Keeping Warm

It had been relatively warm up here in the mountains until just before Christmas. With night time temperatures well below freezing, I have started my finding ways to keep everyone warm without turning up the heat. I keep the thermostat at 67 to 69 after sunset. Sometimes the family complains and then they turn it up.

But I found some other options which have kept the family happy. Instead of just a blanket at the end of a couch, I picked up a couple down-filled comforters at the dollar store and placed them on the couch and the easy chair. Mountain Dad and the kids find themselves subconsciously covering their feet with them and eventually pull them up. After some time of reading or watching TV under the comforter, they find themselves too hot, and then walk around the house thinking the heat may be too high!

At Christmas I found another secret weapon: the red Santa hat. Each member of the family put one on and once again found themselves too hot. Sometimes they went outside to get the paper without a jacket. It's easy to get them to use a down blanket, but a hat? At least I have them in the habit of wearing long-sleeve shirts and slippers, but how can I get them into a hat? Until I figure that out, I'll be proactive and throw these very light but very warm comforters on everybody. Once I know they won't be sneaking the thermostat UP any longer, I'll be sneaking it DOWN.

My but that hat looks good on you!