February is almost over, but I know that winter will hang around for several more weeks. I have never been a big fan of the cold, but this winter seems to have been especially hard on me, not just physically, but mentally as well. Cold dreary days have really gotten me down.
I have been longing for spring in the worst way, for sunshine and warmth, sandals and flowers and leaves, reading on the patio, morning runs, (conveniently fogetting about the layer of yellow pollen that will soon cover everything).
However, I know that this kind of anticipation will only make me bitter about the current conditions. Winter is what I have and what I will have for a few more weeks. So, I am focusing on what I like about winter. For example:
1) Hot chocolate: I like mine strong and rich. I got a cup from McDonald's yesterday (I am embarassed to admit that I ate there, but it was a low blood sugar situation), and it was actually quite good, with an underlying coffee taste to it (whether intentional or not, I liked it).
2) Curling up with a blanket and book: preferably in front of a roaring fire, but I'll just have to pretend. My favorite reading blanket is a beige throw, lined in a fur-like fleece, very soft and warm. My current read is definitely a winter curl-up: The Alienist by Caleb Carr, a historical mystery.
3) Sweaters, scarves, corduroys, and boots: each fall, I look forward to breaking out winter clothes, but by late February, they have lost their lustre. However, these are my favorite clothes. I am still on the look-out for the perfect cashmere sweater, but right now I make do with lambswool and cotton.
4) Soup: I have fallen in love with homemade soup. The current favorite is broccoli cream, but other contenders are tomato and potato cauliflower. I made minestrone for the first and last time. It was good, but involved too much work and literal bloodshed when I cut my finger.
5) Snowfall: living in NC, snow is always exciting, even when it is ruining your plans. The local news devotes round-the-clock coverage to the accumulating inches, school kids go insane, the entire county turns out en-masse at the grocery store. I love watching the snow coming down and then walking around in the transformed world once it has covered everything. The big snow in January (see picture above) created a heavy silence in our neighborhood that was beautiful.
6) Winter Olympics: This has been the first year that I have actually really watched the Olympics (winter or summer) and I have been fascinated. Every event has been intriguing from down-hill skiing to bobsledding to figure skating. I have never watched sports in my life, but this has been very interesting, and I also like the sense of unity as the whole country (and a lot of the world) watches and experiences it together.
These are a few of the things that I will try to keep in mind as I am faced with the prospect of several more frozen days. Do you have any good things to add to the list?
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