Jan 152012
 

Well the winter storm the news had been going on about didn’t really materialize.   But we did get a little snow yesterday!  It started in the afternoon and by this morning we had 2 inches of fresh snow.  Not a storm by a long shot, but pretty. :)  What we have had are frigid temps on the homestead!  Today it was -15 C and the windchill -22 C.  Tonight and tomorrow will be colder.  Burrr, times like this I’m so grateful for the wood stoves.

I’ve been suffering from spring fever, I want to get back in the gardens!! Maybe I’ve been watching to many gardening videos on YouTube lately.  It has inspired me to make room for my grow lights again.  Tomorrow I’ll be making room in the summer kitchen to set them up.  Hopefully hubby and I will be able to get the stand up from the basement ok.  It’s very heavy!  He built it for me the first winter after we moved in to this house.

We’ve both been thinking next summer will be a cold one.  I checked the Farmers Almanac online and for Southern Ontario they are saying a cold and dry summer.  Hopefully it wont be to bad!  But I’m planning my gardens for a cold season.  I’m just about done my seed order and there will be many Canadian and Russian variety’s this year!

 

Nov 112011
 

Over all it’s been a pretty cold fall here and rainy oh my!  Yesterday the temps really started to drop.  Then just after supper time it started to snow.  We even had a little thunder and lighting to surprise the kids.  They were all glued to the windows for a few hours watching the snow come down as it got dark.

This morning we woke up to about an inch of wet snow on the ground.  It was so pretty as it was sticking to the trees.  The radio was saying that the sun would come out and everything would melt today.  But it’s been snowing on and off all day.  Everyone headed outside to build snowman in between the snow squalls.

Will the snow stay?  I don’t know!  They are saying tomorrow will be 8C and it should all melt.  But they said that today to. lol

 

 

Have you had any snow yet?  Are you all ready for winter?

Nov 042011
 

It’s time to link up for the 3rd round of the Homestead Potluck!  I just love reading about what’s going on, on your homesteads!  Remember the potluck is where everyone brings something to share, it doesn’t have to be a recipe!  Maybe you’ve blogged about a craft, a homestead critter or any homemaking topic.  Share away!

We had a beautiful day on Wednesday, the sky was clear and the temps rose up to 17C!  Wow it felt like summer again.  But now burr, there was a very heavy frost this morning.  Walking around outside the ground would crunch.  The little ones left a big bowl of water out side (anyone else have kids that swipe things from the kitchen when you’re not looking? lol) I found it this morning with a thick layer of ice on top.  Yikes, yes winter is coming!

What are you doing to get ready for winter?

 
 

Feb 152011
 

Wow the weather has really been changing this week!  Sunday it was soooo nice!  It warmed up to about 2C and the kids had a wonderful time playing at the park.  But it was not to last.  By noon on Monday we were under a flash freeze warning.  The wind was so strong you could almost feel the house shaking with the wind gusts.  And drop the temperatures sure did.  It was about -14C last night.  Burr what a change.  But if they are right it will start warming back up tomorrow.  Just about all week they are calling for above 0 temps and freezing rain/rain.  I wonder if we will really have a early spring again this year…

What is it like in your area?

As for signs of an early spring here, our potatoes have been starting to sprout in the cellar.  Also our cats started shedding their winter coats about 3 weeks ago.  Maybe they know something we don’t?

Not to much else going on here right now.  I’m finally over that nasty virus that seemed to drag on all fall and winter. Just a bit of a cold left.  My back is doing much better now to.  I put it out 3 or 4 weeks ago and it’s been on and off with back pain since then.  But the last few days have been pretty good.  I think I’m out of the woods with that. Whoohoo!

Right now I’m working on getting caught up on so many things.  I’m sorting and purging and starting early spring cleaning. What’s happening on your homestead?

Jan 142010
 

Now that we have a break in the cold weather hubby decided to take the older kids for a nature walk!  The -25C windchill’s we’ve had the last few weeks are just to cold for little ones.  Well it’s to cold for ME to! They had a wonderful time looking at the deer and finding different tracks.  Afterward it was time for hot chocolate!

It’s a big change from our fall nature walk you can also see one of our winter walks from last winter.

This is a sulfur spring, it’s a really interesting nature study area.  In the summer because of the sulfur water bugs don’t lay their eggs there.  It also runs year round with out freezing.

Kid’s found some mouse tracks!

Jan 132010
 

While January has been fairly mild weather for us, many places around the world have been hard hit.  The southern USA has been hit with weather far below normal.  Europe and China have also been hit with freezing weather and snow.  I’ve been reading about damage to orange crops, also corn and other grains in some areas.  Homeless shelters are having trouble keeping up with the need.  Some areas have had power outages due to the high demand of electricity for heating.

It’s a real reminder why we need to take time to prepare for hard times.  You never know when unusual weather, job loss or illness will strike.

I would love to hear from you!  Are you having unusual weather in your area?  How are you coping with it?

More Cold Heading for Florida as Northern Hemisphere Shivers

Deaths, damaged crops, strapped shelters: Effects of cold lingers as South Florida thaws from record

Cold weather ends, but has damage to Florida oranges been done?

Weather is stunning for Florida turtles sent into coma by the chill

Winter of 2009–2010 in Europe

Jan 022010
 

If you heat your home with oil, or perhaps have an oil hot water heater.  What happens if you run out of oil? If you run out in the middle of the night or in a storm and the truck can’t get in to service you right away, you can use diesel fuel as a replacement.  After adding fuel to your tank you will need to bleed out your fuel line.  This video shows you how we do this.

Note Disclaimer: We are sharing what works for us for informational purposes.  And please NEVER use gas in your furnace!

Dec 242009
 

Would you like to join us for a winter drive? Hubby put together a video of some winter senery we filmed along with music he wrote.  Hope you enjoy!

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