Hello Cuties, I hope all of you are well, safe and warm. I am sitting in my recliner and have a heating pad on my feet. The electric central heating unit is running nonstop. I hope it makes it through this winter storm without burning up. I know the northern states are better prepared than us for cold, but I don’t see how they go though this every winter. How do most of you heat your homes? It is cold. It is 19 degrees right now and will be colder in the morning. I felt bad for the cows in the field today and the little bird I saw pecking something through the ice/snow on the ground. Hopefully it will warm up soon...picture looking out the back. One of Gus. I think the dog wants Gus’ scarf, don’t you?
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You could send some of your snow this way ,In Western Australia we are having a heat wave ,our air conditioning is running non stop it is so very hot at nights. (We never get snow here) .I sit most of the day in my sewing studio with air con and fans running.
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by toogie
16 Feb 2021
Snow is a rarity here and to be iced in for days is very unheard of. When I go in my sewing room I put the electric heater on toward my feet. It’s hard to think of your hot days right now-🥶
4586Your weather will warm up within a few days I bet. We have lived in Alabama and Michigan and for certain our house in Michigan is insulated a lot better and we have double-pane windows. Our water pipes are also wrapped. The road commission does a great job of keeping our main roads plowed and salted. Last couple of years, we paid someone to plow our driveway - this year my hubby decided to snow blow it himself which has been a big job but he says he likes to do it. He also uses a roof rake to keep ice dams from forming (from all the snow) at the edges of the roof. Winter can be tough some times but Spring, Summer and Fall are glorious here. We have air conditioning but rarely use it. I guess the weather is a trade off no matter where one lives! Stay warm and hugs, Laura
1 comment
by toogie
16 Feb 2021
When we built our house we put in double pane windows. Our outer walls are 6 inch and inside walls are 4 inch, all Inside and outer walls insulated and we have 10 inch insulation in the attic. At the time our son asked why we insulated inside walls. I was thinking air would have to fill that space so I would rather fill with insulation. Our water pipes are underground and go up from the ground at the bathrooms and kitchen because our house is on blocks. So we have pipes exposed in those places. He wrapped the outside water hydrants with foam insulation but did not get under house for others. So far, so good, no broken pipes. The hot water line is frozen going to one bathroom though. I think by Saturday things may get back to our normal. Hope so!
96283Toogie if your not used to such weather it must be pretty bad. While the young ones love the excitement we older ones see it differently and dont want to rush out and play, we want to keep warm. Being cold isnt fun at all. Thanks for sharing your pictures
1 comment
by toogie
16 Feb 2021
Yes, I guess the young ones don’t feel the cold like we do. Some kids got hurt yesterday playing out in this novelty for them. Not any of mine though but still my heart was troubled. One released from ER yesterday and other from hospital today. Separate accidents but occurring about same time.
115775It's not unusual for our winters here to drop to near or below occasionally 0F in the winter or to reach near or occasionally over 100F in the summer. Most of our houses are well insulated to protect against the temperature extremes. I have an electric blanket on the bed for when it feels really cold and a heating pad for my feet at my favorite chair. My sewing/computer room in the daylight basement can be closed off in the winter to be kept warmer with a space heater. Yes, I do have a throw for every chair to keep me warm. Thankfully, our electric and natural gas rates aren't too high so are able to maintain an inside temperature which is comfortable year-round.
2 comments
by toogie
16 Feb 2021
I am thinking then that when your power is out you must heat with natural gas heater. Our heating unit is electric. We have no fireplace or wood heater.
In Germany we heated with an oil or diesel. I wonder how the northern states heat when power is off. How people like Carolyn in Canada heat...
by AuntAnnie
17 Feb 2021
Actually, most all heaters require electricity to operate as air circulation is by forced air (fan). We don't have a fireplace or wood heater and since we are not on city water, we also go without water. We can cook on our gas stovetop if we can find a match as the starter is also electric.
7208Oh goodness! This is a lot to cope with. I think you are right in that people who live in the more northern states are more prepared for snow. I grew up in Michigan and we never had hot water pipes freeze. Probably because then were in the ground. Most people nowadays have a generator for days that heaters went out. Now that I'm in Southern California, we have solar panels and they provide all the electricity we need for heat and air and then some. Solar panels would not work well where you are. In Hawaii, they are moving to 100% solar energy, but they have a lot of sun there too! Storing that energy for sunless days will be their problem. I'm thinking about a place to retire and climate will play a big role in that decision.
1 comment
by toogie
16 Feb 2021
How did a generator help if your heater went out? I'm sorry I don't understand.
Yes, the hurricanes, the virus and now this deep freeze in the south. It makes you wonder....
33641you will make through this. Keep a pot of hot water on the stove for tea or cocoa and keep sewing. I measured the snow last night and have 12 inches. It is not as much as some years and more than others. We were having a very mild winter, except for a heavy snow the first of October and was gone after two weeks, then it started coming on Saturday and it is still snowing. It did warm up to 24 degrees F yesterday (-4c). So when it snows I sew, been working on a quilt.
3 comments
by toogie
16 Feb 2021
How do you heat? My heating unit is running almost constant. I'm afraid it will burn up, go out. My 84 BIL and SIL's just went out.
by sewpam
16 Feb 2021
The weather we ave having is normal. the weather man is calling it a winter storm but it is just snowing and not real hard, hardly any wind. Just came in from outside from shoveling show it is actually nice out, quiet, peaceful and beautiful. We have a natural gas furnace that heats water for radiator heaters throught the house and I also use a small portable space heater in the sewing room since the radiator in that room is turned down. Also we have a fireplace and firewood for back-up. We have been lucky, there has not been any major power outages for a while. You probably don't have the warm clothes that we wear in the house. I always wear wool blend socks in the house and two layers of tops, one light weight with a warm sweater, sweat shirt or flannel shirt. Stay warm, will say a prayer that your heater wont go out.
by toogie
16 Feb 2021
Thank you, our 84 year old BIL and 77 yr old sister got their heating unit fixed. It went out today and they called us for service guys number. One repairman said he couldn’t get to them but 2nd one he called came and fixed it so thankful they have heat again.
2267Oh Toogie, I'm so sorry for you and everyone else caught in this brutal weather. I've been praying for you all. When we spent 3 winters in North Dakota I was prepared for cold weather but not minus 30. My advice is to dress in layers. Try a short sleeve t shirt, then a long sleeve one over that. Better if it is turtleneck. Then a light jacket or sweater over that. Layers are so insulating. And keep moving. Hot drinks helped me a lot too. I also had a long fleece scarf I made as soon as I had my machines unpacked and set up. I used 2 layers and it was toasty warm since it was about 3 feet wide and 6 feet long. Please know we are praying the weather will break soon.
1 comment
by toogie
16 Feb 2021
We are okay, don't you worry, just get yourself well. I am just hoping our unit doesn't go out. My BIL called a repairman but roads are closed and can't come. I gave him a number for a closer one so I hope they get it fixed.
169064Totally adorable! and Wow you have a big beautiful yard.
1 comment
by toogie
16 Feb 2021
This is just in the back (top pic) took at an angle, not really my yard. Bottom of Gus is at my daughters.
173695Snow, wow we don't get any here in West Oz, right now we have the AC on, it is so hot. I keep saying roll on winter, while my darling says the opposite. LOL
The little fellow seems to be having a bit of a struggle for his scarf.
1 comment
by toogie
16 Feb 2021
We rarely get snow here so this is unusual for us. Most I think is frozen sleet. I’m with your darling right now, give me warmer weather!
Knowing our little boy, the dogs nose is cold so Gus is probably offering to share his scarf🤗
1899Ooh! Toogie that is so pretty to look at although I know it's so cold. We've got hot and humid. I'm glad to read you are keeping warm and I bet you guys can't wait for Springtime when all the bulbs begin to flower. It's the best time of the year I think. Love Chris
1 comment
by toogie
16 Feb 2021
It was 12 degrees this morning and the high for today Is still below freezing. Our hot water lines are frozen so no hot water for awhile. Hope my pipes don’t break. The cold water is low pressure because heard one of the public wells went out. The power company is scheduled to have blackouts today so we will be without power for about an hour at a time. We can still heat with our cook stove during the day so I hope the power blackouts only come during day.
234506Looks like all of that snowy view was just for you. There's nothing prettier than untouched snow. Gus seems grown suddenly! Bet he had a great time with the dogs in all that snow. Makes my feet cold just to look at him.
3 comments
by toogie
16 Feb 2021
I’m not sure if it’s snow or just frozen sleet. It’s hard as rock and most places don’t leave a footprint, it’s so hard. Ashley sent me a lot of pictures and all the while I was thinking get those kids inside!
by awesome1
17 Feb 2021
For Toogies question re generators..they run off gas and produce electricity for when power goes off. A friend has connection that makes the generator kick on automatically...others start their generator and plug into special connection at house. I'm sure a lot of folks in my county are wishful for one as power has been off abt 48 hrs now. Mine was off for only 6. Linemen are real heroes in these times.
by toogie
17 Feb 2021
One of my grandsons is a lineman, so thank you.
Yes, living through hurricanes I understand about generators and how they work. So I am guessing you use electric heaters with the generator. A few people here have their house wired to a Generac that goes on when electricity is off. My husband just said they run by natural gas, propane or some use diesel. These are more convenient but expensive.
66915Maybe the dog thinks the scarf is a lead & is going to take him for a walk.
I am sweating after being outside it is over 30C here ,we had a lot of rain overnight which was nice but it makes stea
1 comment
by toogie
16 Feb 2021
I doubt the dog would know what a leash was. He’s probably never been on one.
I know summers are hot and hard to get air sometimes but winters can be brutal too. We all have our rathers -lol- In summer, we rather it be cool and in winter we rather it be warm.
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