Cold Weather

During my first marriage after I purchased a home, no one told me to wrap the pipes and unhook the hoses when it dropped below freezing.  Of course the pipes froze and burst in the brick requiring some extensive plumbing work.  Daddy took care of it for me every year after that tragic incident.

After I divorced, my Daddy taught my 11 year old son how to take care of his Momma.  He taught him how to wrap the pipes so that we would not have water damage when we move 200 miles away from them.  My Daddy was so proud of the wonderful skills he taught my son.  He not only taught him how to wrap the pipes but also how to change my air filter, and make sure the flue was open before we started a fire in the fireplace.

Daddy always called when the weather called for freezing to remind me to get those pipes wrapped.  Daddy had a funny way of wrapping pipes.  He was very creative in saving money.  Of course they sell those wonderful insulated covers at Walmart for $3 or $4, but Daddy found it was much cheaper to buy a bag of baby diapers and after unscrewing the hose, the insulate the faucet in the baby diaper.  Of course you had to secure the baby diaper with duct tape which made for an interesting picture.  And just to make sure the tape didn't get wet and fall off, you had to wrap the whole big thing in tin foil.  Such a lovely sight on the side of your house but oh so economical.

Well yesterday was the first good cold snap and I really missed getting the call from my Daddy to remind me to remind my husband to go get some baby diapers and wrap the faucet.  Of course Ray used the insulated covers from Walmart, but I did call and remind my son to take care of Mom's pipes so they would not freeze.

Isn't it funny how the little things in life remind of the wonderful lessons taught to us by caring and loving parents.  Daddy, if you are reading this in heaven, every body's pipes are wrapped!