We’ve had our first little taste of winter this weekend, with falling temperatures and a covering of snow. We’ve had it quite light, folks up in the mountains nearby have had a lot more than us! Still, it’s really helped us to see what the winter months will bring when they arrive properly. It seems strange that we were in t-shirts on Wednesday!
Our kitchen has been nice and warm, so Julie spend a day sifting sand for plastering when the weather warms up a bit (which it’s forecast to do next week), and I spend some time in my workshop making mouldings for the new bathroom door with my new router toy. I’ve found the heat from the freezer keeps it at an acceptable temperature for working in, but I’m not sure that will still be the case when it’s -20 outside!
We didn’t bother lighting the fire until early evening, and we cooked tea on it, which was fun, and the room is still quite warm this morning. Last night was cold in our bedroom, but we were quite toasty in our duvet and Julie has got a new warmer nightie. We still haven’t got out the really cold weather bed linen, so still plenty to throw on the bed when it gets really cold!
We bought snow-chains and winter tires on Friday, but haven’t had a chance to put the tyres on the car yet, so we won’t be going anywhere this weekend. Not that we need to; we’ve got a freezer full of food, full store-cupboards, a barn full of wood for the fire and a warm cat to pass around.
Fog isn’t impressed with the weather; he goes outside, looks at the snow and runs back in. Definitely a fair-weather cat! He’s not been outside for more than a quick toilet for two days now. He’s driving us demented!
This is just a taster of things to come; it can set in worse than this for weeks, and the temperatures will get a lot colder, but I think we’re ready for it.
Once again, really admire your tenacity and bravery at taking all this on! Yes, the snow looks very pretty at the moment, but as soon as I started to read, I thought ‘I hope they have invested in snow chains’!! Should have known you would!
I hope you have warming pans/hotties/electric blankets and at least two 13 tog duvets at the ready! You should have done the Cumbria thing and lined you walls and roof space with wool – is it as cheap over there as it is in the UK? It’s a wonderful insulator.
Love the sound of the new ‘toy’ Joe – expect to see you hone your skills over those Winter months. It certainly seems a country of contrasting temperatures!
Best of luck and it seems a good time to break out that apple liqueur you’ve been brewing :~)
Apple brandy next year? What’s it like over there for buying things to make your own brew?
Snuggle up!! Fog will always find the warmest place – he is a cat after all!
Hi Sally! We haven’t managed to find wool insulation, so we’re using normal fibreglass insulation instead. Not ideal, but it’s all we can get. It’s made a huge difference where we’ve got it installed, if it survives the winter, as the rats seem to be enjoying using it for bedding! Still fighting on with the rodents.
Homebrew kit is easily obtainable here, as everybody brews wine, so we’ll certainly be doing that next year 🙂 Looking forward to it. And yup, Fog always finds the warmest place, usually either under the pechka or in Julie’s pocket.
Winter wonderland .. sounds as if you’re getting well prepared for the months ahead. Wonder if your village gets cut off, is there public transport? and does the school have to close? … guess you’ll find out. Is that an elaborate bird feeder in the picture? ……next thought is what will Fog eat in the winter months?
Here in Penrith the weather is very mild, planted bulbs yesterday afternoon ….. this morning the community gardeners will be busy at Strickland Gate, collecting nasturtium seeds, gathering the last of the rhubarb and generally pruning and tidying. Next plan is an Apothecary Garden in a disused raised bed by the old fire station, the herb planters on station have been real success. Clocks went back last night ….. lain is waiting for his mate to hit the car boot sales …..
best wishes Carol
Hi Carol, they’re pretty good at keeping the roads clear, particularly where the school bus goes. The road out of the village is ploughed straight away, and the farmers come around with their tractors and a plough for the rest of us later on, so we’ll probably not get proper snowed in for very long.
The bird feeder you saw is a plant stand that we found. Julie wants to renovate it for in the house, for house-plants. Fog is getting well fed. We’re not doing the Bulgarian thing of only feeding cats once every three days; we want him to grow up into a big, strong cat, so we’re feeding him every day. He still prefers to catch his own food though, and often the food goes uneaten. At the moment though he doesn’t much like going outdoors, but he is getting more used to the snow!
Your garden ideas sound lovely, hope they go well. Best wishes, Joe and Julie
The more I read about the temperatures there, the more it sounds so similar to Canada, where as you say you go from T shirts to Snow shoes.. !!!
Very brave are you both , I have only lived through -30 in a fully central heated warm house !!
but you are prepared !!!!
It is so lovely to read of your adventurers I am pleased you are having such fun. Cold weather or not. Take care
Sifting sand, plastering ..mouldings and router, a whole new language to me. Just wondering if the frozen food will defrost in time for tea? Am enjoying your scripts though and look forward to the next instalment. Yes it’s pretty mild in Penrith, but tons of rain over the last few days. all the best x