JOURNAL #4 – EMBRACING THOSE WINTER DAYS OUT
One big advantage about needing to walk our dog is that it takes you outside into whatever winter weather is being thrown at you that day. No observing from the safety of the indoors. Today it started with heavy rain and wind which suddenly all died down leaving a peaceful stillness.
The first part of winter I think is easier to cope with as you embrace the cosiness of being indoors, watching the last of the leaves fall from the trees, the novelty of wrapping up warm when venturing outdoors and having the excitement of preparing for December festivities. But as we move into February it can be harder to enjoy this season which seems to gone on for a while. Reframing might help by thinking about living with the season and what you’ll actually miss as we move into spring.
The light is uniquely beautiful at this time of year, especially on those frosty and snowy days. So, put on some warm clothes (our Teece and one of our long-sleeve t-shirts will help you layer up), go stand outside and spend five minutes observing what you can see, smell and feel. The sky in this photo looked suspiciously full of snow clouds to my completely amateur eye and so I felt pleased when we did get another dump that evening. It’s also been intriguing to see the mistletoe high up in the now bare tree branches. I had no idea until our first winter here in Chew Valley that was how mistletoe grew. And you can’t beat the freshness of the cold icy air to make the skin feel alive. Something I try to copy inside by opening up the windows, at least until the others in the house complain.
Getting outdoors is good for the soul and helps you fully appreciate being warm and snug indoors when I like to curl up in my cosy microfleece Mallard Teece and relax beside a roaring fire with a mug of Sea salt Hot Chocolate. So, embrace our last dark month and celebrate those winter in all its wonderful guises.
Sea Salt Hot Chocolate for One
25g 70% or higher dark chocolate, broken into chunks
250ml milk (or dairy-free)
1 tbsp cocoa or cacao powder
½ tsp honey to taste
Pinch of sea salt
Put all ingredients into a saucepan. Gently heat and whisk until the chocolate has melted. Taste and add more honey or salt if you want. Pour into your favourite mug and enjoy!