Blog Update!
For those of you not following me on Facebook, as of the Summer of 2019 I've moved to Central WA, to a tiny mountain town of less than 1,000 people.

I will be covering my exploits here in the Cascades, as I try to further reduce my impact on the environment. With the same attitude, just at a higher altitude!

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Freeze Yer Buns 2008 begins!

Freeze Yer Buns Challenge 2008Hey fellow frigidy chickens, it's time to freeze yer buns! Not that some of us haven't been freezing them already, of course.

So far, we've got a ton of participants and I expect to see more and more people sign up as the bun freezing season wears on. A lot of you don't yet have cold temperatures and will put off joining until winter approaches in your area so I expect to see some late stragglers.

We've already been freezing here, but haven't turned on our oil heat for the year. How are we avoiding that? Well, I bought a few space heaters to just warm the area where we are in, instead of the whole house. Since our electricity is green and cheaper than oil, this ends up being a good solution for us. We'll see when we get the electrical bill and I might rethink my heating strategy.

I've also been baking a lot so that's been helping heat up the kitchen and other areas of the house where we tend to spend most of our time. In addition, my husband has been on a pastry baking spree. Throw in an almost constant use of our bed warmers and there you go!

I've also got some exciting news for you, too! I'll be doing some really fun giveaways this freezin' season to help you keep warm. So stay tuned for those posts!

If you want to sign up for the challenge, just leave your name and your temperatures (if you know them) in the comments of this post.

Are you freezing yet? What things are you doing to stay warm?

Related posts:
Freeze Yer Buns Challenge 2008
Bun warmin' bed warmers
Freeze Yer Buns 2007 wrap-up
All of last year's FYB posts

39 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've been using my space heater and wood burning stove. I have a fire in my wood burning stove, hang a blanket over the doorway to the kitchen, and shut the door to the bedroom. It gets so nice and warm in my living room!!

Michelle said...

We've been burning wood in our fireplace, making good use of the sunshine and baking. We are in MN and have not turned on our natural gas furnace yet!

Anonymous said...

We've not put on our storage heaters yet, although I think tonight may be the night we switch them on! However, they won't be on maximum as we're all making a conscious effort this year to use less electricity. We've all invested in good thick slipper socks, have bought a new duvet for our bed and I plan to turn the old duvet into a sofa snuggler for me and my children to cuddle up in during the winter evenings!

Also I'm trying to bake my own bread as well as doing more of my meals from scratch, which helps to heat the kitchen at least! I can't believe it's only November though, as it's sooooo cold here in the UK already. We had hailstorms last week! I'm not impressed!

Oh, and I turned the thermostat on my water heater down a few degrees earlier in the year - that really did make a difference to the energy consumption in our house.

Judy T said...

We had low temps in the 20's early last week and we relented and ran the furnace to warm up the house in the morning. I also relented last weekend when the MIL was visiting. But yesterday it was back to 70 outside and we had the windows open. Great weather for trick or treat. With the sun shining in the windows it has been quite comfortable even with the thermostat set at 65 when we're home.

Matriarchy said...

We turned on an oil-filled radiator a few mornings after below-freezing nights. And I am definitely baking more, partly to take the chill off our downstairs. I leave the oven door ajar after I bake, to let the kitchen ceiling fan circulate the heat.

But mostly we are not really heating, yet. Adding sweaters, socks, and lap blankets has been enough when we sit still. Physical labor is another warmer-upper. I am cleaning out my attic, so I can insulate by the end of November.

Unknown said...

Okay, I'll admit it here only, but we're cold. I've resorted to blow-drying my hair because sitting around with a wet head for two hours is really uncomfortable. But we are adjusting and new slippers and extra socks help a lot. So far nighttime has not been cold enough for the house to drop to 55 so we're warm enough once we're in bed. We'll see how that changes once it gets really cold here.

Allie said...

It turned out we had some pretty cold nights here (40s), already! And some chilly days. So during the day we wore an extra flannel or long-sleeved shirt (and used throws when necessary). I also did a fair amount of baking which helped toast up the house. At night, we used the cat's body heat (he likes to sleep under the covers) and a gigantic crochetted blanket from my mom (who lives in Utah, so she knows about making things warm!) to keep us toasty at night.

We both really enjoyed not using the heater, and I'm expecting my gas bill to make me happy too.

Jen BK said...

Today is more like "sweat your buns off". The forecasted high was 82, but it is 86 now, a perfect, sunny, breezy laundry day that I am relishing. Rest assured, it will get cold and nasty-ish later, but today is the kind of day that reminds you why you live in Texas.

Farmer's Daughter said...

We finally turned the heat on a few days ago. My husband was at work until 9:30pm which is very rare, and I had class until 8pm, so when we came home to a cold house it was just easier to turn on the heat than to start a fire...

That said, we've been building fires when it's cold and bundling up.

Finding Pam said...

Hey, I am in for the challenge! I live in east Texas and it is not always cold. The weather is unpredictible. We did have a couple of frosts. I have not used my electric heat yet, but burrr it was cold in my house at 65 degrees. I like to sleep cold and my kids are grown, so I don't have to worry about them freezing. My cat keeps me warm too.

I get cold on rainy damp days, but I just keep coffee going, jump up and down or walk/run with my dogs. You can get pretty hot in a flash. I layer my clothes, so I can adjust for the difference in temperatures.

Love your blog...

tansy said...

we have hot water bottles. each kid and myself have our own. they stay hot for a surprisingly long time (5-6 hours) and the ones i have are made of rubber and very durable. we dump the water in the pan on the wood stove in the am to add humidity to the air so it doesn't get wasted.

blankets over windows and a kerosene heater is our supplemental heat source to our primary wood stove that heats our 2000 sq foot home. upstairs is pretty nippy (usually in the 50's at night) but downstairs is always toasty.

so far, we've only resorted to the hot water bottles and wood stove. no kerosene consumed yet. i try to bake every day to help heat the kitchen a bit but all my meals are cooked on the wood stove when it's in use.

before we had the wood stove, the thermostat stayed at 58 24/7 during the winter.

Two Flights Down said...

My husband and I have already been freezing our buns off! We're in Japan for the next few years--and nobody uses central heating! It's too expensive. Everybody uses space heaters to keep their homes warm. They're turned on when you get home, and turned off before you leave again or go to bed. The heaters have a timer on them, so they can be set to kick back on a half hour before you wake up, in order to cut that biting chill down. We've yet to use the timer, though. We just turn it on when we wake up.

No oven, unfortunately. It's not something equipped in every home/apartment. We do, however, have a kotatsu, which is a table with a small heating device beneath it. The top of the table comes off, you put a blanket over it, put the top back on. Put your legs under the blanket, turn on the kotatsu, and you get to stay warm while eating or whatever you want to do at the table. We haven't used it, yet, but sounds nice. If you wear a robe, the heat travels up through the robe to the back of the neck, warming your upper body as well. Traditionally, the kotatsu was placed over a pit in the home where charcoal was burned. The modern type is electric, and uses very little energy.

Other than that, we've been wearing layers upon layers and using two blankets at night.

Annette said...

OK, sign us up! I'm thinking 64 during the day and 55 at night. It's not too austere, but it's a start.

Green Bean said...

We haven't turned on the heat yet but we've busted out our hot water bottles. Last year, I purchased some stuffed animals for the boys that have a hot water belly. They loved them and it's really helped them go to sleep. Only issue is that those small bottles get cold by morning and the animals prevent the heat from coming out anywhere but the back.

My youngest climbed into my bed the other morning and my hot water bottle was still hot and hot all over. He promptly coopted it which means I'm in the market for a couple more hot water bottles. They make a huge difference and are well worth it. We're plenty warm at night and will likely just leave the hot off at night (bear in mind, we're in CA so it never gets below 30 degrees or so).

Cactus Jack Splash said...

We have only been heating with wood, until last week-the wood guy was late on our delivery, so we had the furnace set for 60 in the day and 55 at night.
We have actually enjoyed the brisk temps.

Anonymous said...

OK Crunchy. We're in for another winter in the Northeast.Extra layers combined with non-stop movement and baking/cooking have kept things fairly comfortable (65 during the day, 60 at night). Debbie C

Stephanie said...

I'm sort of participating. I'm at a dorm in Minnesota and haven't turned on my room's heater yet. We don't have a control system other than a lever in our rooms, so I can't tell you anything other then "well it's not turned on" vs. "it's turned on a little?" And, how much people in other rooms turn on their heaters affect it.

Basically, it's been really warm in my room even though it's freezing outside. (Highs of low 50s -- we even got our first bit of snow last weekend.) It really helps that my one tiny window in my tiny room faces south, so the sun comes in and warms up the room during the day and it feels amazing. I really hate artificial heat. Sunlight is where it's at. I wonder how long into the winter the sun will keep things warm though.

Robj98168 said...

My buns are already frozen! LOL I thought the freeze your buns challenge already started! I crank it up to a warm 65 during the daytime, back down to 55 when I go to bed. LOL have an autmated thermostat in the living room and a manual in dining room and kitchen - no heat in any bedrooms, and just turned up enough to keep pipes from freezing in bathroom. Had a couple of nights I put on my trusty Old Mr. Rogers sweater, (and yes I change into my house slippers too)I can't help to think that everything I've ever needed to know I learned from Mr. Rogers!

Anonymous said...

last week i bought a couple of space heaters, made a trip to our local goodwill for blankets and sweaters, rediscovered the benefits of layering and fuzzy socks and had the fireplace inspected and cleaned (it hasn't been used in more than 10 years). so far we've had only one cold night (the low was 39) but texas weather is fickle so i'm sure the balmy weather will soon be replaced with more cold nights

jane said...

Hey - do what i do - hit the menopause, I'm boiling!

Live/Love/Life said...

I signed during the last post, unfortunately the Hubby is not feeling it. I wanted to do 60/55. But we are at a constant 67-70 day and 65 night. How can I get him to comply? LOL -
Although last night was around 32 degrees outside.Burr

Fresh and Feisty said...

We bought an electric blanket which looks like it will prevent my husband from cranking the heat. We have the problem of him sleeping during the day and me at night. So far it's looking like 58 at night (for me) and 65-68 when I'm home and not sleeping.

camp mom said...

Okay we have decided on 60 for daytime and 55 for nighttime. We'll do more baking in evening to warm up house. The fuel company came a filled up our tank...we figured itout we are paying $100 more than our first fill last year. Despite having gotten less fuel. I'm hoping for a above average temps for our winter..fat chance...

CoCargoRider said...

We have yet to turn the heat on yet here in MN. Nights are averaging upper 30-low 40s and days 50-60s. We are going to fill the cavities of our north side windows with polystyrene insulation that can be reused for several year to help increase the R value of our single pane :( windows that we do have to money to replace ~25K for all the windows

Lily said...

What I'm doing.
http://sticksnspin.blogspot.com/2008/10/freeze-yer-buns.html

It dipped below 30's so we finally turned on the gas heat before the challenge even began =-( However, it's on only at night.

Now it's much warmer and we're going on nothing. Love it! Beautiful days here.

Anonymous said...

Okay, i'm a wuss. It was sleeting or snowing or something else awful and cold and grey here last weekend, so we turned on the heat. it's set at 55, and it's only come on a few times.

I don't know how much it's kicked on, but at least at night it heats up the core of the house a little so it's almost as warm inside as outside by morning.

I know people here tough it out - i'm not that far from mnultraguy. But I just couldn't face the mornings & I kept being late to work.

Maggie said...

Well, we just moved from Florida to Connecticut just in time for winter. We are still rather wimpy in the being cold department. I am having a hard time with 65 during the day! The highest we ever have the heat on is 68. My husband works from home and I'm home with my kids all day so I don't really lower the thermostat during the day. But we're hardly driving at all! I will try really hard to keep it at 65, day and night. I am looking into water bottles too! Maybe we can lower the heat with water bottles!

Joy said...

We have two energy efficient heaters, one in the baby's room and one we move around. That plus our stoves and fireplaces and I have the thermostat set at 62.

Also having a little giveaway.

I need to see how to sign up for the challenge!

Frisky said...

we're loving our south and west- facing windows, and the warm weather. haven't turned on our heat yet. i hang around the house in a blanket at night, but no biggie. thanks, passive heat!

Riana Lagarde said...

it is really freaking cold here already. we make a fire in the morning and i keep it going as long as i can (and cook on it and dry the clothes in front). we are using grapevines that the wine makers have been pulling up because of the glut of french wine. great for us, because it makes food taste so good.

in our rooms we have quilts and the baby has a wool sleep sack and she doesnt kick off the blankets anymore. our faces are fresh but we are cozy.

this week we have been installing hemp insulation in between the roof rafters, its supposed to be really efficient.

we dont use electric heaters because our power is 95 nuclear and 5 percent wind.

wearing wigwams wool socks and a down vest almways helps :)

Anonymous said...

It has been so mild here that we actually have to open windows to stay cool. This is extremely unusual for the DC area. Our heat was turned on in the middle of October and we have yet to need to use it.

I would say that I would join the challenge but I know my husband has zero interest in conserving anything. I think he thinks I am a bit of crackpot.

Apple Meet said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Apple Meet said...

I'm definitely in! I'm trying to keep it at 64 during the day and 55 at night. I use rice warmers in bed (will try the cherry pit warmers, too!), and fingerless gloves. I keep LOTS of extra blankets on the bed, as well.

Daytime isn't a huge problem - I just try to keep moving. When I'm at work, I leave it at 55.

Anonymous said...

I would like to take part this year but there's not much point! To make a long story short: we haven't heated at all so far, though we live right on the 49th parallel in a mid-size German city.

My husband's and my one-bedroom, one-bath apt is in the 3rd floor, with a doctor's office right below it. The doctor (understandably) keeps it nice and toasty down there. There are more apts above us--good insulation. Our windows are all on one side of the building; there's no cross-draft. But the windows are so solid that there's no draft anyways, and we air out well a few times a day to keep the air good and the humidity down. The walls are brick/stone. There's one hot-water pipe in our living room that leads upstairs for others' heat. Since it radiates heat for us already, we don't open the radiator valves. Nice and toasty. Almost feels too warm when you walk in from outside.

Not that I'm complaining. I moved here from the US with an indoor thermometer that shows Fahrenheit and haven't bothered to check it much; it usually shows 68F or 70F when I do. But I had fun with the challenge last year, keeping my drafty digs at 62F and feeling tough. I guess I need a new way to feel tough this year!

EcoBurban said...

Sign me up! It gets cold, cold, cold here in Michigan. We've already had freezing temperatures and now tomorrow? 72 degrees. We've readied ourselves for winter with a clean furnace, electric blankets on all the beds and a freshly insulated attic. Our heat is 64 during the day and 58 at night, so it gets pretty brisk in here!

homebrewlibrarian said...

We've been below freezing since the end of September. In the last week, temps didn't get above the mid 20s F. I keep the heat set at 50 unless I'm home and awake for more than two hours and then I move it up to 60. Once at 60, I turn it back down. It takes quite a while for this duplex unit to lose heat.

I wear layers, shoes or insulated booties and a hat when I'm home. I need to get fingerless gloves because my hands can get really cold, especially if I'm stationary for a period of time. I've used a hot water bottle under my feet (covered in a blanket - mmmmmm) when I'm sitting for long periods and take one to bed with me at night. I have a knitted throw I drape around myself when sitting and that helps, too.

There's an unexpected benefit to keeping the house cool; being outside isn't nearly as uncomfortable. This evening, for instance, I was out helping the landlord reorganize an outdoor shed. We were messing around for over half an hour is 18 F degree weather. Except for not having good gloves, I was dressed appropriately but not excessively and was fine.

I'm passionately fond of my bed with flannel sheets, two blankets (one wool) and a quilted coverlet. Snuggle in with a hot water bottle and I'm good til morning. My cats love it, too!

Kerri in AK

Gill - That British Woman said...

we have had our heating on for a week or two now, and we're in Southern Ontario. However it's only on for short periods of time as we have had some nice weather through the day.

Gill in Canada

Anonymous said...

We've been snuggling with the cat, baking, and putting on sweaters! Looking forward to another Freeze Yer Buns challenge!

Unknown said...

We use a wood stove. Our boiler is for back up when we are gone for long periods of time.
It gets cold here isn Alaska :o)
And, its colder than it has been in a while.
That 21 year weather cycle is back to the colder time.
Paula