Saturday, May 22, 2010

Saturday, May 22, 2010
Waxing Moon
Pluto Retrograde
Cloudy and warm

Getting here as an adventure yesterday. I was up and out the door for my run, and back by the time I usually leave; got everything gathered, got the train to the city, picked up water, walked over to Penn Station from Grand Central.

That’s where it got sticky. Because of an accident in NJ, the turnpike was closed, and the busses couldn’t get in. Three of the DC busses and one Boston bus that were supposed to leave well before ours still hadn’t loaded. And they had no idea when any of it would clear up.

Switching bus services wouldn’t work — it wasn’t the bus line, but the highway that was the problem. I figured, if I waited too long, I’d pop into Penn and see if I could get a seat on an Amtrak (although that’s a full $80 more than the bus).

They got two DC & the Boston bus off and started lining them up for the next Boston. Suddenly, our Philly bus turned up, they shoved us all on it, and we took off. It was only about 35 minutes late. Our driver said, “I don’t know when the hell we’ll get there, but we gonna get there, ‘cause I am the BEST.” And he was.

The trip itself was fine. I had the iPod on, and every song in the shuffle was perfect. I’m reading an anthology of fantasy romance called THE QUEEN IN WINTER with novellas by Claire Delacroix, Lynn Kurland, Sharon Shinn, and Sharah Monette. I read all of Kurland’s “A Whisper of Spring”, which was lovely, and started Shinn’s “When Winter Comes” which I really like, too. When I picked it up, I didn’t realize Shinn was included. I’m glad, because she’s one of my favorites.

Philly was so hot and sunny I thought I would pass out. I found out later it hit 91. Considering I had to wear fleece two days ago when I went on my run, it was too rapid a change.

Went to where I’m staying/working, dumped the luggage, changed out of travel clothes into LL Bean cottons, and headed up to Trader Joe’s (which is almost all the way back to 30th St. station). Picked up what I needed, went to the liquor store, got what I needed there, went to Metropolitan Bakery to get my coffee and something for breakfast today — all they had that was breakfasty was a fruit and oat bar, which didn’t thrill me, but I got it anyway. However, when I ate it this morning, it was WONDERFUL. Lovely surprise.

The rest of the day, I lay around reading cookbooks and magazines. I was done. I had lobster ravioli in Alfredo sauce for dinner. Didn’t watch TV. Instead, I did a tough yoga routine to get out the kinks the travel-with-luggage put in, a good meditation, and some reading. I went to bed very early.

Slept well, up early, yoga, did my work here. It’s supposed to be cooler here today and then rain tonight, but it looks like it’ll rain before then. Good thing I travel with an umbrella!

The plan is to go to Reading Terminal Market today. Although I’m worried it’ll be high-end touristy, there are some things I want to see, like the second-hand bookstore, the cookbookstore, and some of the food stalls. If it’s too touristy, I’ll leave.

My arm is healing well. I don’t even think there will be much of a scar. I’m glad, because I’ve been working on this poultice for several years now, and I’ve finally hit the balance of materials that my body responds well to. It disinfects and draws out contaminants while starting the healing process. I’ve noticed that, when I use traditional/synthetic medicines, I feel worse for the first 48 hours, it looks gross, and then the surface seems to knit while underneath is still a mess, and often it has to be re-opened and the process started again. So, while it seems to heal quickly, there are frequent set backs. When I use holistic medicine, there’s relief within the first hour, and, although the overall healing is visually slower, it’s more thorough and there are fewer setbacks. Normally, in a wound like this, one treatment would be applied to disinfect and decontaminate, while then another put on to start the healing. I wanted to see if I could put both into one concoction — I’ve been working on this for about five years now — and this seems to be getting there. Patience is not one of my virtues, but it’s paying off here.

When I get back, I’ll do some more work, and maybe get some writing done. I nearly left the computer at home, but realized all my “in process” projects are on the computer, not in longhand (yes, I backed everything up on Time Machine before I left).

The internet connection here is Comcast, which. compared to my Optimum, is pathetically slow and unreliable. Now I know which company NOT to use when I move!

Off to the market!

Devon

Friday, January 15, 2010

I wish I was on Cape Cod

Friday, January 15, 2010
New Moon
Mars Retrograde
Mercury DIRECT (thank goodness)
Stormy and milder

If you want to donate to Haitian Relief, make sure it’s via a reputable organization. Your State Attorney General’s website should have information on all organizations registered in the state, and crosscheck with the BBB, and with CharityWatch.org. The ones I feel will be most useful in this case are The Red Cross (although I’m still mad at them in this area for ignoring the law allowing pets into shelters after the floods here in 2007), UNICEF, and Doctors Without Borders. When the initial relief effort eases and rebuilding begins, I’m sure Habitat for Humanity will get involved.

Working on stuff for the webhost move. Moving three domains and numerous subdomains and all the various “stuff” is a pain and it’s lower than my neck. It will be worth it once it’s done, but a hassle to get there.

Once I figure out how to get my damned mail off the webmail onto my hard drive, Fearless Ink is ready to move. Much as I hate to lose the design for Cerridwen’s Cottage, that will be an easy one to move, so that may go next, with the main Devon site and its subdomains going last.

The vet is pleased with Elsa’s progress, and she got all her shots updated. The LIE and the Cross Island Expressway were nightmares in both directions, but the Hutchinson Parkway was okay, so it worked out. There were lots of small, yappy dogs in the waiting room. Elsa likes dogs (after all, she wants a dachshund AND a mastiff), but when four of them tried to make friends at the same time, pawing at her carrier, it was a bit much. She gave a growl, and they were so shocked, they all sat down. And then she settled back and started purring.

However, somehow, when we put the carrier together in the examining room after her visit, something went wrong. When I took the carrier out of the car in the building parking lot, it fell apart. Bits snapped off, the door came off, it was a mess. Fortunately, it was Elsa and not one of the twins, or they’d have run into the street and been killed. As the carrier disintegrated around her, she jumped onto my chest and hung on. I was wearing the big LL Bean coat I bought back when I was doing TV location shoots a few years ago, so there was plenty to hang on to. I gathered the scraps of the carrier in one hand, supported her with the other arm, and we got back inside, all intact except for the carrier. I don’t quite understand — it’s a fairly new carrier, but it’s like the plastic got brittle and it’s falling apart.

Sigh. Guess I’m headed out to get new carriers.

Thank goodness Elsa’s instinct was to grab onto me instead of running. Iris and Violet would have bolted, and I’d never have found them.

Elsa’s got all her shots and certificates and tags. She could travel to Canada or France. Of course, I have to get my passport renewed first! I’m a big believer in always having a valid passport handy, and mine expires in August. Since they now hassle you if it expires within six months of a trip, and I may be going to Canada a few times this year, I have to mail in my renewal in the next couple of weeks.

Packed up some more decorations, percolated the next chapter of the steampunk, sent out a query for a project, and a few follow-ups on other stuff. There are two publications I may query in the next couple of days — they pay decently, and I’ve got some article ideas.

I read Nicole Peeler’s TEMPEST RISING and liked it. It’s a fresh take on the genre, I love that some of it’s set in Maine and some just outside Quebec (both areas of which I’m rather fond). I like the characters, the story, the new take on old myths. It stays out of cliche, and when it refers to a cliche, it turns it inside out. Wonderful contrast to the previous book I read.

And now I’m reading Deanna Raybourn’s SILENT IN THE GRAVE, which I just love. The writing’s gorgeous, the characters are great, I like the plot and the setting, and enjoy the fact that the protag comes from a large, unconventional but ultimately loving family. It was hard to put it aside once I’d started,but there was stuff that had to get done. So I used chapters as carrots — if I completed X task, I could read one chapter (of course, I always read at least two, but you get the picture).

Today, I’m carting more stuff to storage, checking on my mom (the acupuncture helped her A LOT –as in, she can move around again and walk). In fact, I’m taking her shoe shopping so she can use the gift card I gave her. And I just might treat myself to something, too. Although I still haven’t had a chance to wear the gray Liz Claiborne boots I bought the last time I went there — to buy the gift card!

As the saying goes — how many pairs of shoes should a woman own? One more than she already has!

So, I got a rejection from a query I sent out — but it’s NOT FOR MY BOOK. No, I’m not going to correct them. I’m crossing them off the list for any further submissions. That kind of carelessness is not acceptable. We would not be a good fit. I’m tempted to send them a snarky response pointing it out, but it’s not worth it.

Had a great first morning’s writing session on the steampunk. THAT’s the way it’s supposed to go! 😉

Back to the page for a few hours before I head out.

Devon

Monday, November 30, 2009

Monday, November 30, 2009
Waxing Moon
Uranus Retrograde
Rainy and cold

I haven’t opened the computer or typed for days. It feels weird to be back. It felt good to be unplugged.

I hope everyone had a great holiday.

Wednesday, we were on the road before 6 AM. We kept hearing how it would be such a heavy travel day — but there was NO traffic all the way through CT, MA, NH, until we crossed into Maine. It was a nice, smooth ride.

I stopped in Portsmouth at Riverrun Books — what a nice store! I bought a biography of Emily Post I’d wanted for awhile, and the time period covers some of my current research. We made our usual slew of stops heading up in Maine in Kittery and York and Wells and even Windham. We had lunch in York, at the Stolen Menu Cafe, which has become one of my favorite restaurants anywhere. The food is outstanding, the service is friendly, and it’s reasonably priced. I really like the Yorks anyway — I could live there, should I choose to go to Maine. It’s a friendly, year-round, arts-oriented community and I really like it. I picked up a few things I needed, stocked up at Stonewall Kitchen, found some decorations I thought were cute, and found my writing bag!

It’s made by Sharper Image, and has compartments for computer, folders, books, everything. I have room for my travel yoga mat, my research materials, everything. It’s on wheels, so I can walk it rather than carrying it. It’s small enough to be a carry-on, but large enough to hold everything I need. It was on sale for about 1/5th of what I’ve seen it at regular retail. So I grabbed it.

Found a skirt — a long, black velvet one that drapes beautifully. Good for formal occasions. Still need some more casual types, but I have a feeling I’ll just sew them in the New Year.

Arrived at my great uncle’s around 3:30. Unloaded, heated up the food, got it dished out to various and sundry. My great uncle wasn’t feeling well, but he seemed to perk up while we were there. My cousin called a few hours later and invited me up to the blueberry farm up the street — I hadn’t been up there since he and his wife worked on the house. I went up and saw the house — it’s an 1850’s farmhouse that’s been lovingly renovated so it’s comfortable and modern, and yet respects the history and architecture of the house. They’ve done a fabulous job. We sat around drinking wine and peeling the onions for the dinner. I’m always just dashing up and back and taking care of the older relatives that I rarely get to hang out with my contemporaries and catch up. So, that was fun.

I’d been up since 4:30, so I was pretty tired. Went to bed early, woke up early, got breakfast sorted. Managed to get in a few hours of writing. We went to the hall around 12:30 and they handed me the potato masher (which, by the way, is 4 feet long because of the vats of potatoes to mash) the minute I walked in the door! We got everything finished and dished out and sat down by 1 — 52 people for dinner. My great uncle (who’s in his 90s) was feeling much better and had a good time. The food was great, as always, and so was the company. Most of these people I only get to see once a year, so it’s kind of a quick catch-up, but it’s good. We’ve been doing this for over 30 years, and everyone gets along, at least for the day! Any arguments are left outside, and everyone respects that rule.

And it’s definitely an example of “many hands make light work” — people pitch in and everything gets done. We all washed up, left the hall better than we found it.

By the time we got home, another branch of the family who doesn’t come to hall came by to visit — one of the cousins I hadn’t seen for about 15 years! We were really close when we were kids and teens. So that was a nice catch up.

Another pretty early night for me. I was too tired to even read.

Friday morning, we were up early and out of the house by seven. Although I rarely shop on Black Friday (and I’m not a mall shopper anyway), we drove up to Freeport, to the flagship LL Bean store. I needed a sleeping bag for various and sundry travels coming up in the next year and change, and they’ve got good ones. We had a quick breakfast in the cafe — really good, the coffee (Coffee by Design is the fair-trade company) was outstanding. We picked up a few additional things, got some ideas for when we have the house, and were back on the road in about an hour.

The drive back was not fun. The weather was dreadful — heavy rain. Of course, the forecast was for “light showers”. Right. And the temperature was dropping, so it was pretty clear it would soon be snow. We managed to outrun most of the storm, although it was still sprinkling by the time we hit Sturbridge.

Earth Spirit Herbals, one of my favorite stores, closed at the end of July, but supposedly a garden center down the street carried their oils and herbs. However, we couldn’t find the garden center, so maybe that’s not open anymore, either. We backtracked and had lunch at Admiral O’Brien’s, which is right next door to where Earth Spirits used to be. The food is great, and, again, the prices are good and service friendly. So, we had a good hot lunch and were back on the road.

We managed to get home by about 3:30, which was pretty good. It took a few trips to haul everything upstairs, and there were packages waiting for us, including my next assignment from Confidential Job #1.

Saturday, I was up early and writing. Hit Costco to stock up on things like butter and eggs, stocked up on some other stuff at various stores. Did the test runs of the cookies all afternoon. My mixer was useless and caused a major setback. And the recipes for rolled sugar cookies and butter cookies don’t hold together and the dough doesn’t work as well as the recipes I usually use, which are from the 60’s and 70’s, so, next year, I go back to them. I thought both the sugar cookies and the butter cookies tasted a little bland. And the dough was hard to work with.

I made a rolled cookie that I cut out into angel shapes — it’s a kind of a sugar cookie, but with eggnog. That turned out pretty well, and the eggnog icing should bump it up. I did a lime-flavored cookie that’s really good, but it doesn’t pack well, so I can’t use it for the cookie plates.

I made a lemon shortbread that’s really good, but my idea of cutting it into Lighthouse shapes and frosting it — again, I can’t make the volume I need, and it’s not very packable and stackable.

Frustrating day.

Sunday, up early, writing. Looked at Bed, Bath & Beyond for a new mixer. The prices were ridiculous, and if I can bend the paddles with my bare hands, it’s not going to work. I don’t have the money or the room for the standing Kitchen Aid Mixer, although that’s what I want. But I can’t justify spending over $300 for one. Headed to White Plains to Trader Joe’s for a few things, and then to the Chef Central where I found the decor sugar I needed AND a Kitchen Aid hand mixer that does everything the standing mixer does — for $40. Grabbed it.

Not only does it work beautifully (and it has dough hooks for the next time I make bread), but, because it works properly, it took me three hours less to make the same amount of cookies.

I made a rolled chocolate cookie. I wanted to cut them into moose shapes (“chocolate moose”), but the design of the cutter and again, the dough’s lack of ease in working made it impossible. Also, the moose cookies are so big that I couldn’t get the volume I need to make for the plates. I tried making reindeer, but they didn’t hold their shape while baking, so I tried a different cutter and ended up with chocolate BOOTS. They’re okay, but, again, I don’t think I can make the volume I need.

I need at least 100 of each cookie to have enough for the 30 or so platters I’m doing. So I need a cookie that’s sturdy and that I can do in volume.

I made the molasses spice cookie — it’s one of my favorite recipes ever. Fantastic, easy to work with, makes a lot. That’s a definite for the platter, along with the Toll House. I can make more sugar cookies if I need to – and I think I will.

I also made a cranberry “sandie” — one of those melt-in-your-mouth cookies. I love them, but again, not a lot of volume, and I don’t think it’s sturdy enough for the platter. I also made an almond-hazelnut crescent, grinding the nuts to an almost flour-like consistency. Unfortunately, the cookies disintegrate if you pick them up or even try to move them. They taste good, but, again, not something packable and stackable.

What I’m going to have to do with the almond crescents is make a trifle with them by doing a layer of sponge cake, a layer of chocolate mousse, and then a layer of the crumbled cookies, another set of layers, topped with some raspberries and whipped cream. It’ll be fine, but it still doesn’t make a cookie for the platter.

So, the center of the platter will have a small gingerbread cake. I’ll surround it with Toll House, sugar, and the molasses spice cookies. I’m on the fence about the eggnog cookies. If I roll them and cut them thicker than the recipe says, I think they’ll be packable and stackable. A peanut cookie might be good, but so many people are now allergic to peanuts that I worry.

I do a cheat sheet with a photo of each cookie and ingredients so if there’s anything someone can’t have, they can avoid it.

Also spent a good part of the weekend packing and stacking the stuff I need to move for the furniture swap. Thursday comes up quickly.

I haven’t started decorating for the holidays yet. It doesn’t make sense to do it and then have to move everything for the furniture swap. Once the furniture is swapped out and I can put stuff back and rearrange and get some breathing room, I’ll decorate.

Haven’t started the cards yet, either, and the overseas need to go out by the end of the week.

I’m still working on the Christmas story, but I’ve got enough done so it’s in design. I also have to start another story due at the end of the month for an anthology and the steampunk TODAY. Even though I’m behind, I have to keep stacking things up or I get even more behind.

I’m headed to Long Island later this morning to acupuncture. I definitely need it. The next two weeks are going to be insane, but that’s the way it is. Time Management. NONE of these balls can drop, so if it means longer hours and harder work, that’s the way it is. It’ll be fine, just a lot for the next two weeks, and it all has to get done. No excuses, no room for letting anything slide. Once the furniture swap is done on Thursday, it will be much better. Even though next week will be busy, there will be more physical room in the place, which will allow for more psychological room.

I’d love to just take a nap and wake up on Christmas Eve with everything done, but that’s just not going to happen! So I’m gearing up for a busy couple of weeks.

Devon

Monday, August 3, 2009

Monday, August 3, 2009
Waxing Moon
Pluto Retrograde
Jupiter Retrograde
Uranus Retrograde
Cloudy and humid

It was a busy, fun weekend, and it’s going to be a heck of a busy week.

We hit the road by 9 AM on Saturday, and drove up into CT. The first part of the trip was great, but once we had to leave the Merritt and travel up I-95 — nightmare. The entire I-95 was backed up going North all the way through CT for no reason we coudl ascertain. And heaven forbid the news stations gave us any real information. The Boston station is great about accurate traffic information – the NY and CT stations SUCK.

But we finally got to Old Saybrook Recycled Furniture. I walked in a got a chill –there was a trunk identical to the one I wrote about in GOOD NAMES — simple, unfinished wood with some of the original, once-scented floral paper inside. It was even the same manufacturer I named in the novel. I looked at the tag and figured it must be a mistake — there had to be at least one more zero there — but there wasn’t. And I bought it. I also spotted a two-place-setting, 16 pieces of red-and-white Johnson Brothers china and a few stray pieces from the same set — all for just over $20. Since I’m obsessed with Johnson Brothers china, I grabbed it all.

Originally, it looked like it was all one set. Closer inspection, at home, shows that some of the pieces are from the original “Coaching Scenes” set, and some are later replacement pieces. And the two dinner places are from the “Cotswold” set. But they look good together, and I like them all, so I’m happy.

Then, it was off to Niantic and my beloved Book Barn. I had a list this time, and I didn’t want to deviate too much from it. We stopped downtown first, and I picked up three of the books on the list. Then, it was up to the main set of buildings, the houses and outbuildings that comprise the central Book Barn. I found seven more books. Most of them were on my list; a few weren’t. They didn’t have any of the Edith Whartons I wanted, or anything on Carthage, but I still found more than I normally do when I go up there with a list.

The person in line ahead of me complained that the inventory isn’t online and they don’t ship. The lovely staff member explained that they get eight to ten THOUSAND books in per week, and if they were expected to enter them into a database, they’d all quit. I added that it was a good excuse for a day trip, anyway, and you always find treasures you never knew you wanted.

The staff member also mentioned he’s encouraging people to take the Niantic tote bags with them with they travel and take pictures all over the world with them. I promised to take mine to Prague!

We had lunch at our favorite Yankee Clipper restaurant – baked scallops with garlic and mushrooms, mashed potatoes, cole slaw. As always, delicious.

Then we drove south and visited the Tanger Outlet in Westabrook. Now, I’m not one for malls, but they had the only branch of a store we needed, so we bit the bullet. And I have to say, I”m very impressed with the design. Plazas, green space, very wide covered sidewalks — you don’t feel crowded or rushed, and busses kept vomiting people out every few minutes.

We found the store we needed and made our purchases. There was a Wilson Leather Store, and I got the perfect purse for Prague — at 75% off. So now I’ve got the suitcase, the purse, the wallet. And I like my carry-on. So I’m set.

We stopped at the pet store for me to pick up a few things and I fell in love with a boxer puppy. What a doll, and the coat was so shiny and velvety! If he was up for adoption, I’d have grabbed him in a second! He’s going to be big, though — enormous paws! Very loving, though.

Picked up a few other things, and left, impressed with the place. I’d actually go back voluntarily.

Drove down to Orange, to the LL Bean Outlet, which was a disappointment. They had a lot of stuff — just nothing I wanted or needed.

I-95 North was STILL backed up all the way through CT — and going south wasn’t much better. I don’t think I’ve ever been so glad to see the Merritt Parkway in my life!

Home, dinner, rest. The arm is much better. I used the cream at intervals all day, and iced whenever I could. I didn’t take a Benedryl until just before bedtime, and it conked me out.

Yesterday, I didn’t even turn on the computer. I rested the arm. I photographed the trunk and took it to storage, because I wanted to get it somewhere climate-controlled as soon as possible — the humidity would hurt it. It’ll need some TLC when I move. I’m going to do some restoration work on it just so it looks better, not for any value reason.

I tried to work on the 1950’s couch, but it needs a professional. I am way out of my league on it. I started fixing the similar-style chair. That I can do, although I have to do it over the course of three days, to let each repair dry completely before moving on to the next.

Photographed and logged the china, so I can do some research on it.

I’m reading a fantastic book, I’D RATHER BE WRITING by Marcia Golub. She basically gives the same advice I do about writing, revising, creating time to write, etc., only she’s more personable about it!

The cats got me up at 4 and wouldn’t let me go back to sleep. I am not amused. The couch should arrive today.

I finished “Plot Bunnies”, the comic mystery, this morning. I have to type it and then cut about 1500 words to fit the anthology guidelines. I’ll type it and then put it away for a few days while I work on the second story. While I know it needs work, I’m also pretty happy with the overall content and structure.

I have client projects to do this week, work on the article for which I did the interviews last week, and prep for the site job next week. Since I’m staying there, and only coming home every day for about an hour to feed the cats, clean the litter box, and pick up the mail, I have to be very organized.

I also need to bubble wrap some pictures and haul them to storage, once the couch shows up. And pack more so that I can do the furniture swap when I get back from the site job.

Busy time. But it’s all good.

Lara, yes, I’m a total Benedryl lightweight! That’s what happens when you take the occasional Advil, but nothing else! Abby, great idea — I’ve been thinking of joining SCBWI. I didn’t realize they had insurance. I might also be able to get it through the National Writers’ Union. Brandy, the bite is FINALLY better. And the meditation practice even helps me not scratch it to pieces. The minute I sit down to meditate, I get itchy. If I just keep sitting, it subsides. Applying the same thing whenever the bite acts up helps me not make it worse.

Devon

Tips for the Cold

With these frigid temperatures, I thought I’d share a few tips with you that I learned from working outside on location shoots during bad weather.

WARMERS. The bags are yellow, red, and orange. They’ve got toe warmers, foot warmers (for the whole foot), hand warmers, and my favorite, body warmers. They cannot be placed on the skin directly, but break open the outer red and yellow cellophane bag and shake the warmer, then place it against the layer of fabric closest to your body. The small hand and foot warmers last a couple of hours. The body warmers last 8-10 hours. I usually put a body warmer in the small of my back, on the thermal shirt layer but under the next sweater or shirt. By keeping that part of my body warm with a steady heat, I’m fine. The heat is more concentrated and intense than those Therma-care wraps, so I also use them for muscle pain. I know Home Depot carries them, and I’ve seen them in several other hardware stores and even at Costco. They will change your life. I’ve even worn them indoors, when the boss dialed down the thermostat, rather than sit there and shiver. I can’t concentrate when I’m cold.

LAYERS. Try to keep breathable layers next to your skin. The best is silk (and now there are lots of washable silks at reasonable prices, thank goodness). Silk thermals, silk socks, silk glove liners will earn their price the first time you wear them. Then layer on the wools, etc. If you wear a synthetic against your skin that traps the sweat rather than wicks it or breathes the way a natural fabric does, you’ll wind up in alternating hot and cold sweats, which is unhealthy. When I’ve been caught without silk, I’ve put on thin cotton socks under my wool socks, and that works, too. Mittens retain heat better than gloves, but often gloves are necessary in order to function, so a pair of silk glove liners make a huge difference. And, of course, hats and scarves. Both Winter Silks and LL Bean have good silk layers, and, especially when they have sales, the prices are reasonable. They’re fantastic, if you go to LL Bean’s outlets rather than the main store. My silk thermals are about twelve or thirteen years old at this point, and they’re still in great condition.

HOT WATER BOTTLES. These are safer than space heaters or heating pads (and DO NOT use them together with anything electrical). I always travel with a hot water bottle. If I’m in a cold place, I just heat some water, pour it in, and I’m toasty warm for hours. If you have pets, they WILL wrestle you for the hot water bottle. So get them their own, especially for older animals.

If you have to go out, make sure you’re well wrapped with as little skin as possible exposed, and re-warm it every 2-3 minutes, even if it means stopping what you’re doing. If you have the option to stay in, do so, even if you’re worried about cabin fever.

Stay warm, stay safe!