“…we went to watch the waves that bitter day and the wind took your red cap and mittens – blew them into the sea…”
I should be singing “What a Difference a Day Makes.” Yesterday’s warmth has given way to a seasonably cold morning in the mid-40’s. The view outside my window even looks cold with a here again, gone again sun, a strong breeze and cloudy skies. The weather isn’t inviting though I’ve already been out for breakfast and have to fill the bird feeders later. I’m thinking today is a good day to lounge.
I remember walking to school every day regardless of the weather. The worst walk was during the winter when it was cold and sometimes so damp my bones would chill. My mother made us wear snow pants, thick coats, hats, mittens and sometimes boots, but when I got to a certain age, snow pants were out. I didn’t want to wear them anymore. They were, in my mind, for little kids. Worst of all was I looked silly wearing them because my uniform skirt was worn over the pants instead of tucked in, never an attractive look. My mother, still trying to keep me warm, bought me pink thermal underwear instead. I remember the legs of the underwear reached to my knees. I also remember the underwear was really ugly.
I have a winter coat but I seldom wear it. Going from the house to the car to a warm store doesn’t seem to warrant a heavy coat; instead, I wear a sweatshirt most of the winter, but if it gets really cold, like single digits, I add a lined jacket, a light jacket. I still wear mittens instead of gloves. They keep my hands warm with all the fingers interacting. I have earmuffs but am seldom outside long enough to need them. They’re an emergency item. I hate having red, cold ears.
I have a couple of pairs of boots, but I don’t wear them either. They’re the sort with laces up the front, and, in the age of velcro, that seems an awful lot of work. I usually just wait until my walk is shoveled before I go anywhere and then I wear my wool winter clogs which I have in four different colors. If nothing else, my feet are fashionable in winter.
Explore posts in the same categories: MusingsTags: breezy, cloudy, cold day, earmuffs, laced boots, long underwear, mittens, pink thermal underwear, single digits, snowpants, sweatshort, walking to school, wearing layers, wool clogs
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November 4, 2013 at 1:27 pm
I always bring a warm winter jacket when driving, just in case the car would break down or crash. So far it never has happened but I am prepared 🙂
My mother believed in, and still does, layer on layer. I think there should be a law on how many layers are allowed on a young kid 🙂 I rarely froze though 🙂
The best winter boots I’ve ever had when I was a child was something called snowmobile boots. They were sort of rubber boots but with a thick inner sock and they had laces one had to tie. I never saw that kind of boots again after they were gone.
Nowdays I have the kind that can take lots of water but still doesn’t let it in and they breathe too so I’m never too warm in them. Strange really becasue I can wear them in summer and they feel like summer shoes and in winter and then trhey feel warm and nice?!
Have a great day!
Christer.
November 4, 2013 at 3:11 pm
Hi Christer,
I figure I won’t be anywhere broken down where my phone won’t work. I’ll stay in the car and hope to stay warm until AAA comes to save me.
I think most mothers believed in layers. It is one of the universal rules. I too never froze, was usually warm. My boots were the ones worn over shoes. The worst things were trying to get my shoes out of them when I got to school then try to get them back on my shoes to go home.
I don’t wear my boots now, no reasons. My walk gets shoveled then I go out!
Have a wonderful evening.
November 4, 2013 at 1:50 pm
I should be singing “Buckets of Rain” today…
November 4, 2013 at 3:11 pm
Birgit,
I would have joined you the last couple of days.
November 4, 2013 at 3:08 pm
Hi Kat,
I don’t remember having a snow suit but I must have had one. My brothers did. Pictures of me as kid show mostly dungarees and sweaters. Maybe a jacket. I remember galoshes with fold over metal buckles. And I remember wearing pants under my dress for the walk to and from school on those wintery days.
Generally I try not to wear coats, preferring to wear a heavy sweater and maybe gloves. There is a coat in the jeep just in case. There’s one for Rocky, too.
It was actually rather nice up here today. The day started out really cold but the sun came out and it warmed up to 42F. The south side of the house was very warm. The north side not so much. Rocky and I sat out on the front step in the warm south side sun. Now and then I would wander around to the north side and rake some leaves. I filled the bird feeders as well. It was almost pleasant to be outdoors, in a November kind of way.
Enjoy the day.
November 4, 2013 at 3:19 pm
Hi Caryn,
I think snowsuits were what we all wore when we were young, toddlers even. Later I had snow pants and a snow jacket, separates.
I had boots which you pulled on and off, never those galoshes. My father had a pair of them in black. Yup, you had the same look I did with my skirt over my pants.
I find gloves don’t keep my hands as warm as mittens. One finger seems to warm the others.
It is around 45˚ now but it feels raw. No part of outside is warm. The sun has chosen to be elsewhere. I got really chilly filling the feeders. My feet and hands are still cold.
Have a great evening!
November 4, 2013 at 5:33 pm
Everybody laughs at me because I never dress for the cold until the last possible moment. I am in shirtsleeves usually until November 1rst. In New Jersey, no less. This is due to the fact that my working life at the cable company was spent in a room that was 80 degrees year round. Walking out the door was kinda refreshing during a cold snap…to this day, when I look at old pictures of TV or radio studios my first thought is, “Holy crap, those old tubes that were used – – how much heat was given off in that studio!!!????”
I am grateful I live on the top floor of the condo…because warm air rises!
I never wear boots…always sneakers! I do remember wearing them in school as a kid – – such a pain in the butt to pull off!
Waving from Jersey…
Coleen
November 4, 2013 at 5:46 pm
Hi Coleen,
I just hate the weight of those heavy jackets. When I get into a car, it has to come off so I figure why wear it. In a restaurant the backs of chairs aren’t meant for heavy jackets.
Warm air does’t rise here. My upstairs, the third floor because of a walk-in cellar, is always colder than downstairs. I can feel the change in temperature as I get toward the top of the stairs. I don’t mind as I like a cold bedroom.
I love my wool clogs for the winter. They keep my feet warm, and if my feet are warm, I am too!!
Waving from the cape!!
November 5, 2013 at 12:23 am
The east had seasons, at least that’s what I remember. Here, it could be winter,spring, summer and fall ( I feel a song coming on) all in one day, so one must layer.
I went to a Halloween ritual performance in the park, and it was fine, but despite wearing warm items, I was cold, midway thru the performance. Then there were art installations along a path, where spirits guided me, if I had trouble seeing, or walking.
I layer when I go to bed, which is where I am headed now.
Waving,
Lori and the crew
November 5, 2013 at 9:22 am
Hi Lori,
I love the different, some more than others. Winter is my least favorite. I love watching the snow fall, and my yard is like a fairyland when the sun glistens off the snow, but I hate the inconvenience and the loss of electricity sometimes.
Halloween was uncharacteristically warm for us, but would be cold for you I suspect.
Two nights ago I finally closed my bedroom window. It got cold.
Waving right back-including a few paws!