Are You Ready for Winter?

Many of you are aware that my sister now lives in Maine, which is entirely too far away from Texas! I cracked her up the other day when the temperature dropped to 43 degrees one night and I told her how chilly I was.

After she finished chuckling, I went on, mindless, to whom I was speaking with about needing to "winterize" my car and home.

She, again, upon completion of what was now flat out laughing, offered some sage "winterizing" advice to me.

Vehicle Preparedness

Take the car in for a "winterizing service". (Really, there is one!)

Make a storm survival kit. This means pack a bag or a plastic tub with blankets, flashlight and batteries, high calorie snack food, sand, towrope, water, and booster cables. (I have booster cables in my vehicle!)

Keep the gas tank full to prevent ice from forming in the fuel lines. She fills her tank up every day that she is out and about.

Plan all travel... there is no just getting in the car and going. Check the forecasts. Let someone know of your travel plans and primary and alternate routes.

Home Preparedness

Stock up on batteries and flashlights. She does not recommend candles during a power outage- what? Well, okay she is the winter expert now. Have a designated space in the pantry or basement for extra staple items in case weather conditions create a shortage of supplies. Her staple items of choice are - water, crackers, nuts, more batteries, and glow sticks as well as extra blankets, socks, band-aids and first aid cream.

Have a weather radio and a portable radio stashed near by as well.

Her most important winterize rule to remember...never, ever run out of firewood.

Self Preparedness

Layer, layer, and more layers. I know this one. When I visit her, I wear three pairs of socks! Loose fitting and lightweight layers are best for winterizing oneself.

Have many times have we been told to not go outside without a hat on? It is true! Wear a hat, and mittens or gloves. Scarves are optional. Almost fifty per- cent of body heat loss is from the top of our head.

Pet Preparedness

Don't forget the four legged members of your family, I told to her. Her reply was they have an entire jumbo plastic storage container with their winterizing items. Canned food, can opener, a bag of dry food, water, rescue remedy, emergency vet numbers, and copies of their shot records have been stacked in their own storage bin. Extra harnesses and leashes as well as a box of puppy pee pads and several blankets.