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Post by 3piggles on Jan 1, 2018 15:21:13 GMT
Welcome to 2018, everyone. Our temp finally made it up to 0F, but the wind chill factor is -9. Still, warmer than when we got up this morning. We made it to midnight, so that's out of the way for another year, lol I hope this is the first day of a really great year, for everyone
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Post by Bean on Jan 2, 2018 9:05:14 GMT
Glad you're getting to thaw a little, provided you stay out of the wind anyway!
Here's hoping 2018 is a good one for us all!
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Post by 3piggles on Jan 2, 2018 13:38:43 GMT
Glad you're getting to thaw a little, provided you stay out of the wind anyway! Here's hoping 2018 is a good one for us all! Apparently it's going to be a veryshort thaw. That's -22F. My car won't start. Hubby had to repair his in this weather. Every time he opened the outside door. The storm door instantly iced up, so he couldn't close it all the way until he was finished. He got off to work about an hour late. Lebanon, NH is -24F, and their school are closed. Most of the other schools in NH are starting 2 hours late. Temps still heading for double digits, but I think it's going to take a while!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Jan 2, 2018 14:38:53 GMT
A Happy New Year to all my friends on here too, let us hope it will be a good one for all of us. It isn't particularly cold here, but windy and miserable.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Jan 2, 2018 16:08:31 GMT
We've made it up to 4F at 11 a.m., so we're getting there Not too much wind, so the Feels Like is 0F, so technically, we're on the plus side both ways. Bright sunshine, so that's a plus I hope the wind dies down, Jo.
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Post by Bean on Jan 3, 2018 11:15:34 GMT
Brrrr! We've had a storm passing overnight - it was very noisy, but no major damage around here thankfully. I think it'll remain windy for the rest of the day at least.
I'm waiting in for a new energy meter to be fitted this morning. As I was here, I rang up a local cleaning company for a quote to get our rug cleaned (we plan to hire one of those machines and do all the carpets at some point, but I really wanted the rug doing quickly as it was looking quite grubby). They'd just had a cancellation, so came round straight away and it was done within an hour or so of my phone call which was great. Luckily the meter man didn't show up while the carpet man was here as when he offered to clean the rug there and then, I'd forgotten the meter man would be switching the power off for a while!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Jan 3, 2018 15:46:00 GMT
It is still pretty breezy here Piggles love and last night we had thunder and lightning. Haha Bean hunni, I am glad it all turned out OK and there were no overlaps lol!
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Jan 3, 2018 16:18:58 GMT
Glad you got the carpets cleaned and the meter installed, without them crossing paths. That's something I would do, forget about one of them It's definitely not carpet cleaning weather, as we'd need to be able to open the windows, and let some fresh air in. Not happening for another few months When I got up this morning, there was a woodpecker at one of the suet feeders, and no other birds. I got my coffee and breakfast, and he still hadn't moved, and no other birds had come to the feeding station. So thinking he might be frozen or dead, I got into all of my outdoor clothes(it was -15F), found the slider door was frozen shut, so I had to go out the side door, and trudge around the house. I got almost to him, when he turned and looked at me, then flew away. At least I know he wasn't dead. I hope he found a warmer, sunny spot to sleep. As soon as he was gone, the other birds returned, and the feeding station has been busy ever since. Hubby got my car started last night. The battery couldn't start the car in -22F weather. Even when hubby got home last night, I had to really push on the storm door to get it open for him. The hinges are moving very slowly, and I can't get the side storm door to latch. It's letting enough cold air in that the frost has built up on the inside door frame! We're going to have to spray the hinges with WD40 or silicone, to keep them moving. There's even frost on the inside door handles. It's a bit chilly outside!
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Post by Bean on Jan 3, 2018 18:48:36 GMT
Ooh we didn't have a storm up my way, Jo - I do like a nice bit of lightning!
With the heating on and a dehumidifier, I don't think it'll take too long for the rug to dry, but I'll probably leave getting the rest of the carpets done until the weather's a bit better. Now I'm thinking by the time we've hired a machine, bought the solutions and taken a day doing it all, maybe we'd be better off getting this chap back instead! It's not much more expensive and using the machines is hard work on your back, right?!
Glad you got to see your woodpecker, 3piggles! And that your car started eventually. It sounds very cold there.
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Post by 3piggles on Jan 3, 2018 21:19:45 GMT
Those machines are bulky and heavy. You have to go to the rental place, bring it home, add the solution and water, hope you don't over wet the carpet, or you sucked up enough of the water so the carpet will dry quickly. Once that's all done, you have to empty and clean the machine, get it back into the car, back to the rental place. Time, fuel, rental costs. It might not be much less expensive, and if you can put a value on the time, fuel and the hassle of getting the machine in and out of the car, it might not be any less expensive than hiring the service.
The machine I have is more of a basic cleaner/stain remover, not as powerful as the big ones, and not as bulky or hard to handle. Still, will do a decent job, if not a great one. I think the main benefit to the big rental machines, or to having a company steam clean the carpets, it the amount of suction to pull the dirty water out of the carpet, before it dries.
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Post by Bean on Jan 4, 2018 9:13:00 GMT
We've borrowed a little carpet cleaner from the in-laws that does that sort of thing, but it's more like a regular dog on a lead vacuum - very light and easy to move around. It still does some good work (judging from the grotty water that comes out!), but is nowhere near as powerful as the industrial ones.
I find the big ones are far better at pulling the moisture out of the carpets too, so the drying time is a fraction of what it would be with a home machine. That makes a big difference as damp carpets pick up more grubbiness and you don't want to be hopping around on towels all day! The bit of carpet I got cleaned yesterday morning was totally dry by teatime.
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Post by 3piggles on Jan 4, 2018 19:12:03 GMT
We're getting some beautiful snow, big puffy flakes. Not snowman snow, but not heavy, either. We're also getting wind moving the snow all over, and making driving a bit treacherous. It only takes a few seconds of white out conditions to really create havoc. It 27F outside, though, so the frozen doors and windows have been opened! I have a Bissell Spot Bot, which is great for cleaning spots off carpets, should something get spilled. It's lite weight enough to position right where I need it. Before I got the bigger machine, I used that to clean the white edge of the living room carpet. Now, I'll use the bigger one, and do the whole carpet. The bigger one, which is like a regular vacuum, only with a water reservoir, is good for surface cleaning, but not for deep cleaning. The big vacuum-type machine did a much better job of sucking out the deep dirt, but it was big, bulky and getting too heavy for me to use. Ultimately, those steam cleaning companies, especially if they pretreat stains and really suck out the water, do the best job.
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Post by 3piggles on Jan 4, 2018 22:33:23 GMT
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Post by butterfly88 on Jan 5, 2018 0:05:27 GMT
Pretty pictures! There is snow here too.
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Post by Bean on Jan 5, 2018 9:11:40 GMT
Very pretty indeed! Hope you have plenty of food in (I see the birds are doing alright!).
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Post by jolovespiggies on Jan 5, 2018 16:01:07 GMT
We could do with someone to clean our big rug in the sitting room and also the sofa, both ours and Holly's. I miss carpet very much, it is so cosy. Thank you for the lovely pictures Piggles love, talk about a winter wonderland. We have had no snow here Butterfly hunni, but when I lived in the Midlands we had snow most years and when I lived in London. The birds look delighted don't they Bean sweetie? Plenty for them to get their little beaks around.
Hugs JO xx
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Post by 3piggles on Jan 5, 2018 20:06:52 GMT
The squirrels and Jays use the peanut feeder. Between the peanuts, sunflower seed, seed cakes and suet, everyone gets what they need We like to make sure they have enough to survive. We haven't had a large selection of birds. Blue Jays, Downey Woodpeckers, American Cardinals, Titmice and Juncos, along with our little squirrel buddies. We do get Starlings periodically. They've come in large flocks, but now seem to be in a small flock. They like the front yard feeding station. A Facebook friend posted a video her son took of the storm, from the top of the statue of liberty. Cool effects of the snow blowing across the water!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Jan 7, 2018 16:16:43 GMT
I can watch birdies in a garden all day, the way they behave towards each other fascinates me and I think they are so cute. It sounds as if everyone gets their fair share, which is always an issue when so many people come to feed lol! I would love to see that video; I know it gets really cold in New York but I believe very hot in summer.
Hugs Jo xx
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Post by 3piggles on Jan 8, 2018 1:58:29 GMT
If I knew how to share a Facebook video, I would, but I've tried before, with no luck.
Much warmer today. Temp got up to 14F, which after a high temp of 3F yesterday, it felt really good. The ice thawed on the slider, too, but I didn't get a chance to sop up the water. I need to do that, so it doesn't freeze shut again.
Hubby even got out to replace the light bulb in his taillight. It was warm enough to not have to wear gloves the whole time. Hard to handle a small light bulb, when you're wear thick gloves.
I got out to the supermarket, today, but between the perfume and the pushy shoppers, it wasn't for me. I was glad to get back to the car while hubby paid for the groceries. When he retires, and we can go shopping any time, not just on weekends, I'll go with him.
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Post by jolovespiggies on Jan 8, 2018 17:02:56 GMT
OK hunni, you sound just like me LOL! I am glad it is warmer for you sweetie, you have had quite a cold spell. Very cold here at the moment. I remember how I used to hate shopping in the crowds and if you are somewhere where they sell perfume, you must hate it love. I was always glad to get back to the car.
Hugs JO xx
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