So what do Maine women and our favorite crustacean have in common?

Lobster claws.

At least that's the way it seems each fall, as our fingers change overnight from silky smooth to downright crusty.

I was just marveling how soft my skin had stayed when my hands suddenly morphed to those of a woman who starts her day hauling kindling and stoking the wood stove.

I found I wasn't alone this week as friends at work scrambled for hand cream. As we slathered on our balm we compared notes about what works best.

My pick is a little tube of Institut Karite from Paris that I found last winter at Folly 101. (Walk fast - it's still in stock...)

(We'd love to hear your secret remedies... do write!)

What else should we do? I put the question to a man who knows hands, Lee Phu, owner of Elizabeth Nails on Cumberland Avenue.

Lee says we should cut back on the hand-washing, only use moisturizer at night, consider a paraffin-wax treatment (a comforting bargain at $5) and keep our hands warm.

Just the words we wanted to hear.... Lucky for us, one of fall's fun accessories is gloves. My lunchtime shopping excursion turned up lots of options.

If ever we have a good excuse to spend, ladies, this is it. We all have our basic black or brown winter coats - why not add a little pizazz to our paws? We'll suddenly feel a little more fashionable ... and our fingers will thank us.

Cashmere gloves with a fancy top, $48 at Bliss.

At $14 each, these wool-blend gloves are a must. Also available at Bliss in a rainbow of hues.

Sophisticated? We think so. These wool-blend Echo gloves are $28.95 at Amaryllis.

Just the ticket: These leather Echo gloves have a lining that releases "tiny microbursts" of aloe to soften your hands. Hmmm.... $68 at Amaryllis.