Oh, JanRN and GG the memories you stories bring to mind of my childhood...all the snow and below zero temperatures...feather tick mattresses and wool pieced quilts. Bank the wood stoves, later coal stoves, and jump into that feather tick mattress and snuggle down into its warmth. See your breathe inside the next morning and scrap the frost off of the inside of the window. Had to clean the soot out of the stove every so often so it would 'breathe' better and cook better. Warm water in the reserve by the side of the cook stove. Before electric service was available.
Snow was fun in childhood; card games and puzzles and dominoes inside. Carry in water and wood (or coal) and carry out ashes...down the beaten path for relief!! Not so great when I worked on the jobs; but fun again since we are retired. Love your house, JanRN, beautiful in the snow, looking like quilting time!!
Still have one old warm wool quilt with wool batting...from childhood. No feather ticks though. Air mattress instead.