Coping with the Cold

With three inches of snow on the ground and daytime temperatures in the 20's, we spent the day doing chores inside getting ready for our Thanksgiving gathering on Friday.  The morning temperature at our farm was 16 degrees F., so getting the animals fresh water was the first chore.  Pam lugged buckets of warm water up to the barn while I fed everyone.  We took a long walk through the state park that borders our land in the fresh snow with the three dogs and after dinner took them for another long walk up our road.  7 pm and it was down to 9 degrees!  When we returned an hour later it was up to 10 degrees.  Overnight clouds have moved in and the temperature has risen to 20 degrees - but there is no snow in the forecast until Thursday.

Pam bringing warm water to the barn

 We have a propane instant hot water heater, one of those that give you unlimited hot water and does not have a holding tank.  With all of the power outages rural life on Whidbey Island is known for, we wanted a non-electric one.  We installed one that has a water turban that starts the fire without electricity.  One of the options that we didn't get was an electric vent cap that closes the chimney flue when not in use, thinking we wouldn't have hot water without electricity to open the flue.  We love it, with the exception of times like this when it gets really cold.  Freezing cold air comes down the chimney and freezes the water inside the heating baffles, so I have to put an electric heater under the unit to keep it from freezing.  Monday night I set it up and put it on low, but last night with single digit temperatures outside it froze before we went to bed.  I increased the heat setting and got up at 11 pm and it was frozen again, so out came the hair dryer and I thawed it out; then turn the heater way up.  This morning all was well.

Firewood ready to be brought into the house

We normally burn 1/3rd of a wheel barrow of firewood in a day, these past two days we have been burning two barrows per day to keep warm.

Our Lopi wood stove keeping us warm - along with the cat Merlin

We started our stock pot of chicken, duck and vegetables last night to make broth to marinate the turkey in.  Yum, I can't wait.  We are worried about the road conditions for Friday and hope all of the kids can make it here.  Pam's son, Gary A. (interesting how she attracts Garys in her life, her first husband was also named Gary) will be arriving tonight and stay until Friday or Saturday.  My son Gabe and his family will be staying on Whidbey Island for the weekend and he has a 4x4 car so I'm sure he'll be here.  We have a nasty 1.5 mile private road we live on, with a very steep hill, so we may have to shuttle folks down here.  We'll see.  

The stock pot cooking all night