Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: Jan 18-24, 2026

SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

TB Fanatic
summerthyme said:
Don't get complacent yet! I hope you're right, but the animated forecasts Millwright keeps posting shows ice increasing until Tuesday!

Summerthyme
Click to expand...

I'm not a weather forecaster, but I think what is happening is they are reading the amount of moisture in the upper atmosphere along with the cold temps, and basing their forecast on that. They don't realize that the moisture isn't reaching the ground. In our situation, radar isn't showing reality.
 
W

WanderLore

Veteran Member
That's okay I was hoping for the Saran wrap too. It's fine I got it all fixed.
Sheree, do you have a cooler and put on the porch for the food? Mayonnaise butter mustard doesn't need refrigerated. Which I'm sure you know. I don't think this weather is over yet I have to keep watching.
It has warmed up to 5°, which is way better because I think it got negative 11 or something last night crazy
 
H

hd5574

Veteran Member
We have a dishwasher...the kitchen is the weakest point in our house for water to freeze..DH is a very early riser...in the still dark dark dark brr of the morning (me not so much)...so I set the dishwasher up for him to push the button...he does this and also sets up an extended dry cycle on it...this way during the very coldest part of the early morning..we have an extended period of moving water ...and heat dry...we also have a ceramic space heater to aim under the kitchen sink if needed...and if need be and a small buddy heater for that area...

in the crawl space under the house we have a rough duty bulb in a hanging trouble light holder and heat tape on the pipes...DH has super insulated the entrance to the crawl space...we have been here about 26 years and had problems there in the past

We have a block well house with huge old bricked hand dug well...36"...it is well insulated...and our water bladder and such for our current well are housed in there.....normally we just just use an outdoor bulb in a trouble light...but also have another ceramic space heater..and another small buddy heater as backup..

The bathrooms up stairs are adjoining with a door between the two...we have flat wall heaters in both..electric of course...also have small electrical ceramic space heaters...and the baby buddy propane heater as the last resort..
We were in the 7 to 9 degree for hours this morning..not as cold as some here but really cold for central Virginia...

Nothing is falling here until later today....we have made it into the low to mid 20s now..DH brought up another cord of wood near the house..covered with a tarp..and has filled the two wood rings near the back door...

I have meals that cook in the oven planned for the coldest nights..we have a non electric Brown propane stove ...and will make a pot of cajun big lima bean and ham soup...to add heat and moisture to the house and heat to us...plus roast beef and corned beef to make hot Reuben sandwiches...also have all the makings for the Disney grilled cheese sandwiches with hot creamy 'mater soup..also grabbed some Pepperidge Farm turn overs..for quick burst of heat in the kitchen.... plus a yum treat...

We are not predicted to get above freezing until February 3...and then just here and there....Yukon

We do have an Ecoflow back up battery system. A very large one that can pull water from the well..I can run most everything except the electric clothes dryer...but have drying racks to put near the woodstove if needed....if we have rolling black outs we can recharge it when the power comes back on with cool electricity....or if loss of power with one of our gas generators...or from our solar panels...if the sun cooperates...

We also have down for us and the beds also....and L.L. Bean....riverdriver shirts..wonderful base layer...cotton by the skin wool on top..expensive but worth every penny

Praying everyone stays out of harm's way...
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

TB Fanatic
WanderLore said:
That's okay I was hoping for the Saran wrap too. It's fine I got it all fixed.
Sheree, do you have a cooler and put on the porch for the food? Mayonnaise butter mustard doesn't need refrigerated. Which I'm sure you know. I don't think this weather is over yet I have to keep watching.
It has warmed up to 5°, which is way better because I think it got negative 11 or something last night crazy
Click to expand...

As of right now, I don't think we have to worry about losing power. Our radar is showing that we should be getting heavy snow right now, but nothing is falling. That could change later on, but I will believe it when I see it.

You're right, though, about the mayo, mustard, and butter. I was thinking more about the sandwich meats and cheeses.

ps. My chicken noodle soup sure has smelled good simmering all day on the wood stove! I'll make grilled ham and cheese sandwiches to go with it, later.
 
Last edited:
M

moldy

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Struggling through some computer stuff (trying to design a trifold brochure for my business on Canva) today. DH doesn't have to go in this evening. It's actually clear here, but really cold. Made a chocolate cake and taco soup is simmering on the woodstove.
 
W

Wildwood

Veteran Member
We are eating well and waiting for the next and last round. It's looking like freezing rain but my thought is, it's not a done deal. So far we've dodged most all of it and so thankful for that. We have about five inches of snow. I bet there haven't been more than a half dozen vehicles drive by all day.

It sounds like we might get some freezing rain tonight and then it's done...praying we keep our electric and everyone stays safe.
 
SouthernBreeze

SouthernBreeze

TB Fanatic
Well, it's finally raining, at least. Temp is 29 degrees. As the temp falls, it will be freezing rain.


Our chicken noodle soup and grilled ham and cheese sandwiches sure hit the spot. I just finished cleaning up the dishes and kitchen. We skipped lunch, so it was an early supper. We have fruit to eat if we need a snack, before bed.

We will have to wait till tonight and tomorrow morning to see how it goes.
 
feralferret

feralferret

Veteran Member
Going to fix a big bowl of rice with gravy on it for supper. I love the heat and eat pouches of rice from Dollar tree. A $1.25 for a big pouch of jasmine rice ready to eat in 90 seconds. Gravy is McCormick ready to heat and eat in a 12 oz carton. I will get a couple of meals from the gravy. It has to be used within five days of opening so I can use it with canned chicken or some chicken nuggets in the next couple of days.

Not a lot of snow here yet. What we have is a dry powdery snow so easy to clear. Looks like we dodged the bullet. I shouldn't have much trouble getting to my medical appointment Monday morning.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top