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

[FoxRedLabbingtons]

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 🙄

I really like having things to look forward to so I like seeing what’s on at the theatre in the coming months and booking some shows and same with holidays.
That's a really good point. I love the weekend papers at this time of year as they have 'what's coming up' sections about books, theatre, TV etc.

Walkies on the beach with DH and the dogs as often as we can.
Booked a holiday for next winter
Get in the steam room/sauna daily if possible

Candles on as soon as it gets dark and baths.

Booked a long weekend European city break beginning of March for something to look forward to.

Main one is 'summer body is made in the winter' for me too. Every summer I think I wish I'd stuck to losing a few pounds, started earlier etc etc. I've put on more than I'm comfortable with over the last couple of years and I'm determined to emerge in Easter looking and feeling good.

Candles, blankets and mashed potato.

I love this thread. Have just ordered Wintering and The Christmas Chronicles in hardback.

And here's my deep navy Shellac manicure x

@Lottapianos

'Maybe try Nigel Slater’s Christmas Chronicles too?'

Love Nigel Slater, loathe Christmas, so will give it a miss but thanks! actually I got his 'A Cook's Book' for my birthday in December and that's very comforting too

His Kitchen Diaries are good as they go through every month and he talks about the nice sides of winter, but obviously it's not a Christmas book, so it's not so heavy on that side of things. He generally, I find, writes beautifully about the seasons, seasonal eating and the rhythm of living/cooking/eating with the year.

'His Kitchen Diaries are good'

I have that one too ☺️ he's a wonderful writer

@peaceanddove nice Shellac! And are you at one of the Lounges?! That’s also a nice thing to do in winter! I had the hot spiced apple drink yesterday, it was so good!!

Thank you, and yes I am. Just treated myself to a gorgeous hot chocolate x

@peaceanddove mmmm!

I have Nigel's kitchen diaries too, I love how he talks about winter.

Happy thread! Lights everywhere here - I have coloured lights from Cable and Cotton that come down when the Christmas lights go up and go up again when the decorations come down, and neon rainbows throughout the house.
A friend gave me a heated throw for Christmas and that is very comforting.
Walks outside as well - the more vitamin D you can absorb the better at this time of year.
I also like hot water with ginger. And cheese, lots and lots of cheese.
January really isn't the time to be abstemious. I think it's much easier to begin new habits at other times of the year - in January I'd prefer to eat well and heartily and shore up against the gloom somewhat.

'January really isn't the time to be abstemious'

Completely agree. Absolutely love getting back to a normal healthy diet but got to do a bit of indulging as well

Haven't read the while thread just yet, but just place marking etc until then. I love winter! I also get lost in scandi noir! Preferably with red wine and salt and vinegar crisps.

@wonderstuff

Last year at school (I’m a teacher) someone suggested taking a photo at 4pm each day to notice the return of the light, I didn’t manage to do the photos but would try to notice the days getting brighter.

@wonderstuff

I do this occasionally on FB, though not always at the same time (did it today at 3.30 in fact, as it was pleasingly sunny & bright ) & then it comes up on my memories page every year.

It was so dark during that exceptionally gloomy December that January brightness is extra welcome!

I keep a small string of star-shaped Christmas lights on my mantelpiece all year round, & also I currently still have a tiny mini tree in a pot, with some gold glitter on it, that came with the big tree.

what a lovely thread.

I have the book Wintering arriving today after a colleague recomended it so looking forward to that, and also already have Nigel Slater's Christmas chronicles

I love the idea up thread of taking a picture every day at 4pm so defintiely going to do that

I have been cooking lots of soups and casseroles, planning to make some nice bread this weekend

I might dig out my crochet blanket project again.....(its been ongoing for about 4 years, Im not very good at it!)

Also liking hot chocolates snuggled on the sofa with a good book (currently reading my Christmas gift of The octunnumi which is excellent escapism!)

Im going to try to restart my running again, with very short runs on days when the weather is good. I know this always helps my mood (haven't run for a bit due to being super busy in December, then having Covid over Christmas!)

I have many blankets and throws, and have also just bought a new lamp for the bedroom. I love cosy lamp lighting. I also have 2 electric wax burners and have lots of nice wax melts to use.

Great thread. I just wanted to add in star gazing as I don't think it's been mentioned. I love this time of year for the ease of looking at stars first thing in the morning or in the evening without needing to stay up late. Wrap up warm and the sky can be so clear and star filled on a frosty night. There's a stunning crescent moon tonight. I love star gazing, I feel like I've done something special when I come back in to warm up.

Fires whether indoors or out.
Brisk walks.
Good coffee.
Shutting the curtains at dark and low lighting.

@Crowdfundingforcake I’m embarrassed to say this, and I’m sure it’s just because I’m hormonal at the moment and winter blues are getting me down, but your description of the Geminid meteor shower brought tears to my eyes. What an incredible thing to experience. How lucky we are to be alive. Wonder can really be found all around us - something to remember in these dark and difficult months.

@peaceanddove

I love this thread. Have just ordered Wintering and The Christmas Chronicles in hardback.

And here's my deep navy Shellac manicure x

Beautiful! I want one but my hands aren't as nice as yours.

I have Nigel Slater's Christmas Chronicles and also recommend this book for midwinter:

www.wob.com/en-gb/books/gillian-monks/merry-midwinter/9781783528424?gclid=CjwKCAiA5t-OBhByEiwAhR-hmzNVt6eNo6_-CiJ2L_EGAMVk5GuM6mb-ELwSpcvE0DeCt3Hd6SNElxoCqo0QAvD_BwE

somethingsnappy that's sweet, thank you. But honestly you should get a Shellac manicure, it makes everyone's hands look better.

Going out running in the dark in the morning, seeing the beautiful sunrises.
Coming back after a cold dog walk and warming up in front of the wood burner.
Watching the bird on the bird feeder
Noticing the days getting slowly longer
Hearing the birds start to sing
Hens laying more eggs
Eating galette du Roi (I live in France)

Baking I made cookies during the week with ds, who was in isolation. They were still gooey and delicious warm. I always freeze some dough so I can enjoy some next week without the hassle.
Reading a book while snuggled under a blanket.
Family games night.
I got some lovely thick cabin socks for Christmas, they are lovely.

THE MOON! ....I forgot before, I try to get out and see the moon especially on the last dogbusy garden visit before bed
Also the ISS, it's not visible this far north for nearly two weeks, but I do try and spy on that when it's going over, so much easier to spot in the dark!

Tonight we walked to the chip shop and back, very clear, crisp and cold, beautiful stars and the moon.