

And we were in awe of the many over-the-top decorated cars & trucks we saw:

  

Most days Bailey was found curled up under blankets just taking it all in.

Which leads us to today...

the power was out twice this week, and flickered last night. There's nothing like getting a weather alert this morning that reads:

Winter Weather Advisory:

Severity: Possible threat to life or property

Action Recommended: Evacuate a pre-planned activiy as instructed.

Urgency: take action within the next hour

Like so many of you, a look at the weather radar and wow, it's coming our way! 

Firewood stacked? - check

Candles/oil lamps ready? - check

Propane tanks for portable heater? - check

Extra blankets for outdoor critters? - check

Batteries charging? - check

And while there is a certain charm to old farmhouses, there is also a routine for this old house that falls into place like clockwork that's not so charming. While being surrounded by open fields is oh-so pretty to look at and enjoy, with no nearby treeline to block the wind, Old Man Winter will find his way into every nook & cranny.

Kitchen taps need to drip to prevent freezing

Dishwasher running to prevent those lines from freezing

Dryer vent plugged with cotton batting to keep the cold wind out of the laundry room, which freezes the washer lines

Water stored in the basement - (a 30 and a 60-gallon tank) no city water here!

I'm not sure how much insulation good old plaster really provides. And yes, a whole-house generator would be fabulous; however, not in the budget at this time (and oh my, have you seen the price of propane lately, yikes!)

That's okay, time to channel my inner Laura Ingalls...tonight I think I'll re-read The Long Winter and sit by the fire.

Hoping you're warm, cozy, and safe if the snow's blowing your way!