Comments on Canadian Doomer: So Saucy

I can't knit at all. But even if I could, I&#...

2012-09-17T14:19:47.470-04:00

I can't knit at all. But even if I could, I'm not sure that sharp knitting needles would be wise around my crazy little monkeys (who are supposed to be napping right now so that Maman can have a nap, but instead they're recreating WWI)

Xtra Tufs are fairly expensive, but they're am...

2012-09-17T13:39:30.221-04:00

Xtra Tufs are fairly expensive, but they're amazing boots and they last for years. I recommend the steel-toed ones, at least for Mr. D.
Also, I echo all of the comments recommending Carhartts. My husband works outside as well, as does his father, and that's the brand they both choose. (In interior Alaska.)
I don't know if you knit, or if you're planning to learn, but I made a set of fingerless gloves for my husband a while ago, for hunting and other times when having real gloves won't work. Even after using cheap yarn, he's told me that his hands sometimes get too warm while he's wearing them. Plus, he can slip gloves on over the top if he needs to, and I've made them long enough that it bridges any gaps between coat sleeves and gloves. Very, very handy. I made some for myself, too, and I wear them all the time. I imagine for winter farm work they'd be quite nice. Keep your hands warm as you milk goats and cows, perhaps? You can find all sorts of patterns online, or having a very basic knowledge of knitting you can design your own (that's what I did and I'm not the greatest knitter).

As I said, there's probably LESS wind in the ...

2012-09-17T06:31:38.548-04:00

As I said, there's probably LESS wind in the outhouse. :)

Outhouses can get really cold quickly.

2012-09-16T22:43:33.446-04:00

Outhouses can get really cold quickly.

The store where we ordered them - CFR - caters to...

2012-09-16T08:07:51.377-04:00

The store where we ordered them - CFR - caters to Plain Mennonites. Most Mennonites (at least the Plain ones around here!) are the epitome of frugal in that they generally buy the best they can so that they only have to buy once. So,for example, this store stocks Dickie work clothes but not Big Bill (the cheaper brand made by the same company, which I regret buying). I'm not worried that we're getting cheap quality from them.

At any rate, we ordered them because they only had Medium and Large in stock, and Mr D has "unusually broad shoulders" (I had to giggle a bit when he was told that) so he needs XL. The ones he tried on, though, had a zipper all the way down the front of the overalls and zippers up the sides of the legs. He commented that "Wow - these are warm. I'm working up a sweat just trying them on."

Not that it's likely much warmer, but they do have an outhouse, so at least he doesn't have to go pee in the wind. :) Well, at least it's probably less wind.

I'm sure there is some specialty store *somew...

2012-09-16T07:50:45.170-04:00

I'm sure there is some specialty store *somewhere* that has them, but "hellish expensive" makes me think they'd be way, way, way out of our price range! :) I looked up a picture of "Drizabone" and, you know, that's exactly what I imagine an Australian shepherd wearing.

Carhartt works well I have a closet of there stuff...

2012-09-16T01:03:54.015-04:00

Carhartt works well I have a closet of there stuff in FR and while it is expensive it is worth it. I would suggest that if going for the two piece set (ie overalls and jacket) you get the jacket a size larger than needed for extra movement and in the overalls make sure to get the ones with the zippers up the side of the legs as that means it's easier to get them on and off over boots or if you get too warm you can unzip the legs a bit to cool down. There are some nock off brands out there and I have a coworker who bought a set of overalls of one of those brands and they have no fly. While this sounds like a minor problem let me tell you that peeing in the wind is cold enough at -40, if you need to take off your overalls to pee means a lot of heat loss and real problems getting that heat back.

On the tomatoes what about a soup?

I don't suppose you get Drizabone parkas there...

2012-09-16T00:02:45.544-04:00

I don't suppose you get Drizabone parkas there - sort of an oilskin coat, the first choice of farmers and shepherds in the hill country. Hellish expensive but I get the impression they last you for life. Got one on my wishlist for walking to work in the rain.....

My husband is a roofer, works outside year round,...

2012-09-15T17:07:23.929-04:00

My husband is a roofer, works outside year round, cold enough that vehicles without blockheaters freeze every winter. I second the Carhart. Because of abrasion wearing through the fabric waaay too quickly in his line of work, he had a shoe repair place put on leather reinforcements on his new ones. Much better.

Today we ordered a duck-fabric winter coat and ove...

2012-09-14T21:10:25.268-04:00

Today we ordered a duck-fabric winter coat and overalls through CFR. I think they're Carhartt, actually.

That sounds nice. I have used tomato juice in the...

2012-09-14T20:33:53.753-04:00

That sounds nice. I have used tomato juice in the past to cook pot roast and it was delicious. So - save myself more work and just can that 6 L as juice. Works for me.

Are you normally from somewhere warmer than Minnes...

2012-09-14T20:32:51.562-04:00

Are you normally from somewhere warmer than Minnesota? :)

He already has good work gloves and some absolutely wonderful Darn Tough wool socks.

LOL Mason jars I have aplenty. What I don't h...

2012-09-14T20:06:45.359-04:00

LOL Mason jars I have aplenty. What I don't have is a) freezer space or b) zip lock bags.

No worries - nothing will go to waste.

Quite right about the Carhartts! My hubby works ou...

2012-09-14T14:28:01.242-04:00

Quite right about the Carhartts! My hubby works outside and he wears Carhartt pants, then he layers them over jeans, and if it is really cold he wears the overalls with the removable liner. Wool socks are a must, as well as quality waterproof boots with removeable liners. We have a boot dryer so his boots are dry and toasty warm every morning. One of those rediculous ear flap hats, are another must for cold days. He got his at Home Hardware, it has Carhartt type fabric with a fuzzy lining. I borrow it for winter walks :-) And another must, strap on ice grips. They have metal bits on the bottom and make walking on icy surfaces easy. I nearly forgot to mention long johns. Think layers, think 'what will get wet during a shift' because you will want more than one of those. Hubby has winter bits and pieces in his truck so he can add or change layers as necessary. Beginning of the shift it is really cold and by midday it might be jeans and a ball cap weather. Warm foods are nice at lunch too. HTH!

Just a quick comment on the clothing for out door ...

2012-09-14T13:08:23.417-04:00

Just a quick comment on the clothing for out door work.
Good Boots, (and 'Wool' socks)
Good Hat, (or Toque for our most Northern friends)
Good pair of Gloves (at least 2 pair) to interchange and let dry when they get wet. The rest he'll figure out as the weather changes. But those three items are imperative and do not skimp as without them you are at the mercy of inclement weather.
I spent 5 years working as a care taker on a wilderness estate in Northern Minnesota, USA. Good Boots, Good Hat and Good Gloves saved my day as I worked out and about.
TinMan

Carhartt for work clothes for outside for both Mr....

2012-09-14T13:06:26.833-04:00

Carhartt for work clothes for outside for both Mr. D and youself after the baby arrives. Not cheap but last forever and wear like iron. www.carhartt.com. They have a catalog or order on line. Also suggest Underarmor, https://www.underarmour.com/shop/ca/en really keeps you toasty inside when you're outside.

Freeze the left over. Place it in mason type jars ...

2012-09-14T12:57:53.075-04:00

Freeze the left over. Place it in mason type jars but do NOT fill to the top. Just below the shoulder of the jar should suffice. Then put it in the freezer. You can always thaw it out at a later date and can it in your water bath or pressure canner. But frozen juice will work fine until you have a use for it.
If you don't have any extra 'Mason' jars lying about, I have used 'Zip Lock' type freezer bags in a pinch. Fill them, seal them and lay them flat in the freezer.... I hate to see good produce go to waste.

Why not use it for soup base or as the stock for a...

2012-09-14T12:47:30.409-04:00

Why not use it for soup base or as the stock for a pot roast... I used some yesterday for cooking ribs before BBQing them - I cooked the ribs for 3-hours on the stove top with tomato juice, onions, peppers and mushooms. I then cooked the stock down and used it to cook the rice I served with the meal. I know you don't use rice but you could use it for soup stock.