I don't like to be cold and this winter has been a record breaking cold winter. But, cold at the Heap is like nothing I've ever had to deal with before. I'm not talking about, "Brrr, it sure is cold out there." It's more like, "There's snow IN MY WINDOW" cold.
The cold wind literally blows straight through this house. The siding and windows need to be replaced desperately, but those are expensive propositions and have to wait their turn. The central heat is incredibly inefficient and drinks propane at an alarming rate. When propane costs skyrocketed mid winter we had no choice but to turn it off and rely on space heaters. I have been so cold for so many months that I was starting to think I'd never thaw out. And when I'm cold I become tired, cranky, and apathetic......it's not pretty.
Chores are no fun when things look like this. Everyone still needs to eat, though, so it doesn't matter if it is 10 below, there will be a trip outside first thing in the morning. There were a lot of mornings this winter when I questioned my sanity. Why did I want chickens so badly again?
I enjoyed the first time we were snowed in, but after numerous times of being unable to leave for days on end, it seriously lost it's appeal. Trips to the grocery store became cause for celebration, which is just sad, really.
Spring is here, though, and already the pain is fading. We have plans for a big garden, new chicks, and possibly pigs this year. The Hubs has been working hard on new fencing and other outdoor work. We survived our first winter at the Heap and it can only get better from here.
So, stay tuned, friends- I'm back and we're going to have lots to share!
Tonia
First winter on the 'prairie" done and done. Lotta firsts for you and your family made this a tough one, plus it *was* an exceptionally cold winter. And the poor insulation and furnace didn't help matters. Where was that darned globull warming when you needed it, anyway.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to hearing about your escapades as you near the end of your first year in the not-as-much-of-a-heap-as-it-was-when-you-first-moved-in.
"near the end of the first year...." How crazy is that!? Now, we have to get through a full summer....here's hoping the summer will be cooler than normal too!
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