nichepoetryandprose

Although it is only late November, I find myself shuddering at the approach of winter.  Perhaps it is the arthritis in my bones.  Perhaps the need for a quilt as soon as the thermometer registers less than zero.  Perhaps the climbing out of bed while the sun is still asleep.

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So, never daunted, I am making plans.  These are my strategies for coping with the coming winter:

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1. hover over a cup of tea each morning – my current favorite is Scottish Breakfast, a gift from my niece.

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2. read, read, read – I read so much I usually feel guilty … but not this winter – I am going to read as much as I can – my current favorites are Elly Griffiths, Ann Cleeves and Ann Granger, all mystery/crime novels from the UK.  Just to keep with the spirit of the season, I am also re-reading Edwin Way Teale’s Wandering Through Winter (1965), the Pulitzer-winning book describing his four month, 20,000 mile winter journey through the USA.

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3. watch the birds – I am determined to see a Cardinal at our feeders but, really, anyone will do … Chickadee-dee-dee!

one of the usual visitors to our feeder … the Black-capped Chickadee

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4. bundle up really well and go for a walk each day – I have had my wool coat dry-cleaned and I have cleaned out an old leather suitcase to store our mittens and scarves in easy reach.

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5. Make a couple of small quilts. Working at a quilt is one of the warmest activities I know.

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6. Knit a few pairs of socks, another warm activity. I am a good knitter … I can knit anything. Once, the top to my strawberry cookie jar broke and I knit a new top for it!

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7. Enjoy sitting in front of a fire. This includes my small electric fireplace, our big woodstove, and, outside, our stone fire pit.

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Do you have any strategies for making winter the best season of the year?

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Copyright  2014   Jane Tims