What are you doing to keep happy and cosy through the rest of winter?

[flowerybun]

We took the decorations down yesterday and its sad to see the house looking a bit empty without them. I have kept some fairy lights up and a few wintery decorations to ease the transition and keep the cosy vibe going for the rest of winter, I'm in Scotland so it will be cold and dark for several months to come.

I do feel like with the cost of living, the weather, and world events its easy to see how one might just want to hibernate but I want to make the most of this time if I can. So what is everyone doing to have a nice winter?

I got a seasonal almanac as a christmas gift this year so I've been reading that and hoping that it will help me feel more attuned to the seasons for example I got out for a walk last Friday evening to see the beautiful conjunction of venus and the moon, which I would have missed otherwise.

I will be doing lots of seasonal cooking and will be trying at least one new recipe a week as well as old favourites. Lots of time for reading and making use of the Library. I'm also planning to try the knitting kit I got for Christmas, I haven't done that since I was a kid so hopefully it will be fun to have another go. I also enjoy board games and so will have some friends for dinner and a games night a few times.

If the weather is nice I'll be out walking and I have a couple of meet up's planned with friends (one to see a local ballet companies version of the Crucible!!!) and we got cinema vouchers for Christmas so will go out for dinner and movie if anything good is on, we did see the new Nosterafu at the weekend and it was great, very dark and beautiful. The we went for Japanese food, we don't eat out or have takeaway loads so its real a treat when we do and something to look forward to!

We have an overseas wedding in the Summer to go to which will be expensive but we plan to turn it into a holiday and so we will also be planning that as well so lots to look forward to!

So tell me what will you be doing to this winter to keep you going, what will you be looking forward to?

I'm currently decluttering which is keeping me busy. I have a lovely Lakeland electric throw which I love and battery candles which give the place a nice glow in the gloom.

@username299 I am also trying to be more organised this year and have made a good start with putting all important dates into my calendars and I even managed to stock up on all the birthday cards I'll need for the next few months at the weekend so that made me feel quite serene and on top of things! I have more jobs planned but am breaking it down and doing a bit at a time!

I am a convert to the batter candles, I used to not like them but real candles seem to trigger headaches so I am quite enjoying the battery candles now if they have a nice flicker!

Sounds great. Organised is the way to go and getting all the cards sorted is good going.

I'm determined to get the house finished, there's still stuff to do. Kitchen needs repainting, roof is currently being repaired etc

I'm a complete convert to electric candles. Mine are remote control and I put them on when I get up. They really do fight the gloom. Scented candles destroy my eyes.

Trying to fend off winter lurgies by eating 30 different fruit & veg a week. Taking a multivitamin several times a week. Running twice and doing an hour's karate each week.

Like OP, lots of seasonal cooking and baking. Trying new recipes

Cosy evenings in front of the log burner. Trying to get out in the garden whenever there is any sunshine. Feeding the birds, watching out for snowdrops, winter iris and other early flowers.

Planning an Easter break in the Highlands

@Meadowfinch Sounds great, I do feel like making a bit of effort with food and eating a least a little seasonally makes a huge difference to how you feel, getting outside and staying active when you can is also great!

I'm leaving my decorations up until Candlemas/Imbolc this year. The tree is still alive and well - we got it quite late, as this was the plan, so it's not a wizened old thing! Lots of candles lit all through the season, and I think as we get into February we'll make some new decor. Flowers, winter foliage, maybe some bunting. I absolutely love seasons so we really try and bring them inside a bit and enjoy the changing of them as they go!

Lots of long walks. We've been getting up early and getting out with the dogs, then down to the horses. Can't manage that at the same time every day now school/work is back, but we're making time for it at some point during the day. DH and I WFH so we've made sure both offices are suitably cosy - blankets, candles, etc.

Hot baths of a night rather than just a shower. I've got a load of new oversized sweatshirts that are great for lounging around in and being comfortable, but still good to answer the door in. We've made loads of lovely soups to stock the freezer with, but we're continuing on with nice cheese and crackers too. I re-stocked my tea cupboard and DH did the same for coffee, so there's always a nice hot drink. Boardgames in front of the fire.

Nosferatu was a brilliant film, OP! Very much enjoyed that. I love spooky stuff around Christmas, but all through winter too. DH and I have been re-watching Psychoville and Inside No. 9, so that gives us a good bit of oddness. I've got a pile of books to work my way through, too!

What's your Seasonal Almanac @flowerybun ? Sounds like a nice idea.

I have one real candle in the fireplace and the rest electric. I've just bought a load of nice diffuser scents from Valentte again because the house smells a bit musty (the christmas tree was lovely smelling!).

Walks when I can get out in the winter sun.

@GiddyRobin That all sounds lovely! I'd love to keep my tree up for longer but DH wouldn't go for that as he thinks only having it up till the 12 days of Christmas makes it more special but I'd be happy to make all of January special! I have a tea drawer and I did get a small loose leaf teapot and some loose leaf tea for Christmas with which I am hoping to recreate that "tea and cake at a nice cafe feel" as its getting too expensive to just go and do that on my own these days so I'm only going into cafes if I'm meeting a friend. I can do the home baking but my tea bag in a cup just wasn't cutting it!

Your winter foliage sounds great and the fire! We don't have one but I do love it when I'm out walking on a cold day and I can smell peoples coal and wood fires burning.

If you like spooky things at Christmas time check this out on bbc sounds https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m00268j7 Very enjoyable!

@Goldfsh It was The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2025 by Leendertz Lia, every year has a different theme and this year it is ancient astronomy, its my first year getting it but I think there are various kinds like gardening ones and ones that focus on more ancient traditions. The one I got has a bit of everything.

Those diffusers look really nice. I usually rely on a few drops of essential oils in my radiator humidifying cups but that doesn't work well for spring or summer when I don't have the radiators on so I will bookmark that site!

We have some all year a round lights, electric candles/lanterns around, wire lights, cosy lamps, some subtle colour change in our unit, so it shines through, and looks pretty. You have inspired me to want another lamp actually for the other side of my room!

@flowerybun Oh that sounds lovely! What kind of tea did you go for? I've become a bit in love with Bird & Blend. Went to one of their shops when we drove to Liverpool a few days ago, and it's just fabulous in there! They make up mixes for you, let you taste things, and it's honestly such a nice experience. A tea set makes all the difference, I think! I really hope you enjoy it - it's an important little part of the day, tea!

It's the smell for me, too. I walk along sniffing the air like some sort of weird, wood burning-obsessed dog. 😂

Ooohh! Thank you so much! This sounds brilliant - right up my street! I'll definitely be tucking into that! A book you may like is Merry Midwinter by Gillian Monks. A lot is on the pre-Christmas build up I think, but if I remember correctly she covers post-Christmas, too. It's all about nice things to do; some old traditions, some of her family traditions, and it's just generally a nice read. The good thing is that almost everything she suggests is either free or extraordinarily cheap!

I’m buying flowers tomorrow- nice springy ones to put in the window instead of my sparkly lights!

@GiddyRobin I got some Coconut Truffle and Vanilla Earl Grey from Whittards and Tsarevna from Kusmi which is delicious but very energising so I can't drink it too late. I have tried a sample of bird and blend but I haven't been to their shop in the nearest city so I will be checking that out next time I'm up, sounds great.

Thank you so much for the book recommendation, that is very much my thing so if I don't get it this winter I will certainly put it on the list for next winter!

@stayathomer Lovely, flowers make everything better! It isn't something I've done before but perhaps I will get some of those spring bulbs people have on the window sill so I can watch them grow. I did one year plant snowdrops in the garden as they are my favourite flower but they never came up, my garden is too wet sadly.