Denim Deb Hay, hay, hay. Thank the Lord!

[hqueen13]

Deb, it got down to about 7 on Sunday night, and about 10 last night. Cold enough. I'm so grateful I have warm clothes, too. I was marveling today that my toes were cozy in my boots, not sweating, and not cold. Gloves is another issue. I go through a couple pair of gloved, especially the water proof ones, because my hands sweat in them, and then they get really gross on the inside.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

Warm clothing is a must. I LOVE my snow pants. I'm not so great in the boot department. Have yet to find a pair that is warm enough but does not result in cold/sweaty/clammy feet with extended wear. I'm allergic to wool. Gloves: Why oh why don't they make nice work gloves, especially insulated ones that will fit a woman's hand? This is one of my primary complaints! When the weather is not super cold, I find that a cheap pair of "one-size-fits-most" gloves from the $ store, covered with a cheap pair of plastic/latex gloves does wonders. My hands don't sweat, keep reasonably warm, and the latex glove is impervious to the muck and ooze that I may come in contact with when "choring".

 

[Britesea]

Have you tried silk or bamboo socks under wool? I think that, like wool, they stay warm even if they get wet.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

Have not tried bamboo. Silk... not gonna be hand washing socks!

 

[Denim Deb]

I got some socks from Dick's before Christmas. They're 2 layers. The inner layer is fleece. I wore a pair of those when I fed yesterday under my muck boots. My feet were toasty! That's a first. This is the style, though not the socks I got. https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/...cks-18fnswfswcbnczynrapa/18fnswfswcbnczynrapa

What most people don't realize is, the reason your feet get cold is because they sweat. And, if you're wearing socks that are mostly cotton, they stay wet. That was the problem I had for years. I can't wear wool either. I've tried various socks, layers, etc., over the years and this is the first thing I found that worked w/that type of boot. I have a pair of Ugg style boots that I don't wear to the farm. I've found if I wear regular socks w/them, my feet get cold. But, if I wear a pair of nylon knee highs, my feet are warm. I've thought about getting a pair to wear to the farm and seeing if it would work when I'm outside, or even riding.

As for gloves, I got a pair of Carhartt gloves for Christmas 2017. They're waterproof. I've found that my hands stay warm in them. And, they fit fairly well. Most gloves of that style don't fit properly.

 

[Denim Deb]

My garden is all prepped for spring planting! I don't till it, and only had a few weeds in it, so I pulled them. My vine crops are planted vertically on cattle panels. I have all of the poles in place, and other than 1 panel that's out at the farm (I had someone's mini stud break into my field in the only weak spot in the fence, weather's been no good for fixing that spot, so I have the panel there), the panels are all up. I had bags of stuff from the chicken houses. I put that down where I'll be planting, then covered that w/a bunch of stuff from where I do firewood, then covered everything w/leaves. Come planting time, I should have a ton of earth worms and some really nice soil there.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

That's awesome - congrats for being so prepared!

 

[hqueen13]

Awesome, Deb!! That's so amazing that you're already ready!

@Lazy Gardener keeping hands and feet warm is a must. I just read about a women's company that was founded after one of the hurricanes by a woman who couldn't find work wear, and now I can't find it. Finding a company that does women's gear specifically helps a lot.

I've also learned I need to keep 2 pair of water proof gloves on hand when it's really cold. Inevitably I'll be cold, then get warm, then start sweating inside the gloves and they don't breathe since they're water proof, so then I have to change pairs because they get cold and clammy, and it's worse if they get wet, even though my hands are "dry" on the inside.

I have a pair of alpaca socks that are SOOOOOOOO warm. And I've gotten better about staying warm. I go through a short period when I first start my chores that I will be cold, and then my hands and feet HURT, but then eventually, the warmth returns. My skin on my legs will often stay cold, but overall I'm warm enough that often I take my jacket off when I'm in the barn working.

 

[Denim Deb]

Could really use some prayers. My mom is dying. She will probably not last the rest of the week.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

Deb, does she know Jesus? Will lift you and your family up in prayer: for comfort and peace that only He can give.