It's that time again! Cold weather season. Right now it is 8oC and overcast, high forecast of 10, and my house is 17. So tempted to turn on the furnace, or at least the propane stove. But it's not happening, instead it is fleece-lined slippers, warm pants and a sweatshirt. I have an arctic breed of dog who is shedding her summer coat right now, a cool house will mean a thicker winter coat. She will love this challenge, she thinks I keep the house much too warm. Warm enough that the pipes don't freeze would be fine with her.
So challenge - who can last the longest? And I remember last year, people in what I consider semi-tropical climes were boasting about surviving 20oC weather - that is not cold, people! Do we need to do it by gardening zones? I am zone 5A (Canadian, 1981-2010 zone, not 1961-1990 zone where we were 4B, so we are warmer now!, not American. A is colder than B, 4 is colder than 5). Ottawa is 5B, for example. And what counts and what doesn't? Firing up the wood stove? Does that count? Firing up the propane stove in the family room? Does that count? We need rules.
For the yarn people out there, the Yarn Harlot's family do this, but she is in Toronto, which is zone 7A. From here that looks semi-tropical. ;-)