They make soft, cardigan-like "sleep sweaters" along the lines of old-fashioned "bed jackets," but longer. This turns out to be just the thing for when the weather turns cool but it's not quite time to add a few extra blankets, and maybe even past that point, since it keeps one's shoulders and arms warm.
An old thing, new again.
Some 5 years ago we bought a 19th century house that as yet lacks heat on the upstairs bedroom level. It never gets too bad up there on account of heat rising, but there certainly is a gradient that increases as the outdoor temperature decreases.
ReplyDeleteThis has given me a greater appreciation of the historic bedtime attire and ritual. Such as the "night cap".
In both common uses of the word.
(Our real estate agent was quite shocked that we didn't insist upon at least some electric baseboard units as a concession from the seller. My reply: "I've seen the previous owners DIY electrical work, I've seen the previous owners DIY duct work, and I've seen the previous owners plumbing. There is so much to fix already that I'd much prefer that they don't do anything else!")
My wife grew up in an old farmhouse that was heated by a woodstove, placed through a wall so the front was in the kitchen and back in the living room. Enough heat rose to somewhat ameliorate -20F weather outside, but that was about all. One night her goldfish bowl froze solid in her upstairs bedroom. They brought it downstairs and placed it to thaw slowly, and when it warmed enough, the goldfish resumed swimming. They are carp, and in northern climates wild carp in shallow ponds will normally survive winters frozen in the mud at the bottom.
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