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We got about 4" of new snow last night. Very light and fluffy, easy shoveling despite the temp in the high 20s over night and up to 32° right now. We've certainly had a mild winter so far.
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I'm so grateful for the wonderful organic co-op grocery store we have way up here in northern Minnesota. My freezer is still full of vegetables from last year's garden, our root cellar holds cabbage, potatoes and apples, and the co-op produce section has more than we could want in the way of fresh fruits including wonderful grapefruits, oranges, lemons, tangerines, bananas, pears, etc.
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Speaking of good food to put in my tummy, I don't crave cheese as much as some others do, but there's something about the winter weather that has me standing before our co-op's intriguing cheese section contemplating new-to-me varieties of cheeses to try.
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Here it is nearly the midway point of January and I still have all our Christmas decorations up. (Should I hang my head in shame?) I'm sure I've never delayed putting them away so long after New Year's. It's not my laziness fault this has happened. Every time I casually mention I really must take them down and store them away, Papa Pea pleads for me to leave them up "just a little longer." He says the color and lights bring him happiness and joy in what has for us, so far, been an extremely gray, sunless winter. Okay. I'll go quilt instead.
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Perhaps as my own way of combating the gloominess of the weather outside, these days I like to use candles for warmth, coziness and a sense of peacefulness. I love that candlelight seems so perfect in many ways this time of year, especially in the evening. Although it certainly wouldn't be the same of a summer's day. An outside campfire to sit around, yes, but lit candles on the table and in other rooms then? Nope.
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"Year by year, the complexities of
this spinning world grow more bewildering
and so each year we need all the more
to seek peace and comfort in
the joyful simplicities."
Women's Home Companion
December, 1935
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Excuse me now so I can go light some candles.
22 comments:
I still have Christmas up too!!!!!!
Thank you for saying it!!!!!!!
-giggggles-
I didn't have the *guts*...
-more giggggles-
♫♪•*¨*•.¸¸.•*¨*•♪♫
Let's just say, that in our own ways, we are doing 'our bit', to "seek peace and comfort in the joyful simplicities."
Moving through January, at our own rate and pace. Not caring, about having to do this-now,-and-that-then. Just because "everyone else" is doing so...
Btw, I have a candle lit, on the window sill, next to my computer desk. And it's not even a gray day. The sun is even shining!!!! -smile-
♫♪•*¨*•.¸¸.•*¨*•♪♫
wisps of words - Thanks for the support, my friend! You have encouraged me, many times in the past, that it's important to move at our own rate and pace. That's the only place where we'll find peace and happiness!
Slowly our decorations are being taken down. Still have the out side lights on at night. When I was younger I'd have them all put away before New Year's. Seems like I get more relaxed as I get older. xo
That 85-year-old quote that seems written for today just goes to show that "there is nothing new under the sun." Except the internet....
Lynne - Once I start dismantling the Christmas decorations, I can't stop until everything is gone, gone, gone. We don't do any lights outside since we're back a quarter mile driveway and no one would see them driving by. Just a big wreath on the side of the house and another one on the entry door. Once upon a time, I never put the decorations away before New Year's, but usually a day or two after. That was then, this is now!
Michelle - Nothing new under the sun, but what do you think those living in 1935 would think of our society today? For us looking back, 1935 sure seems like it was much simpler then.
I put my Christmas away early this year because I knew I had to sort it as I stored it to prepare for our move this spring. I have a fire every night and try to avoid being in the 'weather'as much as possible. It's been a crazy winter already.
Have a blessed week up there in the wilds of Minnesota (said the gal from The Frozen Tundra). lol xo Diana
NanaDiana - This winter is going to go by so quickly for you as you're preparing for you move this spring. I'll be watching your blog and following all that goes on between now and then! Do you have much snow cover on the ground in "The Frozen Tundra?" Cheers!
Odd that post. I took my gate decorations down today. I did leave the red bows up on gate top and pole tops of fencing.
Went with my friend Jessica , yes the new bride, today. Found ourselves in Hobby Lobby and I found some 40% off valentines potential gate decor to add to the existing bows. Early ? Yes but love and hearts 💕 cheer up the cold frosty days and nights.
Funny you mention candles. I had mine going yesterday. We had some sunshine, but no snow. I haven't even thought about decorating for valentine's day. I've been cleaning a lot lately. I may need a trip to Hobby Lobby soon though.
Goatldi -Red bows and hearts can never be "early." Definitely a cheery touch to this time of year.
Kristina - Gosh, I hadn't given a thought to Valentine decorations either! I'm thinking more of a blue and white winter decor after I (finally) put the Christmas decorations away.
Up until a few days ago I didn't own any Christmas lights, but I have now been donated several boxes of lights from a friend who is leaving France and wanted to downsize her craft room. So I have been donated some very interesting craft boxes (Yippeeee), and several boxes of lights. December 2020 will see me putting lights up all round our home. I am looking forward to it!
I have some still up too--the greens outside, tied with red ribbons, will stay until the end of the month. They just brighten things up. I also left the clear lights along the walk, mostly because the light is nice in winter, as it is very dark here--no outside lights at all except these.
I enjoy candlelight and firelight so much. Last year I bought battery candles and rechargeable candles so that I could have the light without the danger. They are really pretty, and quite realistic. We light the wood fire in the fireplace almost every night though--gas logs would just not be the same.
Vera - Oh, so much fun to get goodies as you have from your friend. What a bonanza! And the nice thing is that you will always think of her when using any of the items she passed on to you.
Granny Sue - I've often looked at the battery candles and wondered if I should invest in some of them. We are like you in that we have an open fire in the living room every night this time of year for our couple of hours of relaxing, reading, knitting and talking before bed time. Lovely!
I still have our winter Decor at but did put away the Christmas things away except for a few items. I have my favorite snowman lamps that comes on every night in a little dark corner and my snowman and snow birds, etc scattered around the house still. I love having winter Greenery, pinecones, snowy things out until about February. first of February I'll put those things away and switch over to Valentine's Day which is not far away actually. It's definitely winter here still with a predicted low of 16 degrees tonight, with a wind chill down to about zero with a little snow on the ground. but the sun was out today with a glorious blue sky and I enjoyed it
I agree about the lights and candles. I still have my Christmas stuff up and I continue to enjoy the lights in the evening. I also have a candle in a glass hurricane lamp burning on the kitchen table while I'm in the house. Especially nice on cloudy mornings.
You are so fortunate to have an organic co-op near you. I was a charter member in Iowa but down here they sneer at organic and Yankees and healthy eating. I came to the wrong place! LOL! But it is changing slowly and Walmart has more and more organic every day.
I love the picture on your header. Is that creek on your property? So pretty!
I still have my decorations up too but with me, it is going up and down the basement steps to put them away! LOL! I do light candles and I leave some lights up that are clear. Quilting sounds good! I want to get back to it but lately, cleaning and clearing are taking over. I have friends (Farside of Fifty) in North-Western MN and they have gotten lots of snow...I think she said their snow stick was at 21 inches. Stay warm and enjoy that quilting!
Enjoy your decorations, my Mom still has her decoration up and says she might keep them up all year.
I enjoy candles especially in winter,
Enjoyed my visit.
Sue
Nancy - I finally finished putting out all my "winter" decorations today. Whew! Now I'm ready for the big snow they're forecasting for tonight into tomorrow. :o) Because we never have an early spring, these decorations will stay up until sometime in March.
Phil - One of my winter decorations now up is a candle holder with a hurricane-type globe on it and, per your idea, I'm going to be lighting it on our table these mornings when we get up about two hours before it gets light!
Sam I Am - No, that creek isn't on our property, but a road I take often goes over a bridge with the creek running beneath it and sometimes I just have to stop to take a picture of it!
Sue - I do believe my husband wouldn't have minded if I did leave the Christmas decorations up all year! But I took them down yesterday and set out all the "winter" ones today. Looks nice but just not as festive as those of the holidays.
I love candles as well. I haven't burned mine in quite some time. Thank you for reminding me. January is a perfect time for that.
Retired Knitter - And they even give off a little bit of heat . . . which is not to be sneezed at this time of year!
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