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Uh-uh. Ain’t coming out.

We’re having our first cold snap of the season – three nights below freezing. That doesn’t sound much, but we’re ill prepared for it here. This is an ancient, damp house with sputtering central heating.

When I was a novice chicken keeper, I was puzzled to see my chickens hadn’t drunk up their water in three days. That’s when I realized it was frozen solid. Poor things – imagine them pecking at their rock hard water in amazement and distress.

Just a skim of ice on the chicken water today, but it’s cold enough in here that I’ve taken to my electric blanket and I ain’t coming out until he’s got a proper fire in the stove. I am typing this with one exposed finger.

I can hear it’s lit…

Comments


Comment from Uncle Al
Time: November 21, 2024, 9:03 pm

If, God forbid, it should get any colder in there, you could keep your mittens on and push the keys with the eraser end of a pencil.

You have my honest sympathy (not that it helps you any). I’ve lived in a number of cold climes, and that’s why I retired to Florida. I’ve swapped in heat and hurricanes and swapped out chilblains and blizzards. Fair trade.


Comment from thefritz
Time: November 21, 2024, 9:35 pm

Hey Swease, you’re getting some new neighbors…

https://babylonbee.com/news/post-menopausal-lesbians-flee-america-over-concerns-about-forced-pregnancies


Comment from Durnedyankee
Time: November 21, 2024, 11:36 pm

You get Ellen!
Hurrah for you!
Hurrah for us!


Comment from OldFert
Time: November 22, 2024, 12:04 am

Uncle Al:
I remember going to the Finance office when I was in the Army in Vietnam. They had several local national women working in there. The one I saw typing was using two pencils, hitting the keys with the erasers. She was typing as fast as regular typists I saw in the States.


Comment from Bob Mulroy
Time: November 22, 2024, 6:46 am

DIY heat pumps are all the rage here. Are they available where you are?


Comment from S. Weasel
Time: November 22, 2024, 3:28 pm

We have the commercial kind, Bob, which I understand cost a fortune and suck pretty hard. One of our neighbors spent tens of thousands on a heat pump + insulation + underfloor heating and then they called and asked Uncle B’s advice on a wood stove. Because it’s cold.

I wish I knew where in the countryside Ellen was going. I’d stalk.

Probably someplace tonier than my neighborhood.


Comment from Mark Matis
Time: November 22, 2024, 9:05 pm

They say Cotswolds, so she’ll be a neighbor to Jeremy!


Comment from Bob Mulroy
Time: November 23, 2024, 9:52 pm

We built our first house in Oregon, where the Bonneville Power Authority kept rates low. Most contractors use resistance wall heaters for heating.
We installed a new witchy heat pump a few years ago and started saving half on the heat bill. Add to that the rebates from our electric coop and the tax rebates, and we’re way ahead.
Our cabin in Virginia uses wood heat and electric space heaters for backup. We’re 800 dollars in so far and we’ll see how that wood goes.
We have five acres if forest to thin next year so wood will be “free”
Cheaper anyway.

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