That time of year again to attend to so many things in our climate, to become prepared for the oncoming winter season. In this instance, it's cars that must be prepared, for survival.

Survival by way of driving with road safety in mind, replacing the all-weather, three-season tires with specialized ice tires to help with much improved traction on icy winter roads. And survival of the vehicle itself, by having it oil-sprayed annually before the onset of wintry weather requiring road salt to similarly improve traction, but which destroys the integrity of steel, impairing the survival of the vehicle itself after long years of road-salt exposure, to rust.

So yesterday morning was set aside to accomplish the first step of the twin manoeuvres. The ice tires were hauled up into the garage from their resting place in the basement, by my husband who now finds handling them immensely easier since he has instituted his regimen of weight-lifting. And then he proceeded to install them.

In preparation for taking the car out in the afternoon for the half-hour oil underspray treatment which ensures that the integrity and life of the car body is maintained for the long haul. Another fall task completed.

Until the oil treatment has sufficiently dried, however, the garage floor has to be covered with newspapers to soak up the dripping oil.