Storm

[spiritbird]

Here in Maryland we are on a blizzard watch. I worry about keeping the birds warm in power outs. Any suggestions? If I do not post on the weekend you will know why. It's snowing tonite already. Be safe everyone.

[spiritbird]

We are now expecting a minimum of 2 feet of snow and 60 mile per hr winds. I put the warm sleep but in the bird cage. Wish they had battery heated perches.

[Macaw Lover]

Batten down the hatches and just tell yourself that you can spend more 1 on 1 time with them.

Stay warm!

[spiritbird]

Thanks. I am retired so every day is one on one. No alternate heat sources or no nearby shelters where animals can come. I go through this every winter but this storm sounds like a monster.

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

If the power does go off, keep the curtains closed to help reduce heat loss through the windows. Being in a very old and drafty cottage we even have a curtain across the front door. Burn lots of half candles set inside glass jars - they will add a bit of warmth but you will need to redecorate in the spring unless you get the clean burning sort.
When I awoke this morning the wind had gone around to the south and it is warm and wet here. Winter over in one week!*

*It will probably return with a vengeance in March.

[kendrafitz]

I just had a thought. Maybe try these? Your guys are small enough that maybe you can wrap in a washcloth and put in their cage? We use them for football games. But they could be good for a small bird keep warm emergency. They sell them at CVS, Walmart, etc...

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The lady I work with uses the kind of heat pads that heat in the microwave. Wonder if they can be heated in the oven? If yes and you have a gas stove then that may work as well.

[spiritbird]

This is when one should have a gas stove but I am in an all electric apartment. Only thing that keeps running is cold water. That is a good idea Kendra but getting these things at the last minute is going to take lots of searching. Here is another small idea. Heat wraps for shipping animals. [Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks] Too late for these too because of shipping issues.

[kendrafitz]

Snow started about 2 hours ago here. We are in a blizzard watch area, like Dianne. First real snow of the winter. Guess Mother Nature saved it up for one big storm. :)

Hope everyone in the storm area stays warm, dry & safe.

[spiritbird]

Tomorrow the wisp dsl come. Lots of snow on the ground. By Sunday we can play find the car.

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

Not sure what wisp dsl is but I like the find the car game. Post pictures of the mounds of snow and we can play guess the model. :th_smile:

[spiritbird]

Very few power outs so far by some miracle. Woke up at 5 am and could not sleep. Men been trying to keep roads open here all night long. Eastern shore of Md. has 50 mile winds pounding the coastline. It looks like a white out from my windows. Winds here about 20 and there are places that have little snow and other places that have huge amounts. 20 inches at 6 am here. Reports of nearby thunder. The snow piled in front of our cars will be a total barrier to getting out any time soon. Wish I had a shovel robot for tomorrow. Expect snow to continue until tonight. Some reports of sleet mixed with snow. Everything closed as expected. This is a very intense storm.

Not sure if I will get outside for photos. Even my balcony is covered with snow which is a first.

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

It might be a bit late to mention it now but park your car so that it is facing into the anticipated wind direction. That way the aerodynamics will blow the snow over the car. Park it with it's back to the wind and you get an engine bay full of snow. And don't forget to shut the sunroof.
You probably knew this anyway. :th_smile:

[spiritbird]

I did just step out on balcony and got one photo at 6 am. Its still dark.

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[spiritbird]

7:20 am and a little more daylight now 3600

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

It looks like a good day for staying in doors*

*Does not include children :th_smile:

[kendrafitz]

Just saw this and it made me laugh. Thought anyone stuck inside today might get a chuckle out of the differences in the way we deal with snow.

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[kendrafitz]

On a more serious note, I think I am going to have to call a snow removal company. I asked Jef to make sure the snow blower was working two days ago. He looked at me like I was a loon and said I'll try it out when I need to use it. Well, he tried to turn it on and shock of all shocks, it is not working. Murphys Law. So he is out shoveling. He has a bad back, so I am not sure how long that will last. We have a bunch of snow removal guys around so it shouldn't be a big deal. Our neighbors have snow blowers as well so they will probably do our sidewalks. Maybe if they see him shoveling they will take pity on him and help with the driveway. After teasing him about his broken snowblower that is. ;)

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

We're excused clearing paths in England. Health and Safety says that more people have heart attacks clearing snow than fall over and hurt themselves on uncleared paths (or something). :th_smile:

[spiritbird]

The men gave up trying to shovel and clear out local roads around the apartments. Its just too much to deal with. Snow is up to first floor windows, only hummers can get around now. Amazingly there is only 5 thousand power outs in the whole state. 25 inches is the estimate on the ground now. I am totally amazed at the fact that power is still on for us. Ocean city Md. is flooding right now. Mayor says "its like a hurricane". Cannot send any text now, says service not available. Will keep updating if I can. This is a monster. All I can see of my car is the side door mirror.

[kendrafitz]

Wow, Dianne! You are getting slammed!!

JP - that is a great idea and so true. Does the town clean the sidewalks or do they stay snow covered?

Our across the street neighbor did the sidewalks. Yay!! He and Jef are cleaning up the walk and driveway next door. Our neighbors sold their house - closing is Monday. They moved out yesterday due to storm. Since no one is here, the guys are clearing it for the new neighbors. :)

[spiritbird]

Should let up tonight. We are all seniors but still have to clear cars somehow.

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

Kendra: The council sends out the gritter lorries (trucks) which spread a salt/grit mix everywhere. Steep hills have permanent grit bins by the roadside for diy application.
We don't get much snow so are usually caught on the hop when it does happen.
What good neighbours you are.
Dianne: did the workmen stop clearing about the same time as the pub opened? :th_smile:
Have a couple of pics from last time the snow lasted long enough for me to get the camera out (2012)
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Front door of Casper's Cottage
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Our house is behind the tree on the left. It is called the WI tree because it was planted "by" the Women's Institute. The roots are causing problems with the drains as It is in the middle of what used to be a side road before it was diverted which was good for us.

[spiritbird]

How old is the house?

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

The front part is estimated to be 1715 to 1730 from the reigns of Queen Anne or George the 1st. I think it was built abutting an earlier erection at the rear which is now our kitchen and dining room. The back part has very low ceilings, just over six foot. One of the ceiling beams is the front part is pine and when I looked at a piece of it under a microscope I found it was an American species. It must have been part of a return cargo for an early settlers transport. From Victorian times to the early 1950s Spring Cottage and Spring House, a later Georgian house which was built attached to one end of SC were combined to make a children's home. When it closed down and the properties were sold a lady bought it and sold the parts she didn't need to her friend. They did this in a totally random fashion so we have rooms going over the top of SH at the front and they have a room over the top of us at the back. Fortunately we get on well with our neighbours and share relevant maintenance costs. Some parts of the house are a bit baffling, like why is there wallpaper on the wall under the floorboards in the bedroom above the living room. And there was a staircase in one corner of the house that you can identify because of the cutouts in the floor joists. Was that just the servants stairs or was it the only staircase and is the present one a more recent addition?
The beams in the wall between the master bedroom and the en-suite bathroom which is in a side attic over the dining room appear to be old ships timbers so that would date that part of the house as Elizabethan (1485-1603) because it was illegal then to use new timber in house building, all that timber had to go to the navy for ship-building (England was at war with Spain). Houses from that period are identifiable by their old ships timbers. However they may be Jacobean (1603-1625) a time that was infamous for a lot of houses being built with any cheap reclaimed timber that could be found, often in a rather shoddy manor so that many buildings have not survived.
When we moved into the house in the early 1970s Margaret was surprised at how many older people she met in the village who asked her where she lived used to say "oh, I lived in that house". All became clear when we found out about the children's home.
This rather full answer is because I know I have a captive audience, what with you all being trapped indoors by the snow. Stay warm. :th_smile:

[spiritbird]

Wow that sounds like a house that should be in a documentary so we can see it with all the history. Wonder how many families have lived there? Any ghosts?

[kendrafitz]

That is a very cool history of your house. Some of it is hard for me to picture. It's incredible how far it dates back.

Still snowing here and should go until early tomorrow morning. Not sure what the accumulations are. The shore area is getting flooding reported to be worse than Hurricane Sandy. Feel terribly for the people there.

Here is a pic of our backyard.
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[Casper's 2nd best friend]

Here is an aerial photo of the village, we are at the bottom towards the right, you can only just see the roof of our house which is to the right of the oast houses barn, and in front of the big building which was a brewery maltings and is now residential apartments.
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If you look closely their is a bowls match going on on that square of grass lower mid left. I think that is quaint too.

This is the front of the house (again from 2012)
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[spiritbird]

Buried Autos to be dug out:

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[Casper's 2nd best friend]

How beautifully sculptured the drifts are. I'd leave them there until the thaw.
Spring House may have a ghost, the lady next door recons she has seen the ghost of a small child which would fit in with the children's home scenario.
Casper is not a ghost and is sometimes not friendly. :th_smile:

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

BBC asks why do so many people die shovelling snow? [Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]

Kendra tell Jef to put his feet up, exercise is bad for you. Fact. :th_smile:

[spiritbird]

Now is the time when I wish there was a strong young man around. I have the shovel!

[spiritbird]

Went out to look at my car. Can't even get near the door and snow up to my hips. Come on JULY!

[PlaxMacaws]

Went out to look at my car. Can't even get near the door and snow up to my hips. Come on JULY!Wow, Dianne! Being stranded like that is not pleasant at all :(. Hopefully your excessive snow will depart far sooner than July.

[spiritbird]

I saw 2 kids digging out cars in our lot. They were earning money for scouts they said. Nice kids too. Guess what? I can now see my car and even drive but don't want to give up the space yet.

[PlaxMacaws]

BBC asks why do so many people die shovelling snow? [Users must be registered and logged in to view attached photos or hyperlinks]

Kendra tell Jef to put his feet up, exercise is bad for you. Fact. :th_smile:So does this mean that those of us who do upper body workouts are more, or less likely to drop dead from a sudden heart attack? I can see that an argument might be posed either way. Those who workout regularly probably have better circulation, stronger hearts, and presumably less excess body weight than they might otherwise. And one would think that those who do regular upper body workouts would develop physical status that may more easily endure harsh arm work. But if "arm work" is the most taxing exercise of all, it begs the question as to whether those who do a lot of it during workout sets are more vulnerable to sudden death as a result :indecisiveness:. Either way, as the cardiologist points out, I'm sure that blood vessels contracting from cold temps is a significant factor.

Now I have something to ponder as I'm doing my workout sets... gee thanks, Jean-Pierre :grief: ;)

[Lady]

I love the look and smell of snow, shoveling not so much!

[Casper's 2nd best friend]

I'd give the snow a week, and then, only then, start clearing if it hasn't melted away. After all, it looks much prettier untrampled.

Tony I should imagine it is something to do with unfit people taking all that cold air down into their lungs whilst doing strenuous exercise. Or just unfit people doing strenuous exercise. :th_smile:

[spiritbird]

OMG I was so sore last night from shoveling. You use muscles that normally are not used.

Here is a cute blizzard photo someone else took. I call it "Who left the windows open?"

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[PlaxMacaws]

Tony I should imagine it is something to do with unfit people taking all that cold air down into their lungs whilst doing strenuous exercise. Or just unfit people doing strenuous exercise. :th_smile:You're probably correct :)

[Albert]

26" here on Long Island, NY. Took Salty out and let him play in the snow.... JUST KIDDING. But our Cairne terrier Tinker hates snow, 'specially when its like a foot and ahalf over her head. She just dissappears when we toss her outside to go, and kinda jumps up occassionally to see where the house is. Very funny, shoulda taken some videos. Oh well, next blizzard ... not! If i never see this much snow again, thats fine with me.