Perry isn’t really a country dude but he has adapted. Somewhat. 😉
Today is our last of below zero wind chill temps before rain rolls in with warmer temperatures for the week. Perry thinks he’ll be happy about that but hasn’t considered that he’ll be wading in water to get to the wood boiler.
I want to ask him if he wishes he would’ve stacked the wood.
Those of us that didn’t grow up in the city (Cincinnati for Perry), or experience apartment living for most of our lives suggested that he should stack the wood and cover it with a tarp. It didn’t get done. But not once has ole’ Perry complained of the extra work it requires now… and there’s no way I’m going to mention it.
With snow followed by bitter cold, the wood pile is like one big block of ice. He’s breaking off pieces with a rake…
Toasty inside 😎 – frigid outside. 🥶
Standing at the front door secretly taking a few photos with a telephoto lens, I’m toasty warm inside the barndo. And I’m not gonna lie, I do feel sorry for him. While the boiler is full for now, it has to be checked — and usually more wood added — a couple times a day when we’re experiencing sub-zero temperatures.
Perry would tell you — and anyone that would listen — that he HATES winter but LOVES rural living. I love snow but I’m over the frigid temps we’ve had lately… same as everyone else around here. It’s easier to love snow when you don’t have to drive in it — or put wood in an outside boiler. 😉
Now you know: The USA federal witness protection program has a 100% success rate for those who follow their guidelines.
Security cameras that are prominently displayed can act as a visible deterrent to criminal activity. Potential thieves are less likely to target a property if they know they are being monitored and recorded. Agree so far?
If true, this place is like Fort Knox…
I don’t know what we’re guarding here — it’s not like the barndo is full of valuables. But the photo below shows only 6 of the 9 cameras on the lookout for would-be bad actors here…
All cameras are activated by sound and movement, and all light up when either are detected. There are alarms on selected ones, and that’s not all!
Outdoor security monitoring even when it’s sub-zero outside!
While security patrol isn’t constant or consistent (these are indoor hound dogs), they alert barndo occupants of anything suspicious outside… including birds, rabbits, fox, and more.
While no security system is foolproof, I figure the comprehensive security strategy implemented here is decent.
Is your home protected by security cameras?
We have 2 separate systems and both work great. If you’re looking to up your security game, check out Wyze Cam and Zosi.
Now you know: Among all the civilian jobs in the US, workers spend on average more than 60% of their workday standing.
It was snowing before I went to bed last night and I was hoping we’d have more by morning. Sure enough… we did! And this time, there was enough of the white stuff deposited to actually count. Woot!
Escorting Dharma…
Not gonna lie, I was a bit aggravated at Dharma’s need for an escort when snow got inside my medieval peasant shoes, but if not for her, I would’ve only taken photos from the inside and missed these.
The serene snowfall is the good — the bad and the ugly are on the way.
Next comes the wind chill advisory — and the temp is dropping even now. It’s currently 20°F and the “feels like” temp is 8°F. By evening, wind chill temps here in the Ville are forecasted to be -20°F. That’s BELOW zero, y’all.
While I’d like to say future nature photos containing snow will be taken indoors, I’ll still be out there escorting the brown hound off the deck multiple times (a bajillion at least) before it warms up.
Now you know: Founding Father, Alexander Hamilton was the first major American politician publicly involved in a sex scandal. He had an affair with 23-year-old Maria Reynolds, whose husband was aware of the infidelity and likely orchestrated the whole thing to regularly extort blackmail money from Hamilton.
The worst of the cold temps are behind us (for now) in the Ville. Snow is predicted and I’ve got my fingers crossed that we’ll get some. Even though a foot would make me happy, it’s probably not going to amount to anything — and next week, we’ll be in the mid-50’s they say.
UPDATE: In the few hours since I originally published this post, the weather forecast changed. I guess we’re not done with the bitter cold after all and the chance of snow has increased:
It was REALLY frosty out yesterday morning.
The storm door was covered to the point I couldn’t see out of it. Or in…
Even though it was ‘freeze your nose off’ cold, the sun coming up was still beautiful.
The worst of the frigid weather is over! Yay!
By late afternoon, we were back in the 20’s and that’s not so awful. I made a blueberry dessert (recipe here) that I hand-delivered to those pesky neighbors in a pair of shorts, fur lined boots, and a heavy coat. My sister, Mozzie, is always excited to see me and doesn’t care that I look crazy traipsing around in shorts in January. 😉
Two questions for you to ponder:
Even if you prefer summer and warmer temps, when it’s winter does snow make you happy?
If you have a sibling, do you get excited when they visit you? Or do you not care so much if you see them or not?
Now you know: Drive-through sales at fast food restaurants in the US account for 70% of sales. Pre-pandemic, it was only 30%.
After thinking I needed to build an ark over the last couple days, that thought has been replaced since liquid has turned solid outside… crunchy and frozen over. The current Indiana weather is ruff on a dog mom (me!). Dharma’s fear of just about everything under her feet with the exception of carpet, (it’s getting even worse as she ages with bad hips), means escorting her to the yard.
Yes, even when I’m still in pajamas…
Wind howling at 18º when I got up this morning (feels like 6º in case you want to feel sorry for us Hoosiers), all I can think about is heat — hoping I keep it, and wishing every living creature that needs it has it.
When considering heating options for new builds, you might find the following info important:
If you’re entertaining the idea of building a barndo or a home on a slab, you might be considering radiant floor heat with an outside boiler (gas or electric). It’s said to be cheaper but I’m not sure I agree when it’s a wood boiler and you don’t cut/split/haul your own. I started the winter season with $1000 bucks of wood delivered.
With the frigid weather incoming — high winds and temps forecasted between 5º and 13º for highs — I want to mention that outside boilers use electric. Its thermometer is powered by electricity and the temp measured determines when the damper opens and closes — also electric. And, it takes electricity to push the heated water through the floors.
So far with these crazy strong winds we haven’t lost power — and I’m happy it’s not ME adding wood to the boiler on days like this:
We currently have zero options insofar as backup heat should the electric go out. Just like anything else, there are pros and cons to radiant floor heating via an outside boiler.
PROS:
hot water for days
toasty warm floors
zero noise
CONS:
Can’t adjust temps for specific rooms
Can’t lower temp at night
Requires outside attention in inclement weather
I love the barndo’s radiant floor heat even with the cons; however, the older I get the more I realize we should also implement a back-up plan. I’m about 80% sure it’s going to be gas stoves… 1 upstairs and 1 downstairs.
Now you know: Of the 400-500 shark species, no organ capable of producing sound has been found.
