Portrait #2: Audrey, unfashionably dressed Minnesota blogger
Baby, it’s cold out there.
I’d intended to run a different portrait today. But when weather intervened, I pulled out this selfie, which isn’t really a selfie. My husband, Randy, took this photo of me on December 7, 2013, after ringing bells, outdoors, for the Salvation Army. The temperature hovered around zero degrees Fahrenheit.
I bundled into Randy’s insulated Dickies coveralls, topped those with a heavy fleece-lined sweatshirt, wrapped two scarves around my neck, pulled on a Mrs. Claus hat and snugged into warm mittens and felt-lined snow boots for our two-hour shift. My goals were minimal skin exposure and warmth. Not fashion.
This past week in Minnesota, you would have spotted many folks bundled up, aiming to stay warm. When I shoveled snow on Tuesday and Thursday, I was dressed nearly exactly as you see in this year-old photo.
With temps plunging well below zero, wind creating “feels like” temps in the minus 30s and 40s and blizzard/white-out conditions in portions of our state, practicality and survival trump fashion.
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This portrait is part of a new series, Minnesota Faces, featured every Friday on Minnesota Prairie Roots.
© Copyright 2015 Audrey Kletscher Helbling, photo by Randy Helbling
You are so right about warmth above fashion. I put on everything when going outdoors in Rochester.
Back in Boston, the banks make you take off all the scarves and caps plus sunglasses when you enter. They have big signs telling you what to do.
BTW…your readers comments about treating dry skin so helpful to me. I put on lotion with socks overnight, and it really helped immensely! My cracks on my knuckles are starting to heal. Starting to feel so much better. I hope old man winter will start to take it easy on us at least for a couple of days here and there.
I trust you had a nice time with Caleb while he was home…sounds like you had a lots of fun.
“They have big signs telling you what to do.” Hmmmm. I never realized Boston banks took preventative measures like that. Interesting.
I’m glad you found some of the reader suggestions helpful. Lots of great ideas have been forthcoming.
Yes, my time with Caleb home has been fantastic. I do not want him to leave. But I know he’s ready to return to Boston.
Fashion is overrated in my book; way too much attention is paid in that regard. Function is way more important. While other are looking “cute” they will freeze. I, on the other hand, will look like the Michelin Man, and be toasty-warm and comfortable.
I share your opinion, Michelin Man. 🙂
I certainly do enjoy reading your Blog. My mother was from Finlayson, MN. I still have an Aunt and 2 cousins who live up by Brooten, MN. I have some catching up to do but keep on writing as I enjoy it!! Have a great and blessed day!
Thank you, kindly. Now Brooten is way out there on the prairie. I bet practicality and warmth rule over fashion in Brooten and anywhere the prairie wind sweeps.
Winter draws out its own unique fashion from creative, practical folks
…perhaps a series…?
You are right on that. And, yes, that would be an interesting series. Maybe I’ll have to start collecting images this winter.
that would be so much fun to see!
It could be entertaining.
And don’t you just feel like a butterfly emerging from the chrysalis in spring?
Love that comparison. What a lovely thought on a wintry day.
You described the situation perfectly…..but life goes on and tasks must be accomplished ‘cuz we’re “tough Midwesterners”! Although, heading out the door yesterday morning at 7:15 to get my hair cut (in Houston/5 miles away) brought into question my current mental state!!!!!!! LOL!
Well, as long as the stylist dried your hair, you were good, right?
I’ve gotten smarter on that….I ask for a “dry cut”!
There you go. Then you don’t get charged the styling fee either, right?
Right.
I think I am going to like your new series on Fridays! Love this first one because i is of one of my favorite people! Stay warm.
Ah, you are so sweet, Beth Ann. I feel the same about you.
Actually, this portrait is the second one in my series. Check out this one from last Friday: https://mnprairieroots.com/2015/01/02/a-new-series-minnesota-faces/
I remember looking like that when I lived there – trying to not have hat hair all day long while working in the corporate world was a little challenging at times – people would make fun of me swishing down the hallways with my snow pants on too – ha! Happy Weekend – Stay Warm 🙂
Oh, yes, swishing of snow pants. I’d forgotten all about that sound.
My mom use to put bread bags on our feet before putting them in our boots – Ah the Memories!!!
Hey, we did the same thing. Kept our feet warm and dry. I’d forgotten all about that.
Well, I think you’re dressed just right for a Minnesota blogger!
Well, thank you kindly, fellow Minnesota blogger.
Huh. We must hang out in quite different places. Around here, folks rarely wear hats, and gloves/mittens are only for those times when they ma become especially frozen, such as scraping snow off the windshield. I have always been amazed at how “tough” we Minnesotans are. The snow pants, the bread bags, the scarves wound 3 times around….from childhood we start the routine.
This is fantastic. Another Minnesotan with bread bags on the feet memories.
You look so glad to out in the “elements”, is there a smile behind those dual scarves?, your eyes dont seem to be smiling… ha! I actually wore a coat to work two days in a row, I walk about 2 blocks from the parking lot to my building so I thought it best on these sub-below days to give in to a heavy bulky coat instead of frost bite.
Probably no smile under those scarves, Jackie. Smart girl to wear a coat in sub-zero temps. You’re learning. 🙂
Oh I know when it’s REALLY cold, ha!
Ahh, the memories of my life in Nebraska! Hat hair, static snaps, crunch of snow, squeak of boots and layers of clothes. I’m glad to be in the south now, but this year has been very cold for us. You make me feel better and less complaintive about the cold here… it can always be worse – which you have!! Keep toasty and warm, my friend!
Thank you. Warmer today.
Your Nebraska memories seem a carbon of my southwestern Minnesota prairie memories.
I remember when you were ringing those bells out in the cold. I think I commented saying I don’t know how you did it. It sure does look cold out there! Glad that this year’s experience was so much better xx
I remember that comment. Just dressed warm and slipped inside occasionally to warm up.