Isn't the last day of summer two weeks away?

It was an exceptionally cold winter. Remember? Then, winter left us with a cold, wet miserable spring. Winter was not very considerate.

By the time summer arrived, FINALLY ARRIVED, I had so tired of being cold that I vowed to greet each and every summer day like a long lost friend, without regard for humidity or dewpoint. There would be no air-conditioned air swirling around my toes this summer, I promised myself when summer came crawling in, late. I had spent too many days and nights wrapped in wool and flannel to now wilt and cave when summer brought her first 90-degree day.

Well, I am happy (and proud!) to report that I kept this promise to myself. Summer came and went at Four Cedars and I enjoyed every drop of sweat she squeezed out of me.
I acclimated. I perspired. I dressed down. And when things got a bit intense, I retreated to the naturally cooler rooms of the shaded Four Square. There are some advantages to living in an old, drafty box.

Not so come autumn, though. With overnight temps flirting with frost and daytime temps barely rebounding to 70 degrees, the old shack isn’t doing much in the way of solar heat retention. To be frank, it’s cold in here. Even at 4 p.m., the warmest hour of the day, the temp inside is a full 10 degrees cooler than any sunny spot I happen to find in the yard. I know, because I drift outside often to thaw out.

Of course, the switch that flips on the furnace is just steps from my keyboard. But turning on the furnace this early in September seems a wimpy move. And I’m stubborn. Yes, stubborn! It’s only September 9, for pity sake! I’ve endured some awfully warm September 9ths. This cold snap can’t last another 200 days, can it?

I soothe myself by doing dishes. My family doesn’t understand why I wash dishes by hand when I have a brand new dishwasher. I’m not all that interested in fondling my dishes; I just like to have my hands in warm water.

My pal Google offered me a couple of other tricks I might try in my quest to keep warm. It’s a long list, but it reveals some gems. How are you staying warm, dear ones?

Excerpted from “50 Ways to Stay Warm This Autumn” found on www.simplythrifty.com. The commentary is mine:
Take a long, hot bubble bath. (Not with your dishes.)
Whip up a batch of mulled wine.
Wrap yourself in an afghan.
Make some hot chocolate.
(Regular chocolate works too.)
Bake cookies. (Be sure their Gluten Free!)
Wear your flannel pajamas. (Only if you sleep alone.)
Have a hot toddy.
Wear nice warm socks. (I have more pairs of wool socks than a Finnish Hockey team.)
Wear slippers.
Use lots of blankets on your bed.
Indulge in a cappuccino.
Wear fleece sweaters around the house.
Put on a pot of chili.
Have some tomato soup. (I did this last week; made it from scratch!)
Have some Irish Coffee with friends. (I think it’s the friends which are key here.)
Turn the music loud and dance. (This upsets farm dog, though.)
Indulge in some comfort food.
Spend lots of time in the kitchen.
Visit a friend who isn’t as chintzy with the heat as you.