Temperatures dropped, and that’s when I pulled out
my double-insulated curtains, and wool blanket, to hang up on the inside of
each exterior door. I know this sounds
strange, and we even have the proper insulation around each door, but this
added process truly makes a difference on the temperature inside our rental
home.
Our son, Tank drives a 2004 GMC 3500 truck, and in
the winter, when temperatures go below 20 degrees, he plugs his truck in to
keep the engine block warm, so his truck starts up easily. One problem we have; there are no electrical
sockets outside on this rental home. We
have to pull the screen out of the kitchen window, raise both windows (double
pane), and run a heavy duty, all-weather extension cord into the kitchen, in
order to plug his truck in. We have to
make sure the window is blocked with wood, to secure the window, so no one can
attempt entry. Since the window is open
about ½ inch, we stuff the opening of the window with heavy duty sponge, and
place two sand-filled tube socks on the window sill, to prevent any cold breeze
from coming in. When the home you’re
residing in is not yours, you have to make do with what you have, and this
works for us.
For
a week and a half, I’ve been fighting what I thought was a sinus
infection. I finally broke down and went
to the doctor, and was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection (corona
virus), after having a culture taken.
The doctor gave me cough syrup to help with my cough; I sounded like a
barking seal, and stated the virus must run its course, there was nothing else
she could do to help me. I took it upon
myself to use hot lemon water with Manuka Honey to help clear my throat and
chest. To ease the congestion I used 1/2
Guaifenesin every 6 hours (chest congestion relief).
It’s
always nice to have a stash of this in your medicine preps, it works
great. Tylenol for fever, and I made
sure to flush my sinuses, using the
netipot, with distilled sea salt water. I’ve
actually started to feel human again. :-)
Since
feeling better, I have started back at trying to be productive. My intent was to make apple butter and can
it, putting it up for future use. I got
so far as to peel and chop the apples, place them in the crock pot with all the
spices, turn it on to cook for 8 hours, and then all of a sudden biscuits were
made and everyone was helping themselves to my apple butter when it was
done. I guess I’m going to have to make
another batch, can it, and put it away before everyone comes home from
work.
In
closing, I would like to say be careful, stay warm, and safe, and love those
around you. Make sure to change your
batteries in your fire detectors, and unplug your Christmas Lights when leaving
your house, or going to bed.
