Author Topic: Preparing for a tough winter  (Read 14639 times)

Offline Shelly

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Preparing for a tough winter
« on: September 16, 2013, 03:12:59 PM »
I've had this feeling that we might get hit hard here in the rockies this winter...or possibly something else sooner.  I can't put my finger on what it is exactly.  We lost power last year a few times last year due to snow, but this coming winter is supposed to be a lot worse.  This nagging feeling got to me and I picked up a few things while out today.

I got about 20 pounds of chicken that I'm going the pressure can today and tomorrow into broth and chunked meat. 

10 pounds of apples that i'm going to turn into apple sauce. 

A water purifier (portable) - This was about $30 at walmart

Canned veggies and fruits

4 propane tanks for our little camping stove

6 taper candles that I plan to use with our mason jar holder - This here:  http://www.amazon.com/Mason-Jar-Taper-Candle-Holder/dp/B006U6EV1W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379365658&sr=8-1&keywords=mason+jar+taper

a package of 16 votives

oil for our lamps

powdered whole milk for the kids

jars to can our concords when they are ready in a couple weeks

case of diapers - for when I can't wash our cloth

I haven't been able to shake this feeling that we need to prepare.  I feel a lot better now that we have some things stocked up.  I still need to get warm jammies for the kids, some flats of drinking water, and some snow pants for the kids.

My biggest hurdle is heat.  We were without heat last year due to a broken furnace that took about 2 weeks to replace.  That was awful and we even had some space heaters going 24/7.  If we lose power, we wouldn't even have that.  It was 45 - 50F in our house during that time.  We don't have a fireplace or a wood burning stove or anything.  Not many options there.
« Last Edit: September 16, 2013, 03:14:56 PM by Shelly »
Wife to Trevor for 16 years and SAHM to Maisie (4) Liam (4) Aedric (1) Harold (1)

Offline MissMandy

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Re: Preparing for a tough winter
« Reply #1 on: September 16, 2013, 03:32:28 PM »
Great start!  You've definitely got me thinking :)

Mandy
Mandy, wife to Jean, furmama to Irish Wolfhound Grimmauld (Grimm), living in the mountains of Virginia.  Childless by circumstance and loving it! ♥

Offline MoWin

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Re: Preparing for a tough winter
« Reply #2 on: September 16, 2013, 03:33:25 PM »
Shelly, I think what you have done is a very wise thing to do. Kevin and I both have a feeling that this winter is going to be rough. He said this weekend he will get the kerosene heater out, burn off the old kerosene and get it ready for this winter with fresh kerosene. I do not like burning the kerosene heater, but if we lose power in our little house, we will have no heat at all. We bought this heater a couple of years ago. So far only had to use it once for just a few hours. We both remember vividly the 2007 ice storm when everyone in our area was without power for days. We had no power for a full 7 days.  Thankfully, we were burning wood at that time and was able to keep the house warm. We also have lanterns so we will have light. We bought an inverter to keep the freezers going in 2007. We do have a small and large generator. Did not have that in 2007.  :D

As far as food goes, we could last for a while with what he always keep on hand. I buy dried pinto beans in 20 lb bags. I always keep brown rice on hand and some gluten free pasta. We have lots of canned goods. We would eat perishables from the freezer first if we lost power for a long time because the amount of gas it would take for the generators would not be cheap.  :( Kevin  always tries to keep at least 5 gallons of gas on hand int he winter. He uses something called Stabil in it to keep it fresh.

I always have a deck of cards, fresh batteries, and some kind of handwork ready to go. I played solitary so much I was sick of it in 2007, but I did not have much hand work prepared, and didn't have enough light to read much.

Let's hope our feelings are wrong and it is a nice winter, but I am not counting on it. This is a good thread for all of us to help each other out with ideas.  :)

Blessings,
Winona
Winona in northwest Missouri
Wife to Kevin
Mom to Carolyn, Cathryn, Isaiah, Hazel, and Jon
Grandma to Ashton, Ava, Noah, Izabella, and Maddison
Furbabies: Aeris, Buddy, and Callie

Offline Cheryl

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Re: Preparing for a tough winter
« Reply #3 on: September 16, 2013, 04:50:57 PM »
I've heard more than one person say we're in for a rough winter.  I hope we're not, but better to be prepared than caught offguard.

We will go next month and do a winter stock up.  I plan on getting bottled water, matches, camp stove fuel, lamp oil, extra wicks, batteries, and charcoal.  I'll be adding to my list as I think of things.

Like Winona, we'd have to eat the perishables from the freezer first.  I have a pretty good stock of canned goods (home canned and store bought) so we should be ok in the food department.  We have a small generator but don't have any gasoline stored. 

We heat with wood and we don't have near enough yet to last all winter, so that's one area we need to work on.

This is a great thread for us to share ideas. 
Cheryl in Alabama
Wife to Tony
Mother to Lana & Emily
Nana to Logan & Madilyn

Offline Leahsgarden

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Re: Preparing for a tough winter
« Reply #4 on: September 16, 2013, 05:13:13 PM »
...Leah
wife to Chris
Mommy to Caleb, Logan, & Josie

Offline gaggleofseven

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Re: Preparing for a tough winter
« Reply #5 on: September 16, 2013, 05:36:19 PM »
Thanks for the graphic, Leah. I heard that the Farmers' Almanac is accurate 80% of the time.
Jennie
There are so many beautiful reasons to be happy!

Offline luv2bmom

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Re: Preparing for a tough winter
« Reply #6 on: September 16, 2013, 06:35:33 PM »
Shelly,

I need to get motivated and get things in order here for winter....first thing is canned veggies, I managed to go through my pantry supply I had stored.  I've been hoping Kroger would put their Freshlike brand at .$50 a can but it's not happened.  I may just visit Aldi's and buy there.

I have lots of lamp oil stored, I love oil lamps and have many around my house.  Dh has our wood supply in and its split & stacked.  Our generator is ready to go, dh wired the house to easily switch to the generator if need be.  I have bought several long neck lighters.

We have a 1/4 beef in the freezer, I need to buy chicken breast and bacon to freeze too.

We also need to buy the special ice melt that doesn't harm concrete. 

I feel lucky I have gas range, but I may try to cook soup on top of our woodstove and see how it turns
out!  I guess all in all we are mostly prepared but I will think harder on the subject and get the rest of what we need before the harsh winter sets in.
Pixie, wife to Coby
mother to Megan, Amanda
and to our beloved late son Braden
Baboo to Mont, Ada, Brinly and Brielle
mil to Warren and Marcus

Offline artsyone

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Re: Preparing for a tough winter
« Reply #7 on: September 17, 2013, 11:28:18 AM »
I am really good on food but I need to buy and stock more of the following:
bottled water
oil lamps
wicks
lamp oil
lighters
toilet tissue
gas for the generator

Offline fishermanwife

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Re: Preparing for a tough winter
« Reply #8 on: September 17, 2013, 01:26:46 PM »
Shelly look into a small buddy heater they sale them at walmart and atwoods when it gets colder we have one we never had toused but then bought a second one last year when they came out with one that has a sensor on it for harmful gasses and makes it turn off or alerts you cant remember which one but they run on the little bottles of propane.
I just went thru the pantry and made a list while I was putting stuff back on the shelves we built sunday. We have a lot of green beans, peas and corn bc walmart had a 4 pack of libbys last winter for $2 hope they have that sale again. Need to stock up on a lot of other can foods since we didn't have a garden this year.
I also need more paper products, matches, lamp, oil, batteries. Man my list keeps getting longer and longer I hope hubbys work picks up.
Norma in Southeast Oklahoma. Wife to Steven, mommy to Abby 16, Keagan 14, Trenten 10, Ollie 7.

Offline Shelly

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Re: Preparing for a tough winter
« Reply #9 on: September 17, 2013, 02:17:43 PM »
Thanks for the graphic, Leah.  It says it will be normal precipitation in my area, but even with normal, we've lost power.  ;D  Anyway, maybe it's not snow, but something else?  I just feel nervous this year and deciding to act on it.  If I never need it, great.  I guess I'll just be prepared for next summer's camping.  ;)
Wife to Trevor for 16 years and SAHM to Maisie (4) Liam (4) Aedric (1) Harold (1)

Offline fishermanwife

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Re: Preparing for a tough winter
« Reply #10 on: September 18, 2013, 08:50:37 PM »
Marvins started a pretty good 10 for 10 sale today I picked up some today but going back tomorrow to get some Campbell's chicken and noodles, mater soup and similar items that will heat up quickly on a camp stove if we loose power figure they will be more filling that Ramen noodles yuck lol.
Norma in Southeast Oklahoma. Wife to Steven, mommy to Abby 16, Keagan 14, Trenten 10, Ollie 7.

Offline MissMandy

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Re: Preparing for a tough winter
« Reply #11 on: September 19, 2013, 07:38:04 AM »
I bought our first emergency-specific item yesterday, a stick lighter.  We already have one or two that we keep by the fireplace, but I wanted one that was kept separate in our emergency supplies.  Hey, it's a start  :P ;D :o

Mandy
Mandy, wife to Jean, furmama to Irish Wolfhound Grimmauld (Grimm), living in the mountains of Virginia.  Childless by circumstance and loving it! ♥

Offline Shelly

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Re: Preparing for a tough winter
« Reply #12 on: September 19, 2013, 09:54:18 AM »
Gotta start somewhere  :)
Wife to Trevor for 16 years and SAHM to Maisie (4) Liam (4) Aedric (1) Harold (1)

Offline Rooney

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Re: Preparing for a tough winter
« Reply #13 on: September 19, 2013, 02:44:32 PM »
I've had this feeling that we might get hit hard here in the rockies this winter...or possibly something else sooner.  I can't put my finger on what it is exactly.  We lost power last year a few times last year due to snow, but this coming winter is supposed to be a lot worse.  This nagging feeling got to me and I picked up a few things while out today.

I got about 20 pounds of chicken that I'm going the pressure can today and tomorrow into broth and chunked meat. 

10 pounds of apples that i'm going to turn into apple sauce. 

A water purifier (portable) - This was about $30 at walmart

Canned veggies and fruits

4 propane tanks for our little camping stove

6 taper candles that I plan to use with our mason jar holder - This here:  http://www.amazon.com/Mason-Jar-Taper-Candle-Holder/dp/B006U6EV1W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379365658&sr=8-1&keywords=mason+jar+taper

a package of 16 votives

oil for our lamps

powdered whole milk for the kids

jars to can our concords when they are ready in a couple weeks

case of diapers - for when I can't wash our cloth

I haven't been able to shake this feeling that we need to prepare.  I feel a lot better now that we have some things stocked up.  I still need to get warm jammies for the kids, some flats of drinking water, and some snow pants for the kids.

My biggest hurdle is heat.  We were without heat last year due to a broken furnace that took about 2 weeks to replace.  That was awful and we even had some space heaters going 24/7.  If we lose power, we wouldn't even have that.  It was 45 - 50F in our house during that time.  We don't have a fireplace or a wood burning stove or anything.  Not many options there.

Shelley,
Good idea about the case of diapers.  I hadn't even considered that.  All we have in the house right now is cloth.  That could become a problem after 1 day around here.  Will definitely be doing the same.

Offline MissMandy

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Re: Preparing for a tough winter
« Reply #14 on: September 20, 2013, 08:30:10 AM »
I mentioned this thread to Jean and how I wanted to start prepping our winter supplies.  He came home that night with brochures for whole home generators  ;D 8) :o :P.  Love that boy!

Mandy
Mandy, wife to Jean, furmama to Irish Wolfhound Grimmauld (Grimm), living in the mountains of Virginia.  Childless by circumstance and loving it! ♥