Things Said in Winter
I laughed outloud at a meme I saw recently. It only said, “I’m sorry for the things I said when it was winter”. This could describe a few people in my life who desperately hate winter’s cold, wind, and especially, snow.
I have always loved winter until just a few years ago when I fell during a snowstorm. It took weeks…no, months … for my knee to recover. If it hadn’t been snowing so hard, if I hadn’t been trying to shovel off my car so quickly to get to work, and if I had made a better judgement about the boots I was wearing at the time, I would not have fallen. I wouldn’t have fallen if it had been spring – of that I’m sure.
So since my tumble, I have Fall Fear anytime it’s snowing. And this has made me say unkind things in winter. BUT…in order to get through a real true New England winter, it is better to focus on the positive and so I give you some of my winter pleasures.
Citrus
Winter is the time of oranges, grapefruits, lemons. Take advantage of the wealth of refreshing and fragrant fruit that is best in winter. I especially love clementines which are easy to carry to work and very sweet. It makes winter a bit sweeter too.
Movies
There is never a better time to watch movies at home than in winter. But going out to a theater for a film is nice too. Sometimes I bring a small blanket with me if I think the theater will be chilly. I pocket some dark chocolate from home too and if the theater sells coffee, a hot steaming cup keeps me from snacking on popcorn.
Cafes
Speaking of coffee, small cozy cafes are perfect in winter. A warm sweater and scarf and a book plus a mug of your favorite hot drink, is a nice way to spend a few hours on a Saturday afternoon.
Museums
I love visiting museums in winter, especially art museums. It’s fun to buy a few postcards of favorite spring-like paintings in the gift shops to take home and meditate on. Museums have lovely cafes too.
Soups and Stews
I really enjoy cooking soulful dishes on the weekend which make great leftovers for the week ahead. It almost feels like self-care to have something nourishing simmering away on the stove and scenting the house.
Slippers
Slippers have been elevated in status in recent years. Sheepskin-lined, boiled wool, cashmere, faux fur -cozy house slippers make cold afternoons bearable. I have quite a collection for various at-home activities including a traction-soled pair for running out to the recycle bin and to fetch the mail.
Perfume
The other day a co-worker floated by a few of us and we couldn’t help noticing her refreshing floral scent. We remarked that she smelled like spring and she candidly revealed the name of her innocent little perfume. I become weary of my complex and heavy cold-weather fragrances by the end of January and long to spritz on some sunshine and flowers. A change can give you a new mindset as the snow flits down for days on end.
Pastels
My good friend Karen, puts all her fall magentas and burnished-colored clothing away on January 1st. She declares that Pastel Winter has begun and peppers her wardrobe with cool baby blues and soft greys. Her clothes mirror the pale icy landscape of the northern Great Lakes region in the dead of winter.
Lipstick
Like my need for wispy spring scents, I always need a fresh new lipstick in January. I don’t want any persimmon or garnet lip colors – only bright clear ones like raspberry or translucent “jelly and jam” colors.
Hand Creams
I am a hand cream addict and if I hear of a new one, I always try to find out more about it. I especially like the simple indie brands I find on Amazon.
Hats
Never have winter hats been so popular. If you have a black coat, infusing it with a colorful hat with a pompom gives it life. I’ve seen so many this year and women are wearing them on not just the most bitterly cold days but nearly everyday. This trend is long overdue as most of our body heat escapes through an uncovered head as told to us by our grandmothers years ago. Hats are worth a little messy hair if they keep you warm.
L’Editions Deluxe
Winter is perfect for picture books, coffee table books and even children’s books. Revisit old favorites and thumb through pages of lovely illustrations be they of houses, gardens, or fashions. Throw a shawl over you shoulder and sit at the table with a cup of tea and travel to exotic places, plan a night garden for summer, or study vintage fashions and old homes.
Toast
Is there anything more old-fashioned than toast? In winter, a nice piece of toast with your tea in the afternoon is so homey. A little butter with some jewel-toned marmalade (back to the citrus theme) will make you feel like the Children’s Hour has returned to the house. What other time of year can we pause for toast and tea but winter?
Leggings
The J. Peterman catalog that I received before Christmas stated that a woman’s legs should always be swathed in something wonderful. I can’t think of anything more wonderful than a pair of fleece leggings and I am living in them. They are warm, stretchy, and great for running to the basement to fetch the Crock Pot. They’re also comfy when you curl up for your afternoon nap under a knit throw.
Flowers
A local grocery store has wonderful winter blooms. I love white lilies because when they open, they scent the entire house. Ditto, hyacinths. I have to have a selection of flowers in winter somewhere in the house. Of late, I’ve been trimming a few wee blooms from my bouquets and putting them in a small vase for my nightstand. They remind me that spring will come again.
White
Wearing white in winter makes a great juxtaposition. While everyone is in black, white stands out. It looks unexpected and chic. My favorite sweater right now is a thick cream wool with a sparkly button on the shoulder. I imagine myself a snow princess when I wear it. If you are lucky enough to own a cream coat, pair it with a matching hat or baby pink accessories.
Music
Atmospheric but gentle music is very meaningful in winter. I enjoy my favorite pieces via my little speaker. Wafting music keeps me company when I cook or fills the silences as I read. If you plug “Winter Music” into a search some nice pieces come up. Youtube features pictures of ice skaters and pets frolicking in the snow with their selections. Classical music that evokes winter scenes is calming to the soul.
Dreaming
I think it’s important for those who find winter challenging to have an eye to warmer days. I like having goals for spring such as getting in better shape or saving to buy a new spring raincoat. It helps to keep your eyes on the prize in the reverse dog-days of winter. Having a goal in winter is exciting as you plan for warmer weather. Keep a journal about your goal and outline the steps to achieve whatever it is you want whether it’s saving up enough money for a long weekend in Nantucket with a few friends or buying a fancy new bicycle for carefree summer rides.
I’m not perfect and I’ve said some astonishing things “when it was winter” but little luxuries offer solace on winter’s darkest days. Perhaps Robert Frost’s poem “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening” is a gentle cast to the long wait for spring’s appearance that we all feel about now. We may have miles of winter left to go but we can at least travel them lightly and with pleasure.
9 Comments
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Karen
I LOVE this post, Donna. I so often lose my "chic" in winter and just plow through waiting for the season to change. I love your friend's (also Karen') idea for putting away the burnished colors and wearing winter pastels and white. I'm going to work on that! All of your suggestions are inspirational – I'm going back to read it all again. Thank you! xo
galant
What a lovely post, Donna! I have enjoyed this all so much. Yes, I want to change to a lighter perfume, too! And while I thought I'd enjoy wearing bright red and emerald green, I preferred to wear these colours in autumn/fall, and now love to wear cream, pastel blue and grey (I have polo-neck jumpers in these colours and team them with my indigo jeans.) I also like raspberry shades of lipstick rather than the coppery colours that I wore in autumn/fall. And it's about time I bought some new slippers. I've not had slippers for years, preferring an old pair of summer sandals to wear around the house, but they really are past their best and some slippers would look smarter, provided they are not old-lady slippers with all that fuzzy fake fur around them!
Margaret P
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Kathy B
A wonderful catalog of blessings. And so perfectly timed! It was -16 degrees here today so I definitely partook of some of these cozies this evening. For winter flowers I love to cut a few branches of forsythia and place it in a vase of water. In a couple of weeks I have a reminder of things to come.
Ann
So cold today….but cozy inside, crockpot simmering chili, tea, books, afghan, nap…love this feeling. Stay safe and warm !
Karen
I love this survival kit for one of the worst winters on record, Donna! I am wearing soft mauve and dusty pink today with a pewter-toned lippie of mauvey-pink that is perfect for the icy landscape and yes, I love my winter white quilted parka, accented with a citron-gray scarf and cream beret! Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrilliant!
Zaa
I love the beauty of winter but not the cold… Alas, we did relocate so that we could enjoy the seasons, but as we are getting older that fear of falling is also a consideration… Sorry for your fall ..Please do take care. For now, I am content in seeing the soft fluffy flakes fall and cuddling into a warm spot by the fireplace… Your Robert Frost Poem is one of my favorites.. You created such lovely sentiments for a Winter's Day..Thank You
Seahorsey19
Lovely thoughts for winter.
Amy
This might be my favorite post of all of the inspiring words you've written over the years!
I *adore* winter – not only did we choose to live in an area that gets 300 inches of snow per year, my husband and I just made plans for my 50th birthday trip – a resort in Montana, in the winter, for cross country skiing and sleigh rides.
I've felt the need for a lighter perfume, too, and help arrived with Estee Lauder's new "Beautiful Belle" fragrance – such a welcome change from heavy perfume.
Happy winter!