Humbling cold

Nights bellow -20°C are forecast for the next few days and I happen to be home alone. It’s humbling to be solely responsible for keeping warm. All the evening chores are mine too.

Getting the shower ready

  1. break the ice in little pieces

who needs Minecraft?

IMG_29862. Scoop out the little pieces with a milk crate (holes to let water through make it easier)IMG_30193. Let things settle for clear water

IMG_30254. Fill pots

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5. Apply heatIMG_3165IMG_3169


Before dusk I gave the chicken a path to their food to stretch their legs and fill up one last time before a long night.

IMG_3026They also got home delivered warm water.

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I really hope they’ll be all right.


Should be enough wood for the night, emergency fire starter kit included.IMG_3164


I “ran” electricity to the house for convenience. I’ll do it right when the ground thaws but in the meantime this will make so we don’t have to worry so much about charging and going outside to do so.

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First night in the house at -20°C

I slept next to the stove to keep feeding it through the night; woke up 3 times, the sky was amazing. The house isn’t insulated optimally yet. I don’t like that we don’t have an alternative to the one stove for heating. It’s low tech and has a low chance of breaking down but I will be reassured when we have another one in the addition we’ll build.

Looks like we’ll be able to spend Winters with 100% renewable fuel sourced within 2000′. Improvements will be quite welcome if we go through something like last Winter.