Winterizing

We have spent the past couple of weekends trying to get the house ready for winter - and just in time. The temps are steadily in the 30s now overnight - and it is a bit chilly in the air ( though this morning we were awakened to a thunderstorm - and it was only about 40 degrees out - weird.)

Anyway - there have been about 14 of the last 18 years where I was a single mom - just me and kids - and when that happens and you are a loner, you learn to fix stuff on your own.

So we have built a rabbit hutch, installed weather stripping, installed a new light,new ceiling fan in the kitchen, installed a heating duct into our floor - though the rest of the flooring still needs to be replaced from old water damage, installed a flapper in the toilet, and the coolest thing - pardon the pun - is the automatic thermostat. A new ceiling fan wiht a light awaits me - actually it is still out in teh van waiting for someone to carry it in.

I read Mother Earth News - unabashedly - and we went down the list of things we could do to save money over the winter - turn down the water heater, install weather stripping, put plastic over windows, open the shades on the windows that get sun during the day and get an automatic thermostat to save on heating during the day when the house is mostly empty - or at least all the inhabitants have either fur or feathers. The programming was a bit lengthy - but is seems like it is working well.

I have been cold nearly every day when i come home - and hate to crank hte heat up to 70 just to warm up. I hope this will help - the house was very obviously not built by people who have lived through week after week of freezing weather - only one door had weather stripping and there was no insulation over our bedroom at all. I was hoping to put another roll in the attic, but that will have to wait.

In other news, I am going to get to see Steph and baby Garnet next weekend - flying out on Thursday and staying through Sunday afternoon - and I am looking forward to a much needed break.

No one has called about the stray puppy - but we have two people interested in taking him home - he is a cute guy - but a whirling dirvish in the house.

Now I am off to fold laundry...