what winter preparation projects are u doing now?

**rosey7415** · 10-07-2008, 05:12 PM

it is too soon for us to rake leaves yet, usually we do that in the beginning of november. that is when the majority of the leaves have fallen here. we are cleaning up the garden and flower beds right now. taking out all the dead debris. dh is working on cleaning his shed out. he does that every year at this time. it is mostly to put the lawnmower away and move the snowblower up front. it is always a mess in there. (very small shed...lol)

too soon to work on the gutters. starting to take in stuff from the patio and yard. we will probably have a frost soon.......so indoor plants are already repotted or cleaned up and back inside.

we will soon start cleaning the windows inside and out, cleaning blinds and putting up clean curtains. we didn't get to it last year, but we usually do it every year at this time. we will have to get on that soon so it can be done before we have to start raking. (i live in an area with lots of trees.)

what are some of your projects?

**sunshine** · 10-07-2008, 08:36 PM

turning under the garden and planting "green manure" plants for next spring

picking up and drying various nuts - pecans, hickory, black walnut, acorns

switching out the window screens for winter storm windows.

readying the solar heat grabbers and window quilts - not quite time to put them in the windows, but want them ready to go.

**EmilyD** · 10-07-2008, 08:57 PM

Last weekend I pulled the last of the yearly flowers.

We emptied (watered all the bushes and trees) all the water storage containers
(11) and I cleaned them out getting them ready to store.

Rearranged the garage so we could store a few more things. Maybe a garage sale next year.

Located the swamp cooler panels and the tarp so we can winterize it next month.

Closed down the composter.

Pulled the dead rose bush.

Will do leaves later in the season.

Bought the lights and holders for Christmas for the house.

**Guest57** · 10-08-2008, 03:11 AM

what is a solar heat grabber and what are window quilts?!?! INFO GIRL, I NEED INFO!!!!!

**Guest57** · 10-08-2008, 03:14 AM

I am cleaning the windows and sliding glass doors, inside and out, as well as the sill and then we put up that plastic that shrinks when you put a blow dryer to it...we have to rake EVERY DAY because of so many pine trees....and all the patio furniture is stored away!
Put the fleece sheets on the dds beds and the flannels on ours. Washed all the slippers and bathrobes and hung them in the bathrooms. Made a couple new pair of flannel sleep pants for my dds and put an extra blanket on the dogs bed (she thinks she's a people, too!)

**Momto2Boyz** · 10-08-2008, 06:51 AM

THis weekend, I'll be pulling the last of the goodies from the garden. We had tons of late tomatoes, so I still have tons of green on the vine. So, I will pick tomatoes one final time then pull everything and winterize the garden.

I need to throw down the winter fertilizer for the lawn.

Throw the winter algae tablets into the pond.

Take out the window air conditioning units.

Replace the furnace filters, before I need to use the furnace.

I have a few more things to do to get ready for winter, but that is all I plan on tackling this weekend.

We won't have leaves for a few more weeks. Plus, last year we had 3 huge trees, so leaves took us 2 days. Well, since two of the trees were unstable, we had to take them down in July. So this year, we are hardly going to have any leaves at all! I miss my trees, but I am kind of excited about no leaves! Buh-bye leaves!

**Janbee** · 10-08-2008, 07:02 AM

This weekend we are cleaning the windows and put on the plastic on the windows. I am going to insulate the back porch more before winter do a little more each year to the back porch. Bought insulated curtains at a rummage sale this summer so will be putting them up and I am going to take out the window unit as well.

**JENROY** · 10-08-2008, 07:34 AM

Because I live in Florida, winter is the cheapest time of year for me. But, we need to fix window screens (so we can open the house up and finally turn off the a/c)also we get to make some extra cash by opening/cleaning houses for the snowbirds. Around November we get the house powerwashed and sprayed for bugs and the carpets cleaned.

**Bournecrazy** · 10-08-2008, 08:29 AM

im not doing much to the house, but i know out bedroom window the seal has gone a bit funny so it lets in drafts so i am thinking of making something to put inthe window sill to strop the drafts.

i am getting allthe washing done, got a few winter jumpers and tops washed and they are now drying in the sun. I am just keepin ontop of the washing as the weather can turn anyway it wants to and when it wants to. and its hard to air dry clothes in the winter (our dryer doesnt work)

i dont go thru that many clothes during the winter, when i come home from work i will just put joggers on or even my pj's and dressing gown to keep me warm and comfortable.

After bonfire night i probably wont be going out again until new years eve so i keep indoors, i dont want to catch a cold

**rosey7415** · 10-08-2008, 08:33 AM

i am also curious as to what "swamp solar panels" are. emilyD please share!
and Sunshine what is a "solar heat grabber".....please share too!

i just thought i would check with you all on your projects, and here i am learning on this thread also! i learn so much here.........you girls are great!!

**rosey7415** · 10-08-2008, 08:39 AM

editing.........i wanted to put the thumbs up after the sentence "you girls are great!!" why did it go up there???

okey.........help!.........i obviously don't know how to delete this either. duh! going to check and see how.........

**BlessedMomof2** · 10-08-2008, 09:12 AM

This past week we cleaned our shed out, put all the patio furniture in the shed, along with our bikes, and other things we don't use in the winter. I got my veggie emptied, and dead headed all of my flowers for winter (That are done blooming, I still have 3 kinds that are doing good). We put all of our storm windows in, and weatherstripped all the frames, and washed all windows on the outside. This weekend, I'm going to get all the windows washed on the inside, and we are going to get plastic started on the windows. Dh needs to make a new window for one of our basement windows, it got broken over the summer, and didn't bother fixing it with the screen it let in some fresh air for him while he's in his workshop. I also plan on getting our my kids heater fans from the basement (I'll keep them under their beds until we need them). I am going to get all the curtains washed, along with the blankes and sheets we plan on using between the plastic and curtains as an extra layer to help keep our home toasty warm without costing us more money.

**nvmommyx6** · 10-08-2008, 09:21 AM

Last weekend we finished the roof on the garage, this weekend we are sealing the storage shed so we do not have to worry about any leaks through out the winter! Will be taking the swamp cooler out of the window this afternoon, cleaning all the windows, re-caulking and sealing them with the plastic!

I got new weather strips for all the doors last spring on a killer clearance!! I am hoping Hubby and neighbor can get those new skylights in before winter, but with them calling for first snow in 2 days I doubt it!

I've already switched everyones linens to their flannel's and comforters so that is set, got the winter clothes out and ready to go, our wood is already split and stacked and ready to go so beyond the windows and new door sealers I think we are set!!

Yeah, I wanna know about the solar thingie too!!!

**shadowfax** · 10-08-2008, 09:32 AM

hmmm not much yet.

Soon to be:

Caulking on the drafty windows. I have tree very old ones. Notice loose plexi on one this spring.

Plastic over all windows. I found the cheapest way is to go to the dollar store and get painters drop cloth rather then the stuff in big rolls.

In progress. Give the house a really good cleaning because I'm not gonna wont to do much all winter when it's cold.

Clean and go over the space heaters. Make sure they are in good shape.

Wish list: Buy plexi pieces to fit over the drafty windows as sort of storm windows, but on the inside. Have to price this out yet. I have big windows but not a lot of them. I hate not being able to see out. So hoping this will work almost as good as quilts. Still plan to use the quilts though on the coldest nights.

**Patty A** · 10-08-2008, 11:16 AM

With the snow fall we can get with no warning I always pack a kit for the car.
In it I include food that won't freeze, a blanket, a few warm clothes for each family member. I also make sure the jumper cables are there and that the anti-freeze has been checked. Get the tune up done on the car, as the cold weather brings out the worst in them if they aren't ready.

For the house I make sure all the yard tools are put away. I clean the windows inside and out. I clean the furnace and all the heat vents. I also check the roof to make sure we won't have leaks during the winter. Put the lawn mower, tiller and weed eatters away and add fuel stablizer to it if they still have gas in so it doesn't cause problems come spring. Check and plug in all the heat tapes on water lines.

I know there is more, it seems never ending when winter rolls around.