how to keep warm in winter

:: Ari and mama colouring collaboration::

It's funny that as soon as I posted about the joys of getting outside with my little guy, the temperature dropped so low we couldn't get out at all. We've had frostbite warnings for several days and the wind was so cold that when we stepped outside for a moment, Ari just gasped for air, so inside we've been staying. This big house we are staying in is hard to keep warm in this kind of weather, and so we didn't stray far from the wood stoves and spent lots of time snuggling under blankets. :: snow on the back deck:

Today we were able to get out for a short walk before we got too cold. The wind has died down and now it is clear and beautiful, but still hovering around minus 25, which is pretty cold for a baby (pretty cold for me too!) Our pipes froze when the temperature dropped and the dishes were piled high and we were itchin' for baths. We managed to sort our the heater and heat tape in the crawlspace and some of the taps thawed, but we were still without hot water in the kitchen side yesterday morning. I checked it before putting Ari down for a nap, and it was still frozen, and I ended up falling asleep with Ari, which is a rare occurrence. When we woke up and I brought him downstairs I found that I had left the hot water tap on and it had thawed out nicely, but apparently the drains had frozen in the meantime. The kitchen was a lake.

Our phone had died earlier that day so I couldn't call for help and Ari was desperately asking for the potty (warm running water will do it every time!) The drawers by the sink had been left open and both the cutlery and dish towels drawers were spilling over. After swearing profusely and standing in the middle of it all wondering what on earth to do, I started mopping. I found a dry spot for Ari and the potty and later stuck him in his highchair with cookies (helpful things those cookies!) and rung out the dish towels a thousand times, emptying the bucket in the laundry room. I managed to get the water mopped up and the dishtowels in the wash and the baby out of the highchair before collapsing on the couch with a drink. I almost never drink, but this seemed like the right occasion. The drains have since thawed, and after another crawlspace expedition, the saggy drainpipes which were the cause of the problem were fixed, so there will be no more drains freezing. And now the dishes are done and we've had baths and done laundry. All good ways to keep warm in winter.