For this Tuesday…how to make winter less bleak. Knock on a wood-like surface, winter around here this year hasn’t been nearly as bleak as last winter. In fact on Sunday evening, a local newscast mentioned that this time last year PENNDOT had used 4 times as much salt as they have so far this season. While the snow has been less than last year, we have definitely had quite a few gray days and soggy days here – so there is some bleakness.
In the bleak midwinter…
So, a hodge podge of simple things that seem to keep the bleak at bay around here.
- Lighting a candle in the evening – the glow & scent of citrus candles easily takes me to warmer days on the calendar.
- Snacking on citrus. Now is the time to enjoy peel & eat mandarins (which honestly seem not as good as past years). It’s time to make my Sunshine Citrus Salad again, too.
- Starting to plan summer vacation fun…looking at the summer months and fun times with family & friends on the horizon…family camp in NY…graduation & birthdays in WI…and more…
- Even though toes are hidden in thick socks, bright colored pedicures bring some cheer.
- Using the Shutterfly Storybook app to get back into personal scrapbooking…remembering bright bright days and good memories as I create pages (an evolution from January scrapbooking weekends to escape winter)
- Wearing the hand knits – without a doubt, this is the season when being a knitter is the best.
- Accessorizing the work wardrobe with travel memories…the scarves I picked up from Liberty in London last year; a scarf from Assisi in 2011; my cameo from Italy in 2005; fun necklaces from visits with my girlies in TX…bringing a bit of travel into the office…
- Meyer Lemons – the smell of one takes me back to my Grandma’s house in Southern California
- Wrapping up in my Wisconsin Wanderings afghan – keeping warm in the living room while remembering happy days
- Keeping on top of groceries and having basics on hand so when bad weather comes through, I can easily choose to “hunker down” through the weather.
Connecting up with Carole’s 10 on Tuesday prompts.
How do you battle the bleak during these winter days?
