Single digit temperatures have returned to the weather forecasts for Toronto, and people are starting to suit up in scarves. I even saw people wearing gloves. Winter is coming. Eventually. It's not here yet, but I might as well get ready for it!

I've been accumulating quite a collection of winter tips and experiences. Last winter worked out pretty well. What will I try this year?

2014-09-12 Things to tweak or try this winter

• More consistent exercise
• Growing plants indoors: the new Hacklab has a skylight, and I might be able to use the tiny window ledge in our bedroom too
• Less consulting and more writing
• Proper sewing: I'm going to get the hang of this eventually! It's a good skill to have. I can work on finally finishing those box cushion covers.
• Flashcards, learning: Japanese, Cantonese, Latin; development (maybe build Android apps?)
• Lots of cooking and fresh meals
• More vacuuming and tidying up, since I'll be home
• Hacklab, maybe twice or thrice a week?
• More organized reading: book notes, sketches, blog posts
• Regular sleep
• New drawing workflow: index cards, sketchbook?

I think it's time to get a new coat and a pair of winter boots. Oh well! I didn't find anything I liked in last year's end-of-season sales, so I guess I should probably reconcile myself to paying full price or close to it.

I liked last year's idea of thinking in terms of longer nights, since I do tend to divide my activities into day (work, writing) and night (relaxing, drawing). Maybe I'll play with that some more.

Hey, maybe the Canadian citizenship grant includes cold tolerance. Always wondered why W- and J- think ice cream season is all year long!