C: Ol’ Man Winter is Coming…I Can Just Feel It.

snow I had to turn the heat on this morning for the first time this season.  This harbinger of winter has me thinking about doing all the winterizing chores that need doing around here.  I need to cover the outside water faucets and make sure the light bulbs in our two well houses are lit.

Those tasks are easy enough to do, but there are larger ones, too, that I dread dealing with.  For one thing, the back refractory board in my fireplace is crumbling.  This means I need a new one.  This has not been as easy as I had hoped since I don’t know the manufacturer of my fireplace  insert.  Apparently, I will have to go “generic” and cut one to fit.  Just one more thing on my “learn-how” list.  In any event, it must be done before a fire is built.  And we simply must have our fires in the winter…

The other thing is the generator.  I have one of those gasoline-powered jobs, and it won’t start.  I’ll have to find a way to get it to someofireplace-main_Fullne who can repair it.  My thought is that it won’t be rocket science, but I haven’t a clue.  We don’t have many days without electricity, but it is nice to be able to have heat and lights, at least.  This generator will not run the well, too. 

There are various other smaller tasks I’ll have to see to before the hard weather sets in.  At least I don’t have horses or livestock to worry with. Much as I miss my horses,  I believe I’d be beside myself right now worrying with getting hay in for them and dreading the freezing rain days when feeding must still be done and water troughs broken of their top layer of ice.

I have to admit that all these preparations make me sometimes think “condo,” with its no-upkeep.  But, then, I look at my dogs who have always run free and think of the solitude and serenity of my forest-facing back porch and scratch the idea.

I guess everything has its price! C

Comments

Suzanne said…
Now you've gone and done it. I was doing a very good job of denying the fact that winter is coming. One thing about being a homeowner is that you must either be a millionaire to hire out, or learn to do things yourself. You're doing a good job!!

Try changing the spark plug (or cleaning it) on that generator. Right now we've got one of those in the garage that simply refuses to fire up! We bit the bullet and invested in a natural gas powered whole-house generator. There are other models that can run on propane. This this is a lifesaver when the power goes out and water threatens! It cuts on automatically 10 seconds after the power goes out. This is a neccessity with a 89-yr old in the house and the temps outside are 20 below zero.

- Suzanne
October 15, 2010 at 8:09 AM
Unknown said…
Yes, Winter is a coming...and I am looking forward to it so much.

Everything you are doing is worth the time and the effort. You know this. Yes, everything does have its price, but your heart needs to be where it's home and free.

I have missed you. I'm back now.

Marlene
October 15, 2010 at 11:08 AM
Anonymous said…
Have you tried spraying some starter fluid into the air intake after you have primed it? If that doesn't work, take it to a small engine shop.
October 15, 2010 at 3:45 PM
Jody Blue said…
It was a chilly one here this evening while I was sitting at our boy's football game and my cuddle duds failed me...but then so did my wool socks winter coat and blanket. We came home and turned on the pellet stove lickidy split! We have not even started on our winterizing to do list...why is it that we wait 'til the snow flies to get serious!?!
October 15, 2010 at 11:12 PM
Zuzana said…
Yes indeed, I have had to put on the heat everywhere this weekend as well. It is very chilly today, below freezing in the night and only 40F in the day. But it is sunny.
Luckily I need not to worry with any special preparations for winter, only the more mental one, like the exponentially increasing darkness.;)
Have a lovely weekend,
xo
October 16, 2010 at 3:40 AM
Eggs In My Pocket said…
Yes, I know winter is coming, but I so want to enjoy the wonderful fall we are having. I really dread winter this year because I will have to drive in the frozen conditions at 6 in the morning.....sigh. Have a great weekend. blessings,Kathleen
October 16, 2010 at 11:40 AM
Ayak said…
We all have to make compromises to achieve the environment/home that suits us best. Hope you get all the chores sorted xx
October 17, 2010 at 12:08 AM
Anonymous said…
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handheld cell phone jammer
October 31, 2010 at 12:36 PM
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November 13, 2010 at 6:20 PM
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