Clothing in Alaska

It's warm today, meaning above the freezing mark (which is bad, bad, bad....snow melts, at night it refreezes and the roads are very dangerous to drive), but the last few weeks have been in the below zero area much of the time, and in the single digits above when they were above.  Getting dressed for events is, well, interesting.

First, you have to know just how cold it is out there to determine the number of layers required.  I actually start with the outside layer in the planning - the coat of choice determines how much can be layered underneath.  If it's to be the large blue one, anything fits.  If I'm going hiking and wearing the snowpants, the black coat fits snugly, so not much else fits. 

Next, one has to determine how much time will actually be spent outdoors and how much in a car or somewhere indoors, as stuff needs to stay on when outdoors, but layers will be peeled off if at a friend's house.  Hiking is easiest as it all stays on the whole time.  I just have to be still flexible enough with all the gear on to be able to drive a car.

Thinking of shoes and socks is important, too.  Bending down to tie boots and install ice grippers can be tough when one has on too much stuff, so some of the top layers have to wait until the last minute (because you cannot, cannot, cannot have on shoes inside the house!!)   So I leave a pile of the hats, gloves, mittens (yes, both), scarves, and coats by the back door to wait to put on until the boots are on and tied.   Have you tried putting on snug wool socks while dressed in 2 pair of long underwear, a snowsuit, 2 layers of long sleeve top, and a coat?   Tricky!  They have to go on near the end, however, so one doesn't slip and fall on the carpeted stairs which can't be seen due to all the layers of clothing. 

Then, the hair.  My hair has gotten longer at last, so can be tied in a pony tail, braids, put into clips, etc.  Well, hair also escapes from the edges of some hats, and..., it freezes!   Then it is sharp and hits me in the face.  So, we try the clip on top.  That kind of makes the hat rise up on top, making me look pointy-headed like one of my brothers used to.  That's OK, unless the hat pops off my head because of it!   So I use the hat with the velcro closure.  But it looks stupid, and the hair afterward looks pretty lousy, so I have to take another clip or ponytail holder to re-do the hair after arrival and hat removal so no one will laugh. 

Well, the other day I got the boots on (boy, slip-ons are a Godsend!!!!!), and a coat, hat, and scarf.....then discovered I had accidentally left my keys upstairs.....mercy.....almost had to start all over again!!!! 

So, when I tell you I have been very busy, know that some of the time I used to spend doing fun things down south is now spent planning my outfits!