I think I am in the minority, to love winter. I love the cold, it makes me feel calm and inspired. I am so lucky that coming into January, I can embrace with joy the season of chilliness. I know many people struggle with the winter and some are in desperate situations where the cold can be fatal, so I acknowledge that this perspective-That winter means cosiness, warm drinks, early nights and books- is very priveleged.
Part of the January pressure, that I believe contributes to the distaste for January is for forced change. You don’t need to be a new person, to be at full capacity of productivity. This is the time for reflection, hibernation, learning, eating dense nourishing foods. It’s such a harsh abrupt change from Christmas and I just find it uncomfortable to not sit in the behaviour of our the season we are in.
I think part of that is acknowledging that 'festive' doesn’t necessarily mean Christmas. We very slowly took down our Christmas decorations but have left those that bring festive winter cheer. It’s now we need it more than ever. I will be savouring the winter, the coziness, the fairy lights and the winter foods, whilst it’s winter. So whilst Christmas is done, the lovely celebration of the season is still here.
I’m using up the cheap vegetables bought before Christmas, and I’m absolutely loving it and leaning into the joyful feeling of root vegetable creations. So far I have blanched and frozen some parsnips that don't keep as well, souped, stewed, sautéed and roasted the rest.. and not sick of them yet. It’s joyful to have winter vegetables to honour the season. I have been loving utilising the christmas food! We’ve had a few dinners by candlelight- embracing the season we are in. We’ve also been thoroughly enjoying the Christmas food still, with the warm embrace of the winter flavours- that I wish we wouldn't reduce how to one celebration! The chocolate, cheese and stollen is a delicious treat on a cold day. For me, this is not, nor any, the season of restrictive dieting.
We are also finding excitement in planning the vegetable garden, one of my favourite jobs of the whole year. This year I am planning COLOUR! Not a formal theme but one I am living by this year all round. I have done my seed order after a careful catalogue of what we already had and could realistically continue to grow. I received a new propagator for my birthday, a new cold bed and a new worm farm! I am also loving the 21st Century Smallholder book.
My priorities are in short, to be slow and reflective, restful, frugal, and enjoy the outdoors. To use the time of winter to rest, plan, learn. To read books I’ve been looking forward to. To have a little extra time in the evenings to do skincare, bake a cake or journal. To do free things locally to us, in the shorter days. To save cash by utilising our cupboard stock. Many things that bring joy, are free, and that's what we're living by this month.
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