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 🙄

@ArtfulPuss glad you liked the podcast. It's so calming but also uplifting.

As the Season Turns sounds wonderful and I agree it would be wonderful to keep this thread going to celebrate the changing seasons.

We've had a beautiful hoar frost today that has made everything look so magical. It looks like a fairytale.

I live in mid Norway, so I’m deep in deep lovely midwinter!
Over here it’s common to keep the warm white fairy lights up outside. That looks lovely as it’s only light here between 10.30 am and 14.30.

We’re on a constant quest for Koselig! So my things are
Knitted socks
Kari traa merino wool top
Really nice tea cups , but big and chunky
Lots of yummy stews (gryta)
Tea light candles
Getting out every day even in bad weather
Good crime series
Lovely throws, blankets and creamy white fake furs draped around

I’ll come back if I think of more

A very heavy frost here this morning too, everything looks dusted with icing sugar. Treated myself to a huge, incredibly soft scarf from Fatface yesterday. It's in a neutral mink colour so will go with everything.

20o -bulbs 😮😮 how??

A frosty morning here too. Yesterday the sun was beaming and a friend and I enjoyed a lovely woodland walk. But the grey is back today to remind us we are still in deep winter.

I’m so happy that we will now get to France in February. Not sure I’ll ski, but the blue skies, long snow walks and raclette will do for me! I just love the first glimpse of the Alps as we head along the Autoroute Blanche.

But in the meantime, I’m here and am making the very most of an English winter. Books, candies, fires, socks. The
Kids fancied burgers for dinner so I’ve got a kilo of local venison. Tomorrow we are hosting friends for a citrus themed lunch ( it’s the season). Preserved lemon chicken, followed by orange and almond cake.

I think it helps enormously if your house is geared up for mud as well ie proper porch or entrance way etc

@FoxRedLabbingtons

Where do you ski and how do you get there

JanuaryBluehoo we have a chalet in the Memises, near Evian. It’s not big or fancy, but the mountains and the view of the lake are spectacular. Cheers me up any time of year

Just had a blissful morning hand-feeding white doves at a nearby lake. I brought a big bag of seed, held my arm out and they alighted on my hand. Doesn't do it for everyone, but this is one of my favourite mid-winter fixes.

Love the idea of this thread!
How about:
Leaving lights in garden to light out outside and make it twinkly!

Hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows.

Desserts with warm custard! Yum!

Cozy blankets and movie nights.

Pyjamas and cozy slippers!

Craft activities on rainy days although getting paints out with DCs makes me feel stressed!

New hats/gloves

I am really embracing this time of year this year. I need the rest of dark evenings under a blanket by the fire. My children sleep so much better in winter - no 5am starts. I am reading more, watching films, eating comfort food, having luxurious bubble baths, walking without the discomfort of heat and making minimal social plans. Its actually pretty great.

Winter for me is a time to rest before spring. I leave up some little fairy lights.

Get up early light my candle put on the lights snuggle up on the sofa with a cup of tea and write in my new gratitude journal. It's new to me so not sure how I feel about it yet but it's nice to reflect on the good things no matter how small.

I eat well, lots of leafy greens, soups and stews.

I make time to read the books I've wanted to read.

I exercise 4 days a week at 6am so I'm ready for the day.

This is the first year I've actually really begun to look after myself so that feels good.

We had a log burning stove installed last year and that has become something we really enjoy in winter…putting the fire on each evening, roasting chestnuts on it and enjoying a s’mores or a hot chocolate in front of it!
Putting on our thermals and wellies and going on muddy walks in the woods
Comfort food like casseroles and pies
Boards games
Electric blanket
Decluttering
Planning a camping trip/ holiday for when the weather warms up
Days out at a National Trust place or similar with a winter picnic.

More ideas
Puzzles at night by a nice toasty log fire
Winter indoor picnic tea etc
Board games
Drinks and snacks whilst watching a movie
Book club once a month
Courses and lessons
Church service once a week
Walks
Art and craft activities
Music
Dancing
Weekly fun quizzes

So glad this lovely thread is still going.

I'm about to make some fridge soup before heading to my local which has lots of candles and a roaring fire to do some writing. Happy Sunday everyone!

Also The Winter House by Alison May on Kindle is a nice read.

I've spent the day doing a big clear out and tidy of my kitchen food cupboards. It's something I like to do around this time of year to use up the last of any Christmassy ingredients, and make a list of things I need to stock up on for the rest of winter.

I've also cleared out the vegetable drawers and currently have 3 different types of soup on the go. I'll freeze them in portions and have fresh soup right through til March. The house smells spicy and comforting.

We had a beautiful almost spring like day today. Took a picnic and drove to a forestry site with wide views of the Cheviots, sat at a picnic table for an hour in the sunshine. Had to keep reminding ourselves we're only half way through winter. Huge full moon against a clear pinkish sky as an added bonus.

@Matbest

I am really embracing this time of year this year. I need the rest of dark evenings under a blanket by the fire. My children sleep so much better in winter - no 5am starts. I am reading more, watching films, eating comfort food, having luxurious bubble baths, walking without the discomfort of heat and making minimal social plans. Its actually pretty great.

I agree. I do like the excuse to curl up on the sofa under a blanket and a cat to watch a lot of films and trashy crime dramas.

@Crowdfundingforcake

We had a beautiful almost spring like day today. Took a picnic and drove to a forestry site with wide views of the Cheviots, sat at a picnic table for an hour in the sunshine. Had to keep reminding ourselves we're only half way through winter. Huge full moon against a clear pinkish sky as an added bonus.

I can also see the Cheviots from where I live. It truly was a beautiful day. Sunshine makes all the difference.

I'm really embracing an early start this month, especially as when I stood outside with the dogs this morning with a steaming mug of coffee, the full moon was like a golden disk in the early morning sky. I was caught in a perfect moment. Lovely.

It's sunny, cold, with ice blue skies. Just turning my roasted veg into soup and I'll be having a warming bowlful for lunch.

I've also got my DD11 into journaling this month. She's loving it, and I'm making sure we both add something positive about the winter into our journals.

It's a crystal clear night sky here tonight. The full moon looks like it's caught in a net of stars. Beautiful.

The moon was a beautiful sight this morning @KurtWilde. I happened to catch a glimpse of it this morning as I let the pooch out and stood mesmerised.
I love waking up early, doing some yoga and having time for a quiet cup of tea before waking the kids and getting ready for work.