Friday, February 4, 2011

a winter list

come sit by this fire

Winter is the king of intimate delights; I love the quiet, the fire, I like socks,
and watching the birds and squirrels at the feeders. ~ Susan Branch
the quiet delights of winter
* warm and woolly socks * giving your love a foot massage with this lotion * a quiet hour staring into the fire, watching it turn to embers * taking a camping chair and fleece blanket with you into the woods and just sitting * cutting paper snowflakes * stirring your hot cocoa with candy canes * making love in front of a fire on a mattress you drug in from the bedroom * a professional pedicure * maintaining the bird feeders * beef stew for dinner * an hour spent following link after link on Flickr * cable-knit sweaters * putting an extra quilt on all the beds * at night: standing still, face tipped up, watching the snow fall * reading by the fire * calling an old friend for a long chat * keeping your child's little body lotioned and comfortable * dusting and reorganizing all your bookshelves * baking * writing long letters on real stationary * planning a garden * dreaming of spring break * looking through old boxes of pictures * making snow angels * buying soft, new pajamas that look as good as they feel * knitting * a cotton candy pink pea coat *

What about you, my friends. What delights you this winter?

23 comments:

Unknown said...

Sitting my the fireplace and snuggling up under a warm coat and cute scarves is what makes me happy when it's so cold outside.

Yiota said...

you make winter sound so perfect!
I needed to read this right now because I feel I got over winter but it's not over yet; so I'd better think positive, pull up my socks and grab my crochet :)

Anonymous said...

Sitting in my bay window in the warmer-every-day winter sun; reading on the couch with a cup of tea; snowdrops; looking through seed catalogues; making a list of spring cleaning jobs and just about imagining having the motivation to carry them out; our cat snuggling under the covers with us; the robin who chats with me in the garden; clear blue skies; pink cheeks; choosing which scarf, hat and gloves to wear; Orion.

Jeanne said...

The 12th of February our wedding anniversary and our Ahram's birthday and Valentine's day of course.
Love you and love all you share.
Love Jeanne

beth said...

your winter sounds better than mine...
i think i might have to work on that mattress and fireplace idea :)

Mrs. E said...

Relyn, this is just wonderful! I might have to snag this idea.

A good book to curl up with while the snow falls, watching the pup gallop through the snow drifts, looking up into a clear winter sky...

Diane said...

I love your lists, this one is wonderful. Winter DOES have it's delights.

Ragamuffin Gal said...

Hello Lov,
This is a great list ~ the cotton candy pink pea coat is an image as are all the others (OK maybe not all the others). Hope you've enjoyed your snow days ~ hope to see you on Monday! ~ Katie

Elyse said...

Pink pea coat! Could it possibly get any cuter? :)

Unknown said...

Yummy yummy list Relyn! I love every single thing you wrote-perfection! Hoping you enjoy even more winter delights this weekend!

xo Mary Jo

Suz said...

Oh Winter...that stern grandfather
of Heidi tales
good and deceit and loving
and forever faithful to go and let spring take his place..though he loved my quiet mornings with coffee and a good book,
my stews and soups,
the warm glow of the fireplace,
flannel sheet against the skin
and music playing while watching his snow
cover all outside letting me know he is still there and holds wonder..
Winter...the old grandfather that I love..truly I will miss him..he makes me be filled with things of the inside.. that bring joy

Suz said...

Oh, and thanks...I just ordered Thirteenth tale

Marilyn Miller said...

Your list is glorious! I hadn't thought of sitting in the woods, of course I would have to take the hot cocoa along and wear a cable knit sweater, yes for sure. Long chat with an old friend, yes I had this just this morning on the phone - it was wonderful to catch up. I would definitely make snow angels, if only I had snow. Now the fire is calling. Have a wonderful weekend.

S. Etole said...

such a heart-warming list ...

auntpearl said...

Snuggling up in our oversized chair with my pups and a blanket makes everything seem right in the world.

Thanks for sharing your fire with us.
Take care,

Unknown said...

I love your lists--You know that soon we will not be able to look through old boxes of pictures because they will all be digital--sad, that.

GailO said...

A lovely list Relyn! I would only add sledding and baking...

Jeanie said...

That fireplace warms my soul! What delights me this winter... good food cooking with all the smells that come with it; looking out the window to watch birds scurry (and squirrels, too); again, watching the snow. I'll pass on being in it. Finding time to curl up and read a book or knit or do art. Cozy quilts and fleecy blankets. A purring boy on my lap. Hot cocoa with marshmallows!

Elizabeth Halt said...

I just ate a bowl of beef stew!

Now I am staring into your fireplace, wishing I could reach out and feel its warmth.

Oh! Hot cocoa with candy canes. I need to make a note of that and buy candy canes next year. That was the best. Especially how the candy canes would melt and shrink as they sat in the hot drink.

A Box of Chocolates said...

ooh such a wonderful list i so wish it snowed here sometimes. then i see the cars sliding off the roads in your country when you have snow storms and i think maybe not just a little flurry would be nice though

Amy said...

Thank you so for the reminder ... I tend to give winter a bad rap come February. Spring is too much on my mind! :)

tricia said...

relyn, this is so lovely, it makes me wish the cold would stick around a wee bit longer. xoxoxo

Jaime said...

You make these long months more endurable, my friend. I'm dreaming of spring break too. :)

Oldies, but Goodies