Winter storm watch 2026

 This winter has been very snowy. Our chimney had a small fire at the beginning of Dec. The house is fine but we have to replace the Woodstove and put in a chimney liner. We have a guy arranged to do it but it hasn't happened yet so we are using oil to heat the house. Its going to be expensive but it is working well to heat the house. The kids had exams this past week but they only went to school 2 days. Now they have exams moved to this coming week.  The weather network predicts a big snow storm Sunday into Monday.  I expect there will be a snowday on Monday.  

Everyone on media is getting prepared for being snowed in. I am always prepared to be snowed in. I am a bit of a doomsday prepper.  If I was to get advice to anyone getting ready for a week of being snowed in.

For groceries I would stock up and always have on hand. Dried beans, oats, flour, yeast, sugar, canned foods thst you can eat without heat like tuna, fruit. Also I would buy tomato sauce. You can get powdered milk or cans of evaporated milk. Dried soup mix.  Its handy to have small portable stove with propane canisters for back up just in case the power goes out.

I like to buy a whole chicken or turkey.  Cooking the chicken the first day while you still have power. Chicken can be eaten cold with sandwiches.  Remember you can cook up the bones for chicken broth which makes soup with dried beans and chopped chicken. You can get alot of meals out of a whole chicken. If the power goes out, Remember you can keep your chicken in a cooler outside.

Another great food staple is that you may already have the ingredients on hand for is vegetarian chili. I always have salsa, tomato sauce, spices and beans.

I canned a lot of food thst is ready to eat. Mostly all vegetables.  I  froze a lot of sliced apples from our apple tree. We like apple crisp and I always have the ingredients on hand. We also like to make cinnamon buns or regular buns since I have flour and yeast. Also pizza crust for another meal. 

Today I made homemade granola with oats and shredded coconut craisins, Chia seeds, maple syrup. 

Fill a 5 gallon pail of water to flush the toilet if the power goes out. Bring out your candles, board games, books.