SheriM - Too Stubborn to Stop Dreamin' - SURPRISE!!!

[SheriM]

I'm glad your puppy is on the mend.

How are you feeling?

Like Fynnigan, I'm on the mend. Each day is a little better and my energy is starting to come back. Good thing, too, 'cause it's turned bitterly cold out and in temps like these, DH refuses to set foot out the door, so the chores are my problem till it warms up.

 

[Farmfresh]

So glad you are feeling better too Sheri! It is horrible feeling tired and sick all of the time. I hope you are the picture of health in time for Christmas!

 

[SheriM]

Oooooh, I knew we were going to pay for all the lovely weather we had in November. It is now -25C and on it's way to a projected low of -34C tonight. (That's -29F if you're wondering.) I am sitting here under a blanket, with a brand new oil filled portable heater not three feet from me, the baseboard heater cranked as high as I dare, the wood stove in the kitchen blazing and I'm still freezing my hiney off.

The problem is the icy cold floors. We only have a crawl space under the house, and even with a 220V heater down there to keep the pipes thawed, the floors feel like you're standing on a skating rink...and that's with my slippers on.

What's most annoying is I have a solution, but can't afford to implement it. I want to install an under-floor heating system that connects to the water heater, but my hay guy is suddenly getting all bent out of shape about being paid. I just gave him $950 and he's still whining about wanting the rest of what I owe him. He initially said he'd wait, but now that he's delivered the hay, he suddenly says he wants it all right away. I've given him every dime I've got, including my grocery money, and it's not enough.

Now, I have to freeze my butt off, the goats still don't have enough hay for the winter and unless I can come up with almost $2000, he won't bring me any more. That's $520 from this load and $1325 for the second load. I've been off work since March and he knows this. I guess what really burns me is I know he's suddenly demanding his money because he's leaving soon to go somewhere warm for Christmas (last year it was Mexico) and wants more spending money. That really fries my bacon when I'm sitting here and can't feel my feet!!

 

[Farmfresh]

Well you DO have hay. Take some of that "green gold" and stack it all around the base of your house as a temporary solution. Create an insulated wind stopping ring around the house with the hay bales end to end. That should stop some of the wind and cold commin' in!

 

[SheriM]

Wonderful idea, except the hay is all in large round bales. Small squares are nearly impossible to find around here...especially this year.

 

[Farmfresh]

too bad.

Another option would be foam board. I know it would require a purchase, but you really get a lot for a small price. You could install it under the floor to the joists. Or even heavy plastic installed in the same way would help a lot - a wind and vapor barrier.

 

[SheriM]

With the wind chill factored in, they're calling for temperatures of -50 C tonight!! If you're wondering, that's -58 F. To me, that's just a hair on the wrong side of ridiculous! All the goats have good wind proof sheds to go into and the chickens are locked up tight, but I was really worried about the guardian dogs. The girls are in the barnyard, but will not go into the barn, no matter what. They bed down in the hay out in the barnyard. The boys are loose in the yard and they, too, have a round bale to bed down in, but in both cases, the bales are out in the open. I just bundled up in nearly every piece of winter gear I owned and went to check on the boys. To my surprise, it didn't seem that bad out there, thanks I suppose to how protected our yard is. We have thick stands of trees on three sides, so that really slows the wind down.

Thankfully, they say this cold snap is supposed to ease off by the middle of next week. I can't wait and I'm sure all the critters feel the same way!

(edited for typo.)

 

[Farmfresh]

-58 F... To me, that's just a hair on the wrong side of ridiculous!

Boy you ain't just kiddin'! Sheri hold on tight so you don't get blown away!

BRRRR.

 

[TanksHill]

Wow, Sheri that's cold. Hang in there. I am sure all your critters will do just fine.

Stay warm.

gina

 

[SheriM]

Got up this morning to -32 on the thermometer, -43 with the wind chill, and frozen water lines. Unfortunately, when our water freezes up, it does it right where it comes into the house from the well, which means the entire system is down, including the lines that run out to the barn etc. Fortunately, it's a relatively easy fix. The water line comes into the house inside a 4 inch casing, so we just shove the nozzle of the shop vac down the casing, turn it on "blow" and wait. It usually takes about half an hour or so to thaw things out. Keep your fingers crossed!