Brrrrrrrr! #2

I recently (November 13) blogged about the large quantity of clothing one must put on before venturing out into the cold.  This is true, no matter where one lives.  However, if one depends on one's legs to get around quite often, one appreciates the extra warm items even more.  So, I had Kevin take a photo of me before I ventured out one morning on a -20 degree F. morning (yes, please note the negative mark before the 20).  We think 20 degrees ABOVE zero feels great, now!



From top to bottom: A Carhartt balaclava (hat w/face mask), scarf knitted by my mother in law (a must to keep air from whisking in at the neck, with the added bonus of looking a little more fashionable since the balaclava ruins all fashion sense), long North Face coat recommended by Sharon W., double layer on my hands which includes some cheap-o gloves bought from a sidewalk stand across the street for a mere 1500 Tugriks which is just a bit over $1 USD, and wool mittens made for me by Dianna P., long johns under my jeans, and finished off at the bottom with my wonderfully comfortable and warm Columbia boots which were advertised to be warm to -40 degrees.  I haven't gotten to test that claim out yet, but they work for -20!  I'm usually not a brand-name shopper, but when you're buying clothing for staying warm in ultra-cold conditions, it's worth it.  Many off-brand items just don't measure up. 

A little cold weather antidote: Last week we walked for 15 minutes in the -20 air.  My eyes were watering from the cold.  Pretty soon, my top eyelashes were sticking to my bottom ones.  Why?  Because the water from my tears was freezing and making ice to stick the lashes together.  I had to take my mittens off to clean the lashes off; there were tiny chunks of mascara-laden ice.  Why do I even bother with makeup?!