Another Reason to Make Warm Quilts
 

Remember reading about the deep freeze that set in between 1793-1830? Well, it looks like we might be in for another one! Time to break out the wool batting! Story here

I may have to rethink my Warm & White! :shock:

To think of even colder winters surviving in this ancient cottage does not make me happy!

I've been blessed to have made adaptations each winter to improve the chill I felt my first year here, but the place IS over 200 years old, after all, and is not known to have been built for 'tightness' or warmth to begin with. It was the kitchen, and that alone was supposed to have made it bearable, LOL!

Who in those days in the south cared much about the poor cook who apparently lived in the loft upstairs right under the un-insulated roof. I can only imagine how many "quilts" she must have slept on and under. And how many times she had to trek down the narrow, steep stairs at night to stoke the cook fires.:shock:

The wing I have as my bedroom was added much later, late 1980s, and is a DIY job at its most "minimal" skill level. The floor tilts at a noticeable level to the outside corner where I have my armoire against the wall. The closet backs to the front porch wall and is cold in the winter. No door, only a drape covers it. My feet freeze all winter so I am never without with socks AND shoes until the minute I put my feet under the covers in bed that I now first warm up with the electric blanket, gift from my sweet daughter. Getting up to tinkle is a real treat, LOL!

Nope, do not want to even think about the 'great minimum'. :(

Jan in VA -- wishing about moving to south Florida!!:D

Jan: you need to get busy and make large scrap utility quilts and cover all those outside walls!
Beauty and quilted insulation will really help!

I'll stay in Florida! You should hear us whine when we get two cold days together! I don't leave the house if it's less than 50 degrees!

Here in SC Texas what few cold days we get are a welcome break from the to hot long summers we get here. We know they will not last long. I make most of my quilts with a very thin batting or they are to hot to use.

Jan, I bet you have awesome views where you are!! I live in Central FL and it used to be when we first moved down we wouldn't golf with temps under 55 - 55 was sweatshirt weather in MI. Well now I need a sweatshirt at 75 degrees! NOT looking forward to any freezing temps!! AND we do get a few freezing temps some winters.

My husband read in the Farmers Almanac this morning that we are expected to a "bad" winter. No idea to the truth or validity of it.

As for the coming years ... I am FINALLY going to start making quilts for ME as soon as this baby quilt is done. People need to stop A) getting cancer (chemo quilts), B) getting married, C) buying homes, and D) having babies - because I've done nothing but GIFT quilts to others since I began quilting about 6 years ago.

note: the getting cancer needs to stop for all the other reasons as well!!

All mine are made to be extra toasty. If I am not totally cozy under a quilt I can't sleep.

For a little more insurance that I sleep well I have an electric blanket under my quilt.

Also, it doesn't take much to warm this house. It has 6" of insulation all the way around. The walls, ceiling and floors and storm windows.

Interesting note on the people whose website the OP linked to.
http://issuepedia.org/Space_and_Science_Research_Center

I think I will wait and see what happens!

Well, I think we will have a bit to wait ... although from the look of it, not too long. In the meanwhile, I'll get quilting!

I have several quilts here. I have a remote start truck with heated seats and 4 WD, I think I'm pretty much ready for cold weather.

Oh I love heated seats!!
We rented a car a couple years ago with heated seats.........I was in heaven!

Here in the UK we have had a run of bad winters, and have just had the worst summer on record so I am just finishing two quilts that will be added to my OWN collection so I have plenty to pile up on my bed to keep me and Muffin warm.

hmmm Global Warming ? don't get me started !LOL Read the farmer's almanac its more reliable than some think tank that is paid for its observations.
Just like mercury poisoning our streams from fishing etc.. what occurs naturally in nature ? Mercury ..

Oh well-let me getback to sewing !LOL

Our house is appx. 100 yr old Farm house w/70 pecan trees. My DH put a false wall outside the house with new hardy board siding so we should be nice and warm this winter. He built a frame and then put tarpaper inside each and insulation and then the siding. So for in our 105 deg. temp. and the dust storms and 70 mph winds we stay cool ; so we will see what the winter will bring. We found out the metal roof was not sealed and had it sealed to keep dust and wind out. (did not know about metal roofs). Our problem here is not being able to find anyone willing to work at anything. even offering high pay and working with them does not work.

By the way the ants here are building real high walls; and its 87 deg. currently. Not sure about this.

Interesting article . . . thank you for sharing!

Jan, I would love to see pictures of your cozy cottage. The idea of it being over 200 years old is intriguing.

I think I need to make more quilts. I have two on my bed already!

Last winter they predicted a harsher winter than the prior year ( the one with the really big storm) ... well I decided to go out and by a snow blower the be prepared ..guess what it was one of the mildest winters on record. So if you want a mild winter ... buy a snow blower.

Well, since you live near me....Thank you for buying your snow blower!
We found out the same thing a couple of years ago....when we bought our new snow blower....lol

Only 2! I have given up on ordinary bedding so my sheets have been used to back some quilts I won't use a duvet as I sweat too much when I am having a bad time and can't wash them so I have a large quilt underneath me, it makes the bed cosier as well, and I have one of top with another one folded in half to go over my cold feet! Then I have a stack on the Ottoman at the bottom of the bed to grab another one if I get cold, or Muffin has stolen one of my mine :)

Well, folks this old earth has been warming and cooling for centuries. We may be having climate change but I don't think it is man made. And the human population just keeps on multiplying. I don't think it has ever reduced it sized in history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_age

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...emperature.pnghttp://bits.wikimedia.org/static-1.2...gnify-clip.png
Shows the pattern of temperature and ice volume changes associated with recent glacials and interglacials

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...Change.svg.pnghttp://bits.wikimedia.org/static-1.2...gnify-clip.png
Sediment records showing the fluctuating sequences of glacials and interglacials during the last several million years.

For you, Karen, my cottage on the farm.
I WISH I had current pictures since I've been living in this darling place, but I just don't. So I'm showing you the drive and gate; the view of the "big house" -- my cottage is hidden behind it; the view from the rear porch of the "big house" -- same as that from my cottage window; the front view of the cottage; the living room/studio prior to my arrival. Where you see the siding is where the addition was added for kitchen/bedroom/bath.

The land is more rolling than it appears in these photos. The distance to the pond (green on the left off the back porch) is probably 1200 ft. Just off the view of the cottage, to the left outside the frame is the original wellhouse, still in use now as a storage house and haven for the kitties in the winter.

Jan in VA

Jan,

You certainly live in a beautiful area! Drove through there for the first time 2 years ago and was totally enamored by the beautiful vistas!

That same thought came to me as I was reading the article too, wondering if this would slow the Global Warming.

Jan,

truly lovely place, fabulous views and I bet that cottage is really homey now you have your things in it, thank you for sharing. I live in a modern house and although I dream about a cottage like yours I know I like my creature comforts too much to ever make the dream a reality.

Eileen

Speaking of deep freeze, my Mom (gonna be 96 in October) gave me the federbett (feather bed) that my grandmother made many, many years ago. It has been in an airtight freezer (not plugged in) for the past, at least, 50 years. It was made to fit on top of a double bed and talk about keeping warm for the winter, this is just perfect. We sleep with down blankets AND a homemade quilt (by moi) on top and I am thinking this would be super cozy. Also, and most important, my husband suffers from Peripheral Neuropathy, both legs and feet. He feels cold all the time, even though to me they feel nice and warm....not to him. 95 degrees outside and his feet and legs are cold to him. This was caused by a chemo cocktail called Vincristine from when he had Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. So I am thinking, how good are these feathers, should I hang it outside and let it flop in a good Minnesota breeze, should I take it to a drycleaner and let him clean it. I know I am going to make a duvet for it, maybe I will make some 9-patch blocks and use that for a duvet. I am just curious about what condition it is going to be in when I get it. Also, I have heard some places will retick pillows, but will not touch a federbett or a down comforter. One guy said it had something to do with the machine stitching the "boxes" with the sewing machine they use (which is probably like my Singer) and not a commercial machine. Someone also told me that feathers turn into powder after some years. I never heard that and I am not sure if he thought I was a dummy or something that he could sell me a new federbett. They are very very expensive - for the real thing! And Grandma's is the real thing. It is covered with ticking - no duvet on it. I remember it being the traditional blue and off white striped ticking.

So, anyone who could give me some ideas on this. I have washed our down comforters and they turned out beautifully, but these are not all down. They are feathers too. Big difference there. I am assuming they are goose feathers. My grandmother saved feathers also for future pillows, down comforters and the federbett.

Thanks in advance and have a good day. Have to mow the lawn today, pick up leaves, cut back lilies, and pull the impatiens. The mums are coming into full bloom now. I got my indoor plants in and have to start fall cleaning, get the windows washed and secure the house for the winter. Am in the throes of getting a garage sale going with my sister. We are getting rid of some of our stuff, her stuff and Mom's stuff. Which is how this whole federbett thing came up. Mom called and asked if I wanted them. Ohhhhh, Yesssss!!! Edie

We have to be ready for anything around here! It seems we set new records, high and low, everyday. Yesterday was a nice "fall like" temp of 96, lol.

Krystyna.....I am one that tends to read these type of reports and take them to heart.....the people around me, generally poke fun at me, but I tuck the info away and remember. I, too, think things have changed, weather a biggie. Not sure I can do much about it, but the food shortage definitely is happenening due to the changes. I am keeping this article. Thank you.

Jan your place sounds like Heaven to me. The floor may be crooked but from your discription your home is filled with good feelings. The pictures are stunning and you are blessed getting to live there! I agree with Susie up some of you quilts on the wall for insulation, wear your warm socks, knit some leg warmers and light that fireplace up! And keep on quilting. By the way I have found your input on this board to be very helpfu, thank you!

Jude,
You are so sweet. :) Thank you for the compliments.
Jan in VA

So would I

I agree with all jude by the sea has to say. Your home is delightful.

Your input on the board has been very helpful and insightful. Thank you.