So, you ask, what is this ingenious magic potion I concocted from the recesses of my inner inventive brain?
A boiling pot of water on the stove top, dashed with a sprinkle of cinnamon, nutmeg and ground cloves. Ahhh, yes! I can breathe again, the house smells delicious and my spirits are lifted as the warm, spicy steam permeates my kitchen. I think I'll call it "Winter's Delight".
Now I'm curious.....what are your secrets for making winter a little more enjoyable?
13 comments:
I'm immersing myself in pink right now; pink quilts, pink coasters, pink embroidery. It seems to be working. My husband also brings home a few pretty house plants to make our home a bit more soothing. Your recipe sounds perfect for a cold day. :)
Let's see... I keep lots of warm blankets around the house, make multiple pots of hot chocolate every day, and do a LOT of baking. So winter appears to involve lethargy AND overeating at my place!
I actually enjoy the peacefulness of winter. I love that the outside of the house never has that unkempt look that can happen during the lush period of summer. I love that every breath of cold air seems to purify me, and I like the energy I get from the chilly weather. Things that keep me comforted are good lip balm (Avon Moisture Therapy - an inexpensive miracle), hand cream (Burt's Bees Almond Milk Hand Creme), and a sweater that is cozy but not bulky (Eddie Bauer). We like to do crafts around the table (today we strung a rosary and some rings and a bracelet), and baking is always fun. I can't believe how much I wrote, but advocating the charms of winter is a joy of mine!
I agree with warm blankets, a cup of steaming hot tea, particularly a gift of an apple tea from Harrod's, such an indulgence. But also, I love to leaf through garden magazines and start making plans for my flower gardens. Expanding here, another rose over there, maybe a fountain in this patio....
Snowshoeing!! This afternoon I left the cranky under 5 crowd back with my husband and the older kids and I went snowshoeing back into the wilderness. Trees covered with snow, our eyelashes freezing closed in the below zero weather, stillness and beauty everywhere. Then it's great to come into a warm house and I feel justified in eating a lot! So get outside and breathe that fresh air!
Hi Kristen ~ this was so fun to read because I do that all the time over here too ~ just to get that cozy cold weather feeling in the house!
Kira
I do that, too. It does smell wonderful. But Kristen...it is never winter in So Cal. :)
Try adding the peel from an orange from lunch or snacktime!
I bought myself a bunch of hot pink Gerber daisies at Trader Joe's! Their vividness brings a smile to my face or a peaceful sigh.
I bake. Every day for everyone I know. My children get a great math lesson out of the deal and some great bonding time. The house smells glorious all day which makes me smile. And, the recipients of our excess are all the happier,too.
Oohh, I'm so glad I asked! I love all these terrific ideas. Thanks, ladies!
Thank you for reminding me of this! I've been using the Yankee Candle wax warmers all season long, and I had run out... but for the past two days I've had cinnamon and cloves simmering away in a pot on the stove, and it smells wonderful!
Seeing that Autumn and Winter are my favorite times of the year, I LOVE the gloomy overcast days, the cool (not bitterly cold!) air, and the way it makes me focus "inward" and coccoon myself in my snug little house. It is a feeling of total bliss and security.
To make the season even more enjoyable, I light candles and oil lamps, cook lots of stews and fresh bread, sip hot tea as I read a book in a quiet, lamp-lit corner, listen to Gregorian chants, and savor every blessed moment of it!
[I think I may be the only person who has actually said, "Oh darn it... it's Spring...]
Winter?! Don't you live in Southern California? :)
Come visit us in Indiana for a few days and it'll feel like summer over there!
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