The next door folks give the dogs a treat in the morning, but since there was ice forming overnight I got a text asking if I could keep the dogs in till it was full light (because one of them barks until she gets her treat, though I've reduced the amount of barking by zapping her with a training collar occasionally). I was up a couple of times during the night to take them out (since they usually have free access to the yard via the dog door). Cookie had to be dragged out, she doesn't like that cold, but got lots of praise when she finally pooped and we could all go in again. We all went out to the fence this morning after a text was sent telling them the dog door was again uncovered. I wanted to be sure he got back to the house ok (they have a large concrete patio are behind their house and it's iced over.)

Cookie outgrew her dog jacket since last year and I'm not driving to Petco for a new one in the ice so I'll widen the front leg openings and put a little more Velcro on so it will meet under her tummy. She hated this thing when I first tried to put it on her last year at this time, but once in it she happily wore it for five days straight. Now she loves the idea of a jacket.

Today is a day for long socks, fleece sweat pants, a t-shirt layered under a big baggy sweatshirt, and static electricity like crazy. The house has two heating zones, so in the interest of conserving electricity I'll have the heat up only in the office and let the rest of the house cool down to 62 before the heat comes on over there (it's programmed that way anyway, from when I left the house to go to work, before retirement. I never changed it.)

Baking day today, it seems. And maybe pot roast or a stew.