Hello all. Glad you are here and hope you are all well. It is in the mid 40's this morning, going to get to upper 60's again. Yesterday was such a beautiful day, and I did get many little outdoor projects done. Rain comes in tonight, and then temps are supposed to drop. It looks to be a much colder end to the week. It was bound to happen! We get better temps again next week but get a taste of the chill for a few days anyway.
For those at least in the states, remember that many things will be closed today in honor of Veteran's Day. Most state and federal offices, mail, most banks, etc. Plan your day accordingly.
Well here in the northern hemisphere, winter will soon be upon us, if it isn't already. I know many of you gals north of me have seen snow and very cold temps already.
Have you prepared yourself and your home?
Make sure that furnace is working. Do you have wood, pellets, etc. if needed?
Check that furnace filter and make sure you have a couple extras around.
Hoses off
Check your smoke detector batteries
Good seals around your windows and doors
Maybe a draft dodger for the door bottom (you can roll up an old towel)
Got your socks, boots, and coats and gloves at the ready?
If you keep batteries for your rechargeable tools in the garage - bring those batteries inside (if garage isn't heated) - freezing does affect the life of those batteries
All fluids good in the car - also have your scraper in the car. I keep a scraper in the house as well, that way I can go out and scrape the windows, without having to try to get in the car and deal with snow in the winter.
Do you have plenty of pantry and freezer goods on hand? If weather gets bad - you may need extra supplies, especially if you live more rural
Pet supplies (food) - ample bedding and housing for any outdoor animals
Good idea to have a small heater or two - just in case something happens to the furnace and you have to wait for service.
Snow shovel and ice melt if needed
I know it is just the beginning of the 'cold' season - but everyone needs to get prepared and have things in order ahead of time. You don't want a big weather event to happen, and not be prepared.
Now is the time to get things in order.
Just yesterday I noticed that my digital thermostat was kind of sluggish - so I changed the battery in it, and it is much better now!
I wish you each a beautiful day.
Be kind and smile!
Daily gratitude: I am so very thankful for all Veterans - past and present and for all the sacrifices they have made, so that we can stay free. Thankful for their families too, as they sacrifice as well.
We are under an ice fog today. The roads are very slippery. We changed all the batteries in the smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors as well.
ReplyDeleteGod bless
That sounds dangerous. Hope you are planning on staying in. Changing those batteries sure makes one feel safer!
DeleteYes, thanks to the veterans, some of whom gave their lives. My brother was a WW2 veteran. He never talked about the war. There were a few lightweight stories he told when he got home, but then nothing. He did visit Germany once years later, but he didn't talk about that either. He visited those awful camps. :(
ReplyDeleteI've been looking around at my winter stuff, clothing, supplies. What about that spray you can put on the car door gaskets to keep the doors from freezing shut? Where on earth is that stuff? What did I do with it? I wish it was not a spray, because it would be easier to have a salve I could spread with a paper towel. Next time I'm out, I can ask at the auto supply store... maybe there is such a thing?
MaryB
I know many who never spoke of their time over seas. Even my nephew who served in Dessert Storm - doesn't want to talk about things. When he does say something, it is pretty negative.
DeleteI have used WD40 on locks, but I do know there is an 'ice-melt' stuff that sprays in. I have sprayed with alcohol as well - that works too.
If you find something different, let us know.
Your daily gratitude is becoming a favorite feature of your post! My gratitude this morning is the sunshine and warm temps.
ReplyDeleteLots of good tips for preparing for freezing weather. It is definitely smart to keep a scraper in the house, as well as the car. Same way with an umbrella. Your umbrella in the trunk is basically useless. ha! Costco has furnace on sale frequently, so we are stocked up. The Farmer changed the furnace filter and water filter yesterday. Both were filthy. Oops, should have been changed sooner.
It is both sad and with a profound sense of gratitude that I remember our veterans. Going though some old pictures, I found pictures of an uncle who was in the navy. For the most part, our family was not military.
Enjoy your day. Hope we get a bit of rain tonight.
Thank you! Oh the sun today is so pretty.
DeleteI do keep an extra umbrella inside as well - just pays to have those things ready inside - may make the trip outside easier!
Good to have extra filters - if you have to run things a lot, they will dirty faster.
It is sad. I had an uncle that came back VERY different from WWII. Grandma and mom always called it shell shocked - but he was just very different to be around. He got a Bronze Star, which I have.
My brother was Navy, just at the end of Viet Nam.
Shell shock - that's the old WW1 term for probably what we call PTSD and those poor fellows had a frightful time of it. Just read Wikipedia on shell shock, it's enough to make me sick.
DeleteMaryB
It was horrible - he was never right until his death. He was in his 80's when he passed. Just so sad. He also became an alcoholic - understandable.
DeleteSo many Blessings for which to be grateful ❤️❤️
ReplyDeleteWe are being blessed with sunshine and although 38F now, we are headed to 71. Heat is running at 66 to keep hubster warm (his thermostat went bonkers on all that chemo-he is 17 months from diagnosis and doing fabulously well thanks to his prayer warriors ❤️ we are so grateful.
Thank you to all who served and serve now.
Yes mam, so many. Your hubby is a huge thankful!!!! So glad he is doing well. No one can ever tell me that prayer doesn't work. Glad you guys made it home safely. Now hunker down and rest some.
DeleteYou and your husband are in my daily prayers. Thanks for the update!
DeleteThank you Donna! Doc doesn't want to see him for 6 months this time unless something seems 'off'. ❤️
DeleteThank you to all who served.
ReplyDeleteWe are getting some cooler weather this weekend, too. Don’t laugh - lows of 52 F. and 49 F. Saturday and Sunday. I’ll get out my winter pjs.
When I moved back to Florida from Northern Virginia I was happy to give away my snow shovel and several ice scrapers. I kept one ice scraper for awhile in case I rented a car in the north in winter but finally gave it away. One year living here mom’s best friend was dying in December and we traveled to Massachusetts and rented a car and got 6” of snow. No thanks! Barbara M.
That is cooler for you - no laughing here. It is all about perspective.
DeleteI do not like snow and ice - but that is part of it. I lived one year in Nashville, TN, and remember calling my folks on NYD sitting on my patio. They were freezing and it was lovely there. But the heart wasn't happy - too many missed folks.
You could still get a frost on a rare occasion, I would have a scraper just in case.
You just reminded me about furnace filters thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou bet, Easy to forget!
DeleteThe girl I hired to clean up my yard is here today and it looks fab. I took a couple of bags to the dump yesterday (she was here Monday) and she's already on her fourth bag today with over an hour and a half to go. She fixed my edging with the stuff MacGyver helped me buy at Home Depot and it looks great. As for me, I've disconnected my hoses and put foam caps over the faucets. I live in northern Idaho and it gets cold here.
ReplyDeleteMy guy's father was a tail gunner stationed at Hickam Field (part of Pearl Harbor) during the attack. He was in the Army Air Corps. His mom was a civilian nurse at a hospital nearby--saw and heard the whole thing and worked 34 hours straight as they brought in injured soldiers and sailors.
Has anybody heard from Practical Parsimony since Tommy died?
Delete--Maxine
I am so glad you are getting help with all your yard work. sounds like it is good help too.
DeleteI am so thankful for all those people who have fought or served in any capacity during conflicts and even in peace times.
NO word from Linda (PP) - I have e-mailed, and I know others have as well. I well imagine she ended up in a health facility with all her problems and no one there to help her. So sad.
Anyone else heard anything?
Thanks for asking about Practical Parsimony. I wonder about her often. I hope she is getting help she needs.
DeleteMaryB
I, too, am so grateful for the sacrifices our veterans and their families have made for us. I have many family members who served. I've been keeping a gratitude journal lately. It makes a difference. I am also grateful for the safe arrival of our new granddaughter on Tuesday. We will be traveling down to see her on Sunday.
ReplyDeleteWe do or are doing most of the things listed to get ready for the cold weather. We are getting lots of rain right now but looking forward to the sunny weather coming this weekend.
So thankful for all who served or are serving.
DeleteWriting down those gratitude's does make a difference for me as well. Congrats on your sweet new granddaughter. Have safe travels and enjoy your family.
Yes indeed. These are great tips. Winter is coming, whether we are ready or not!
ReplyDeleteYou bet it is. Going to feel like winter around these parts the next couple of days. We need to be prepared!
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