love thursday: my own personal seat warmer
Many people mistakenly believe that the weather in southern Italy is tropical or nearly so. It really isn’t. We do have seasons, although winter brings more rain than snow and spring can seem awfully short before we are thrust into the heat of summer.
Another southern Italian factoid is that most of the houses here are built with stone and/or tile, i.e., with “natural insulation”; central air and heat are only coming into fashion now, but it’s still quite expensive to run because of electricity costs.
And so most of us are “green” without even really trying.
All of this means that if your house isn’t directly in the sun, it can get pretty darned cold inside and stay that way–even now, in the spring when I often have to take *off* layers of clothes to go out with the dogs.
[This cooling effect works a bit in our favor during the summer, although not as much as it seems to work against us in the colder temps.]
Anyway, I am so very pleased to announce that it has been nearly a week since I’ve had to turn on the space heater near my work area, which means spring truly has arrived!
It also means I’ve had to switch to another method of keeping my seat warm:
All natural, and works for us!
Happy Love Thursday everyone!
P.S. Yes this photo sums up my life rather well–
work, pooches, and laundry in the big blue vasca.
28 Beans of Wisdom to “love thursday: my own personal seat warmer”
Michelle Kaminsky is an American attorney-turned-freelance writer who lived in her family's ancestral village in Calabria, Italy for 15 years. This blog is now archived.
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Aw, that’s so cute! What a sweet picture. I just wish spring would make up its mind here. The sun is SO warm already, but the wind is still bitingly cold. I just came back from a walk and my arms and face are numb from the wind even though it was a nice day. It’s not supposed to be this cold in May. : (
Erin’s last blog post..Inspiration
Yes I think sometimes the wind is the last to get the memo on spring. It’ll be here before you know it though Erin 🙂
She really looks like she isn’t in any hurry to budge! How many dogs do you have now?
That’s Stella on the chair, and we have Luna–just two. I do have some photos of one of Stella’s puppies that I have to at least get up on Flickr…she absolutely attacked me for petties when I ran into her the day I was taking photos of the market 🙂
What a love! And speaking of that, still wating on the photos of P laughing and his fabulous garden…
Homebody at Heart’s last blog post..Pienza delle Piante
Hmmm…the photos of P laughing I don’t remember. Is that bad? I do have some “garden” shots, yes, and it’s about time to take more in fact since he’s been doing a major overhaul….
Hey, I have one of those blue buckets! Although, I use it for for after I take the load out of the wash to hang the clothes dry. 😉
Happy LT! 🙂
Giulia’s last blog post..These visuals *may* shock you!
Me too! Those are actually clean clothes off the line in there 🙂
I’ve had a couple of days without my space heater too. It seems silly turning the thing on when it’s so warm outside in the sun, but otherwise, it’s cold in the house. I don’t have a nice puppy to keep my chair warm either. 🙁
Oh and, by the way, my bucket is orange.
Mary’s last blog post..Red light, Green light, No light
Glad to hear I’m not only one who feels silly having a space heater on when it’s probably 70 degrees out…not that I don’t do it if I have to 😉 If only we were closer, I could lend you Stella!
I’ve never seen an orange one…laundry tub envy?!
Happy Love Thursday 🙂
meredith’s last blog post..nina-ese
Thanks Meredith; hope you’re enjoying the day as well 🙂
It’s been quite different with the cats. eg told me Saturday that according to cats, one of our most important jobs is warming cushions for them. They don’t get on them until after you have done your job.
Judith in Umbria’s last blog post..Stuffed rib pork chops or ‘costellette di maiale ripiene’
Huh. Now I’m wondering whether that’s Stella’s *real* motivation….
I hear you, girl. The weather these days can’t make up its mind. Cool, hot, cold, warm??
Boh! Stella looks cute in your chair, though!
Cherrye’s last blog post..Puppy Love
Well she certainly thinks so 🙂
awwww! 🙂 how cute. Love it, and it makes me look forward to seeing our own seat-warmers soon in Florida!
erin :: the olive notes’s last blog post..antiques in arezzo
Oh you must miss them terribly….
Are you going to buy a bigger dog to use as a duvet in the winter?
running42k’s last blog post..Pooped
Goodness no! Although I have been known to use both dogs at the same time as a blankie….
What a cutie! I am still coming to terms with the heating and cooling situation here in Germany. It’s what I miss most about the U.S.–central heating and air!
Diane Mandy’s last blog post..There’s always a but…
After five years here, Diane, I can honestly say I’m over the central heat and air thing. Really! I know–I never thought it would happen either 😉
Love your dog. She looks very much like our dog Honey.
jody’s last blog post..Helmsman
Thanks Jody…I’m sure Honey is precious as well 🙂
Shweet!! With cats it’s much different. They like to sit on my lap to warm themselves up. So opportunistic but I still love them.
Linda’s last blog post..Paris, tu me manques
Yeah I like kitties too 🙂
Oh, she is so sweet! Glad to hear you’re enjoying warmer temperatures. I’m still waiting for the day when I can lose my smartwool socks… maybe June?
anno’s last blog post..What’s Cooking Wednesday: Home Alone 2 (pasta with gorgonzola)
I hope it’s before June anno!!!!
love your seat warmer.
made me remember my old foot warmer.
miss the old guy.
sigh.
happy spring!
chesca (exskindiver)’s last blog post..First Love
The dog envy has been vying with the Calabria envy for some time.
They’re about neck and neck right now, but the dogs can’t vote for lunatics, so I must say that Luna and Stella have the edge… ;->
Paul, Paolo, P-dog’s last blog post..I love it when a plan comes together
Aw don’t do that. They’re gloaters.
Looks like the perfect seat warmer to me! I have the opposite – I am the seat warmer to the piggies (guinea pigs).
jen of a2eatwrite’s last blog post..What’s Cooking Wednesday: Simple Breads 3 – Whole Wheat English Muffin Bread
That’s a cushy job you’ve got Jen…and if you want to skip my post tomorrow, I’ll understand!
what a cute little seat warmer! 🙂
Thanks Sperlygirl 🙂
I just came back from Calabria and it was so very cold we had to light the fire at night time! And it rained too…so much for getting warmer the further south you go. I did appreciate the clean air though, you really notice how fresh everything down there is after living in the smog of Rome.
Leanne’s last blog post..March for Marijuana
Sorry you caught us during a cold spell Leanne–it’s been so lovely here!
Cute picture 🙂 I very much want to visit Italy – you make it sound quite lovely.
Musical Bean’s last blog post..Shoe Salesman & Skull (But reverse the order)
I hope you get here someday Musical Bean; thanks for stopping by 🙂
That’s the best seat warmer in all the world 🙂
Janet’s last blog post..Love Thursday
Going to have to agree with you there Janet 🙂
Hee hee hee — so nice to have such a willing assistant! (And such a cute one!)
So long as I can keep paying her in biscuits!
Ohhh Stella! If that doesn’t put a smile on your face.
Mine (who is still nameless, poor soul and yes we are terrible) has been keeping my toesies toasty while I’m on the computer.
Living without central heat makes me a little cranky sometimes. I’m grateful for the evap air system in the summer though because without it I’m a bit of a miserable monster. And yes I am admitting that, with no shame!
Happy LT to you all.
xo
cheeky’s last blog post..words that resonate
No shame in that at all Cheeky! Humidity is a whole other animal 😉
Now get that cutie a name!!!!!
So sweet! Happy LT to you too!
Karina’s last blog post..Thursday Thirteen #53 – Hi Ho Hi Ho, It’s off to work I go
Thanks Karina and congrats again 🙂
Perfect seat warmer!
Agreed Shalet; thanks for stopping by!
We have the ‘indoor, outdoor’ phenomena here too. Me inside in jeans and jumper, Julian outside in shorts and vest. Then when I go outside a wave of heats me and I have to go back and change into ‘summer clothes’. Wierd! It was never like that in the UK, but houses here are built to repel the heat. Right?
PS Sweet doggy!
Thanks Amanda, and yes, the dressing situation gets so strange indeed. I’ve never experienced it in the US either!
That is THE best!! Much cuter than a spaceheater 🙂
My Melange’s last blog post..Travel Photo Friday
I think so too Robin 😉
Oh come on…. tell us the truth…. Stella is *really* the mastermind behind Bleeding Espresso! Right? hehe 😉
Dory’s last blog post..The Big 50!
Sshhhhhh!