Cozy Felted Boot Inserts
Conditions on our homestead dictate that we wear shoes fairly constantly. We try to switch footwear before going outdoors because it’s too easy to track the forest floor inside with us. The only time of year we don’t track in copious amounts of sharp spruce needles is when it snows; in that case, we track [...]
Overboard – Rethinking Boots in the Water
In October 2009 I mentioned in a piece on Southeast Alaska “fashion” the recommendation that a person going overboard should kick off their boots to keep from being dragged down. Even as I repeated the conventional survival wisdom I’d been taught, I felt there were problems with the prescribed practice. Now, it seems, the authorities [...]
Getting a Grip – Ice Cleats
The yard has become so icy I’m beginning to fear for our safety. We can still get around with considerable care, but I find myself, in particularly perilous moments, trying to cling to my footing with curled toes. Thank goodness for grippers! Grippers, or ice cleats, traction devices that slip over shoes, are a big [...]
Excalibur! Our Favorite Winter Parka
We’re experiencing a February cold snap. Temperatures have fallen as low as 9°F. High winds drop the wind chill into the -20 range, where frostbite can occur within 10 minutes. The moisture in the air, even though lower than usual, makes the cold feel even colder. We’re lowering the blinds at night to hold cabin [...]
Make it Last – Reviving Shearling Footwear
If you’ve ever tried them, you know how warm shearling footwear can be—at first. After the first winter or so, they seem to lose their warming capabilities; your feet don’t stay as warm as they used to. Is it time to get a new pair? No! Revive your shearling footwear yourself, and add years to [...]
How to Block a Hat
Blocking a hat, i.e. shaping it to a particular style, is surprisingly easy. First, wet your hat completely. I like to use the sink sprayer, or hold it under a shower nozzle. Don’t over-saturate it, but do make sure that it is all wet. While wet, mold the hat into the shape you’d like by [...]
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