The wind howling outside lets me know that the cold will soon descend upon us. I must admit, we enjoyed an extended warm-weather spell through October; but of course, all good things must end. That said, I love winter as much as any of the other seasons: I just don't like being cold.Because of our climate, though, houses here are constructed primarily to keep cool in the summer. Which doesn't do us much good the other nine months of the year. Over time, we've grown accustomed to wearing wool hats indoors and rock-solid bricks of butter on February mornings. The temperature in our winter home may be cooler than what most Americans would find comfortable, but on the positive side, I haven't had a cold in two years---and that one I caught while traveling and visiting friends.
The folks over at re-nest.com have posted a list of 14 Ways to Keep Warm Without Turning the Heat On or Up, which I suggest everyone have a look at before the cold, crisp winds make their way to your parts. And if you haven't already, get yourself an "old-fashioned" hot water bottle. They are the best! And I'll let you in on one of my secrets: prepare the bottle about 15 to 20 minutes before bedtime. Wrap your pjs around the bottle and place between the bedsheets. There is nothing like slipping into toasty warm bedclothes on a cold winter night. :-)
*NaNoWriMo count: 7,461/50,000 words
