Back at the beginning of October, I posted my fall to-do list. I’ve had a month, and frosty mornings are coming more frequently. Have I made any progress to being ready for winter?
1. Clean out the vegetable garden
Pruning the raspberries was a big item I was thrilled to check off my list. The squash was our last crop to harvest. Now only clean up remains. A lot of clean up yet.
2. Remove window screens
Screens are off the dining room window. The rest will come down eventually.
3. Wash dining room and living room windows
Done. We can now turn off the outside water any time. Inside, my Norwex glass cloth made quick work of years of grime (seriously, years) and layers of puppy nose smears.
(I’m not affiliated with Norwex. If you’re looking for a good glass cleaner, I can’t recommend Norwex glass cloths enough. As I’m trying to be conscious of what chemicals I use in my home, I love that this uses only water. Plus it works the best out of lots of products I’ve tried for windows.)
4. Put away the birdbath and put out the feeder
Matt and Wiley worked late last night, and they got this done by headlight.
5. Bush hog the meadow, septic and pond shore one more time
My handy nephew is coming to visit this weekend, and he’s enthused about practicing his tractor driving again.
6. Clean gutters
Matt’s done this once. More leaves are coming down everyday though and those pine trees never stop shedding, so I expect there will be at least one more session before winter.
7. Switch out the mudroom mats
Still to come.
8. Sweep the chimney
The hunt for a right-size chimney brush took a little while. I think I’ve found one that will work, and I’m aiming to grab poles from my parents today.
9. Vacuum my car
Still to come.
10. Service the tractor
Wiley did his last mowing two weeks ago–and he was more than ready to be done for the season. He got stuck and I had to tow him again, and he hit a stump and threw a blade. Also, Matt’s not happy with how our little tractor is running. So a pre-winter check up is definitely in order.
11. Build a new coffee table.
Still to come.
12. Pick up the lumber pile beside the silo
Still to come.
13. Regrade back and side of house
Still crossing my fingers that this will come too.
Roughly two months ’til winter. That’s still enough time, right? Now that the weather has gotten colder, I find I’m less motivated, especially when it comes to working outside. I keep reminding myself that everything I do now, I will be grateful for in the spring.
How are you doing on winter prep at your house?
Home on 129 Acres 
I was on track until last weekend when it started to rain and hasn’t much stopped! I don’t have to worry about leaves in the gutters but rather leaves in the ditch at the road — I need to clear them out so they don’t clog the culvert under the driveway and cause large ponds in the front yard come April/May. Aside from that – just general stuff and digging up the tender bulbs for winter storage (cannas, callas, glads..). The best part of that is planning where they’ll go next year!
Yes, the rain has not been helpful at all. That encourages feelings of hibernation! Good luck with your culvert. That sounds like it could be a wet, cold, messy job. But also sounds super important for 6 months from now.
I’m exhausted reading your do to list! 🙂
We’ve drafted some reinforcements for tomorrow!
You’re making progress! Every little bit counts.
That first picture is incredibly beautiful!! I can almost feel the crispness of that morning(?) air. Baxter looks pretty pleased with life too. 😉
I was going to say, you need to frame that first picture, Julia! It’s gorgeous!
Yes! It would be beautiful framed.
Thanks so much!
Thanks, Jan. I feel the progress… a bit. Thanks for the compliment on the photo. That is early morning. Very frosty morning.