Derek Thille

Douglas Alpenstock wrote:

Derek Thille wrote:True enough, but we are both in an area that regularly experiences winter, so those items are available.  I was thinking back to the original question for those who may be in an area where snowy weather is less of a predictable occurrence, so there may not be the abundance you have available.

Cheers neighbour! Good point! Here's a thought -- I rarely have a full snow shovel in my car. Instead I always have a garden spade (not a shovel) with a sharp bevel. This is the do-everything tool, from moving snow and chopping ice, to moving wood chips and compost, to digging trees and chopping down weeds/saplings. In my world, it does all of these things. I suppose it could even be the basis of a few Klingon self-defence moves, at the risk of straining something.

ROFLMAO...a bat'leth it is not.  Let's hope you don't piss off any Klingons.

For the vehicles, I generally use a small square shovel with a D handle so they're short enough to fit in the various vehicle configurations (I used to have a bigger one in the back of the pickup, but the handle died).  She Who Must Be Obeyed purchased one of those three-way folding spades...darn near useless as far as I'm concerned, but it doesn't take much space and would be much more effective than a scraper should one find themselves in a snowbank.

Douglas Alpenstock wrote:

Derek Thille wrote:Another thing to consider is seasonality of supply availability.  By that I mean the season snow shovels are available ...  

Depends on your supply source. It helps to be a contrarian -- in late spring/ early summer, during garage-clean-out season, I have my pick of free snow shovels that have a ding or two and need my attention for about 5 minutes. When I look at what big box stores charge for a hunk of plastic on a stick, I'm pretty sure I make more than a lawyer.

True enough, but we are both in an area that regularly experiences winter, so those items are available.  I was thinking back to the original question for those who may be in an area where snowy weather is less of a predictable occurrence, so there may not be the abundance you have available.

I'm not sure I really have anything of value to add, but here's a few thoughts.

Our biggest limitation is probably our kitchen design...four doors off a roughly square room means it isn't a good space to get anything done, especially if one is not doing a good job of policing their workspace (i.e. cleaning up, doing dishes as they're made, etc).  It just turns out we don't have much counter space which makes things a bit more difficult.  We do wind up using the dining room table at times.

That said, our adult daughter made 4 sourdough loaves one day recently...it's helpful that a cooler on the back porch these days is extra freezer space.

I had actually signed up for a sourdough course some time since the lockdowns began.  She Who Must Be Obeyed and I, along with our daughter, took most of it in.  This was one of those folks who weighs everything and was very precise.  Yet, she'd be weighing water without thinking (1 ml of water has a mass of 1 g...so if you need 100 grams of water, it's 100 ml...you don't need to slowly drip from a container - just measure about how much you need by volume, then you can fine-tune with the scale if you'd like).  She used a stiff starter, which she raved about, but we struggled with a bit.  After we got started with it, over time we adjusted what we did and got a bit less finicky.  At least it was a starting point for us.  She Who Must Be Obeyed wound up getting some starter from one of her colleagues and that worked better for us.  This course did give us some nice recipes, including some based on discard.

We follow a YouTube channel from Azerbaijan.  It's such a change of pace when the grandmother is baking - I don't think we've ever seen her measure anything.  She bakes yeast-based breads, of quite a variety, and typically in a wood-fired environment.  You wonder if things are pre-measured without the camera around, but it certainly doesn't seem that way.  The other thing I take away from her baking and cooking is that, with all the animals around, they do fine...in an environment that would give a North American health inspector a heart attack.  On a side note, when we visited Peru was probably the first time I had such a thought about health inspectors.  At any rate, baking like this is a good reminder that our grandmothers and great-grandmothers certainly didn't have the digital scales we use today attempting to be so exacting.  My father was one of seven - he'd said my grandmother baked bread daily.  She passed away when I was about 3, but my vague recollection was that every time we stopped by (same small town), there were always cookies.

In line with Dale's comment, decades ago when I left home, I wound up with the "Cookbook for College Kids" - I don't recall bread being in there, but there was some baking.  It was done in a style to make things in the kitchen simpler, especially for those who may not have had an example that helped them get a start.  Aside from learning stuff growing up, I worked part-time at the local bakery for three years in high school, so I did manage to pick up a few things.

Duncan - I feel for you.  I have striven to cut back on baked goods.  We aren't in any sort of a strict diet, but I take solace in the statement that sourdough is better for you.  I don't know if that's just a line, but it makes me feel better.  In my health journey that I started nearly 4 years and 30 odd pounds ago, I've come to believe that it's more about real food that is ideally chemical free and as close to origin as possible (that is, I'd rather have cheese that doesn't list a bunch of extra ingredients when you know it comes from a bacterial process with milk).  I've also come to believe that bio-individuality is why there can be so many different diets that are backed by medical professionals that show positive results for people, even when they're opposite.  Now to get off that tangent.

As others have noted, I think there needs to be some acknowledgement about the variations that climate can have - temperature, humidity, elevation (related to air pressure I believe) and so forth.  Baking in Denver isn't the same as baking in New Orleans.  If people can be armed with some of the rules of thumb (i.e. for this much elevation, add/remove this much of X).

I'd also enjoy seeing a discussion of flours and the properties thereof as well as different types of grains and the impact that can have on your baking.  As has been noted by others, we try to use more whole wheat flour, but it's a bit challenging getting it right.

I'd also like to see variations...things you can try...make it fun...do something out of the ordinary.

Now that I've blathered on too long I should shut down.  I'm not the primary baker in our household, but I do some.

Another thing to consider is seasonality of supply availability.  By that I mean the season snow shovels are available in the big box stores doesn't necessarily jive with when an area gets snow.  Many of them have those items in a "seasonal" area and around here, the shovels are gone and the lawn mowers and such are on display well before the snow is melted (similar to trying to find summer clothing at the end of summer...shorts are replaced with parkas on display when you don't want to even be thinking about cooler weather.

I forget if it was spring or fall a while ago, but I was looking for something late season...according to the web site, the Canadian Tire store I checked had stock so I went there to find the display area had moved on a season...the staff told me that the store stock listed would be in the back warehouse, and they couldn't be depended upon to find what I was after...sigh.

So, I guess the lesson is that if you think you may want a snow shovel in the northern hemisphere, get it now (January) because if you wait a month, they may be tough to find.  Alternatively, you could set yourself a reminder to check around September for next winter.

It seems I'm always wanting oddball things...sigh.  Oh, hey, look, it's up to -29C in mid-afternoon (-20F).  This too shall pass....

It's taken me a while to get through this thread since it was in the dailyish a while ago.

Lot's of good information here.

My preference is for steel shovels.  I know they weigh more, but they get the job done and don't break down.  Aluminum scoops are for grain not snow (trust me, a good way to ruin the edge of a shovel).  Plastic is, well, plastic.  I have an aversion in the first place, but we also occasionally get cold enough that some plastics self-destruct if you look at them the wrong way, let alone try to do something useful with them.

I like to go with the Scouts motto I grew up with - "Be Prepared".  That's easier said than done, especially in places where winter weather is an atypical event.  At least for those in Canada, there may be a chain store where you can order an item for in store delivery when you find something you like (a particular shovel / tool / etc).

If you don't have to, don't go out.  I think that's the most common sense thing.  Of course, for those with animals, that may not be possible.  If you do have animals though and are rebuilding, perhaps you want to look at the concept of the house-barn - see Photos from Neubergthal here.  I believe there's an example at the Mennonite Heritage Village in Steinbach, Manitoba as well.  Animals and humans in adjacent spaces helping to insulate and heat each other while also having a pass-through for humans to be able to do chores.

I won't add much to the driving theme, but growing up (I'm the son of a Saskatchewan farmer) we always had two-wheel-drive pickups.  As Douglas noted recently, weight in the bed is very helpful.  Keeping a shovel in the truck is part of being prepared.  I recall one year out hunting - at the time we had a 1984 or '85 Ford Ranger with 5-speed.  The little-used road we were on did have tracks, but all from full-size trucks which were wider.  Dad noticed he was having some challenges, so we wound up shovelling snow into the back as weight.  A very permie thing to do - the problem is the solution.

Another amusing memory - a company I used to be involved with had it's head office in the Atlanta area.  You could always tell when they got snow as we got an email that head office was closed and HO staff would be working from home on a best efforts basis.  Email worked OK if you knew who you wanted to get a hold of, but the general phone lines were tougher to get through.

Depending on conditions, something like Icer's or other strap-on studs for your feet can help.  I find they work best when there is some level of snow that can compress (for the Icer's I have - the others that are more of a spike may work better on ice).  When it's hard ice I find what I have doesn't work as well.  I did replace the studs last winter I think and got a spare set as well...when those run out I may look to other options.

I'm a Canadian prairie boy and I think many of us take a perverse pride at how we can handle the cold.  We went to Terrace, BC one year to the in-laws for Christmas and I brought my skis.  I was incredulous when, at about -20C, I was told to call the ski hill to ensure they were open because of the cold.  In central SK, there wasn't much in the way of hills, but I do recall going to Table Mountain near North Battleford at -30C.  One reality about the cold is that you can dress for it.  Layer up.  Wind chill is a rate of cooling and the pseudo-equivalent reported by the bubble-headed weather reporters is really only relevant to exposed skin.  If you're covered up, the wind chill factor (which removes a very thin layer of air next to your skin that you've warmed up) is largely irrelevant.  In my third year of university in Saskatoon (1989-90), I walked from Sutherland to the engineering building.  That was before it was built up like it is today and a portion was university fields for the department of agriculture...layers, especially with a wind-resistant outer layer made it very manageable.

That said, it is a dry cold - that means we don't get as much precipitation as some cooler, more humid areas do.

Just for kicks, I'll attach images of local temperatures I took after getting back from this morning's dog walk.

I really hope it isn't just me and Weird Al Yankovic who modify lyrics of popular songs.

As background, Phoenix and I have a routine of going for a walk every morning...it is one of the few times he gets impatient with me and whimpers.  So, to the tune of "Daydream Believer", written by John Stewart and first recorded by The Monkees:

Hush now, whiney poo
Oh what can I do
With an impatient poodle
Who wants to walk* in the snoo**

* walk/run/play/romp - take your pick
** stylized rendition of the word snow...to call it artistic license would imply some level of artistry

Are there others here who modify lyrics to their lives?

I don't think I've posted here, so here goes.

Phoenix is a red standard poodle, about 3.5 years old.  He's a bit of a clown, but loves getting cuddles.  We got him as we were grieving the passing of Clover, our first standard poodle (we wound up with her littermate Blackjack as well for over a decade).  For whatever reason, I'd searched for poodle puppies after losing our girl and up popped a breeder in Miami (Manitoba that is) that had a few boys left that were 12 or so weeks old.  The day before we went to take a look, one of the apricot boys was spoken for, so we were down to a choice of two.  She Who Must Be Obeyed wanted the red, who has faded considerably.  The amusing thing is that his last remaining brother wound up a few blocks from us and we see Calvin occasionally.  

Grooming leaves a lot to be desired, but he's my excuse to go out and walk an average of about 4.8 km each morning.

Of course, this morning at -28C he blew a boot a couple blocks from home, but he was fine.

He loves snow and it's hard to get him back inside the house in winter.  He really enjoys spending time at the acreage where he gets more freedom than in the city.  

I don't go into any real methods, but the thread (and some discussion of it) have led me to add some comments.

First, the medical professional in the house notes that taking external melatonin (like many other supplements) will lead to downregulation of natural internal production, so coming off it can lead to a period of adjustment.  That's why the medical community advocates use for things like jetlag to help you adjust to the different daylight cycle than your body is attuned to.  It is used in hospital - her explanation is that some patients insist on something to help them sleep and melatonin among the mildest things they have that can be used.  Of course, it makes sense that sleep would be disrupted when one has a medical issue and is in a different environment with noises / lights / odours / etc than we are used to.

I've gotten to a point of being frustrated with light.  The blue light produced by electronics (which includes LED lights) interferes with our brain's natural ability to slow down and get to a rest state to allow sleep.  I can't say that it has made a significant difference yet, but earlier this month I got new glasses and along with them, I got blue-blocking clip-ons that I wear most of the evening.  For those without prescription glasses, there are blue-blocking glasses available.  Part of my frustration includes the fact that all the street lights in our area have been downgraded to LED lights.  Yes, they use less electricity, but I doubt the city and utility have done an analysis on what impact it has.  Here in Winnipeg, walking the dog in the dark hours of day is almost like a bluish daylight with hard shadows abounding.  Grrrr....

Another thing to consider is bioindividuality.  I haven't gone deep on this concept but it makes sense to me that we are all different and react differently to situations / stimuli / nutrients / etc.  In my mind, it helps to explain why some folks do well on a vegan diet and improve their health while others do the same on a carnivore diet (and both have medical professionals backing them up, although they may just have some financial interest).  To me this explains why someone gets groggy with a particular input (say Gravol as an example) while others are completely unphased by it.

I forget all the details of the routine noted, but I recall one fellow talking about sleeping better by going to bed tired.  It sounds obvious, but he advocated significant exercise prior to going to bed to physically exhaust himself.

As we age, She Who Must Be Obeyed and I seem to be having more difficulty getting to sleep and staying there.  There have been some medical issues (and the associated medications / procedures) that have impacted that.  We are overdue for a new mattress...ideally we should get one so that we notice the other moving less.  One of my to do list items is to address the aforementioned LED streetlights streaming into our bedroom with more appropriate window coverings.  One challenge is settling brains...I think I finally have it through to her to not bring up something big / deep with me before bed if possible.  

I think there's a lot in this thread that makes sense...to address an issue, it is better to get to a root cause and work on improving that than simply looking for the next thing to take that may help.

Oh, one thing that helped (probably both of us, but definitely her) was my weight loss.  I'm about 30 lbs lighter than I was in the spring of 2021 when I started addressing it.  I'm told I snore a lot less now...that probably implies I'm breathing better, but even with her hearing loss she notices the difference.

Thom Bri wrote:Trying to figure out how to get the grass under control given the rules.

Depending on the type of grass (e.g. sod versus wilder deeper-rooted varieties), one way to deal with it is to lift the sod, then if you turn it upside down (one your plot or in a compost pile or wherever), it generally dies.

I spent a summer as a landscape labourer decades ago.  If it was a small enough area, we did it with a square spade - pushed down to cut an edge, then get under the edge and dig nearly horizontally to lift the sod.  If it is the commonly used varieties for lawn grass, their roots aren't very deep and you wind up picking up a mat overall.  A sod cutter does much the same thing but uses a mechanized blade to go down as far as about 2" (the height is usually adjustable).  The first option would be labour intensive for a 200 sf plot.  The latter option could be cost-intensive (assuming renting a sod cutting machine) as well as using fuel.  There are manual sod cutters as well, but I have no experience with them - I know a rental place here offers them as well.

I intend to cut the plot outline by hand, then hopefully use my tractor's front end loader to lift the sod.  It's a trade-off, but I already own the tractor and would be a tremendous time and energy saver.

Well, we know base camp is well-suited to turkeys, so perhaps chickens will do OK.  That should be an interesting design process considering the predator (aerial as well as land-based) protection that will need to be built in.  

Here's hoping you get more BOOTs on the ground and the projects completed.