inhale...exhale...relax your shoulders...repeat as often as needed

Thursday, December 15, 2016

hunkered in









This is what hibernation looks like at our house. Cold and frosty outside, cozy and light inside.

I made a pot of soup with leeks dug from the garden last week and homegrown fingerling potatoes brought up from the root cellar. Roasted squash and steamed grains and dark greens are on heavy rotation for suppers. I baked a big batch of granola on Monday and stewed some dried fruit (recipe from Laurel's Kitchen), both delicious on plain yogurt. We bought a carton of citrus via a local fundraiser and the grapefruit and oranges brighten our breakfasts.

Blooming Christmas cactus, paper whites and amaryllis bulbs just beginning to show their green shoots decorate the windowsills. The Meyer lemon is getting ready to bloom it's fragrance in our bedroom. I love seeing the beautiful blue green acres of balsams from our windows.

The snow comes across the valley in a gray curtain nearly every day. The bitter cold and fierce winds are more the hallmark of deep winter, but they are with us now. Tomorrow's high temperature is forecast to be 9 degrees. The bird feeders are aflutter with chickadees, goldfinches, nuthatches and other brave little birds. Interconnected animal tracks in the snow look like lace from the upstairs windows. 

We eat by candlelight at breakfast and supper, the days are so short right now. The light of the full moon on the snow illuminates the landscape and creeps into the house in the middle of the night.  

Laundry dries on wooden racks, humidifying the dry indoor air. Slippers combat the daytime thermostat set at 65 degrees, blankets and quilts fend off the 62 degrees at night. I brew Russian caravan, kukicha twig and green tea. 

Bits and pieces of sewing projects litter the dining table along with postage stamps, envelopes and strapping tape. Our mailbox is a friendlier place these days, with more than junk mail and bills to offer. Packages show up in the breezeway now and then. It's feeling a bit more festive each day around here. 

Dear readers, what does hibernation look like at your house? Or maybe you are in the midst of summer where you live...

11 comments:

  1. What a lovely way and place to hibernate! Hibernation here isn't nearly as pretty as there. No snow yet though I am one of those who still longs for it and the quiet it brings. Teens here this morning with some wind, as well. Pottering about from one bit of fabric and idea to another, and finding that right now I can't focus my attention on any one thing at the moment. I blame it on that big, beautiful, luminous Moon that we've had. :D

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    1. Yes Angie, that moon was really quite the distraction! I hope your snow has arrived by now...

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  2. Midst of summer here. Hay and harvest, shearing and stock sales. Repairs to wet winter weather damage. Snakes, rabbits and kangaroos in the garden.
    The same full moon illuminates the home at night.
    Salads, bbq's, watering the garden, school summer holidays, preparing for a family Christmas.
    It doesn't matter where you live in the world, we have more in common than not, a desire for a peaceful life.
    Seasons greetings to you.
    Cheers Jan

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    1. Dear Jan, thanks for popping by! Our days in San Juan PR taught us that the holiday season can be gorgeous anywhere. And yes, we all hope for a peaceful life, indeed. xo

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  3. Lovely photos to view on this bitter cold windy day with temps hovering in the single digits. We too hunker down counting the days till the light returns. Your surroundings sound much like ours. Gratitude, peace and silence.

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    1. Sending best wishes to you and yours Linda! xo

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  4. Deep winter has slipped into place here in SW Wisconsin. A winter storm is predicted for Friday through Sunday with chances of nearly a foot of snow but a strong possibility of 18 BELOW on Saturday night. Good thing our chicken house is so well insulated Today's temp: 5 outside, 34 in the chicken house. Thank you sunshine. Just love seeing your VT photos inside and outside. Sigh.

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    1. Sharon, I do hope your sweet chickens are all snug in their house. We had quite the weekend weather-wise and the cold still has not broken. We are waiting patiently for the solstice, which really does help to cheer us this time of year. Sending light and love to you and Jerome. xo

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  5. It's quite cold and frosty here. Today we have sun and at nearly noon it's risen all the way to -8!

    Good thing for layers and more layers and plenty of cozy blankets and quilts! It's days like this I especially miss having a kitty on my lap!

    Stay cozy.

    xo

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  6. Merry Christmas. I hope you and your family have a wonderful day.

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