Hello, come in.. Put your boots on the melt tray and let me shake out your coats and such. Would you like a hot chocolate today? It just seems right for this first snow storm of the season to offer hot Chocolate, but if you prefer grab a cup of coffee or I can make a pot of tea?

Ps, that reminds me that I need to get my basket of washable floor slippers so that I have them ready for guests.

The first snow storm at the end of 2018 has arrived, we did not get much really, not sure what the fuss is about, its only four inches! with a bit more in drift here on the farm but I know they got a lot more in other areas and Its a Massive Storm that covered many states and province’s  in Canada.  They say that we are not done yet that more snow is on the way yet so maybe it will be more in the end.

I found it very interesting that “normally” we get 6 of these storms a year.. want to guess where we are at in 2018? 11 and counting..  and let me tell you if you live on the east coast of Canada, they are getting even more.. they are from what I can see averaging at least two a week for the past month at least.. never-ending storms.

While the cold has arrived here, I am watching and praying for those effected by the fires and I have not forgotten all those effected by the hurricanes. I am so sorry for those that have been effected including folks I have known online for years.  A dear friend of mine lost her home in the “camp fire”..  I am so sorry.

You have heard me blog before about the damage done with now confirmed Six tornado’s touched down in the Ottawa valley and across into the Quebec side of the Ottawa city area.

Katrina made this video public and I think its very important to put a real voice and face to some of the things I was talking about in terms of finding ways to help folks. I am glad they reached their fund-raising goal and that they are getting help but I also want you to here in her own words just how many more little things there are.. how the system is set up for a bleeding out on a thousands tiny cuts.

I was watching the news last night and they had a number of owners from this “weather event” talking about the coming cold, the coming snow.. the fact that they still have holes in roofs, holes in walls and more. That if they can not get things at least patched, they will be forced to move out of their home due to the cold.

I agree, a blue tarp will not keep out the cold/snow.. and in many case’s they are not allowed to even try to fix it in a more temp way as they are waiting for insurance to do so, or in the case of some of the folks, they are waiting on land lords, who are waiting on insurance and contractors.  It was talked about  and I agree.. those with the skills are working full-time and more if they want to be.. they are working!

I am honestly worried at the amount of folks I am hearing about that are going into a Canadian winter in holiday trailers or campers. It can be done, I know this. But honestly a small wood cabin with a wood stove would be better than a camper in many ways but that is a lot harder to come by close enough to drive to work or where the rebuilds will be done.

I have to admit that I am also surprised at how many folks say, we will rebuild. I say this because of the Fort Mac Fire. I know that a lot of folks never came back, I would like to know the data on this. If you are a home owner or land owner, what percent rebuilds and what percent of renters stay or move.  I wonder if there is a difference.

In the case of Fort Mac if you believe the news about 25% of them do did not go back, they found new jobs, new homes, new places to settle and they were talking in the news that two years later some people are still waiting on their rebuilds.

Which bring me to the question, are those rebuilding, building with an eye to climate change? I know that most folks having lost their home, do not want to have a eye on what could come.. they are in the moment, in the now!

BUT whatever you want to call it.. climate change, climate instability  or use whatever words you want.. it’s here.. it’s not coming guys.. it’s here..    Everyone wants to point at the big things and they are there.. happening world wide.

The truth is for most of us, it will be the little things. So many little things that change

This snow is a month early.. four weeks of our extended fall, gone.. Four weeks of our extended uncover grow season.. gone. Four weeks that normally prime butchering time.

I know, we need to be able to enjoy the small things, we need to love our families and friends, and we did joy in our lives..

I mean Christmas is coming.. and one of the points of why pagan tradition started was to give thanks, spend time with family and friends in a joyful way as you put the growing/harvest season to bed and feasted on the things that would not hold all winter but which where plentiful at that time.

However! They knew that hard times where coming, winter was hard time and expect it will this year for many folks across the world and in many ways the same was then..  Proper shelter, Warmth, Enjoy Food/Water and Illness.

So lets not close our eyes and lets not panic.. Both of them do same thing.. they freeze us.. they hold a person in place..

I say..

Keep them open.. see the big picture (you don’t need to stare it down, just know its there  and willing to keep open mind about it)

And go into it with them wide open and willing to change and learn and flex and Adapt!

So my challenge this week is work on something that needs to be done to help combat the cold.  We have been working on this for the past weeks. It would be nice to tell you that we got it all done ahead of time but life is busy and the farm is busy and there is always a list waiting to be done and juggle.. throw in sickness and hubby working major overtime and the juggle gets harder.

So here we are, needing to still things..

• We will get a new liner on the door to prevent drafting
• We will get plastic up on the outside of some of the outbuildings to help prevent drafts in buildings while still allow light in (we do this every year) but I want to a touch this year
• We will do the inner plastic in the house on at least one or two windows that are not as sealed as they should be.
• we will run a test on power back and confirm that its working correctly and use it for a day

I will keep you posted on how it goes!

So I will give it over to you dear readers.. what is one thing you can do this week that helps you with something weather related in your home? Be it an apartment, or condo, be it in the city or country..

What is one area you would like to improve on? can you work on it, or it to big or to late in the season? if so, is there something smaller that you can work on?