The first days of Winter
When I opened the curtains this morning the world looked like a winter fairytale. So after having breakfast and when our girls were off to school for their exams, I put on my walking shoes, wrapped myself in woollen layers and braved the cold. But it was worth it when I saw the icy beauty in the nature reserve.
On these cold winter days it’s tempting to stay inside and that’s fine and cosy of course. But I often try to make a little walk in the morning. Breathing deeply the cold and fresh air, stretching my legs and immersing in the silent wintry landscape. There’s a special kind of silence on those frosty winter days, isn’t it?!
I must admit I really love silence, especially in winter as there’s a deep silence that’s not to be found in the other seasons. I’m really sensitive to noise and am regularly bothered by the noise and barking dogs in my neighbourhood. But when I’m in nature or go running, I often find some quiet and silent places which is so beneficial.
Winter, after all, is the season of stillness. A season of wonder.
Wonder about the soft pastel sunset in winter, icy jewels in the hedgerow, frozen silhouettes in the garden, frost flowers on the window, …
When I look around me, December is mainly a month of overdrive, excess and a frantic rush. Stillness and wonder are hard to find in this society during this time of year. I regularly wonder how we can live differently during this Christmas time as it’s a period of hibernation, turning inwards and reflecting. How can we celebrate in a more responsible way, with respect for each other and our planet? How can we embrace the gifts this season of winter offers us?
“December, month of the longest night, when minute by minute our dot on the globe is darkening. Yet darkness to me is alluring; it calls me to turn inside, to be hushed, to pay attention.”
So I would like to share some of the things how I turn this month into a festive, slow and sustainable time.
Let’s start with the front door! To welcome our guests and to cheer up the street I always love to hang a natural wreath. I’ve woven the basic with willow branches from the trees in the garden as they are flexible and easy to be used. For this wreath I’ve collected some evergreen foliage, dried bracken (reused from my autumn wreath!) and dried seedpods from the garden. I especially love to use the ethereal honesty to add some lightness and festive feeling. The ‘big spiders’ are withered alliums. They look a little like firework, don’t they?!
As winter is a time to hibernate, the mainly thing I do in the evening is reading. I just finished the wonderful and inspiring new book ‘Landlines’ by Raynor Winn. Other books are waiting to be read; novels, cook books, gardening books, … Having a huge pile is quite necessary for me as I read several books a the same time, depending on my mood of that moment.
On a cold winter’s day I enjoy nosing around in the library and coming home with a new stack of books.Complete new worlds are waiting to be discovered and they will take me away to far away or ancient places.
And is there any better company for books than a cup of hot chocolate and homemade cookies? Our youngest daughter likes to bake chocolate chip cookies these days and I want to try some new recipes this winter. Nothing complicated, just simple and healthy cookies that fill the house with a delicious scent.
Talking about scent… in December one can already buy hyacinth bulbs. I know they aren’t cultivated in an organic way but I can’t resist them. Afterwards I plant them in the garden and even though they were forced, they produce some flowers the next years. So it’s double pleasure!
Isn’t it a delight to watch these bulbs growing every day until the first flowers appear and spread a sweet fragrance as a reminder spring will come again?! To have some fresh green in the house is pure joy and a visible sign of hope!
As there aren’t any flowers to pick in the garden these days, I make different bouquets with winter greens and add some dried seedpods. A mix of second hand candlesticks and glass candleholders with softly coloured candles so we can have dinner with candlelight. It’s simple but definitely adds a cosy and festive touch on those dark days. It just feels special to eat with candlelight, it’s something I always associate with winter. Celebrating the light in the darkness.
And what about the pressure to buy the biggest or most expensive gifts? There’s nothing wrong with buying a present for each other of course but does it have to be so commercial and excessive as the advertisements promote? Isn’t there another way, I often wonder.
We don’t buy tangible presents for each other (except my husband who buys a little gift for his 3 ‘girls’) but gift each other an experience. Like for example going to a musical as we will do this year. Or what about making something for each other? How about a photo album with the most beautiful pictures of last year, a sewn book cover, a knitted scarf or some special homemade sweets? It’s a nice way to spend a winter’s afternoon and the other person will feel the love and attention that comes with this gift.
Or buying a gift from an artist or supporting a local maker or shop? I’m really grateful for all the people who bought one of my porcelain creations these days to give as a Christmas gift.
When we come together for Christmas with my family, we’ve decided to give to charity. We all have more than enough and there’s so much need in the world, so why not sharing from what we have.
Still, I love to wrap and make beautiful packages. They’re decorated with some little green rosemary sprigs from the herb garden, a porcelain button and natural rope. Or why not using brown paper and adding some dried seedpods or flowers and a handwritten label?
I hope you might have got some inspiration about how to do things in a slower and more natural way this December and how to enjoy the first winter days. But above all I hope you will find time to rest, to reflect on the past year and to spend time with your loved ones!
