As someone that loves the winter may I also add - dark skies at a better time for star gazing, clear skies on cold nights, the beautiful icy patterns on frosty mornings, creating ice sun catchers - leaving a shallow bowl of water with leaves and berries in it out on cold nights then tipping it out and hanging it in the sun - creating ice bubbles (only possible if very cold) - creating snow sculptures - we rarely get enough snow on the South coast for snowmen but we DO have plenty of sandcastle buckets to repurpose :) - there is a fantastic book called 50 things to do in the snow by Richard Skrein - have fun out there and I totally agree about the fluffy socks - wintering is a “thing” and I encourage embracing it ❄️
I made my peace with winter many years ago and now look forward to Midwintering - a time to slow and relax into the softness of these darker months, a time for introspection x
This is exactly what I’m looking forward to next year! Now that I understand the joys of it, I can look forward to it <3 So glad you’re having a lovely time x
This winter has been transformational for me too. I have been feeling like a little mouse from brambly hedge. Or an Alaskan home stander every time I venture to the shed to the chest freezer. I bought myself some fancy Nordic wool socks and they haven’t been off my feet. I’m missing my twinkly lights though so I need to get some more whimsical lighting. I’ve been going out for my morning cuppa no matter the weather in my ridiculous dry robe. I may look ridiculous but I am dry and warm and can still charge myself like a solar powered lizard. All the snow and ice has been magical, especially as I don’t have anywhere to be. Our little garden Robin has been getting closer and closer each day. We have a mistlethrush fighting off the jackdaws for the last berries on the tree. It’s just been so, so healing. I’m almost dreading spring when I’ll have to venture out around the people again.
This sounds magical, Victoria! And I just love image of a Brambly Hedge - I can relate very strongly hehe. It’s wonderful that you’ve really been embracing the winter so much - is this different to you than normal? Have previous winters been another way? x
The Yule to Imbolc turn has always been a very dark time for me. This year has been so much better. Giving up my high paced job to focus on being a carer for my husband has helped as well I think.
Oh bless you, Victoria - I completely understand that feeling. Yes, the fast pace of the modern world has a LOT to answer for. I hope you have something lovely planned for Sunday.
I divide my time between Chicago and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, so winter is definitely an issue for me. My biggest saving grace was to learn a sport that was winter specific: last year it was cross country skiing and this year my husband and I are talking about giving snowshoeing a try. Bundling up and making sure to get that early morning walk you mentioned is a big help to me!
This is such a good idea! It gives you that impetus to get out and about - I’m not sure there’s a UK equivalent (as we get comparatively much less snow), but I like to think birdwatching can be a sport sometimes too hehe.
Beautiful read on this chilly night, thank you. Early bed with woolly socks up to me knees. In an unplanned shift I also turned down new years resolutions as I'm not ready to 'get going', I want to wait for the spring new year. I've found myself wishing people a 'Happy Calendar New Year' this year haha. Lx
Happy Calendar New Year is such a good way of putting it - it also helps people stop and think about the concept, which I love! I’m going to make a big celebration of the equinox, and hopefully my friends and family will follow suit hehe. I hope you’re staying cosy throughout this snowstorm, lovely x
I think I must live near you in the south Pennines- damp and sharp winds and beautiful in a nithering wuthering way. I’m the same with wanting walks for my mental health and being devastated when it’s so dark and dank. This year I have been embracing sitting about more, and managed to push through the SAD restlessness and have managed to somewhat embrace hot chocolate and books. Thanks for the cosy reminders to keep searching for those glimmers ✨
I am a cold weather person and love it! I enjoy filling my bird feeders daily. I love watching all the gold and red breasted finches pecking away with their tiny beaks. There are beautiful, pigeons and glorious crows come to feed daily and also an occasional woodpecker. Birdwatching is one of my happy places. I also love tending to my numerous house plants. They are all so diverse and beautiful. I take care of them and they take care of me. I enjoy painting Watercolors and acrylics when I’m in the mood. They keep me engaged for hours. I also love watching other artists on YouTube. It is inspiring to see how they share their techniques with all of us. My beautiful little medium-haired tabby lifts my heart, shares my bed and basically owns my dwelling. I simply pay the rent for her. Heehee I love making different soups that warm my body and soul. I enjoy wonderful coffees and binge watching my favorites programs, warm and snug with my knitted shawl around my body. So many beautiful sights to embrace if it snows. Wonderful to behold glistening snow on the trees and mountain tops visible from my patio. Such glorious sights! In the fall, I love watching the hot air balloons as they lazily drift across and in front of the mountains. So many more things that I love and are too numerous to list here. Thank you for allowing me to share these things🙏🏻💖🥳
So sorry it's taken me a week to get back to you, Reg! All of this was a joy to read - what beautiful ways to spend your time. The joy of noticing nature is infinite. Birdwatching is my happy place too! Hopefully you will find more bird-related joys on my Substack :) x
Loved this framing on mindset as an attention director, not just an attitude adjuster. The way perspective shifts can literally rewire what we notice about a season is something I experienced firsthand whne I started tracking dawn colors instead of just dreading the cold. Leibowitz's point about mindsets orienting us to diferent versions of reality feels especially useful for anything we're trying to stick with long-term.
Sounds like you've started becoming good friends with winter - a hard feat with SAD (I get you!!) I dread this time and tried to flip my perspective too. I've been viewing winter with new eyes, literally! I got my first set binoculars and the tiny circle with birds puffed up are etched on my mind from daily(ish) walks in my local woods. I'm befriending winter through trees, birds and muddy boots! Thanks for sharing ❄️
Birds make ALL the different, right?? I think seeing them on a wintry walk can make your day - enjoy your binoculars. You've reminded me to take mine out more often ❤️❤️❤️
As someone that loves the winter may I also add - dark skies at a better time for star gazing, clear skies on cold nights, the beautiful icy patterns on frosty mornings, creating ice sun catchers - leaving a shallow bowl of water with leaves and berries in it out on cold nights then tipping it out and hanging it in the sun - creating ice bubbles (only possible if very cold) - creating snow sculptures - we rarely get enough snow on the South coast for snowmen but we DO have plenty of sandcastle buckets to repurpose :) - there is a fantastic book called 50 things to do in the snow by Richard Skrein - have fun out there and I totally agree about the fluffy socks - wintering is a “thing” and I encourage embracing it ❄️
This list!!! 🤩🤩🤩🤩 Thank you so much for these suggestions - I love the idea of creating an ice sun-catcher for the garden 💙
I made my peace with winter many years ago and now look forward to Midwintering - a time to slow and relax into the softness of these darker months, a time for introspection x
This is exactly what I’m looking forward to next year! Now that I understand the joys of it, I can look forward to it <3 So glad you’re having a lovely time x
This winter has been transformational for me too. I have been feeling like a little mouse from brambly hedge. Or an Alaskan home stander every time I venture to the shed to the chest freezer. I bought myself some fancy Nordic wool socks and they haven’t been off my feet. I’m missing my twinkly lights though so I need to get some more whimsical lighting. I’ve been going out for my morning cuppa no matter the weather in my ridiculous dry robe. I may look ridiculous but I am dry and warm and can still charge myself like a solar powered lizard. All the snow and ice has been magical, especially as I don’t have anywhere to be. Our little garden Robin has been getting closer and closer each day. We have a mistlethrush fighting off the jackdaws for the last berries on the tree. It’s just been so, so healing. I’m almost dreading spring when I’ll have to venture out around the people again.
This sounds magical, Victoria! And I just love image of a Brambly Hedge - I can relate very strongly hehe. It’s wonderful that you’ve really been embracing the winter so much - is this different to you than normal? Have previous winters been another way? x
The Yule to Imbolc turn has always been a very dark time for me. This year has been so much better. Giving up my high paced job to focus on being a carer for my husband has helped as well I think.
Oh bless you, Victoria - I completely understand that feeling. Yes, the fast pace of the modern world has a LOT to answer for. I hope you have something lovely planned for Sunday.
I divide my time between Chicago and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, so winter is definitely an issue for me. My biggest saving grace was to learn a sport that was winter specific: last year it was cross country skiing and this year my husband and I are talking about giving snowshoeing a try. Bundling up and making sure to get that early morning walk you mentioned is a big help to me!
This is such a good idea! It gives you that impetus to get out and about - I’m not sure there’s a UK equivalent (as we get comparatively much less snow), but I like to think birdwatching can be a sport sometimes too hehe.
Birdwatching is absolutely a sport in my book!
Beautiful read on this chilly night, thank you. Early bed with woolly socks up to me knees. In an unplanned shift I also turned down new years resolutions as I'm not ready to 'get going', I want to wait for the spring new year. I've found myself wishing people a 'Happy Calendar New Year' this year haha. Lx
Happy Calendar New Year is such a good way of putting it - it also helps people stop and think about the concept, which I love! I’m going to make a big celebration of the equinox, and hopefully my friends and family will follow suit hehe. I hope you’re staying cosy throughout this snowstorm, lovely x
Squeeze is my favourite cafe 💜
It's just wonderful in there, isn't it? I was there all Saturday morning haha
Oh my gosh, so were we, I live in Hebden so it’s right on my doorstep, lucky me x
No way! What are the chances? I don't live in Hebden, but closeby, so I tend to pop in once a month ❤️
I’m a Littleborough Lass originally but crossed the border about 10 years ago. X
Great list. Thanks for sharing 🤍
I’ve ordered some crosswords 😁
Fluffy Nordic socks are my favourite throughout the winter months. A log fire, my books, and candles keep me feeling good too x
A good crossword supply is vital! :D Yes to the Nordic socks - what would we do without them? x
Reading Psychic Witch currently 💚
Ooh, this will be an excellent witchy hyperfixation to have!
I think I must live near you in the south Pennines- damp and sharp winds and beautiful in a nithering wuthering way. I’m the same with wanting walks for my mental health and being devastated when it’s so dark and dank. This year I have been embracing sitting about more, and managed to push through the SAD restlessness and have managed to somewhat embrace hot chocolate and books. Thanks for the cosy reminders to keep searching for those glimmers ✨
Hot chocolate and books - where would we be without them? I hope you’re keeping from the snows today. Are you reading anything good right now? x
I loved your choices. They mirrored several of my own.🙂↔️🥳💖🙏🏻
I’m so glad to hear it! Did you have any you wanted to add to the list? :)
I am a cold weather person and love it! I enjoy filling my bird feeders daily. I love watching all the gold and red breasted finches pecking away with their tiny beaks. There are beautiful, pigeons and glorious crows come to feed daily and also an occasional woodpecker. Birdwatching is one of my happy places. I also love tending to my numerous house plants. They are all so diverse and beautiful. I take care of them and they take care of me. I enjoy painting Watercolors and acrylics when I’m in the mood. They keep me engaged for hours. I also love watching other artists on YouTube. It is inspiring to see how they share their techniques with all of us. My beautiful little medium-haired tabby lifts my heart, shares my bed and basically owns my dwelling. I simply pay the rent for her. Heehee I love making different soups that warm my body and soul. I enjoy wonderful coffees and binge watching my favorites programs, warm and snug with my knitted shawl around my body. So many beautiful sights to embrace if it snows. Wonderful to behold glistening snow on the trees and mountain tops visible from my patio. Such glorious sights! In the fall, I love watching the hot air balloons as they lazily drift across and in front of the mountains. So many more things that I love and are too numerous to list here. Thank you for allowing me to share these things🙏🏻💖🥳
So sorry it's taken me a week to get back to you, Reg! All of this was a joy to read - what beautiful ways to spend your time. The joy of noticing nature is infinite. Birdwatching is my happy place too! Hopefully you will find more bird-related joys on my Substack :) x
Loved this framing on mindset as an attention director, not just an attitude adjuster. The way perspective shifts can literally rewire what we notice about a season is something I experienced firsthand whne I started tracking dawn colors instead of just dreading the cold. Leibowitz's point about mindsets orienting us to diferent versions of reality feels especially useful for anything we're trying to stick with long-term.
And those dawn colours are so plentiful at this time of year! I’m so glad they’ve been helpful to you.
Ah, what a beautiful read
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! (I'm literally off to my favourite cafe now in the frost ready to enjoy some wintry food hehe)
Sounds like you've started becoming good friends with winter - a hard feat with SAD (I get you!!) I dread this time and tried to flip my perspective too. I've been viewing winter with new eyes, literally! I got my first set binoculars and the tiny circle with birds puffed up are etched on my mind from daily(ish) walks in my local woods. I'm befriending winter through trees, birds and muddy boots! Thanks for sharing ❄️
Birds make ALL the different, right?? I think seeing them on a wintry walk can make your day - enjoy your binoculars. You've reminded me to take mine out more often ❤️❤️❤️