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Winter stay indoors things you do

R

Richard from SE AZ

Member
Here in SE AZ our winters are pretty mild so our stay indoors because of bad weather days are few, but, being retired with only my place to take care of, I don't spend much time outside when it gets down below around 40* with a cold wind blowing. I like to read, reload ammo and to keep my hands and fingers from getting stiff, I build model plastic airplanes. My kids think that weird because I am almost 72. What do you guys do to keep occupied when your weather is too bad to work outside?
 
Our winters are usually fairly mild and this year has been even milder than normal so I'm outside more. On bad days I'm usually working on taxes or figuring out a budget and what is needed on the farm. Sometimes I just goof off and watch an old western.
 
Did I hear something about plastic model planes? BTW I'm 72 however this one's been hanging a long time.
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Last couple of winters I've rebuilt motorcycles, but that's as big a money pit as old tractors.

This year I'm playing with micro-controllers and learning a bit of "C" programming. If I get far enough, my eventual goal is to get into simple robotics. Warmer and (so far...) cheaper.
 
Always intend to do all the "little things" I never have time for then do some hobby stuff. Never works out that way!!!
 
When you say "stay indoors" I believe you mean, not working out in the weather.
Since this is a site for tractor people it may come as a surprise to some that there are a few of us who actually have tractors and a place to work on them during adverse weather conditions.

I am working on a John Deere 1520 diesel, high utility, that is nearly complete. I just need to put some of the sheet metal [already painted] on and replace the fluids and she is ready to go. Then I will spend some time cleaning my heated garage and by then it will be time to work on my tilling equipment so that I am ready to go when Spring arrives.

I, like most still farming, will also work outdoors when the weather permits as a lot of my equipment is to big to fit into my sheds. I still need to replace one of the units on a planter and one of my disk harrows has a bad bearing that needs replacing before spring. I also need to find a couple of pieces of equipment for my customers before spring so off to the winter auctions I will go. There is also the seed and fertilizer that I still need to order and of course the paper work for those tax people.

The rest of the time I will just sit around and play on the computer. Happy farming.
 
It's always 50 degrees in the shop, so that's where I spend most of my free time. I seem to be able to accumulate projects faster than I can finish them.

Pulled 6.5 diesel last weekend. Block is junk so that project on hold til I find an engine.

Brought a couple Grasshoppers in. Going to make one runner out of the pair.
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I have a little shop,no heat in it yet,,and Im not real handy at mechanical work..I try real hard not to be a pain here on Y/T in the winter.You tube videos are nice to watch once in a while,much better than tv.I still ride the bike as long as there is no ice or snow to try to not gain more weight,,,lol.Also I try to make creative dishes with the crockpot,using frozen vegs. and things we stored from the garden.
 
I'm lucky to have set my place so I live over my shop. Weve had a pretty mild winter here in NNY so far but there have been a few days that ive only gone out to fix the fire. I've been going through a MH 50 this winter.
 

If it is too bad to work outside I play outside. Skiing and snowmobiling. I am a few weeks shy of 68. We often ride 200+ miles per day, sometimes not getting to our destination until after 11:00 PM. Zero degrees, sixty MPH riding into a 25MPH wind. Snow swirling so that you can't see the trail surface directly in front of the sled, break-downs and repairs out on the trail in the dark. great fun!!
 
I started carving caricatures after retiring had to do some thing. Wisconsin has some very long cold winters so its put wood in the stove and carve. can't wait till spring. Randy
 
I try to get my equipment ready for the spring. My shop is not heated so some days I stay in the house, piddle around cleaning guns, read, watch tv. Help my wife cook and just relax .
 
Outside chores take a lot longer in the winter, especially carrying hot water from the house instead of turning on the garden hose. By the time I get done, I want to stay in until the feeling returns to my hands and feet.

That said, yesterday I built a target in the basement for shooting a pellet pistol. Guess where this is going.
 
I'm still working my town job, but will get some time off starting Monday, as Mrs. Shoo is getting a new knee. When I'm not waiting on her, hand and foot, will work on getting my home office organized. We're both kind of pack rats, so I'm going to get rid of a bunch of stuff while she's laid up and can't stop me.
 
Purchase a kit flintlock pistol kit and make it happen. All model building skills apply (except the solvent cement) Jim
 
Since I still work I just have the weekends, I have recently started taking an interest in collecting old farm toys. Living in town I don't have room for the real thing. I recently purchased a 970 Case that needs restored, so I am studying up on how to take it apart and doing it right. I want to do it as a black night demonstrator.
 
I have been sitting in a chair at the filing cabinets with my paper shredder. I got records from the seventies on. I decided anything over seven years old is going in. I though I might as well save someone else the hassle after I'm gone. I figured I'll do like I do on my taxes and make myself work on it a little each day until I'm done. I would still rather be outside doing something fun.
 
Trying to get my shop cleaned up and back in order. Since I haven't done customer work in several years, it's backslid.
 
I have been working on a beat to death Cub Cadet with a snowthrower, (also beat to death). I have some firearm projects I want to get to.And there is an Economy tractor in my shed that needs a complete going through and that has a snowthrower too. Last year my friend brought out a tractor and we did a lot of work on that. I am thinking of some storage improvements for the house, book shelves, food storage etc. In Rhode Island there is at least 4 months when I would rather be in. I have thought of models too. I think your list looks great. I almost bought a model of the battle ship Missouri a few weeks ago, but I have enough to do without it.
 
Suppose you HAD to do it?

A buddy of mine and I were water skiing one evening when it got cool. We were sitting in the boat wrapped up in towels and sweatshirts trying to keep warm. He looked over at me and said, "I'm sure as hell glad we don't HAVE to do this!"
 
Like DoubleR, I've been cleaning house. Planning to retire this summer and move out of our colonial we've had for 30 yrs and raised our kids in. Found boxes of old financial records 20 yrs old.
Putting a few in the fireplace each time we use it. Amazing the stuff you accumulate over the years. This winter, I've been filling a couple of garbage bags each weekend from the basement and it STILL looks full. :lol:
 
(quoted from post at 11:19:24 01/29/17) Suppose you HAD to do it?

A buddy of mine and I were water skiing one evening when it got cool. We were sitting in the boat wrapped up in towels and sweatshirts trying to keep warm. He looked over at me and said, "I'm sure as hell glad we don't HAVE to do this!"
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I expect that having to do it would take the fun out of it. I will admit that at times the challenge of getting to the next town sixty miles away at zero degrees, when you are on a 60 MPH trail but it is too cold to go over forty, can take a little of the fun out of it.
 
I read. I also light the fire in the wood shop first thing and wait for a hour or so to get the chill gone. Have already shredded old records and crap. Am working on eliminating the 'leaning against the wall' scraps - but jeez some of it is just too good to throw out ! Ran all the gas engines a week ago including the JD 60 - stubborn old John took 2 rhumpas to start !
 
I too started with plastic airplanes a couple of years ago. Primarily military, from 1/32 down to 1/144. I now have 5 ea 6' shelves crammed, a couple of display racks, and an air force base on one of my 4x8 n scale train layouts.....which is what I started after I got about all the airplanes that interested me. After two layouts of trains, one of which I have posted on here based on the Willie Nelson version of "A Train they call The City of New Orleans", I did some military ships.

Currently in the American historical discovery ships. Have all 3 Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria, plus the Mayflower from the collection of Artesania Latina, an Italian wooden model kit company.

Most of my models mean something to me, were part of my life, or are of a historical value. I enjoy building them and learning of the things that their designers decided were necessary to make the real thing work. I also put myself in the real life situation as best ones imagination can do of the model and it's purpose.

Imagining 2 months at sea with crew, passengers, livestock, and stores on the La Nina, which is my current project is absolutely mind boggling.
Those people weren't determined, they had to be desperate......and to think Queen Isabella wanted to get Columbus out from under her feet so the trio of ships were just some old tubs she had sitting around.....not new ships......to sail "off the end of the earth".

But, on clear days like today, in the 50's this afternoon, I was outside running my iron.....clears up cabin fever in a jiffy.
 
I collect and restore old Coleman lanterns and lamps. From 20's to 70's. I use them camping in the summer and at my cottage. Keeps me busy
 
I don't have livestock anymore and now my loader tractor has a cab so I call myself a soft lazy farmer. The tractor shop and the wood shop keep me occupied in the winter when I'm not doing books, helping run Marilyn's sis to chemo or taking care of dad's business or running parts or shuffling trucks for my son. Seems like lately the shop work is sideline work I occasionally get a shot at. In the shop I am trying to get this B done so I can have space to run the 1086 in for a brake job. Then there is a JD 50 coming in that is locked in gear and a Super C to just get running again. Sounds like light weight tuning will do the trick on the C. I don't know if the 50 will merely entail the shift forks or something deeper. I hope to get all this done in February but???? Last spring I seeded oats in March but I don't think that will happen this spring.
 
When it's too cold I reload 12,20,28 and .410 shells. Also center fire shells for my M-1 Garand and .38/.357 revolvers.
When everything is loaded I do silver smithing making rings and pins.
At least it keeps me out of the bars and away from the wild women.....if thats a good thing.
 
I'm 3 weeks shy of 68 and the last dam thing I'm going do is get on a snowmobile, although I still got one in case I ever get a young streak in me again.
 
My shop is small enough that if I start the kerosene heater at 8am, it's 60+F by noon when it's 25F outside. Always fixing something, building something, or improving something.
 
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