What did you do in the garden today?

[WthrLady]

Well if you win the lottery you can afford the big Ryobi blower
https://ryobitools.com/products/details/46396046154

30 minute run time! Ha!

 

[TJAnonymous]

I'm getting ready to bundle up and start plowing the road, OC I need to get through the driveway first. 30 minute stints at a time before I come in and warm up and coconut oil up my face.
Currently -19'F with a chill of -44'F 1040am

Coconut oil? Does it help or prevent windburn? Curious why you do that

 

[TJAnonymous]

When it gets this cold outside, I'll use my snowmobile face mask when blowing out the driveway. That face mask only has an opening for the eyes. Keeps my face nice and warm.

I can't handle the extreme cold temps at my age compared to when I was much younger. I layer on the clothes. My biggest problem these days is that I get too hot under all those clothes, and by the time I am done with the driveway, my clothes are soaking with sweat under all those layers. I have to jump into a shower when I get back inside the house. But that is a lot better than getting cold.

For those living in southern states and don't quite understand how cold it can get, let me tell you that I have some working clothes for outside when the temp is at 30F, different gloves and clothes for 0F, and the extra heavy-duty mittens, face masks, scarfs, and coats for when we get those nasty -30F temperatures.

But, yeah, I'm not opposed to going into the house to warm up and going back outside later to finish the job if needed. No shame in that.

I grew up in northern Indiana and Michigan where "lake effect" brings a whole new meaning to winter....

And living in the South now, I still love looking at the snow. Online.

 

[WthrLady]

Coconut oil? Does it help or prevent windburn? Curious why you do that

OH sorry. I put it on AFTER getting windburn. It stops that insane, want to tear your flesh off, itching burning skin instantly.
I just put a tiny bit on like lotion and done.

Nothing commercial works like that.
In the 80s I used something similar called 'bear grease', you put it on before during and after skiing. Worked a dream. It was probably coconut oil. .LOL.

 

[WthrLady]

I grew up in northern Indiana and Michigan where "lake effect" brings a whole new meaning to winter....

And living in the South now, I still love looking at the snow. Online.

Ohio here, ya, lake effect is wild. One house gets 12 inches of snow, next door, literally, NOTHING. LOL.
We get lake effect here on a small scale with this massive lake in my backyard. The difference in snow between the lee of the lake and not can be several inches. The machine shuts off once the lake freezes over, which it has FINALLY done.

 

[Sally PB]

My house currently looks like a sporting goods store exploded. Outdoor gear laying everywhere drying and warming up.

There are 4 pairs of boots drying/warming by the wood stove. And 4 pairs of gloves. Coats are hanging off the backs of chairs, ditto with scarves and a pair of pants.

 

[TJAnonymous]

I wish my ducks would just stay inside their coop... They have no sense, I swear.

 

[gtaus]

Well if you win the lottery you can afford the big Ryobi blower
https://ryobitools.com/products/details/46396046154

Yeah, I am really thinking about getting a battery snow blower if/when the gas snow blower has to be replaced. Those battery snow blowers are getting better every year and the price, compared to a gas snow blower, is getting closer as well.

About 3 years ago, I talked the manager at our local Home Depot. He said he sold about 8 Ryobi single stage 40v snow blowers that year, and they all came back to the store. Just too underpowered for when people really need a snow blower around here. Since then, Ryboi has made a number of improvements and I believe the newer two stage snow blowers are up to the task.

Having said that, Home Depot no longer takes in Ryboi products for warranty work or repairs. That means, after the in store 90-day return period, you are on your own to get the item into a Ryobi repair shop. That will cost some money on a big, heavy, item like a snow blower for shipping. Nobody locally - that I know of - works on any of these battery machines, of any brand. At least not where I live.

Thinking about it, I might be better off getting another gas snow blower that I know can be fixed locally if/when it breaks down. I mean, how much can I complain about my old gas snow blower that has been in service for 20+ years?

Same consideration for anyone thinking of buying a battery tiller for the garden. The battery tillers have gone up in quality and performance, but what do you do if the machine needs to go into a shop for repairs? Nobody around here will touch battery machines. I hope that changes.

 

[gtaus]

And living in the South now, I still love looking at the snow. Online.

Yeah, I can understand that. The winters seem to get colder and longer each passing year. Might come a time to retire down south and not fight the cold of winter here in northern Minnesota.

FYI, we have our house inside thermometer set at 63F, which will be about 100F warmer than outside temps tonight! Expect to see wind chills at about -40F tonight.

 

[CNJ]

I am just wondering if anyone else owns a Breville Smart Oven? Anyway, this may apply to other types of toaster ovens, so I will share it.

I notice that each rack level has two words (Roast, Bake) with a line indicator on different levels on the left side of the oven glass door. I always kept my wire rack one way; I did not know that if I flipped it over it would be higher and align with the word (Pizza) on top.
I was wondering why the bottom of my pizza would have burn spots on them, so I never use the Pizza rack position. I will try it today at 400F for 10 minutes and see how it turns out.

By the way that pizza sauce the chef shared on You Tube taste excellent. I skinned and pureed 2 ripe Hossinater tomatoes (14oz) and cooked it to thicken with fresh garlic, and fresh oregano leaves from my garden. Furthermore, I used 1/2tsp salt and 1/4tsp sugar and after reducing the sauce it was mildly salty, but I plan to put some fresh pieces of tomato on it, so it should balance after cooking.


I found a young eggplant and will use it as a topping. I soaked it in a salt brine, par boiled and stored it in olive oil.