If the Weather outside is frightful…

It is that time of year again. The weather can do some crazy things, and that’s even more true if you live in an area that is prone to drastic weather changes. We actually have days here that may be sunny and a nice, warm 75 degrees but drop more than 40-50 degrees by late that night. That’s a big difference in a 24 hour period! Sometimes, it’s even more extreme. Have you ever had the air conditioning on during the day and the heat running at night? I try to avoid such uses of energy, but there have been … Continue reading

Winterizing Tips: Indoors

With winter winds beginning to blow (or coming soon), these winterizing tips may come in handy. Clear the Clothes Dryer Now is a good time to replace your clothes dryer vent or at the very least, make sure it is obstruction free. By checking or replacing your vent hose at the same time you winterize (doing such things at the same time each year), you will develop a good habit. This is one of the best ways to ensure that such things don’t get overlooked. Get the Fireplace ready for Santa If you have a fireplace, it’s a good idea … Continue reading

Home Week in Review: February 4 – 10

I hope everybody is healthy, safe, and warm. This can be a rough time of year and we have some tips for you on those issues this week. This week’s review begins with an article about phoning home and ends with one about vintage looks. There is a lot of other stuff in between those two, and Marjorie, Michele, and I try to keep the Home Blog updated at least daily, if not a few times each day. If you didn’t have a chance to check all the topics out this week, you can check the list below to see … Continue reading

How NOT To Heat Your Home

Our local Dairy Queen was closed today. Not because it ran out of soft-serve. Rather, the electronic sign outside the establishment scrolled: “CLOSED due to EXTREME COLD!” Not something you see everyday. Then again, our below zero temperatures (way below—windchills here have been around 45 below zero) are not something you experience every day either. Less than two weeks ago my daughter and I were in Hawaii baking in 84 degree tropical weather. This morning we woke up in Wisconsin where the temperature was –10. (A difference of nearly 95 degrees… but who’s counting). The Dairy Queen, the YWCA, the … Continue reading

Dangerous Cold Snap

I heard a report yesterday that said some parts of Minnesota are experiencing temperatures as low as 40 below zero! That’s not the wind chill either, that’s the actual temperature. On the news, a reporter showed how the “egg trick” can also be done in cold weather. Normally, they crack an egg on pavement to show how hot it is outdoors. This time, they cracked an egg and it froze completely within about 2 minutes. That’s COLD! Chicago is also experiencing a serious cold snap, as are several other areas. If excessively cold weather has hit your area, please be … Continue reading

Caught off Guard: Winter Weather Tips

Have you ever been caught off guard by winter weather? If you live in a climate that is generally mild, you not be prepared for a serious cold snap. You could find yourself without water due to frozen pipes, and even worse, you could end up having to replace broken pipes due to freezing. Foam Pipe Wrap Foam pipe wrap is just a simple foam tube, split down one side, with adhesive to hold the edges together once it’s placed on the pipe. It’s easy to use and inexpensive, and it might just save you from dealing with frozen pipes … Continue reading