Am I showing my age? Are hot water bottles passé? A descendent of the bed pan that used hot coals, the innovative hot water bottle was more convenient and less risky to warm a bed. A half century ago and beyond, houses were colder and draftier and ice formed on windows panes from the beginning to the end of winter. I was told some dude called Jack Frost went around painting windows with special ice paint. He was a master at his craft, creating willowy, wintery scenes that mesmerized me.
During my early childhood, the house we rented was very cold. I don’ t think insulation was a concern, if it was even invented, when it was built. The windows were always adorned with ice, sometimes on the inside. I used to play games melting areas with my fingers and breath. Seriously, I don’t remember being able to look out of the bedroom windows until the spring thaw. Those were tougher times but you grew a thicker skin, wore flannel and used a hot water bottle!
Frosted windows are almost a thing of the past. Vinyl Inserts with their thermal panes don't allow for wintery art. We scrape a bit of frost off our car windows but the artwork isn't as detailed or magnificent. As global temperatures warm, there is little left of this dying art-form forcing poor Jack farther north to find work.
During my early childhood, the house we rented was very cold. I don’ t think insulation was a concern, if it was even invented, when it was built. The windows were always adorned with ice, sometimes on the inside. I used to play games melting areas with my fingers and breath. Seriously, I don’t remember being able to look out of the bedroom windows until the spring thaw. Those were tougher times but you grew a thicker skin, wore flannel and used a hot water bottle!
Frosted windows are almost a thing of the past. Vinyl Inserts with their thermal panes don't allow for wintery art. We scrape a bit of frost off our car windows but the artwork isn't as detailed or magnificent. As global temperatures warm, there is little left of this dying art-form forcing poor Jack farther north to find work.
The Hot Water bottle was invented in 1903 but by the late 20th century, their use had markedly declined around most of the world. Today with in floor heating toasting our tootsies and electric blankets preheating the bed like an oven, why do we need a rubber bottle filled with hot water?
Hot Water Bottle, is this even a term the younger generation would know of? Would it be like explaining who is Elvis or Marilyn Monroe? Do any of you still use a "Hottie" as they are sometimes referred too or is this a trip down memory lane?
I use my bottle when the temperatures dip. The weather dictates how chilly the floors become and anything past -8, I reach for my rubber friend. I just realized how weird that sounds....anyway….. The dogs snuggle along my frame radiating warmth through the covers for my legs, but my digits need help. If I go to bed with cold toes, I wake with cold toes, and the chill of them keep me awake as I continually rub them on the mattress to create friction heat.
My Hot Water Bottle is special. They only last so long before the rubber dries out and cracks so every five years or so I buy a new one. This last one had a glorious faux fur cover, just like the one in the picture. Soft and luxurious to touch, like having a warm animal under your feet. So much nicer than the feel of rubber on your skin. Which reminds me of this tidbit. In the 18th century, upper class ladies of the house tended to prefer small dogs so breeders obliged by breeding increasingly smaller poodles, which led to the development of the toy poodle and its even more diminutive counterparts. Toy Poodles found their niche as the perfect lapdog and fashion accessory. According to The Official Poodle Guide, toy poodles were known at one time as “hand dogs” because wealthy women liked to tote the little dogs around to keep their hands warm on cold nights.
Boy we were bombarded with snow again yesterday! I got dumped on this time. Without any wind to blow it around in drifts it came straight down all over the yard so the first thing I had to do, when I got home from work, was shovel. Paths to the car, and paths to the dog outhouse, which is anywhere in the yard that smells just right, a different spot each time so I covered both sides of the house and a little beyond. Of course it wouldn’t matter how much I shoveled for Henri. He’ll charge for the deep areas every time and roll around in it, rubbing his face. He’s white so it doesn’t show but he comes in the house soaked every time. The rest of them are more civilized and keep to the stripped areas.
Thankfully the downfall was light and fluffy as I am getting too old to be out there pushing tons of snow. It’s man’s work no matter how you look at it. By the time I came back into the warmth of the house, all ten fingers were red and numb. I could have snapped one off and wouldn’t have felt it. Those fingers are needed to hold up a delicate china teacup, not be wrestling a big ole awkward shovel that looks like it was made for Goliath. And what’s up with that stupid ergonomic handle that doesn’t work for my height or my back, it makes me bend over more! What's the point? The shovel part is so bloody huge, barely filled with snow I can hardly lift it, so I end up pushing snow around, not actually shoveling it. It should be called a snow pusher, not a shovel. I’d like something girly sized, maybe pink and virtually weightless. Then I wouldn’t have anything to complain about…..
Oh, and one last thing. Thank you to the woman who stole a pattern from my racks! If you think I didn't notice that it was you, you'd be wrong. I'd been in the room just before you entered and all was fine, and then I noticed a pattern was gone after you left. I can add 2 + 2. I only wish I had caught you in the act...now we have remote cameras so come back and try it again.....and then we'll tango!
Hot Water Bottle, is this even a term the younger generation would know of? Would it be like explaining who is Elvis or Marilyn Monroe? Do any of you still use a "Hottie" as they are sometimes referred too or is this a trip down memory lane?
I use my bottle when the temperatures dip. The weather dictates how chilly the floors become and anything past -8, I reach for my rubber friend. I just realized how weird that sounds....anyway….. The dogs snuggle along my frame radiating warmth through the covers for my legs, but my digits need help. If I go to bed with cold toes, I wake with cold toes, and the chill of them keep me awake as I continually rub them on the mattress to create friction heat.
My Hot Water Bottle is special. They only last so long before the rubber dries out and cracks so every five years or so I buy a new one. This last one had a glorious faux fur cover, just like the one in the picture. Soft and luxurious to touch, like having a warm animal under your feet. So much nicer than the feel of rubber on your skin. Which reminds me of this tidbit. In the 18th century, upper class ladies of the house tended to prefer small dogs so breeders obliged by breeding increasingly smaller poodles, which led to the development of the toy poodle and its even more diminutive counterparts. Toy Poodles found their niche as the perfect lapdog and fashion accessory. According to The Official Poodle Guide, toy poodles were known at one time as “hand dogs” because wealthy women liked to tote the little dogs around to keep their hands warm on cold nights.
Boy we were bombarded with snow again yesterday! I got dumped on this time. Without any wind to blow it around in drifts it came straight down all over the yard so the first thing I had to do, when I got home from work, was shovel. Paths to the car, and paths to the dog outhouse, which is anywhere in the yard that smells just right, a different spot each time so I covered both sides of the house and a little beyond. Of course it wouldn’t matter how much I shoveled for Henri. He’ll charge for the deep areas every time and roll around in it, rubbing his face. He’s white so it doesn’t show but he comes in the house soaked every time. The rest of them are more civilized and keep to the stripped areas.
Thankfully the downfall was light and fluffy as I am getting too old to be out there pushing tons of snow. It’s man’s work no matter how you look at it. By the time I came back into the warmth of the house, all ten fingers were red and numb. I could have snapped one off and wouldn’t have felt it. Those fingers are needed to hold up a delicate china teacup, not be wrestling a big ole awkward shovel that looks like it was made for Goliath. And what’s up with that stupid ergonomic handle that doesn’t work for my height or my back, it makes me bend over more! What's the point? The shovel part is so bloody huge, barely filled with snow I can hardly lift it, so I end up pushing snow around, not actually shoveling it. It should be called a snow pusher, not a shovel. I’d like something girly sized, maybe pink and virtually weightless. Then I wouldn’t have anything to complain about…..
Oh, and one last thing. Thank you to the woman who stole a pattern from my racks! If you think I didn't notice that it was you, you'd be wrong. I'd been in the room just before you entered and all was fine, and then I noticed a pattern was gone after you left. I can add 2 + 2. I only wish I had caught you in the act...now we have remote cameras so come back and try it again.....and then we'll tango!
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