Hello my friends. By now many of us are hunkered down for this season of slow. Winter is naturally for turning inward. For focusing on the roots we put down rather than the flowers that we bloom. Winter is not a season of abundance. It is a season of barrenness. It's a season that doesn’t really look like much from the outside, yet somehow it sustains us. Through the dark. Through the cold. Through the mundane.

Winter can be hard on the heart. But I propose that there is a way to not simply survive winter but enjoy it with great enthusiasm!

What if we devoted ourselves wholeheartedly to delighting in what the winter season has to offer? Adopting a quieter rhythm that allows for a full embrace of winter, rather than frantically wishing it away as we are inclined to do?

In this season we have time to give greater devotion to smaller things. The comfort of wool socks and sweaters. The kettle on the stove that endlessly beckons us to make another cup of tea...and another...and another. The squirrels and the birds that come to visit. The nights that come early and pair well with a hearty bowl of soup and a good book.

This post is a gathering of ideas that I am going to be implementing throughout the winter and will hopefully encourage you to do the same. There is much joy to be found in the way of winter. For everything there is a season. May we not rush a single one by.

Create a Cozy Home

Creating a cozy home that is enjoyable to spend time in is the first step to enjoying winter. We will be indoors more this time of year, and our environment does a great deal to affect our mood. Creating a winter home does not require Pinterest perfection, a remodel, or a shopping spree— just thoughtful intention and tending to corners quietly. These are my top tips for creating a coziness.

Lighting

Lighting is incredibly important to get right when creating safe, warm, and inviting ambiance. My number one tip is NO LED LIGHTS. Ever! Under any circumstances! Choose incandescent bulbs and use them in all lamps and light fixtures around the house. I understand LED bulbs are marketed as economical because they use less energy, but they are hard on the eyes and make a home feel chilled and sterile. It’s better to invest in cozy lighting and save energy in other areas instead (like getting rid of the TV or keeping the furnace on low and wearing a thick sweater instead of cranking it.)
Use lamps instead of ceiling lights for a softer ambience. Lamps can be found frugally at thrift stores and will cozy up a home immediately. Remember to choose incandescent bulbs! If you already have lamps, try rearranging them to different corners. The warm glow in unfamiliar places will make the space feel completely new!
Beeswax candles offer a warm glow, delightful fragrance, and cozy feeling to the home. Not only that, but they purify the air as well. Since windows and doors are closed during the winter months, this is a great way to clean the air and lighting them can become a fun ritual for the dark mornings and early evenings.

Background music

The right background music can make all the difference in our days. Who doesn’t want a soundtrack to their life? In the winter, I enjoy listening to soft hymns and instrumental music. Sometimes some upbeat Colonial fiddle! These are a few of my favorite winter albums:
Find all of my winter playlists on my Spotify by clicking here.

Textures

Adding texture and volume to a space can make it feel warmer and more inviting. Here are a few simple ways to do so.
- Drape extra blankets over couches and chairs for easy access
- Add extra throw pillows and chair cushions
- Heavy, thick curtains make you feel tucked away from the world
- Cozy rugs provide a soft place for your feet to land

Decorations

After the Christmas decor comes down, the house can feel empty and bare. In the recent years I’ve tried to make it a point to decorate for winter too. While less busy that my other seasonal decorating, these small touches make the heart feel warm.
- String oranges across a window
- Bowls of tangerines or pomegranates
- Display canned goods with fabric toppers
- Tape paper snowflakes in windows
- Place stacks of books around
- Baskets of yarns and knitting needles by the hearth

Delight in Good Food

Winter is the time for good food indeed! With the slower pace of the season I find myself having more time to prepare (and an appetite for) heartier, larger meals. Ingredients are being used from the pantry— things we spent all summer and harvest diligently preserving and storing for this very reason. Not to mention the hot drinks in rotation all day long, that warm the body and the soul. These ideas are just some of the foods we will be delighting in this winter! I’d love to hear your favorite winter food ideas in the comments as well.

For the Soul

Lard-fried apple fritters
Lemon meringue pie
Chocolate chip cookies
Cinnamon rolls
Fruit crisps

Warming Drinks

Hot cocoa
Coffee
Spiced Cider
Eggnog
Teas
Herbal infusions

For the Body

Cheese, crackers, fruit preserves
Yogurt smoothie with frozen fruit
Soups made with nourishing bone broth
Einkorn muffins
Sourdough loaves
German potato salad
Sourdough pierogi, applesauce, sauerkraut
Hashbrowns, fried egg, avocado
Roasted squash
Spaghetti and meatballs
Sourdough pizza
Chili
Tacos

Find my seasonal recipe ebooks by clicking here and my seasonal eating blog posts by clicking here.

Read Good Books

While summer evenings mean garden putzing and harvesting until no light is left in the day, winter evenings come easier and we find ourselves retiring to the couch quite early. The perfect time to read the the way I intend to all the other times of the year. When I think of cozy winter reads, these are the titles that come to mind.

Cozy Winter Reads

Tisha as told to Robert Specht
Heart of the Wilderness by Janette Oke
The Book of Stillmeadow by Gladys Taber
The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
The Street of the City by Grace Livingston Hill
A Lantern In Her Hand by Bess Streeter Aldrich
Brambly Hedge Winter Story by Jill Barklem

Keep up with my past, present, and future reads on Goodreads by clicking here.

Plan fun activities

These to me are the most quintessential winter activities. There is much to enjoy indoors and out this time of year! After all, it is said “there's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.”