. While the weather here in the northeast is still great, it certainly is chilling down as soon as the sun sets, and so my mind is on the upcoming winter. I can't believe it's here again (groan).
Here are a few of the things I've done to prepare for winter:
1. Started bringing all my potted annuals and perennials in the garage where they overwinter, saving me money on new plants in the spring.
2. Brought in the bird bath.
3. Scheduled a furnace cleaning.
4. Scheduled a chimney cleaning.
5. Got my furnace humidifier installed (hooray)
6. Froze piles of tomatoes from the garden, for winter soups and stews.
7. Drained the garden hose and shut off water to faucet in garage.
8. Moved a bunch of summer clothes in my main closet back to spare bedroom, and brought more winter attire into the main closet for handier access.
9. Soon, I will remove some of the screens from my windows so I can enjoy a much clearer winter-time view outdoors.
10. Replaced my storm door screen inserts with the glass inserts.
11. Reprogrammed my furnace timer to my current schedule with the new job.
12. Set a timer up on a lamp in living room so it's no longer dark when I get home.
13. Plugged in my two carbon monoxide detectors (to coincide with furnace heating season).
14. Cleaned up the garage so my car will fit in there when it snows.
15. The vegetable garden really could use some cleaning up.
16. I pulled out some of my draft dodgers to put against exterior doors, and put in the foam stuff around attic door to block the warm air from rushing up.
How about you? Did I forget anything?
What are you doing to prepare for winter?
October 15th, 2013 at 01:16 am
October 15th, 2013 at 02:49 am 1381801791
October 15th, 2013 at 03:04 am 1381802693
October 15th, 2013 at 04:42 am 1381808557
October 15th, 2013 at 12:27 pm 1381836451
And speaking of snow - pull out the shovels for our side door (detached garage) and check on the ice melt supply. Put the snow scraper back into the car - ugh!
Check over the furnace before it's turned on - replace filter.
Busy as the squirrels here, or maybe we're just squirrelly
October 15th, 2013 at 01:22 pm 1381839734
I really don't do much to the plants. I just stick them way in the back of the garage, away from drafts from the garage door. I water them pretty well before putting them in there, and then I water them maybe 2 or 3 times over the course of the winter. You don't want to water that much or the roots may rot, but you don't want them to be bone dry either. I remember at one point when it was unusually cold last winter, I threw a tarp I have over some of the plants. Most of the plants have survived for probably three winters now, including some nice annuals that produce a daisy-like flower.
October 15th, 2013 at 02:29 pm 1381843791
-I'm doing a lot of "fall" cleaning, as in cleaning, clearing and organizing inside spaces in preparation for being stuck inside all winter.
-We're looking into buying and installing a wood stove as a source of back-up heat and for general use in winter
-I'm doing serious work in the backyard food garden to clean up after this season and prepare for the next. IN addition to tearing out and composting last year's spent plants (everything but the luffa gourds and hot peppers, which are still producing), and amending the soil with fallen leaves and grass clippings and compost. I'm also cutting down some invasive species shrubs to make room for a berry patch and cherry tree. It's a lot of work!
October 15th, 2013 at 04:05 pm 1381849552
October 15th, 2013 at 04:39 pm 1381851592
I do get the furnace checked and change the ducting filters.
For us, this is the fun season. Its cool enough to do hikes and travel around and enjoy the desert.
October 16th, 2013 at 07:06 pm 1381946777
I've put the flannel sheets on the bed and got more blankets out of the closet.
I've pulled out my sweaters and sweatshirts to start wearing and found my gloves and scarves.
I'm shifting my menu planning to heartier and warming foods, such as stews, soups, and casseroles.
I've cut down the roses and am in the process of turning/moving the compost pile for the last time this year.