Now days Spring and Autumn aren’t quite the busy season like they use to be. Spring is a time to get out the summer dresses and flip-flops. Autumn you break out the winter coat so you can be warm while you run from your heated house to your heated car.
Not only was Autumn a time of harvesting and preserving it was a time of preparing the home for the long cold winter.
“All day long Pa was busy, banking the little house and the barn with dead leaves and straw, held down by stones, to keep out the cold. The weather grew colder all day, and that night there was once more a fire on the hearth and the windows were shut tight and chinked for the winter.”
Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House in the Big Woods
“The room grew colder. There was no heat from the front room to help the cookstove. The cold had crept into the front room and was sneaking in under the door. Beneath the lean-to door it was crawling in too. Ma brought the braided rugs from the front room and laid them, folded, tightly against he bottoms of the doors.”
Laura Ingalls Wilder, The Long Winter
Since our modern homes have weather stripping we didn’t need to go the extreme of folded rugs at the doors, we did however change somethings. We closed all the heat vents in the bedrooms and kept the thermostat at 65 during the day, at nights 50 degrees. Warm enough to keep the pipes from freezing, but still pretty chilly. This meant a change in our bedding. More blankets! This week we had our first freeze, and so Friday I changed the bedding. It may seem small and simple, but to me it means the beginning of winter.
In the summer we only have a sheet and the top comforter, so I added a quilt.
Then on top, our comforter.
At the bottom of the bed another quilt is folded, so it is easy to pull up during night if it is needed. Also folded up under the bed are other blankets within easy reach.
Underneath all the blankets it is easy to stay warm and toasty. Last winter we saved about a 1.50 a day in heating costs. Well worth the extra effort. All the children’s beds are made in the same way, two quilts and an extra at the bottom. The two year old gets two layers of pajamas since he kicks his blankets off, and he stayed nice and warm.
“When Laura’s eyes opened in the morning she saw that every clinched nail in the roof overhead was furry-white with frost. Thick frost covered every windowpane to its very top….Sliding out of bed into the cold that took her breath away, Laura snatched up her dress and shoes and hurried to the top of the stairs….thankful for the warm, long, red flannels under the flannel nightgown.”
Laura Ingalls Wilder, The Long Winter.“That night Laura woke up, shivering. The bed-covers felt thin, and her nose was icy cold. Ma was tucking another quilt over her. “Snuggle close to Mary,” Ma said ” and you’ll get warm.””
Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House in the Big Woods
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How do you prepare for winter?
YOur quilts are lovely. Can you hear my envy through my message?
I do this too. Except we keep the place a wee bit warmer than you. But instead of bumping up the thermo, we add blankets to the couches as well as to our beds. We also wear sweaters and thermals and wool. We also do an outsied garden building clean-up.
Well since our winter hasn't even thought of poking its head in…. We still have the AC on when the humidity is to hot a handle.
That nesting feeling I got in Montana in August doesn't even begin to stir here in the south we have such a mild winter. It would be nice to get that feeling again sometimes. It was homey a good feeling.
Hugs Erika
I have always had a cooler house and remember my dad telling us just to put more clothes on! Along with the layers I'd wear a beanie to bed and it was not a big deal.
Since I love to quilt (hey need another one?) we keep warm. I also enjoy the hot chocolate, oatmeal, cream of wheat, and more baking in general. I even got up and made a loaf of sourdough bread this morning! Listening to more music while baking too seems traditional.
Fun things to think about and remember!