Ten On Tuesday……

Today's Ten on Tuesday's topic is 10 Ways To Make Winter Less Bleak.
Historically I have always enjoyed winter..well until mid March, but last year I indeed had a bleak winter, which took me by surprise.  This year in preparation for another bleak winter I made plans, but to my surprise, this winter has not felt bleak at all in-spite of a few setbacks that I will talk about tomorrow..

These are the things that I do while embracing the winter months, even though they really are much too long up here.

1.  I brew a cuppa coffee and I knit.  Currently on the needles is my Morning Coffee Sweater and a few of these lovely Chicknits Elisbeth headbands.  These headbands are like potato chips…if you make one, you want to make more.
2. Lots of little white lights around the house to brighten our paths and our minds.  I love the little lights that make me smile.
3. Spending time working in my shop whether it is dyeing orders or time spinning/weaving it's always enjoyable because it is toasty warm out there. (thanks Ken!)
4. I enjoy Tai Chi.  For some strange reason I don't mind dragging this tired body out in the morning for 90 minutes of Tai Chi.  It gets my day heading the right direction…and it's toasty warm here too.
5. Cooking…I enjoy it more in the winter, especially soups and stews.  I love watching my cooking shows, especially The Barefoot Contessa.  This time of year I plan my lunch break around her show and it gives me new ideas for interesting dinners to enjoy with Ken on those nights when I actually want to cook. 😉
6. Walking outside when the weather permits.  I LOVE to walk outside when the sun is shining and the temps are hovering around 20 degrees.  Every step and every breath makes me feel alive.
7. I pour a cup of tea and pour over seed magazines, thinking ahead to the next season's garden.  The last 2 years have been a bit erratic in terms of production, so I will be thinking of ways to amend the soil.
8. Fresh flowers in the house always make me smile….it reminds me that Spring is not too far away.
9. I pay the deposit for our Cape Cod vacation.  It's hard to shell out the money in the depth of winter, but it's a deposit that I am happy to send off.  Someday I will live there, but until then, this is the next best thing.
10. I embrace and enjoy the general hunkering down that winter gives us permission to do.  Putting on pajamas early, reading and relaxing earlier in the night.  Enjoying the twinkling lights and hearing the sounds of the furnace that keeps us warm. Trying new recipes both in the kitchen and in the shop.  A little weaving and a little spinning.  Winter gives us permission to slow down and I like that about winter.

Even though I had a rough winter last year, that was the exception.  This winter is on track for being another enjoyable winter…well as enjoyable as a winter can be.

What do you do to embrace winter?