This morning I turned the heat on. The house had cooled to 18C, just a little too cool to sit in comfort. We awoke to a world in white, the temperature dipped below freezing, and it snowed overnight, a thick dusting.
Attila tells me we have one last fresh salad for our dinner tomorrow evening. Our diet will shift from fresh vegetables, to frozen or canned vegetables. Of course, we will continue to purchase fresh apples, onions, potatoes, and carrots, but that is all that will be purchased fresh until next June, when the garden once again brings us its bounty.
My day was busy, catching up with all those little things that were totally ignored during harvest and preserving season. Last week we were bringing empty canning jars up from the basement to can produce, this week I took empty canning jars back down to the basement as we ate the contents. This reversal took place almost overnight.
I baked a sheet pancake this morning, and a loaf of bread. Attila needed more Switchel for his lunches, so two litres were made. Yesterday I made cranberry orange squares with a jar of cranberry orange filling that did not seal when canned, and had been sitting in the refrigerator waiting for attention. For dinner I made sweet and sour pork with vegetables and rice, easy in the Instant Pot. Homemade bread needed to be sliced, that was accomplished with the meat slicer.
There were no children Trick or Treating on our street last night, which is not surprising. The street is narrow, with deep ditches, no sidewalks, and few street lights, a very bad combination. Not far from us is a new subdivision with wide streets, sidewalks, lots of street lights, and huge homes where the loot is of a much more lucrative nature than anything we would provide. That is where the community takes their children to go door to door, it makes perfect sense.
Worldly
Weather
Updated on Wed, Nov 1 at 6:05 PM
2°C
FEELS LIKE -2
A few clouds
Wind 7 NW km/h
Humidity 81%
Visibility 23 km
Sunrise 7:44 AM
Wind gust 10 km/h
Pressure 102.3 kPa
Ceiling 9100 m
Sunset 5:58 PM
Quote
“Laughter is an instant vacation.”
Milton Berle
1908 – 2002
Heat’s on in Yuma, too! Our 55+ neighborhood never sees trick or treaters. I suspect their parents take them to the more affluent areas. Fine by me!
Joan, I always feel that a turning point has been reached when the heat is turned on, our unofficial beginning of the cold season. I am not disappointed that the families with children flock to the affluent neighbourhood, we don’t have any children living on our street, so it would be all strangers that come to our door. When we lived in the little city the children on our street would come to the door, and that was fun to see them all dressed up. The community that my ancestors settled in as pioneers have a Witch’s Walk the weekend before Halloween, we haven’t been, but the photos look like it is great fun, people of all ages attending, from toddlers to seniors with walkers, and some of the costumes are amazing.
We only use the heat or a/c if opening windows doesn’t cool things down enough or if the sunshine doesn’t warm us up enough in the cold. It works out well. We never see really high gas or electric (hydro) bills.
We tend to buy carrots, cucumber, mini potatoes, grape tomatoes and grapes all year round, every few weeks, or cherries when they’re in season. DH takes the grapes/cherries and tomatoes with him as a snack when he walks the dogs. He takes them on 2-2.5 mile walks every day. Puts me to shame. I couldn’t do that if I tried. The walks take him 45 to 50 minutes, if he doesn’t stop and talk to neighbors.
Teri, using windows, open or closed, to help regulate home temperature is an excellent and timeless method. It is a little bit more work than a thermostat, but well worth the effort!
That is a very vigorous walk! The dogs must love it. And such healthy snacks too, winning all round for everyone!