Dorothy,

I agree, they are a very clever idea. I have one for the garage and one for the greenhouse. Here are the two I picked up to try out:

Farm INnovators Thermo Cube Thermostatically Controlled Outlet

Easy Heat EH-38 Freeze Thermostatically Controlled Valve and Pipe Heating System. They have a whole bunch of related products, I just got the plug.

Since I have a lot to do before the holiday I figured I'd better start out by taming the kitchen. I scrubbed the corner of the counter where my compost bowl sits (got the bits off the back splash) and cleared out things in the fridge that are too old. It's all in the compost with the usual upper layer of dog droppings policed from the back yard. Once the kitchen is looking good I'll just force myself to keep it that way and work my way into the rest of the house. Since the sink is clear, for example, I can now take the various pieces of crystal off of the mantle and wash each before putting them back in the china cupboard. I'll figure out what I want the holiday decor to look like once it is completely clear. And then there are all of the cardboard boxes in the sun room . . . lots to do around here, but with the pressure on, that makes it easier to get motivated.

Got two dog walks today and I'm back to larger meals in the morning and midday, small in the evening. Despite a season filled with calories, now that I can't eat chocolate I may actually be able to lose some weight this season. That is definitely a mixed blessing!

SRS