What's everybody doing today?

[UrbanHunter]

Today is a Holiday (MLK day), but I have work that needs to be completed so... It's snowing today and the roads are icy so it's a good day to stay home. I did run to Home Depot to get some drain cleaner and to see how the new truck likes the slippery stuff... it does okay but tight turns are bumpy. I think we are having taco's tonight, we ate all the leftovers in the house yesterday so we will have to cook something.

I have been reading some of the posts from @Neb and ordered some electrical components to update a project to address some of his suggestions. That's one of the things I like about this site, people don't judge, but they do give suggestions to help us make things better.

 

[sonya123]

well, it's snowing, actual snow on the road now maybe a few inches, but weather says we are getting from 4-8 inches today
This is bad timing since son has to go back to college Wednesday. Classes start tomorrow but he doesn't have class on Tuesday. The problem is getting off our mountain. He has a regular car with regular tires.
They will probably cancel tomorrow but our snow will still be on the road until it warms up. Last year he parked his car at the bottom at the neighbors but he didn't do it yesterday.

Did a ton of work yesterday, husband and son cut up a tree that fell down for more firewood and we all moved the wood ( lifted heavy pieces on the Ranger, drove it to the woodshed and unloaded) plus I collected small starter wood. It is free, works great and keeps the woods near the house cleared of debris

Animals will definitely stay in today but we might move the sheep out for an hour or so to clean and move hay and water around. They get in the way , they are the first area in the barn you have to get through to get to the rest ( goats)

 

[snappy1]

Will have to call my doctor when his office is open.

I hope all will be well with you! Please do call them soon!

husband and I spent our 30th anniversary eating tea and toast and trying not to cough. Our warranties are up, but we are keeping each other anyway

LOL Happy Anniversary!

Nothing major, yesterday. Church and walk dogs.

Will cover outside faucets , later.
Do last load of laundry when it warms up a little
Walk when it gets up to about 40 degrees.
Will get down to about 16 degrees tonight, with a little icy rain. That's pretty cold for this area. Continued extra cold for about a week, then warm up a little.
You all, have a great week and stay warm!

 

[sonya123]

Sonya I keep forgetting to ask, have you thought about using a heat tape on your son's waterline? I used them a lot back when I lived in a trailer and they really worked well, especially when I insulated on top of it.

I have never even heard of this, but will look it up. Thanks!

 

[sonya123]

Today is the first day in two weeks I've felt myself- though it's early, I might crash yet! Finally have some energy and less coughing.
The week will be spent catching up on college work and cleaning, and all the other little things I didn't do while sick. I missed my niece's going away party- she's emigrating to Australia this week, and husband and I spent our 30th anniversary eating tea and toast and trying not to cough. Our warranties are up, but we are keeping each other anyway
Just been notified I have some American relations coming over on Thursday, so need to tackle the spare room that is currently an office/junk room and get it ready.
Dusting of snow here this morning, we are in for an icy week- had two weeks without rain, which is brilliant.

Happy belated anniversary, hope you feel good enough to enjoy your visitors!

 

[sonya123]

Tossed and turned all night trying to get comfortable. Coughed a lot. Had to keep running to the bathroom. Took Pepto. Still kept feeling sick. Had to go for curbside pickup at Samsclub. Had planned to go in but felt too sick-- nauseous, arrhythmia, jittery, chills, etc. Grabbed Chinese takeout and got food for mom. I ate a little but didn't have as much appetite. Napped and just woke up, went to the bathroom and it looks like I'm having a period. But I'm post-menopausal. My last period was some spotting in April 2021. Got the cramping and nausea I used to get with it but there's no way I went that long and its still ovaries. I do have fibroids. Will have to call my doctor when his office is open.

Hope you feel better soon. I used to have fibroids too, actually had surgery to remove them once, but they grew back. But from what doctor told me is that after menopause they shrink and don't cause problems. Mine didn't. So you might want to go get that checked , don't think it is normal to start bleeding again after so many years. Mine came and went for about a year, then only once or twice the next year then not at all.

 

[Pearl]

9°, outside cats and Buddy (and a few deer) are fed. Lugged water out to Buddy, an old deer I call Linda got a good drink out of one of the buckets before I carried it into Bud's pasture. When I walked down to look at the road ( it's mostly clear), there were several deer out on the big pond across the road. Looks like they were on thin ice getting a drink ! Off again today, my Monday couple went to her daughter's ahead of this cold. Have plenty of inside things to do, we will see what actually gets done!

 

[Bluedanube]

Just got back from droppng the 20 lb cat at the vet for a check up on how his hip is healing and getting his teeth cleaned. It was -1 at 7:00 when he needed to be dropped off. He is not a happy traveler and getting him stuffed in the carrier was touch and go. No school or work for everyone except the hubby today. He has a few chimneys to clean, and I’m sure he will be cold when he gets home. I think I’ll make some granola cereal and crunchy biscuits today. I don’t plan to go out again until except to retrieve the cat this afternoon.

 

[Hooch]

I see a blue sky! The sun just popped over the mountain too. I'm about to get up , I kept the stove going untill about 2 am last night. I read a book, snuggled in bed untill around 11. Tossed n turned alot so I kept stovie going.
It keeps the tin can so toasty warm but now it is chilly.
I have two electric heaters one in the bathroom n back room. And one in the kitchen pointed at the open floor cabinets and pipes.
With wind chill today it feels like -7 supposedly...its just hovering around 5 outside.
Sigh...
I'm going to make my birds some warm oats.
I wonder what the snow drift is like today..
Power companies all over the US are having issues with natural gas lines apparently..I saw on a podcast that even idaho montana n parts of canada were having power issues because natural gas feeds parts of power production distribution systems. Adapt 2030 youtube channel podcast yesterday was talking about it. Interesting..stay warm

 

[LadyLocust]

I need to get new studded tires for my truck too. Just as soon as I'm able to get out, maybe next week.

Might be singin' to the choir, but if you have them mounted then bring your wheels home and put them on your rig yourself, you can save several hundred dollars by omitting the valve stem sensor.

 

[Mountain trapper]

Might be singin' to the choir, but if you have them mounted then bring your wheels home and put them on your rig yourself, you can save several hundred dollars by omitting the valve stem sensor.

The wifes Grand Cherokee is our only vehicle with tire sensors. My truck is a 1997, way before sensors. I've got an extra set of rims for my truck that I'll mount the studded tires on. The last winter tires I bought for my truck was in 2008.

 

[zannej]

Hope you feel better soon. I used to have fibroids too, actually had surgery to remove them once, but they grew back. But from what doctor told me is that after menopause they shrink and don't cause problems. Mine didn't. So you might want to go get that checked , don't think it is normal to start bleeding again after so many years. Mine came and went for about a year, then only once or twice the next year then not at all.

I pretty much stopped having them in 2019. Only had spotting every few months and it was only once in a day and then nothing for months. In 2121 I had spotting only twice. Then nothing for years. All of a sudden this hits with a vengeance. First time I had blood more than once-- but it seems to be gone now. I still have the cramping and feeling cruddy. Doctor was closed today but I'll call tomorrow.

Last night I tried to soak in the tub to relieve the cramps but the water doesn't come up very high. It did help though.

Had to take my oldest cat to the vet and am waiting to call them at the specified time to check up on him. I hope they are able to clear the blockage. I don't want to leave him overnight.

Unloaded the cases of water and cat food from the truck.

Put out a bale of hay for the cows. Resting until its time to call the vet.

 

[winds-of-change]

I had barely finished my post last night when everything went kablooey. Big power surges and all my lights and tech flashing and popping. Ran downstairs and flipped the main to try and save everything. Power was out for 16 hours. I don't have a sub panel or anything here yet for hooking up the generator, so my only source of heat was the fireplace. Not only did I have to stay up all night and stoke the fire every hour, I had to move stuff in the shop enough to get the generator out, get it started, and get the lawn tractor out, put the tire chains on it, hook it to the generator cart and very carefully pull it up the hill to the house. Then I had to run an extension cord to the basement and plug in the sump pump, or my basement would have flooded. But that's all I could get, no water or heat. I also did some snowshoveling.
Power company says "it's fixed" but no, I still had low voltage. Had to contact them again and wait some more.
I'm getting too old for all this, I'm so stiff and sore and exhausted tonight it's not even funny. It sucks being alone. But I survived, and finally got a shower when the power came back on so I smell better now too.
Wind is still howling tonight, sure hope I don't lose power again! Lots of snow and slush and tree branches down and cancellations. Tomorrow I have to see if I can get the snowblower started and the driveway cleared.
Hope everyone stays safe and warm.

That is my fear. Hubby and I bought our dream home out in the country. I’ll be 68 in February and full of arthritis. Hubby will be 70 in August. He’s very fit but I’m sure there will be a time when this country living may be too much. We don’t have livestock, just dogs and cats so that makes it easier, I guess.

Last night I tried to soak in the tub to relieve the cramps but the water doesn't come up very high. It did help though.

If you have a heating pad, that might help.

 

[Tirediron]

Watching the weather forecast feeding the wood heater, burned more than half a cord this cold snap, At least when it warms up I know what i will be doing, I really don't want to start machines in this cold if I really don't need to.

 

[LadyLocust]

Watching the weather forecast feeding the wood heater, burned more than half a cord this cold snap, At least when it warms up I know what i will be doing, I really don't want to start machines in this cold if I really don't need to.

The good news is they don't want to start in this cold either

Just got back from droppng the 20 lb cat at the vet for a check up on how his hip is healing and getting his teeth cleaned. It was -1 at 7:00 when he needed to be dropped off. He is not a happy traveler and getting him stuffed in the carrier was touch and go. No school or work for everyone except the hubby today. He has a few chimneys to clean, and I’m sure he will be cold when he gets home. I think I’ll make some granola cereal and crunchy biscuits today. I don’t plan to go out again until except to retrieve the cat this afternoon.

Not sure if you know this so don't mean to insult your intelligence if you do: to put a cat in a carrier, put it in rear first - they reach forward but not backwards so much easier.

 

[Tirediron]

The good news is they don't want to start in this cold either

They like to argue about starting when it is warm

 

[LadyLocust]

They like to argue about starting when it is warm

Well, work is a four letter word you know.

 

[Bluedanube]

The good news is they don't want to start in this cold either

Not sure if you know this so don't mean to insult your intelligence if you do: to put a cat in a carrier, put it in rear first - they reach forward but not backwards so much easier.

Yup did that, he is just big enough that it’s a bit like trying to hold onto a furry sumo wrestler!

 

[zannej]

I have a heating pad but I lost the other end of the cord and can't seem to find it to plug it in. LOL.
Had more bleeding. Cramping isn't as bad. I'm exhausted. Got some good news that the cleared the blockage from Boo. Unfortunately they closed early and are keeping him overnight.

I might have to reschedule Mom's urology appointment if the roads are icy. People here don't know how to drive on icy roads. The road to get there is very twisty.

Right now I'm resting with a bunch of cats piled on me.

 

[Amish Heart]

Did the afternoon watering chores, and deiced all the buckets and got them ready for morning. We keep four sets of 12 going, only broke 2 buckets today. Ha. Called it! School closed tomorrow....we had another inch of snow and it will be in the negative temps in the morning. Got a call that my aunt Doris in Florida passed. It's been a good while since I've seen her, and she had alzheimers. So out of 7 children, there are two left. Mom and Uncle Melvin. Doris was the youngest, not yet 90. Our oven bit the dust, not sure how old it is. A new one coming Wednesday afternoon, from the amish guy down the road. It's a gas one with a propane kit, the ignitor is 9 volt battery, not electric. Sounded good to me. He'll install it, too, and take away the older than the hills one. It said Kenmore on it. A Sears. An antique.

 

[Tirediron]

So I decided to see how well my Espar engine heater warmed up the poor little tractor 'cause it is going to stay pretty cold for a while, Had a little grief with the espar, but I dragged it out of retirement like most of my stuuf so.... Actually the fuel dip tube, which ironicly is a new part, plugged so . Long story, longer espar warmed the engine very nicely, pre heated the intake air with a heat gun and it was running. the battery is aincient and a bit weak, it might have fired with out intake heat othewise. Then the oil in the three point was too thick to go thru the filter , tiger torch helped there. plowed the snow I needed to make the next few days getting in wood easier, got myself really cold and came in the house.

 

[sonya123]

I have a heating pad but I lost the other end of the cord and can't seem to find it to plug it in. LOL.
Had more bleeding. Cramping isn't as bad. I'm exhausted. Got some good news that the cleared the blockage from Boo. Unfortunately they closed early and are keeping him overnight.

I might have to reschedule Mom's urology appointment if the roads are icy. People here don't know how to drive on icy roads. The road to get there is very twisty.

Right now I'm resting with a bunch of cats piled on me.

you need to take better care of YOU, not just your cats and your mom It sounds like there is definitely something not right with your health. I don't go to the doctor unless absolutely necessary but in your case I would probably go get checked out . Maybe it's nothing serious just a virus but you never know

 

[sonya123]

so I hiked up the mountain with the dog in the snow. It was beautiful outside actually, perfect day for skiing. Not too cold , nice snow, not icy or slushy. Then I shoveled the snow of our road between house and barn. It tends to compact and turn to ice and takes forever to melt if you don't. Son did some more further down the road.
We learned that the hard way the first few years we were here. If you let the snow compact, you will be sliding down the road till March. One year we poured buckets of hot water on it to get rid of the ice

Also trying to keep the wood stove going over night. It can be done, but somebody has to put in wood at like 2 am or it will go out. I told husband if he gets up to go to bathroom that will be his chore....

 

[Bacpacker]

Holiday today. Just did some reading, took care of the animals, and watched it snow. Longest and hardest I saw it snow in several years.
Got a text while ago that the Lab is closed tomorrow. So probably more of the same. No reason to go anywhere if we don't have to

 

[hashbrown]

Just feeding the wood stove! It’s keeping up quite well in these temperatures.

 

[hashbrown]

Holiday today. Just did some reading, took care of the animals, and watched it snow. Longest and hardest I saw it snow in several years.
Got a text while ago that the Lab is closed tomorrow. So probably more of the same. No reason to go anywhere if we don't have to

Has the arctic air made it over there?

 

[Bacpacker]

Supposed to be 17 by daybreak. 3 by daybreak Wednesday. not yet but its on the way. We are having a 2nd cold spell this weekend after a warm up to 28 Friday
According to your thermometer, looks like you are holding up well

 

[Heartbroken]

An example of the heat tape: https://www.amazon.com/MAXKOSKO-Pro...refix=heat+tape+for+water+pipe,aps,235&sr=8-9
I used to pick them up for ten bucks at the local Ace Hardware, but that was back in the 90s when I lived in a trailer park. The winter of 93 was pretty brutal, and I had to put heat tapes on all of the water and sewer lines under my trailer.
Got down to 6 below last night, stiff winds and high of 10 today. Went up to my Mom's to visit for a bit, some stretches weren't too bad, just some drifting, and other areas the roads were covered in ice. 4x4 and slow, no problems. I took the old truck, which still lives outside until I can get the shed cleared up, and it sorta kinda didn't want to start but decided to run after grumbling a bit. Then I learned that the blower motor no longer works unless I turn it all the way up, so it was either boil or freeze for the whole trip. Fun!
Sitting here in my chair watching the football game when I see movement out of the corner of my eye....darn deer out there raiding my bird feeder! Going to have to rig it up higher. This feeder is just two feet outside the window. They come right up to the house and chew on the bushes. I went to close the curtains on the patio door the other night, and there was this 8 point standing there next to the deck. He looked rather offended, I think he must have been watching the game through the window and wanted to see how it ended.

 

[Bacpacker]

An example of the heat tape: https://www.amazon.com/MAXKOSKO-Protection-Constant-Thermostat-Electric/dp/B0C32VSPHR/ref=sr_1_9?crid=3G8J2UIB2CYWE&keywords=heat+tape+for+water+pipes&qid=1705370691&sprefix=heat+tape+for+water+pipe,aps,235&sr=8-9
I used to pick them up for ten bucks at the local Ace Hardware, but that was back in the 90s when I lived in a trailer park. The winter of 93 was pretty brutal, and I had to put heat tapes on all of the water and sewer lines under my trailer.
Got down to 6 below last night, stiff winds and high of 10 today. Went up to my Mom's to visit for a bit, some stretches weren't too bad, just some drifting, and other areas the roads were covered in ice. 4x4 and slow, no problems. I took the old truck, which still lives outside until I can get the shed cleared up, and it sorta kinda didn't want to start but decided to run after grumbling a bit. Then I learned that the blower motor no longer works unless I turn it all the way up, so it was either boil or freeze for the whole trip. Fun!
Sitting here in my chair watching the football game when I see movement out of the corner of my eye....darn deer out there raiding my bird feeder! Going to have to rig it up higher. This feeder is just two feet outside the window. They come right up to the house and chew on the bushes. I went to close the curtains on the patio door the other night, and there was this 8 point standing there next to the deck. He looked rather offended, I think he must have been watching the game through the window and wanted to see how it ended.

Are you north or south of Flint? My SIL lives in Clio

 

[zannej]

I wonder if that heat tape thing would work on pipes in my pump house. Need to find some way to get outlets working in there again to keep stuff from freezing and busting.

I had a good nap but woke up coughing and sneezing. The dog is still growling at everything that moves. He was actually moving at a cat that was lying perfectly still. He wanted to sit where the cat was sitting and was having a bit of a fit. I told him to stop it and he grumbled and found a different spot a few inches away from the cat. I'm about to see if he wants to go into Mom's room.