We had a little snow dusting yesterday and then a very windy day with 25-40 mph gusts. Colorado is never predictable with the weather -especially winter- and every now and then we get a calm, sunny 70 degree day thrown in for good measure just as you are about to go crazy with either the cold, snow, grey and/or wind. But none-the-less, we have a few things that we have to do to prepare for the winter.
Snow on the Greenhouse
A Cold Lake out Back
1) Start using a humidifier. In Puerto Rico this would be a strange thing indeed, but here in Colorado, it is a tremendously dry climate and with dry air also coming from the heater -central heat- (also not found in PR), you are almost guaranteed a cold and a dry nose and air passageway without a humidifier. We only use it at night in our bedroom. Some houses have whole-house humidifiers. We also turn on the downstairs fireplace more often and I stand directly in front of it, just like I did in the house I grew up in.
Cozy by the fire
2) Pull out the flannel sheets. During the summer we use regular white cotton sheets because they keep you cool and comfortable, but in the winter, flannel rocks! It is like crawling into your pre-warmed blanket. We just got a new set since our last set was used down to the thread and started getting holes in it. We also put away the light bed spread and pulled out the down comforter. I wonder what a flannel hammock in Puerto Rico would be like…I think that I could just sleep outside in that in the tropical jungle.
Our new flannel sheets and down comforter
3) Start wearing more clothes. This is a real bummer for me because I love to dress like I’m at the beach year round, if I could. Which is why Puerto Rico in the winters will be AWESOME. Anyway, I have to wear closed-toed shoes instead of strappy sandals, sweaters instead of tanks or short-sleeve shirts, pants instead of skirts or shorts and then the big, bulky coat or jacket that you must always have even if you do get a sunny 70 degree day every so often because it can turn on you in a flash and you’ll be stuck in a blizzard. I also wear my robe and slippers a lot more often around the house eating warm foods and liquids.
Brrrrrr! That looks so cold! Living in PR for over a year now, low 70s seem chilly to us… Really! We actually put our sweaters and socks on to watch fireworks on New Year’s Eve. In our defense, the temp was in the upper 60s… Day time is a different story of course. Shorts all year long is awesome!
Sacramento’s winter season (not too bad, but still too cold for me) will soon be upon us. I have already started wearing closed toed shoes, layers, and jackets. Too many clothes! Even around the house, I am now wearing sweat suits, socks and furry slippers, and have the furnace on. One of the top reasons I CAN’T WAIT to move to Puerto Rico is to be able to wear shorts and sandals year round! I totally agree with you and Miri! Fran
When we went out to Southern California it was nice, upper 70’s. When it rained in San Diego it was still 68 Degrees. The people were walking around in jeans, heavy sweatshirts and even jackets. They said it was “cold”. Coming from Colorado with windy 40’s and it dipping down to the 30’s/20’s at night I thought they were CRAZY (they probably thought we were nutty for walking around in shorts and tshirts).
I think once you move to a different climate your body will acclimate to the difference in temps. Soon you will think its “cold” in PR, even though relative to other parts of the world it will be considered warm or even hot.
I’m “winterizing” the house over the next few days, we have been spoiled with upper 60’s this late into the year. Made adjustments to our programable thermostat . Pulled out the flannel sheets, extra comforters, etc. Putting plastic up to cover the energy wasting sliding glass doors and windows. Even put the Xmas lights up. Only 5 weeks 🙂 I ended up shutting the fireplace completely off (its not a ventless model so 90% of our heat goes up and out the back). Gearing up for lots of hot tea to warm me up 🙂
Crossing fingers my heating bills will stay at or under $100 this season. Although with our bills expected to increase up to 40%, who knows???????
Ah yes, TNK, we can always spot you out-of-staters in your shorts and t-shirts on our 50-60 degree (freeeezing to us) winter days! 🙂 Fran