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.