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Original poster

Ideas to make deep midwinter lovely ( or at least bearable)

238 replies

FoxRedLabbingtons · 06/01/2022 21:09

I loved the ‘make autumn lovelier’ thread. But is there any hope for deep winter loveliness?

There was frost on my office windows this morning ( should’ve left a heater on over Christmas), dog walks are ankle deep in mud, all the chocolate is gone and it’s dark all day.

It’s lean picking for loveliness but here are my ideas:

I went to the church epiphany carol service this evening. A peaceful, candlelit hour. 2nd February is Candlemas- early pancake day!
Swimming with a quick jacuzzi dip once a week.
Actually lighting my posh candle. It’ll look it’s best on a grey afternoon.
Comfort food. DH is making boeuf a la daube this weekend.
Facing down the weather and enjoying beach walks and snowdrop rambles.
Spending my Christmas money on L’Occitaine bath foam.
Wintry books- Ghost stories. And comfort TV- maybe a bit of Scandi noir and This Farming Life.
Living vicariously through my best friend in Perth, who has been complaining all month about the terrible heat 🙄

OP posts:
MackenCheese · 06/01/2022 23:35

Great thread. Candles every evening. Soft music instead of TV after dark. Eating dark chocolate. Finishing off my mulled wine!

BrownOwlknowsbest · 06/01/2022 23:38

@ClaudiusTheGod

What’s Candlemas?
Candlemas is a church festival held on 2nd February when the new years candles were blessed. Long ago this was the traditional end to Christmas celebrations.
Xmasgetaway · 06/01/2022 23:45

I’ve been to the Caribbean for a fortnight and I’m off to Germany for another 2 weeks on Monday, so I’m finding that’s helping!

MrsHookey · 06/01/2022 23:50

Every year I buy something nice for the house, for use after Christmas. I am leaving up the sparkly lights. Deployment of plants and fresh flowers also cheers things up.

Bionicname · 06/01/2022 23:55

My favourite treat for this time of year are real beeswax candles. The most lovely light and smell

Luredbyapomegranate · 06/01/2022 23:55

Celebrate burns night - haggis, neeps and tatties is delicious, as is cranchan, and whisky, obvs. Get friends round. Brush up your burns. Address the pudding. And take the next day off.

Original poster
FoxRedLabbingtons · 07/01/2022 06:24

So many lovely ideas.

I look forward to our Burns Night celebrations, and it’s the same day as our cat’s (Haggis McBaggis) birthday. I’m going to try making cranachan this year.

Candlemas is the English version and it’s a catholic festival, the last day of Christmas. It helps to go the way of the French and focus on eating pancakes.

Who has read Wintering by Katherine May? I loved reading it last winter. Perfect for the time of year.

The 4pm photo is a wonderful idea. I’ll be trying that one.

OP posts:
Lottapianos · 07/01/2022 06:42

'Who has read Wintering by Katherine May? I loved reading it last winter. Perfect for the time of year.'

Just finished it. One of the loveliest books I've ever read. Going to keep it and read it again every November

Original poster
FoxRedLabbingtons · 07/01/2022 07:01

Lottapianos that’s a great idea. Maybe try Nigel Slater’s Christmas Chronicles too?

OP posts:
reallyworriedjobhunter · 07/01/2022 07:10

Have some indoor bulbs in the house. My white hyacinths are just beginning to flower.

Snowisfallinghere · 07/01/2022 07:12

I take all my decorations down apart from fairy lights Smile

Iveputmyselfonthenaughtystep · 07/01/2022 07:14

My mum got me a bowl of hyacinth bulbs planted up for Yule. They're all in full bloom now and giving me so much joy. I second the decluttering. Had a massive throw out and reorganise of DDs room and it's just lovely now. Calm and peaceful and although she's only 6 she's making her bed every day and putting things away because she's so proud of it and it's a lot easier now we've tidied.
I go in there to hide when the mess in the rest of the house stresses me out. I must do some other rooms.
Spicy foods, hearty soups, part baked baguettes, luxuriant hot chocolates all good too

Whatliesbeneath707 · 07/01/2022 07:23

Wonderful thread @FoxRedLabbingtons - thank you.
I've been following another thread on here where we've read Nigel Slater's Christmas Chronicles and he makes lots of lovely references to the winter weather. It has really turned around my view of winter, as he really favours this season and describes it's beauty so eloquently. I think the writing in his book takes us up to February and so it's not just all about Christmas.

Following on from his book, I've come across a Podcast in a similar theme. It's called As the Season Turns and it's by Lia Leendertz. She tackles each month in a Podcast and she again captures the magical feel of the seasons & weather. Lovely to listen to on a crisp, frosty bright & sunny winter walk.
Other things that I'm enjoying are:
replacing my bed sheets with fleece blankets - so cozy
making fabulous soups with very basic veggies but lots of flavouring
making cakes - Nigella's clementine cake is a delight
Sitting in bed with a cup of Earl grey tea & watching it get light - in the Podcast I mentioned, she tells you how much lighter it gets each month (lovely to hear this)
planning to meet friends for meals in cozy country pubs

Whatliesbeneath707 · 07/01/2022 07:26

Ah cross posted @FoxRedLabbingtons - you've seen the Christmas Chronicles too.
I second the Wintering book - just lovely 😊

NoHeavenNoMore · 07/01/2022 07:26

Following with interest!!!

Cottagepieandpeas · 07/01/2022 07:32

I love Winter for lots of the ideas mentioned here.
I like wearing hats & scarves.
I’ve got a lovely green coat that I like wearing.

Hot chocolate.
Candles
Frosty mornings
Getting back indoors after you’ve got freezing cold 🥶

I’m afraid for me it just hasn’t been cold enough! I’m in the SE and we’ve been having temperatures in double figures!

lochmaree · 07/01/2022 07:36

I have started planning the garden for spring and summer, buying seeds and other garden things, and preparing the garden - mulching with compost, adding new paths, various other little jobs. I find it helps to be outside, regardless of the weather really.

also decluttering the house, cleaning, colouring books!

PartyPrawnRingGames · 07/01/2022 07:38

My dd pointed out it's a lot easier to get up in time to watch the sun rise at this time of year.

lizkt · 07/01/2022 07:41

Fondue evening! It's about the only time of year it feels right.

PiglingBlonde · 07/01/2022 08:00

I enjoyed Wintering last year and it made me feel better about 'hibernating' through January and February. After Christmas I always feel like I should carry on being sociable but actually I need some time to recuperate.

I've got lia leendertz' almanac which shows how the days are getting lighter and warmer (although SE too so could do with some proper cold for a little while!). Otherwise we tend to go away somewhere for feb half term which is something to look forward to.

Original poster
FoxRedLabbingtons · 07/01/2022 08:09

Thanks for the Lia Leenderz recommendations. I bought the almanac for a friend for Christmas but didn’t get time to cheekily read it first. Will certainly give the podcast a go this morning as I have chores to run in the car.

It was really good yesterday and that gave me a lift. Like we were properly in the throes. A few years ago I discovered why people take to the Alps. The snow and sun is so uplifting. I’m a terrible skier but we go a village with beautiful walks. If we can’t make it in February, I’ve half a mind to brave the Highlands of Scotland . Has anyone been in February? Is it just too grey for a holiday or full of midwinter wonder?

OP posts:
LyndaSnellsSniff · 07/01/2022 08:17

Every year, before Christmas, I buy a scented candle that I don’t light until after the decorations have come down. I choose one that embodies cosiness. It’s like a little treat for that post-Christmas slump period.

I’ve also got a massage booked in on Saturday and looking forward to getting my hair cut later this month.

TheGonnagle · 07/01/2022 08:28

Candlemas is the Christian festival that overlays Imbolc, the older, pagan festival that return of the light. It is traditionally observed about half way between solstice and equinox. Brigid was a pagan goddess (so important she was interwoven into Christianity as St. Bridget, who celebrates her Saint day on the same day). Imbolc is all about the quickening of the seasons and the land, new beginnings and new life. Our fairy lights stay up until Imbolc.

TheGonnagle · 07/01/2022 08:32

Until Imbolc we celebrate the deep of winter and the quiet that follows the hectic Christmas period. It used to be a period of the year that I hated but I think I’ve made my peace with it now. It dawned on me that I was disliking a 12th of my life, which is clearly not good for the soul!