I’m a cold weenie. That wasn’t always the case. I’ve lived in Montana, Colorado, Germany. I’ve slept in tents in the dead of winter. But now, I live in the South. I think my blood’s thinner or something. That’s not to say I love the heat. If I didn’t have a pool to cool off in, I’d be miserable in the summertime. However, I really, really, really don’t like frosty toes and fingers.
I’m talking about this because these next seven days, we’re getting some unusually cold weather. Like single digit temperatures at night and below freezing during the day. The forecast is for several days of snow. We haven’t had anything other than a sprinkle of the cold stuff in years!
So, naturally, we’re freaking out a little bit. In advance of the snow, my dd hit the store today to load up on food we don’t have to cook because we know if there’s any accumulation, or worse—if there’s ice—we will lose power. We live in a rural area, and energy companies are slow to fix problems out here. So, our gas cans are full to feed the generator. We bought extra straw for the goat shed to help keep the three little critters warm. We shuttered the window in the lean-to on the side of the barn for the horses and filled the “warm end” with hay. Last night, my dd went out in the dead of night to break the ice in the horses’ water troughs to make sure they have access to water. We’re staying vigilant so they stay safe. We winterized exposed pipes and faucets. We’re dripping water in the sinks and showers. She bought us all thermal longjohns. The kids have boots.
Can you think of anything we’ve missed?
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I have a wood stove, so I always get some extra wood. Plus batteries, back up phone batteries (double check they are charged). Download some books to your kindle (made sure its charged), finish you laundry before the storm starts (just one less thing to worry about).
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Leave the cabinets open just a bit if they have pipes in them. That will let house heat near them. Covering windows from inside with plastic can help keep heat in. If you fill pans with water and the pipes do freeze you then have water.
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Yes! Thank you. We’re catching up on laundry today. Open cabinets doors. Check! Loads of batteries, and I’ll make sure to update my computers and charge the laptops and tablets and phones before I go to bed tonight…
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Candles and a lighter or matches. 🙂
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Sounds good. I assume you have extra power gadgets to recharge phones. It’s always good to have the hand warmer packets.
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I went grocery shopping to make staying in easier, BUT my puppy has an injury, so off to the vet (she got spayed right before Christmas and it has been one trip back after another, this time she has two pink bubbles on her incision line…sigh) She is fine, does not care one bit! Make sure you got that first aid kit 🙂
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Thanks for the great ideas! Mary, those hand warmer packets aren’t something I’d ever have considered. I’ll get stocked up! Michelle, I hope the puppy is better!