Saturday, January 19, 2008

NINE BELOW ZERO

That's how cold it was when I went out to feed this morning. With wind chill it was -25 below zero. Do I really love my horses that much or am I insane? On weekends I sleep in and go out and feed around 8 am. During the week I feed before I go to work so I am out by 4 am. In order to survive these temperatures I end up looking like the little brother on Christmas Story. I'm surprised I can move with 20 pounds of clothes on. I have lots of layers, first long underwear, followed by sweat pants and I turtle neck. I have arthritis in my hips and neck as a result of injuries so I wear a hooded sweatshirt and put a winter headband around my neck. Then on goes the insulated bibs and hooded jacket. I have sorel boots that are supposed to protect to -35 below, WRONG! I put feet warmers in my boots and I have hand warmers for my gloves. Since it is colder then 20 degrees I have to cover my nose and mouth because of my asthma. I love winter, NOT! How do you keep warm?

12 comments:

Mrs. Mom said...

LOL I cheated- I moved SOUTH!

Up in Tundra Country, I used tp to bundle bundle bundle as well. I found that panty hose works well, and so does silk as an under layer. Also had to make my boots at least a half size larger- not to accomidate extra socks, but to allow for extra wiggle room! Tighter boots = no movement, loose boots = wiggles and warmer toes.

Hey how do you handle the "glove situation"? ;) I always HATED them! Still do as a matter of fact...LOL

Chores these days are a lot quicker- all I have to do is pull on a light weight jacket if anything is needed at all!

Anonymous said...

Ohmigoodness. And it isn't even dry cold where you live. I feel for you.

Callie said...

Knee high thick wooly men's socks and winter duck boots with inner lining, sweat pants, tank top under sweater or sweatshirt, coat, my husband's hat and gloves, although he just got me my own and I like my new wooly hat and oversized men's gloves

Tracey said...

Okay, that's cold. I'll try not to whine anymore. Sounds like you've got a great sense of Farm Diva fashion going on, though :)

Victoria Cummings said...

Makes you wish that we had fur too, doesn't it? You made me feel better as I bundled up this morning to go out and feed. I grew up outside of Chicago so I remember that bitter cold. By the way, your dog is adorable. I've got a 13 year old B&W lab/springer mix named Pepper. She looks like she could be his mom.

Callie said...

Jess, who wrote the post, is near the Rockford area of Illinois. I'm near the Lake Geneva area of Wisconsin. We get the same crappy cold, but Jess has alot more to feed than me. The dog is Spot the registered border collie that Jess bred. I bought him from her just about 4 years ago as a pup. Best dog I've ever had and a spoiled baby too! Thanks!

Twisted Oaks Quarter Horses said...

It's time to go out and feed again and it has warmed up to -8 below. I'm with mrs mom, my next move is south. I do wear pantyhose at the horse shows when it is cold, long underwear is too bulky when I show. As for the gloves I buy mens that are a little large and put a smaller pair inside. I use the hand warmers when it is this cold, they just tuck inside and I keep bringing my fingers down around them when they start to get too cold. I have most of my gates and latches set up for one hand operation, so the clumsy gloves don't get in the way too much. Victoria, I always joked around saying I wanted a fur lined bra to keep me warm. It just might help.

steve said...

I don't know would have expected a picture Jess , What the best dressed Gals wear , just think you could create a whole new fashion line called "Out Of Neccessity"

steve

Callie said...

How long is this frigid cold going to last anyway????? I can't stand it and now one of our toilets has frozen. We don't go one winter without an emergency call to the plumber on a Sunday to fix a burst water pipe inspite of extra heaters and pipe heaters and insulation. I hope this short lived. Mrs.Mom, I envy you........I hope the weather breaks before I have to fill the troughs again.

Twisted Oaks Quarter Horses said...

Next time I bundle up and Gerald is here I will have him take a picture. It will be good for a laugh. It is supposed to be 23 degrees Monday, the warmest that we will see it until Friday. Callie you may want to top your throughs off. I am going to shame Gerald into doing it while I'm at work tommorrow. He went out of town this weekend and I was stuck with all the chores.

photogchic said...

Lots of layers...the barn has a heater in the bathroom we all crowd into at times to warm up. I Usually have 3 layers on the bottom, 4 or 5 on top. I invest in really nice Columbia socks as well. Still...it is never enough and we haven't dropped below 32 degrees in Portland!

Vicki said...

Lol ~ like mrs mom said ~ we live in Florida ;)

Found your blog through your spouses. Nice to meet you both!