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[filkertom]

It's the International Day of Climate Action.

How are you getting your digs ready for winter? I've got some traction strips I have to put on the porch, and I'll be getting the storm windows ready on Monday. I'm also thinking of getting a couple of those door-pillow things to block drafts, and I need to get new flannel sheets. And I've already got my comforters and space heaters ready.

Comments

[kilbia.livejournal.com]

I will be finally getting around to putting up the weatherstripping I've wanted to put up for months now. Since I didn't run the A/C all that much this summer, I was okay with the occasional draft of warm air. The reverse will not be true this winter!

[cainle-bean.livejournal.com]

have my heater for the bathroom ready. Since I tend to sleep days and work nights, I keep the house very cool. I rarely run the heat (live in TX) while I am sleeping. I use the temperature controlled heater in the bathroom so the bits don't get cold =p. I turn on the heat a bit at night when I am gone, for the comfort of the creatures.

Winterizing the gardens, getting the fall plantings done so the new things have a good start for the spring.

Working on getting the doggie door installed so I am not having to leave the back door open all day when I try to sleep.

Finding all my comforters and little bit of cooler weather clothing.

[snobahr.livejournal.com]

How many draft-blockers do you need, and how wide do you need'em? I have plenty of scrap fabric around and I'm not afraid of my sewing machine...

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Not necessary, but appreciated. If you really have nothing better to do, just two of 'em, about 30" wide, covering a full inch gap at the bottom.

[peachtales.livejournal.com]

Mostly I am spending it thoroughly chilled. I would LOVE some flannel sheets, but all the ones I have are for my old bed size. Maybe I should sleep on the futon - the sheets would fit ;)

I weatherstripped the doors last year. If I could afford it I would replace at least one of them, but there is no way. Maybe next year. Thankfully the windows on the house are decent. I have a big floofy blanket on the sofa too.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Seriously, dear, check Meijer, Target, and Kmart for sales. I got my first set for less than $30. Now, it happens that I'm not a decor hound, so things don't necessarily go together perfectly. But it's a lot warmer. :)

[siliconshaman.livejournal.com]

Got enough wood for kindling to light the fire...[which we'll probably need for maybe a week or two at most]. Built a shelter at the bottom of the garden for wildlife/strays out of some scrap timber, polystyrene, plastic sheeting and a few other odds & ends.

That's pretty much it really.

[ifics.livejournal.com]

What is this winter you speak of? We do get cold here, it even can get down in the high 30s, but not till February, though it could happen in January. It did snow in San Diego at the beach in 1966.

[nimitzbrood.livejournal.com]

Well...I dropped a 4x6x12 wood beam on my head three times last night trying to keep my garage from collapsing. (A good friend came by and helped me get it done today. Just in time too as one of the midline ceiling boards has cracked and sagged.)

Tomorrow the wife and I cook chili and can it as well as some filtered water in the ginormous pressure canner. Then hopefully I can get all the flotsam up into the garage attic (safe to do now that the beam+posts are in place) and get the plow on the front of the lawn tractor.

If we have time we'll probably air out the house one last time then weatherproof the windows.

Too soggy out to clean up the leaves or yard yet. Hopefully we get a dry day before first snow.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[nimitzbrood.livejournal.com]

Not really. The reason we're canning potable water is that the canner is huge and we don't want to run it for just the 3 quarts of chili that the recipe makes. (That's 5 pounds of ground beef - doubling the recipe would make it a pain to cook.)

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[nimitzbrood.livejournal.com]

Yes you add beans later because supposedly adding them before canning causes them to become mush later.

As for canning water yes it's cheaper obviously but if we filter all that we'll be running through our filters a hair quicker so there's a hidden cost there a bit if a small one.

IIRC Poland Spring was one of the companies that provided free water during several different disasters.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[madrona.livejournal.com]

Space blankets and duct tape. No kidding. We cover the skylights and giftwrap the bigger doors and windows.

[jasperjones22.livejournal.com]

Since I am in a dorm, absolutely nothing unfortunately. I will be yelling at my residents to close windows when it gets to cold though.

[acelightning.livejournal.com]

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

Flannel bedsheets with penguins all over them. (They'll go very nicely with my turquoise flannel jammies with sheep all over them.)

Fan in the summer, warm clothes in winter, fluorescent bulbs, vinyl windows, weather-stripping, all electronic goodies on power-strips. This is why my PGE bill was $241 ... for the year.

[ailsaek.livejournal.com]

Adam built us a new firewood rack and is planning another couple (it will take three or four of this size to hold a cord). We have some firewood but need to acquire some more. I've switched over to flannel or fleece sheets on all the beds, although it's not actually all that chilly yet.

I'm thinking of doing more to insulate the windows this winter. I have some ratty blankets I could use for batting for some window quilts, and plenty of old dead jeans and the like to use for quilting fabric.

When it gets really cold, we run the woodstove in the basement and use a fleece blanket as a door curtain to keep most of the heat down there. We have the thermostat set to keep the rest of the house just warm enough that the pipes don't freeze and do all our living down here. About 2/3 of the basement is library/family room, and we have books, TV, dining room table and benches, a daybed, my computer, lots of David's toys, and all our games down here. The walls are lovely knotty pine paneling, so it really feels like cabin living down here.

[palenoue.livejournal.com]

I'm stocking up on chocolate. Last year I wasn't ready and the SAD hit me like a linebacker with a grudge.

[caligogreywings.livejournal.com]

Well, we've got our shorts, our cropped pants, and our sandals ready... oh, wait, you said winter? Yeah, in west central Alabama, our biggest concern is when our one tiny little snow/ice threat will send everyone into a stupid frenzy buying out all the milk and bread for no reason. :P But really, we're still wearing sandals except possibly at night, and the heaviest jacket we need is a good hoodie. :P

[filkferengi]

Books on shelves make excellent insulation year-round.