So here in Staffordshire, it's been twilight all day, cold and raining.
Just think how miserable it must have been (or still is!) for those without
proper houses and heating! Or in the trenches in WW1?

It's very hard to stay motivated, and I wish we could just hibernate.

I heard one opinion that this is why the early Christians stuck Xmas near
the winter solstice, to take advantage of an alleviation of the winter blues
and to have a much-needed feast!

Barb UK

Barb, it is evident that you need to take a prescription from Dr.
Beagles: make more wine - drink more wine - more often.






On 2007-12-08 07:43:50 -0800, "Barb" said:

So here in Staffordshire, it's been twilight all day, cold and raining.
Just think how miserable it must have been (or still is!) for those without
proper houses and heating! Or in the trenches in WW1?

It's very hard to stay motivated, and I wish we could just hibernate.

I heard one opinion that this is why the early Christians stuck Xmas near
the winter solstice, to take advantage of an alleviation of the winter blues
and to have a much-needed feast!

Barb UK

And this time of year the prescription is mulled wine or Glogg. Served
steaming hot with a shot of Vodka or Akvavit. Warms to the bone! :^)

Quixote

"AxisOfBeagles" wrote in message
news:2007120807560316807-me@donotreplycom...
Barb, it is evident that you need to take a prescription from Dr.
Beagles: make more wine - drink more wine - more often.






On 2007-12-08 07:43:50 -0800, "Barb" said:

So here in Staffordshire, it's been twilight all day, cold and raining.
Just think how miserable it must have been (or still is!) for those
without
proper houses and heating! Or in the trenches in WW1?

It's very hard to stay motivated, and I wish we could just hibernate.

I heard one opinion that this is why the early Christians stuck Xmas near
the winter solstice, to take advantage of an alleviation of the winter
blues
and to have a much-needed feast!

Barb UK

On Dec 8, 7:43 am, "Barb" wrote:
I heard one opinion that this is why the early Christians stuck Xmas near
the winter solstice, to take advantage of an alleviation of the winter blues
and to have a much-needed feast!

Actually, it's more likely that they put Xmas there because that's
when all the big celebrations were- Saturnalia, Yalda, etc.

Co-opting not only the time of a mid-winter holiday, but many pre-Xtian
traditions too: gift giving, feasting, lighted trees, etc.




On 2007-12-11 15:06:57 -0800, Madalch said:

Actually, it's more likely that they put Xmas there because that's
when all the big celebrations were- Saturnalia, Yalda, etc.

On Dec 8, 8:43 am, "Barb" wrote:
So here in Staffordshire, it's been twilight all day, cold and raining.
Just think how miserable it must have been (or still is!) for those without
proper houses and heating! Or in the trenches in WW1?

It's very hard to stay motivated, and I wish we could just hibernate.

I heard one opinion that this is why the early Christians stuck Xmas near
the winter solstice, to take advantage of an alleviation of the winter blues
and to have a much-needed feast!

Barb UK

I do sympathise Barb. I emigrated from England to the States ten years
ago, and live in Arizona. It is 70 degrees most days in december.
Brrrr!!!!

While I sympathise, I must ask it...did you expect any other advice on
this group than "errr....make and drink more wine dude!"

Hic!

xxx

Sean

While I sympathise, I must ask it...did you expect any other advice on
this group than "errr....make and drink more wine dude!"

Hic!

xxx

Sean

Actually, Sean, it's probably what I wanted to hear!! ;-)
Barb UK

On Dec 13, 7:29 am, "Barb" wrote:
While I sympathise, I must ask it...did you expect any other advice on
this group than "errr....make and drink more wine dude!"

Hic!

xxx

Sean

Actually, Sean, it's probably what I wanted to hear!! ;-)
Barb UK

I live in Pittsburgh and our weather is always bad also; my winemaking
room is well lit and has no windows so it just doesn't matter. Wine
doesn't like sunlight so I consider it a blessing; the bad weather
just forces me into winemaking mode... It's all in how you look at
things.



Joe

I live in Pittsburgh and our weather is always bad also; my winemaking
room is well lit and has no windows so it just doesn't matter. Wine
doesn't like sunlight so I consider it a blessing; the bad weather
just forces me into winemaking mode... It's all in how you look at
things.



Joe

Actually, I've just thought of an advantage to winter!!! I put my
fermenting wines in the airing cupboard - with the door open a little, so
the temperature doesn't get too high - and they "go" much quicker than in
the summer, when I do them in the kitchen and the temperature is lower and
more irregular. (The cat likes it in there, too..)

So I get to drink the wine quicker!!!! :-))

I still have to do the big 5 gal one in the kitchen, though, with a
heater... which uses leccy.... which adds to global warming ... which makes
me depressed again ... which makes me drink more wine..... ho hum! Can't
have it all ways, huh?


Barb UK

I still have to do the big 5 gal one in the kitchen, though, with a
heater... which uses leccy....

Well, wine makes it's own heat when it's fermenting. Try wrapping
that carboy in a blanket and see what happens. At minimum, you won't
need as much warming if you insulate it. That, or power your heater
with solar or a wind turbine...

:O)

Joe

"Joe Sallustio" wrote in message
...
I still have to do the big 5 gal one in the kitchen, though, with a
heater... which uses leccy....

Well, wine makes it's own heat when it's fermenting. Try wrapping
that carboy in a blanket and see what happens. At minimum, you won't
need as much warming if you insulate it. That, or power your heater
with solar or a wind turbine...

:O)

Joe


Yep, good point Joe. I did wrap a blanket round my 5gal fermenter, in the
belief that it would cut down elec. consumption, so hopefully I am still
being a bit "green"!!

Next time, I think I'll contrive a layer of bubble wrap under the blanket,
which will help even more - so maybe the heater won't have to come on very
much at all! Probably just a bit during the night when the heating is off.

Barb UK