Cowgirl

Snowed here today. It was very pretty as it fell. The little girl in me is still gladdened by snow as long as I don’t have to drive anywhere. 

Brrr. It is about 12*F outside, so not THAT bad, right? But the wind is 21 mph.  That wind makes it feel COLD. It is icy. So I had to be cautious doing chores. 

Went into town to do some business. It was rainy and windy. Came home to a SHATTERED storm door. The latch on the door broke earlier this winter and apparently the wind caught the door. I cleaned up the broken glass. We have to replace the door soon. As storm damage goes that's not too awful. Still a PIA. Temps are supposed to drop down low to night. Brrrr.

Stay warm, all.

Ice. Yes, hate it. When I lived in Alaska, studded snow tires were the norm and were legal “fall” through most of “spring” — which is all winter there. The snowpack would stay on the roads all winter, melt a little and refreeze, becoming ice.

No one bothered to clear snow in parking lots, which also became icy. So I never went out without my spikes on my boots. And I *still* broke my tailbone.

I miss Alaska sometimes, but I don’t miss the icy snowpack. Here, studded snow tires aren’t legal as they tear up the roads terribly (one reason Alaska’s roads are so bad). So driving on ice here is more dangerous.

I still have and wear my boot spikes, though. Thankfully I don’t need them often. We do get ice here. But it stays for only a short time.

Tonight was baked fish, salad tossed with salsa, and Spanish rice.

4 minutes ago, Mt_Rider said:

With the gritty consistency of the ground we walk on here, we don't actually do 'mud'.  Not the gooey stuff but I remember clay from the midwest.  My sympathies, Cowgirl.  Gets everywhere....especially if dogs help! 

Mud. Our clay-based loamy soil has the ability to turn into thick, sticky, boot sucking mud. It gets on everything, in everything. Dog paws, dog fur ... basically the dogs get coated with it. Boots, pants, hands ... basically we get coated with it. The mud room becomes a sea of mud. Even sweeping and mopping daily doesn’t suffice. The mud creeps into the main part of the house. The mud dries. Then the fine clay particles can become airborne and blown around with our central heating system and everything gets a fine coat of mud dust. Daily dusting doesn’t suffice. I dust, vacuum, sweep and mop. We change the furnace filter. And still we live with mud. Everywhere. MUD. Midwest country living. 😹

Mud season is NOT my favorite. But, it does make for bounteous plant growth later on in the year, so I guess there’s that! Our land provides a lot of food.

Great work, Kappydell!

I spent some time this past weekend re-organizing our pantry. It had gotten bad, so that it was difficult to find what I need when I need it. One thing about prepping, organization is super important, but something we fall short of sometimes!

When the weather warms up a bit I need to deal with organizing our garage — it is a disaster, a complete disaster. That will be a major project.

TheCG — string shoes? 🙀 Not here! 

We went from warmish (50*’s) yesterday with boot sucking mud - mud so deep and gooey that it tries to suck the boots right off your feet - to freezing. It was in the 20’s over night. The mud froze hard, not just crunchy.

Winter in this part of the Midwest consists of constantly changing weather. Bone chilling cold quickly morphs into mild weather followed by mildly freezing weather, followed by??? 

Next up? Rain and possible flooding. This is why we bought on a hill. Last house was not on a flood plain but nonetheless had flooding issues in weather like this. 

It’s gone from about -44*F windchill earlier this week to about 44*F today. The snow is melting and it’s a bit foggy. My sinuses are letting me know they don’t like such drastic changes in weather. I stood up and got so dizzy I had to sit back down! 

Jeepers, I am the same way. When I move, I clean, clean, clean! I always start with bathrooms and the kitchen. If you can afford it, pay for an extra day for the U-Haul to keep your stuff in while you do the initial cleaning. Have a box of cleaning supplies that you pack last and unpack first.

15 hours ago, Jeepers said:

Another issue is the 'great room' I guess that's what it's called, has a cathedral type ceiling with 2 skylights and 1 ceiling fan. It is TALL so I don't see a stovepipe happening anywhere in that area. 

A friend of mine with an open concept house, a modified A frame with a very high cathedral ceiling much like you describe, put in a wood burning stove out in the center. The chimney was VERY TALL and had, if I recall correctly, 2 bends in it to get through the obstacles to a place on the roof where it could exit safely. It is doable. You may want to have pros install it (I think my friends installed their own, but they were a construction family, so had the needed skills).

Yes, Jeepers. Starting all over again is a PIA. But also exciting in some ways.

I have been looking at wood burning stoves. There are also EPA rated zero clearance fireplaces now, that are essentially a wood burning stove that is placed in a framed and dry walled chase, and I have looked at some of those. Oddly, most stoves I have looked at have greater clearance requirements than the fireplaces, so they take up more floor space.

With your open concept house, you can put a stove out in the center, for better heat distribution, possibly.

I am leaning toward a stove, though, to give me another cooking option.

We have done drywalling at other places. I really am not excited about the idea of doing that again! 

But we may may end up having to do that. Insulation in 60’s homes was pretty much nonexistent.

i sure hear you on having champagne tastes and a beer budget. 

It was reportedly between -40 and -50*F windchill here yesterday. Today is still cold, but a little less extreme. The forecast is for highs in the 50’s (yes, 50+ ABOVE zero)for the weekend. How’s that for an extreme shift in weather?

I knew when we bought this house, a circa 1962 ranch house, that it would need work to make it more energy efficient. The attic has been insulated, but that is the easy part. Insulating existing walls is problematic. I have torn down houses with various types of blown in wall insulation, that was installed in existing walls, and I have never, ever seen a completely insulated wall! So I am reluctant to go down that very expensive and yet very ineffective insulation path. The other options are:

1) tear out the drywall and insulate the opened wall cavities properly - but that wreaks havoc on living in the house and it is expensive to re-drywall and paint the whole house!

2) tear off the siding and house sheathing and insulate from the outside - meaning having to re-sheathe and side the whole house, but saving on the level of disruption to living in the home; or

3) just add some solid foam under new siding and call it good (helps minimally).

Sooooo, that’s all on the back burner.

Adding a centrally located wood burning stove would help significantly for less up front cost, and would keep us warm for less fuel 💵, so that is going to be our first priority. DH has been dragging his feet on this one for 5 years, saying we don’t have space, or it’s too expensive, etc. But now he is more receptive. And now I am absolutely determined that this project WILL HAPPEN.

Brrrrr!

❄️❄️❄️

I think the high today was -5*F. That’s not so bad, but the wind makes the wind chill bitter cold. When outside doing chores, I had on many layers. I looked like a stuffed teddy bear, but I was relatively comfortable. 

Our furnace hasn’t shut off all day. Forget setting the thermostat 10* higher to maintain house temps - the furnace can’t manage that. We have been saying we need to save up for a wood stove for this house for several years. We really need to get one. Last place I had that had a fireplace was soooooo nice in weather like this.

I have been on a baking spree to add heat to the house. I made pumpkin muffins, corn muffins, blueberry clafoutis, carob brownies (I am deathly allergic to chocolate but carob is a reasonably similar eating experience that is safe for me). We will end up weighing a ton apiece, but that oven has really helped! The kitchen is toasty!!! 

The chickens have a heat lamp in their house. The dogs are all inside. The horse? Well, he seems entirely unfazed. He left his cozy barn and feed to go out in the pasture. 

It was about 5*F this morning when I went out to do chores. The wind was stout and the windchill was well below zero. I bundled up and was fine, except my face. I need to find my balaclava, because tomorrow is going to be MUCH COLDER.

The furnace is struggling to keep up, so this is a sweater and long johns day, even indoors. The dogs are all inside. I have a heat lamp on in the chicken house.

This is a good day for baking, I think. The house could use the extra heat, and some comfort foods would be nice. Need to decide what to bake and get busy!

Hope you all stay safe and warm, wherever you are!

This extension website explains how to pickle summer squash safely.

https://www.clemson.edu/extension/food/canning/canning-tips/26preserving-summer-squash.html

Lavender requires a somewhat alkaline soil (or “sweet” as some call it). My soil runs to the acidic side, and so anything I grow that likes alkaline soil requires that I lime the soil around the plant at least annually. Lavender also likes a well-drained soil, not a clay based soil. 

I grow lots of herbs and medicinal plants - some of my favorites:

Rosemary

thyme

oregano

sage

sweet basil

red basil

lemon balm

echinacea

dandelions

red clover

roses (hips)

elderberry

hawthorn

chives

3 hours ago, Annarchy said:

Good Morning,

 

Saturday, cleaning day normally, was quite a day. Friday DH told me, he was meeting with 4 people to practice and then come home for dinner, then, another 3 people were coming to visit also.

 

I got up early & started a pot of beans, & dusted a bit, until the beans were done.  Went to the store, got the few items I needed, came home and started making hot Mexican cornbread, while 2 packages of ribs marinated. Transferred the beans into the haro, from the pressure cooker, and started pressure cooking batches of ribs. 

 

DH called, 3 people weren’t going to be able to make it, family illness. I understood, & continued preparing.  I put the last package of ribs in the freezer. Prepped the smoker and lit it. 

 

While tending the fire, I heard an odd crunch/crash noise, walked to the edge of the yard to see, nothing. However, as I was coming back, a young man approached our alley gate, saying, “I need help”. I went to the gate, with the dogs barking & growling beside me. He backed up against the neighbors brick wall, as I asked what he needed, he glanced back down the alley, where he had come from, as I stepped through the gate. 

 

An officer was heading straight for him, but because he was still quite a ways away, I looked at the guy, who, by then, seemed quite afraid the snarling, barking dogs were going to get him first. I promptly told him to get on the ground and put his hands behind his back, using my big girl voice. He complied rather quickly. The officer got there, cuffed him, asked if I was ok, and left. 

 

Back to cooking, I sent DH a quick text, letting him know.  I received a text from the other group of people, only 1 was coming.     Ok, now, maybe 2 plus us. Only one showed up for the feast. Lots of leftovers. 

 

Yesterday evening, DH’s friend called asking if we could help him with the deer he just got. We went over, field dressed it & hung it to drain & age. Sooo... today, my job is skinning & butchering it. Hope he takes notes, next time he’s on his own. I helped him last time he got one. Waste not, want not, he already gave us the heart.   

 

 

Gotta love our dogs!!!

I always take our German Shepherds with me when someone comes to our gate. People don’t generally come to our gate as it is padlocked so they know they cannot come to our door. This tends to keep the would-be thieves away, as they cannot case our place to see if anyone is home.

But, we mounted a large bell on the gate post, with a pull rope to ring it. This way, people can still let us know they are there — UPS drivers, mail carrier, a friend or neighbor, etc. In theory someone ringing the bell could be legit, or they could be a thief using the bell to try to case the place. The pack is quite protective, though, and very intimidating. A 100 pound shepherd gives anyone pause. A pack of them? Let’s just say they make me feel very protected!

Glad your dogs were with you!!

It is just above freezing here today, and raining. Then the temp is expected to plunge down to about 0*F tonight, creating ice. By Wednesday the temps will be well below zero all day.

ICE.

Ice means possible power outages as power lines come down due to the weight of ice and as ice laden trees topple onto power lines. Below zero with no power is a grim prospect, and a disaster Midwestern preppers are much more likely to face than TEOTWAWKI.

Stay safe. Stay warm.

It’s quite cold here today. The warnings said the wind chill could be as low as -25*F. It’s not the coldest we’ve ever had, but it’s still pretty cold. I bundled up to do chores, wearing a fleece jacket under my heavy barn coat, a neck warmer, a hat, my coat hood cinched tight, lined work gloves, fleece lined pants, wool socks, lined boots.  If I had to stay out longer I’d add ski goggles and a face mask.

The chickens peek out their sally port door but choose to stay inside their house, out of the wind. I don’t blame them!

Brrrrr.

Nonetheless, after barn chores were done I had to do some grocery shopping. It was not delightful to unload the car in that wind. But I got that done. Stored it all away. Rotated out the stored food and tucked away the replacements at back of storage.

6 hours ago, The WE2's said:

 

We started several years ago scouting out empty propane tanks (the 20#?...the size we use on grill and on trailer) and buying them...and not a bit afraid to bargain the price down!  We usually pay about $15 each and then take them to WM and exchange them for a new full tank.  Just a suggestion that might make you feel a bit more comfortable?

I don't know how I would hook up a little #20 tank to our house line to run furnace, etc.

I was thinking more along the lines of an extra #500 to #1000.

So glad you were able to do everything! It sounds like a good and productive day AND your body cooperated! WOOT!

Last night was Mexican casserole with sweet potato, broccoli and corn meal muffins. I make the casserole with leftover chicken and we get several meals out of it.

Tonight will be salmon, mashed potatoes, and green beans.

17 hours ago, Mt_Rider said:

Cowgirl....that's some new information.  Esp. about the folding cover that can prop it up.  That's currently how I read on laptop. 

 

Different sizes....but I can adjust the print size to see comfortably...right?

 

I've handled other people's iPads and they are quite heavy.  But...so is a laptop. 

 

I've got enough ebooks to fill more than 32 GB {?}   (I THINK....very rough guess.....AND  I keep forgetting which is GB or MB or ?????)  Does an iPad have that kind of capacity?  But then, if I got an iPad....that takes pictures too, right?  That would be tempting to fill up space with pics.  I USED to take lots of pics.  But they all go away after you change devices so I gave up.  {yeah, store in the CLOUD}   

 

All of our emergency family issues have come in front of this issue in priority right now.  But....I will have to do something.  Old laptop limping along but is acting like an unpredictable old person!   

 

MtRider   

My iPad has 128GB. Yes it has a nice camera, and I use it some, though not as much as my phone camera. It easily transfers photos to my computer via my modem. I also store some online via Google and also on my blog at Ello, for the ones I use in my posts there. It does not have an SD card, but if you don’t have a computer you could use an external hard drive or flash drive with an adapter.

I really like its ease of use, the available apps, and its versatility.

Android tablets would also be worth exploring, although I don’t have the experience with one to make a recommendation.

On 1/6/2019 at 3:02 PM, Mt_Rider said:

Welllllll, iPads are extremely HEAVY for my hands.  A case would give a little something to grasp... and they have a way of folding to set upright?  I know I'll have to get another laptop when this one actually dies.  I MUST always have a keyboard; so much of my computer usage is word processing.  Writing stories, etc.  I'm just trying to take the pressure off the laptop by taking Kindle elsewhere. 

 

I really do not like CLOUD.  I know that if it works...WHILE it works....it helps not to overload systems.  But when I go to chose another book....I spin thru right there on my own device.  Perhaps it's because we don't have access  to this CLOUD unless we're at home.  Or at a library.  And we apparently will NEVER purchase ENOUGH access to keep messing around with any CLOUD. 

 

Question:  you all talk of accessing the CLOUD.  Thru what part of what device do you do that?  Internet access thru cell phone  or ....??  This is where I don't have much experience with accessing anything thru cell phone.  We do not have a data plan for the cell phone.  Therefore....we don't have a data plan for any of these devices either, right?  I would need to access the books thru our computer modem and satellite dish....even if I'm using a book reader or iPad, right?   ANY function that is cell phone-based, is not available to me at home....and thus, NOT available to me at all.

 

I know...it drove our kids crazy when they rented an Airbnb out here once.  Just calculating that they had WiFi functions but zero CELL functions.  They assumed WiFi = Cell phone. 

 

I actually have an older iPod with a reader function.  But it's all jammed up with the years-of-backlog of email.  Never figured how to clear it.  Can I load a Kindle-for-iPod app on that?  The current reader app is not Kindle-friendly.  All my books are Kindle.  Would it be worth it...it's almost a decade old.  Worked as of 6 yrs ago when I was at Darlene's to get Koa.  I could check email on it.   I'm not sure I'd find it comfortable to read on ...full time.  It's 4"x2.5" or something like that. 

 

Can you tell I don't have enough data to understand?  About the time I figure something out, they've developed NEW STUFF....  I agree, Annarchy.  Tech is moving way too fast for me in boonies to keep up.   

 

MtRider    

Glancing through this thread, I don’t see an answer.

iPads come in different sizes and weights.

I have a case for mine that is book-like, opening somewhat like the cover of a book. The nice thing about the case is that the front cover is a tri-fold stand for the iPad, and in landscape mode makes it like a small touchscreen laptop.

Mine has plenty of internal storage so that I do not have to rely on the cloud.

I like that it is not locked into one source for books. While I can read Kindle materials on it, I can also go to places like the Gutenberg Project for books, or the Apple store, or other places and get reading material. Years ago I had a Kindle Fire and it was much less versatile.

I also like that I can use it as a small computer, much more so than the Kindle Fire I had. The Fire did not last very long before it died. Maybe 2 years if I recall correctly. This iPad is well made and going strong after several years.