reminder

I was browsing through the front of Porter Square Books yesterday. (They now have coffee, and quite nice hot chocolate.) They're lovely, and have become my preferred source for new books. A couple came in and put a squirmy pink snowsuit on the floor. The child inside wobbled for a bit before figuring out gravity and looking around. She smiled like she'd found heaven, and crowed, "Books!"

I smiled at her. "That's right. There are lots of books here. They put the picture books in that corner." I pointed to the children's section, which has a perfectly nice sign I presume she can't read.

She took another bite of what she'd been holding in her mitten, then held it out to me. "Snow!"
I said, "Yes, it's snowing out there. We need to be careful to keep all the books dry, so people can read them."

Sometimes it's good to be reminded of the basics.

thirsty boots

My old winter boots were not quite warm and waterproof enough for the slushy end of last winter. I took them to a shoemaker, who said there wasn't any structural damage that could be repaired. I've been coating them with foul-smelling waterproofing resin, but I don't expect that to be a great solution in the long run. (For the time being, I'm glad I have the use of a fume hood.) The LL Bean catalog showed up a few days ago, with "snow sneakers" that are supposed to be warm and waterproof. Have any of you tried them? Are they really?

Any other suggestions for something that's warm, waterproof, and easy to put on? My hands aren't always good for pulling hard or serious lacing/unlacing, so I appreciate cooperative elastic and/or hooks.