Southern Popsicles!

[AUEquine]

I know we've all been griping about the cold, so here's a thread for the southerners to complain! Yes I know we're only at 15, and you people up north are at -30something, but there's a big difference here! Ya'll are prepared for this mess! We live in the south for a reason! We're good at making lemonade and finding good swimming holes to cool off! We don't know how to function when our water is frozen and everything is iccy!

I'm at work and all of our hose pipes are frozen solid. I'm having to haul water to the barns from the clinic in buckets for the patients. I even had to load the back of my truck up with buckets of water and drive them to the stallion barn because their auto waterers are frozen. I've never in all my time of working here had to bust water troughs, but tonight they have 4 inches of ice to beat through!
Luckly things at home arn't as bad. We still have one hose spigot that's working, so we having resorted in hauling water from the bathtubs yet!

Yes I know you Yankees are laughing at us! But we're just not used to this! The most we normally have to deal with is a thin layer of ice on the trough that will usually melt by 10am anyway! And now they're calling for snow! That's it, send in the national guard! It's a state of emergency in the south!

This message brough to you by The Coalition Against Cold!

Please other southerners, share your stories of the cold, and the strange ways you are trying to cope with it. Yankees, feel free to laugh with us or at us, or take pitty and give us some advice!

[lacyloo]

Well...

Iv been hauling hot buckets of water outside every few hours for the horses. I was leaving the hose running but it froze/busted a few nights ago... I don't mind the cold really. I hope it snows Thursday, wouldn't be much but oh well. The highs have been around 31, which isn't enough to the thaw OUT the buckets, so I'm constantly kicking ice from horse,chicken,rabbit,geese,goat (waterer's). At first it was pretty fun to see all the ice but now its evil ! :mad:

[mare]

I won't laugh at you. It really does make a diffierence when you're set up for it.

The clothing, food, water lines, vehicles... everything is done differently. I feel bad for the people who live in places that don't even have furnaces for heat. I hope there aren't more house fires from trying to make do with space heaters.

Sure is hitting the crops hard, from what I hear.

[AUEquine]

I hope there aren't more house fires from trying to make do with space heaters.


You're not joking. The woman I bought Cash from's house just burned down Monday. And a friend of mine from high school's parents house burned down Sunday. It's not been good! So far the only lives lost in those were a parakeet and 2 fish. But it's really scary!

[Gypsy Rose]

AUEquine- Any way you can leave that spigot on at just a trickle? Or will tht build up too much ice where it would be a problem? How high is it up the side of your house? You could always put an old bucket you don't care about under it. You'd have to watch it , and change it out, but your water won't freeze that way.

Lacyloo, same could work d=for you. Rule one: It's guaranteed that a hose is going to freeze before the spigot, because the farther it gets away from the main water source...don't think I need to explain that one. can you try the smae thing I suggested to AUEquine, or has the spigot frozen up as well?

For larger stock tanks, I've heard that putting a ball or anything safe that floats and moves around can stop tanks from freezing up as fast. Moving water doesn't freeze easily, lol!

To conserve heat in the home, if nothing else, if you're not using any rooms that have no water source to them, keep the doors closed. Blamkets rolled up against drafty doorways works wonders as well. Just make sure you don't make your home TOO airtight!:)

If I think of anything more, I'll come back and add it.

I feel for you all down there. I'm not used to heat, and don't function well in it, so I understand it can feel like a whole different world!

Stay safe down there!

[lacyloo]

Right now we have all the spigots "trickling" because we cant afford to go without water with so many animals. But the hose froze and busted a few days ago and it has to be replaced. Thats why I'm carrying buckets. Ill get a new one today and just leave the sprayer on "cone", I had it on mist and thats when it froze up.

Darn just finished feeding and my hands around about to fall off, and I was wearing gloves!

I have 2 pairs of pajama pants on and a pair of jeans, 1 long sleeve shirt,1 short sleeve shirt, hoodie,carhart jacket, 2 pairs of socks and one of those beanie hats.
I look like I'm about to rob a bank ;)

[carla]

Yep, this kind of cold just makes me plain irritable.

:mad:

[natisha]

A frozen hose takes forever to thaw unless brought inside where it is warm or sometimes laying in the sun will melt it if it's warm enough. Note it only takes a small bit of ice to block a hose.
After using a hose it has to be fully drained, drape it over something & slowly pull until all the water is out. I have a wheely thing attached high to a post in the barn. Didn't help the last time I used it because I didn't fully drain the hose so I am carrying water too. My winter hose is 150 feet long & will soon be dragged into my kitchen.
Bundle up, this too will pass.

[Gypsy Rose]

Right now we have all the spigots "trickling" because we cant afford to go without water with so many animals. But the hose froze and busted a few days ago and it has to be replaced. Thats why I'm carrying buckets. Ill get a new one today and just leave the sprayer on "cone", I had it on mist and thats when it froze up.

Darn just finished feeding and my hands around about to fall off, and I was wearing gloves!

I have 2 pairs of pajama pants on and a pair of jeans, 1 long sleeve shirt,1 short sleeve shirt, hoodie,carhart jacket, 2 pairs of socks and one of those beanie hats.
I look like I'm about to rob a bank ;)

:hysterical:Sorry- couldn't help it- the visual.....:p

A frozen hose takes forever to thaw unless brought inside where it is warm or sometimes laying in the sun will melt it if it's warm enough. Note it only takes a small bit of ice to block a hose.
After using a hose it has to be fully drained, drape it over something & slowly pull until all the water is out. I have a wheely thing attached high to a post in the barn. Didn't help the last time I used it because I didn't fully drain the hose so I am carrying water too. My winter hose is 150 feet long & will soon be dragged into my kitchen.
Bundle up, this too will pass.

Yep! When I ws growing up, the stock tank was a good 300 feet from the house and the only source of water. Parents drilled hole in basement under the deck in the laundry room. Watering consisted of some poor devils, usually myself and my sister, poking the hose out the hole, hauling it to the tank, filling it, then getting the hose back in as quickly as possible. I became an expert at speed coiling a lot of hose!:D Let the hose drain into the floor drain. Wish I had a way of rigging that kind of system up here...... have the basement, but not the funds, so I bucket, lol! Stock tank heaters cost a bit to run for just one horse.

[Palogal]

Yes! I'm freezing my @ss off and I don't like it! Yeah it's only in the teens or whatever but this SUCKS. Luckily nothing has frozen on me yet but I'm waiting. Tomorrow is supposed to be bad. I hate winter. Even if it is southern winter it still sucks. I wore a winter coat, sweatshirt, gloves and two pairs of flease pjs out to feed last night...still froze.

[Palogal]

A frozen hose takes forever to thaw unless brought inside where it is warm or sometimes laying in the sun will melt it if it's warm enough. Note it only takes a small bit of ice to block a hose.
After using a hose it has to be fully drained, drape it over something & slowly pull until all the water is out. I have a wheely thing attached high to a post in the barn. Didn't help the last time I used it because I didn't fully drain the hose so I am carrying water too. My winter hose is 150 feet long & will soon be dragged into my kitchen.
Bundle up, this too will pass.


Wow, spoken like a Nawthuner ;)

[natisha]

Wow, spoken like a Nawthuner ;) Cuz I am, reluctantly.
If I didn't have animals I would be a southern gal, Naples FL to be exact. In one of those Gulf mansions, with a maid & a pool. Oh & a POOL BOY, yes can't forget the pool boy. :innocent:

[WP~Paint]

I was surprised when I heard the south was so cold...Just seems odd. I agree though, we are more prepared for it. Yogi is not on my land, but I know that his trough in the pasture had a heater in it. I haven't been up to see him because it's been so darn cold. I hope you guys are managing OK down there. That would be a shock for sure if your not used to it.

[Fork]

Look at England and France when snow hits the ground. :D

It's 12F up here as well, but it feels more like 0F.

[Ranger44]

I wonder if I would melt down there in the summer. :headscratch: I'm home for lunch and it's single digits here and I was just outside to split some firewood in my slippers.

I feel sorry for you if it snows. I've heard too many stories of southerners trying to drive when the roads are slippery.

[Palogal]

The summers in Dallas are not for the faint of heart :)

[Gypsy Rose]

I wonder if I would melt down there in the summer. :headscratch: I'm home for lunch and it's single digits here and I was just outside to split some firewood in my slippers.

I feel sorry for you if it snows. I've heard too many stories of southerners trying to drive when the roads are slippery.

So have I! I would say it's enough for us to ROFL, but I know the southerners would get us back with the extreme heat that we may not handle, lol!:D

[shewasmyshadow]

Oooh, poor babies down south. :p :rolleyes:

Oh, and by the by... hot water freezes faster than cold water. Also, putting a rubber ball in your tank will slow down the surface from freezing.

[Oreos Girl]

I got a deicer for my trough for Christmas. My dad (who lives in TN) was saying I should have one. I am like but dad it doesn't freeze that much here and it is usually thawed by 10 AM. All I have to say I thank goodness I have that tank heater in there right now.

Last couple of morning I have thought about ice skating on the pond. Oh yeah, don't own ice skates and ice isn't that thick.


Oreo's Girl

[shewasmyshadow]

I got a deicer for my trough for Christmas. My dad (who lives in TN) was saying I should have one. I am like but dad it doesn't freeze that much here and it is usually thawed by 10 AM. All I have to say I thank goodness I have that tank heater in there right now.

Last couple of morning I have thought about ice skating on the pond. Oh yeah, don't own ice skates and ice isn't that thick.


Oreo's Girl

Another thing those tank heaters do is keep the water a bit warmer and it encourages the horses to drink! That is very important in the winter and will keep your horses from colicing. :)

[Oreos Girl]

I have also been doing WB's idea of a warm mush every morning for feed. I had not thought of that before I read it on here. That gets them about a gallon to 1.5 gallons of water into them.

Oreo's Girl

[Palogal]

I'm from the north and I used to be able to handle cold. For some reason, Texas has changed me and I can't deal with the cold anymore.

[livaward]

I would rather sweat all day then freeze to the bone.....if it wasn't for a husband I would probably bring the horses inside....F this cold weather and this arctic blast we are getting tomorrow.....wind chill will make if feel in the teens....:(

[vicklynn]

For those that need that ready before the next time hits. Get freezless spigots like this http://www.plumbingsupply.com/woodford.html. If your close enough to the house, are on a slope, let your hose stagger off the freezless spout and drain. Never put an end on the hose if you leave it on the spigot.
This is what I do. Had to water horses today, walked out, grabbed the end of the hose, put it in tank, watered, put hose back in position where water would run out of hose.
I love my freezless spigot. I bought the 6 or 8 inch one. Its nice that they close off up under the house instead of at the wall of the house.

Im sorry you all are dealing with this. It really is no fun, even for us.

[Clarzoo]

Yeah, didn't get much above 40 degrees F here today, and looks like it's going to stay that way for another week. 15 at night! Brr. We just don't have the clothes to handle this type of weather- and the stores around here don't carry them. I went to Target and there wasn't one pair of long johns, wool sock, gloves or scarves left on the shelves.

I work outside with the horses all day at my job. We drove 12 horses today, and the wind is what gets me. My poor face is so chapped!!! I am so thankful that I got an awesome oilskin riding jacket for Christmas this year- it has been a lifesaver this week.

[vicklynn]

Clarzoo..40 is t-shirt weather here right now. Im jealous.

[Pi and Tofu]

We are a little bit warmer (28 tonight), but Florida cold is bitter. When I visit the north & it is colder on the thermometer, it still feels warmer (they say it's the humid air here). Whatever it is, the cold is to the bone. I am never this cold skiing. Ice in the buckets, citrus freezing, and I lost a glove.

No riding this weekend.

At least it is supposed to be warm again next week.

[Blue]

Oh my goodness!!! It's HORRIBLE! It makes a big difference when you're prepared for the cold. I don't even have a good jacket, so I go out to the barn at night in a little fleece jacket and little fleece gloves that I've always been able to get by with, but not this year!!

[cowgirldude]

I feel for everyone no matter what part of the States you are in. I was born and raised in Miami, and I remember when the cold hit it was a humid cold which made it very uncomfortable. Out west here the cold is different just as the summer heat is. My brother still lives in Miami and said a few days ago it was raining. Haven't talked to him since. Keep warm everyone! We are being hit with some really cold temps again and I'm not looking forward to it again. My guys are upset over the temps this time. They don't like it any more than we do.

[Aina]

Uggh! I hate the cold. We are supposed to leave that in MO. Really, I have one scratchy ugly coat that doesn't even button and then two sweaters and that is it as far as winter clothing goes. And our house is poorly insulated so it is always freezing, even inside. In MO my cousins house was always warm even though it was snowing outside because they have better insulation for the cold weather. This winter is the coldest I can remember. Maybe it will snow and we can get out of school next week. Southerners can't drive in snow. We don't even have the equipment to move it off the roads here. All my animals are inside, including my 17 lb tank we call a tortoise. I hope my room is still intact when I can let her back outside, lol.

[luckydoublesranch]

New thread idea?? How about pics of all of us in our winter digs...THAT would be funny!!! :p

[vicklynn]

You all would of loved mine today...LOL..I almost took a self portrait just cause, then I was going to send it to someone to post a thread called....who is this? LOL

[luckydoublesranch]

I almost put on my son's Spiderman ski mask today...then I thought, my luck someone will pull in and I'll forget I have it on... :huh:

[Palogal]

I would rather sweat all day then freeze to the bone.....if it wasn't for a husband I would probably bring the horses inside....F this cold weather and this arctic blast we are getting tomorrow.....wind chill will make if feel in the teens....:(

Amen to that. I'll take 102 any day of the week. I don't mind the heat.

[AUEquine]

Met a new challenge with the cold today! The geldings needed a new round bale... no problem right? Wrong! We make and run biodiesel in our tractors, and it doesn't like to flow well in below freezing temps. So to get the tractor started we had to turn on one of those torpedo hearters at the tractor in the barn until it warmed up enough to crank!

Oh our crazy adventures in frozen land! Just wait til this afternoon when it snows... this mess could get interesting! Snow and Alabama in a national championship... the state could explode! (*note that for the next 24 hours I am a Texas Longhorns fan... Hook 'em Horns)

[Tiz]

If it snows down there, stay home! People around here forget how to drive in snow, and we get some every year. I can't imagine how crazy your Alabama, Georgia and Florida drivers will be. Well, Floridians might be OK, since so many of them are from the Northeast and Midwest.

Anyway, get what you need for a few days, and sit tight. Insurance deductibles are an avoidable expense.

That's terrible about the houses burning. Be careful!

[Palogal]

As of now...I'm not going to work. Both major roads I can take to work are CLOSED due to wrecks and ice. Forget it.

[HoustonFarrier]

The winds have hit the Houston area. Right now their clocking about 25mph sustained, gusts to 40.

They are talking about 24-36 hours sustained below freezing here......19 degrees Sunday morning.

Steve

[Palogal]

Dang...it's freezing all the way down there????

[HoustonFarrier]

Dang...it's freezing all the way down there????

Yup....they are taking wind chill near zero.........dammit :eek:

Steve

[Palogal]

You know you're in the south when it rains over night and the freakin' roads are CLOSED the next day.

[vicklynn]

You know you're in the south when it rains over night and the freakin' roads are CLOSED the next day.
Oh no doubt. I remember that from when I lived in Houston....lol
Water was so deep you could see it just flowing into the cars as they got stuck in the under passes. Um hello....LOL....what were they thinking.

[Palogal]

I still want someone to explain to me why it's necessary to SLAM the break to the floor on a bridge.

[Gypsy Rose]

Everyone please just stay safe out there! And like others have already said, if you don't have to drive anywhere, don't!

[AUEquine]

Well unfortunatly driving to work is a must for me. I've already been told I have to be there. So I'm making plans to go to work early. It's supposed to change from rain to snow around 6 oclock, so I'm gonna head to work early to avoid the ice/snow. And then pray it's not too bad in the morning so I can get home. But i'll be sure to take my camera!

[gabhainn]

I got under the house to double wrap the pipes, and leave a drop light, and I was wearing all my hunting gear, including long johns. which is kind of funny cuz every time I went hunting this year was in jeans and a t shirt. The hour I was under the house was the coldest I remember being. I have hunted in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Canada, and Alaska and I dont ever remember my fingers hurting like they did today what fun...........Kevin

[vicklynn]

Kevin, can you come wrap mine next? PLEASE, there is no one here to do it.
I have 2 of my taps dripping. I hope that does the trick, beings one of my others is already froze.

[shewasmyshadow]

Sounds like everyone is having a blast!! :rolleyes: Welcome to winter from Minnesnowta!

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2076/172/78/514475951/n514475951_1849648_919.jpg

oh, and my car :D

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs112.snc3/15950_201062275951_514475951_3598370_1798015_n.jpg

[gabhainn]

, beings one of my others is already froze.
go to walmart and buy an old fashioned drop light (the kind that used a 60 watt incandescent bulb) and a blue tarp. Hang the light from the spigot and cover with the tarp, the heat from the light will melt the water...just make sure the tarp doesnt touch the light or nasty things could happen. The things you learn living in a travel trailer on the West Texas Cap Rock............Kevin

[natisha]

Kevin, can you come wrap mine next? PLEASE, there is no one here to do it.
. When he's done at your place send him on to mine. I don't need any pipes wrapped though. :innocent:

[Palogal]

My spigot is frozen as well, I'm about to attempt to thaw it with a hair dryer.

[gabhainn]

When he's done at your place send him on to mine. I don't need any pipes wrapped though. :innocent:
I KNOW you need http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_12.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZKxdm144YYUS).....Kevin





http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb098&pp=ZKxdm144YYUS (http://www.smileycentral.com/dl/index.jhtml?partner=ZSzeb098_ZKxdm144YYUS&utm_id=7926)

[natisha]

I KNOW you need http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_1_12.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZKxdm144YYUS).....Kevin





Whew, I do believe it just got warmer in Wisconsin

[Gypsy Rose]

Sounds like everyone is having a blast!! :rolleyes: Welcome to winter from Minnesnowta!

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2076/172/78/514475951/n514475951_1849648_919.jpg

oh, and my car :D

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs112.snc3/15950_201062275951_514475951_3598370_1798015_n.jpg

Cute snowman! No fair, though- you have more snow than I do!:p

[Suzi]

Virginia has been cold too. It's not unusual to get into the 20's at night, bit it has been like this since early Xmas week and we are expecting this to continue for a few more days. We have an old farmhouse and a woodstove. its hard to keep the rooms at the same temp. One room is cool anther too warm.
I grew up in upstate NY, I shouldn't hate this cold that much, but I do.

[vicklynn]

Mom told me to put a small heater under the sink, so I did. Its on low, hopefully it will heat the pipes enough that it will go down into the frozen water. I checked under the house and saw no water, so at least, I hope, the lines are not broke.
I guess the reason that pipe froze is because its on the outside wall where the wind is blowing the most. She told me to have my cold water nobs on too, so it can drip as it defrosts and not break the line.

[Bessie13]

Well it's about 38 outside right now. They said it won't get much colder tonight, maybe 34/35, but tomorrow and tomorrow night we may see snow flurries. We luckily don't have the wind you are feeling, but we've had it and will have it again.. I'm sure.

I can't remember having this many consecutive days of cold weather in decades. Honestly, I don't think we have had this many days of cold weather in an entire winter?

[iluvbo]

Gosh, I just saw this thread....I cannot believe this weather! Schools are shutting down, I may not even be working tomorrow. I hear ya, AU, I'm from Illinois but I've lived in the south since I was 7 and I cant take this cold weather. :( Have you been to Montgomery lately?

[Fjords <3]

15?! Our lows are in the single digits for the next three days. :( I want summer back

[lacyloo]

Nooo Summer is TO hot lol
Its going to start raining early in the AM. Oh joy :rolleyes:

[Diane of Buck's Hollow]

On my way out to take more warm water up to the barn. Our pond is frozen solid.

Couldn't get up the driveway to go to work today...Solid sheet of Ice. Sunday's Man is on his way back from Texas today. When he arrives home later this evening...he will have to park at the top of the drive and walk down.

I will never complain about the Southern Hot Summer Weather again...I will never complain about the Southern Hot Summer Weather again...I will never complain.........lol