Lessons Learned

Every year, since getting the rain barrels, I have dutifully drained them, disconnected them, and placed them upside down under our eaves.  This year, time got away from me and it grew cold so I never bothered to take on the yearly winterizing.  I heard that other folks with barrels left them out so why not see what happens.

Well, this is what happens:

It looks like the rear barrel, filled with water, froze into a solid block of ice.  The bottom of the barrel expanded, so it fell off of it's platform.  It actually looks more like it committed "rain barrel suicide" and jumped off.  From what I can tell, the barrel is still in one piece, though the spigot is broken.  Now I have to wait until the sucker melts so I can move it back.  Given the size of the ice, I am guessing this could take until March.

The front barrel is still out and has had no problems.  I wonder if I should take advantage of this weekend's heat wave and bring it in.