Snow Last Week!

Today is September 15. Not even Autumn yet, and still, this past Friday, it snowed. Yes, snow. Here in the Denver, CO area.  Big fat flakes, frigid temperatures, long johns, the works.

Were we ready?  Let's see:
-Propane for hot water and furnace? Check.
-Firewood for fireplace? Check.
-Water stored in case of an outage? Check.
-Food? Check.
-Extra feed for the poultry? Check
-Winter clothes? Check
-Vehicles gassed up? Check
-Batteries for flashlights and lamp oil/wicks for lamps? Check
-Potted tomatoes and other moveable veggies inside? Check
-Hoses for watering drained and inside? Uh, ooops.

See...we did almost everything we needed to do. Yeah, we could use more water and food, and probably batteries, but for the most part, we were ready for Winter to start in the Summer.

Alas, the cold weather lasted only two days (Thursday and Friday).  Yesterday, Sunday, we were back in the high 80's.  The tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant and other garden veggies that I couldn't bring inside did NOT die so we're hoping to harvest still more before the next round of cold weather.

The Farmer's Almanac says we're going to have a horrible, cold, wet and long winter.  Do you know yet what you expect for your location? If it is going to be rough, are YOU ready?

2009-10 Winter Prediction

As you know, I live in Colorado with my little family. The weather here has been very very weird for the last couple of years, and this Summer was quite unusual. Compared to 2008 with scorching heat and very little rain, this 2009 Summer has been actually cool, with periods of intense rain and no days thus far over 100 degrees.

By watching the signs, studying animals and plants, intuition, and reading everything I can... I'll give the following prediction for this area:

The Winter of 2009/2010 will come early, be hard, and stay long.

I'm quite sure I don't even need to discuss how the H1N1 flu virus will affect our Winter. This all being said, we are very stocked up on not only food and water, but also medical supplies, quilts, mittens, ski masks, and more.

Are YOU prepared for this Winter?

Winter Prep for Automobiles

This might be a little late for some people, but here's more information about preparing your car with survival essentials for Winter:

• Metal coffee can, 2-3 pound size. Punch 3 holes in the top of can, at an equal distance apart. This is to enable you to carry the can while filled with your supplies.
• 60-inch+ length of twine/heavy string. Cut it into 3 equal pieces, to use to suspend can.
• 3 large safety pins. Tie the string to safety pins and pin to car roof interior to suspend can over candle. This won't work with all cars. Give it a try. If it won't work, come up with an alternate.
• 1 candle, about 2" in diameter. You'll place the candle on the lid under hanging can for melting snow for water to drink.
• 1 sharp pocket knife or sharp scissors.
• 3 pieces of bright (red, orange or yellow) cloth that is 2" wide x 36" long. You'll use this to tie to your antenna or door handle - to help people spot you in distress.
• Food! Dry soup, packets of hot cocoa mix, tea bags, granola bars, small package of peanuts, hard candy, cup and plastic spoon. (No chocolate as it tends to dehydrate.)
• Warm wool socks, warm mittens (gloves don't keep you as warm).
• strike-anywhere matches or lighters.
• 1 emergency reflective blanket or 2 large green or black plastic leaf bags (to reflect body heat).
• 1 small flashlight, kept separate from fresh unused batteries.
• one dollar in quarters for telephone calls.

When you've prepared your can, grab a warm hat and place it over the kit. Keep in your car, or in the trunk. If you have a bigger can, you'll have more room for first aid supplies, pain relievers, small radio, etc.

Other things you might want to keep in your trunk:

• Large plastic garbage bags - 3-4 - for warmth, moisture protection, or sanitation.
• Small package of baby wipes (also for sanitation)
• Pencil and paper
• Plastic whistle, compass, mirror
• Kitty Litter/sand (for traction and weight)
• Gallon of water (insulate with blanket as it probably will freeze)

If you think it might be a problem getting to it, be sure to keep the kit in the body of your car instead of the trunk.