Thursday, January 8, 2015

Sinking into Winter






This has been the week of returning to our rhythm, and in all honesty, we were totally ready for it. Two weeks of just hanging out was lovely, but we all felt the pull to return to our normal days. And while some have a hard time with the shift back to normalcy, I find we sink into nicely. We don't usually stray to far from the anchors in our days...morning, meal time and evening rhythms, so the adjustment hasn't been hard at all.

Winter has found us, in true form, with a little snow and very cold temperatures. We have been bundling up for our morning nature walks, and braving the cold, coming home feeling full of life. Fresh winter air will do that to you. Rosy cheeks have been the norm, and we find much excitement in the many animal tracks we have been able to find and follow in the woods. And can I tell you how wonderful a hot cup of tea is after spending time in the cold, so very good.

Over the last few winters, when we have a cold snap, Reece and I have made ice sun catchers. It is always fun, and with the news of colder temperatures I put it in the plans for us this week. I changed the plan a little bit, and instead of doing one big sun catcher, we made five small star ones in a soap mold, adding a few sequins for sparkle. Once frozen we made a little ice bunting and hung it outside. It looks great, but I think next time we might add a bit of food colouring to the water, so it stands out a bit more hanging on the porch. With the temperatures expected to be on the chilly side for the foreseeable future our new bunting will be around for a while.

Inside we have been snuggling up under quilts, in front of the fire, reading. We finished The Secret Garden this week, and it was enjoyed by both Reece and I. My hands have been kept busy with knitting, and little hands have been finger knitting, and embroidering. In between there has been time for games, puzzles, and play. Tea is never far out of reach, and I have been finding time in my days for both my own personal reading, and writing, both things I am wanting to do more of this year.

So, yes, we are sinking into this season, soaking up the fresh, cold, winter air, and enjoying our time both outside and inside. It is a beautiful time of year.

63 comments:

  1. Sounds lovely, Kim!
    I love the ice bunting! We have been playing with freezing things here too!
    It is a very beautiful time of year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, hello there my friend. How are you? So nice to see you dropping in :)

      Thank you, the ice bunting was fun, and adds a little whimsy to these very cold days. Hope you guys are staying warm out east.

      xo

      Delete
  2. ice bunting!! how i love it. never seen that before. i admit to loving the clear ice without colour, but coloured ones would be fun too.
    it's not so cold over here, so i will just enjoy yours.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Monica! I had never seen it before either, so happy it came to mind. We love it!

      Delete
  3. Sounds perfect.
    I really appreciate how distinct your seasons are and how much they influence your day to day life. Seems like your winter really is the season of slowing down and inside activities, where as ours just feels like we put on a jumper and continue on as normal. Did you hear that, l think l was just complaining about living in the subtropics ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They are so very different, and because of that really do influence our life. Slowing down, snuggling up, being together..yup, pretty much sums up winter for us. We do try to get outside every day, and pretty much do, but at times it might only be for an hour, like yesterday when it was -30, with 50km per hour winds. So cold!

      Haha, I did hear that. You know you are always welcome to come and experience a Canadian winter. I would be happy to share it with you :)

      Delete
  4. You got your wish - snow, has Reece had his snow shoes on then?
    and what a beautiful snow crystal, I'm looking into doing some kind of handwork with my little ones, just researching ideas (ages between 3 and 7) if you can enlighten me! x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, but not enough to snowshoe, at least not yet. It is too cold to snow right now, believe it or not. We are hoping we get a big storm at some point so we can really test them out. If not, I might have to take him north for a day or two so we can try them out.

      We started handwork with embroidery, with burlap. I gave Reece the hoop, and a dull needle and just let him thread as he pleased. Last year, he was 5, I began to draw images on the burlap that he could follow, and this year we switched to using felt. I use a fabric pen to draw the image, he embroiders it, and then we spray it with water and the pen fades away. Embroidery is one of his favourite handwork activities.

      There is also finger knitting, many tutorials on line for that. Start with one finger and then work up to two, three and four finger knitting. We also do a lot of hand sewing. We started with little things...stars, birds, etc. I cut out the pieces and he uses whip stitch to stitch them together. Sometimes we even add a little stuffing as well. And weaving, also a favourite around here, and so easy to make a loom out of cardboard or a tree branch. Here's some tree branch weaving we did in the fall...http://www.motheringwithmindfulness.com/2014/09/morning-noon-and-night_9.html (second image).

      Oh, and wet felting is also fun for them at this age.

      So many ideas, have fun, and if you need anything else let me know, always happy to share.

      Delete
  5. Thank you for the reminder with the ice sun catchers! The past few years I've been wanting to do a wreath and keep forgetting but with it being so, so cold now I have no excuse! Love your idea of stringing them along.

    We haven't been outside much with this weather. The boys aren't thrilled about super bundling up. I can't blame them but it feels so energizing once you are out there and looking forward to that hot cup of tea is enough reason to go! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are most welcome. Have fun!

      It is tough to get out there, but Reece is always excited to head out. Yesterday, the coldest day yet, I had no plans of going out, but he headed out there, all bundled up to play. It seems a monster truck and some snow hills make it so you don't feel the cold :) He was out there for about 45 minutes before he decided it was time to come in. Lucky for me, Justin was out there with him, and I sat by the fire with my tea :)

      Delete
  6. Oh my, it sounds soooo cold! I must stop complaining about 25 degrees:) I have never thought about ice bunting- that is so clever, if our weather has plans for getting lower we will have to try it. Have you and Reece read summer of the monkeys? It's my favorite book and my whole crew loved it also, and when they are outside they pretend to be daisy and jay berry- so sweet!

    www.hollandsreverie.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes you must, that isn't cold at all :) But it is all relative and what you are use to, right?

      We haven't read that, but I will look it up. We have just started Heidi, but after that I don't have any other books lined up, so that could be a contender. Thanks!

      Delete
  7. Living in Alabama we would normally never have the chance to make ice bunting or anything made of ice for that matter. Notice I said "normally" - we woke up to a temperature of 7 Fahrenheit (almost -14 Celsius). That is just not right for our area... Enjoy the snow, the crafts and being back to your daily rhythm.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Get to work Anke, you could have an ice bunting in no time :)

      Thank you, we will. xo

      Delete
  8. It all sounds so cozy and lovely. The snowflake embroidery is great and I adore your red and yellow front porch!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cozy is about right. Thank you! Reece is very proud of his embroidery, I will let him know you said that :)

      Delete
  9. I do so love your ice garland, I think if we made one it would keep melting! I will just have to enjoy yours :). I love your home it looks so cosy and inviting just the sort of place to snuggle up against the cold.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. Enjoy away. I am sure we will get a warm spell soon, and it will melt, but for now we will enjoy it.

      Thank you, cozy is what we were aiming for, glad it shines through.

      Delete
  10. So good to see your post, I have to say I miss you, even though I do not personally know you! I love the ice mold idea, I am thinking muffin pan would work well also...maybe with cranberries in it for the animals to peck at! Stay warm, -11 here with -31 windchill!(northern Wisconsin).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Michelle, that is so lovely to hear.

      Yes, I think a muffin pan would work very well and yes on the cranberries, I bet the birds would love it. Now that I am thinking about it, we always decorate our Christmas tree outside once it has been removed from the house. We call it our "Giving Tree" and fill it with gifts for the birds. We just might have to make a few more sun catchers with bird seed in them to hang on the tree. How fun would that be. Thanks for the idea!!!

      Hope you are staying warm.

      Delete
  11. Winter Finally made it's way south and today I am enjoying wearing a wool sweater, having a fire in the woodstove with a pot of bean and kale soup on top warming for lunch, knitting in my lap and hot tea by my side...pure contentment!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tracey, I bet you are enjoying that so much. Enjoy a cup of tea for me, okay. Oh and make sure the warmer temperatures return soon, Reece and I are heading south in about 7 weeks, We want some heat and sunshine :)

      Delete
  12. I know what you mean with getting in the swing of things- we skied all break, super fun but good to get into the routine again. Secret garden was one of my favorite along side house on the prairie. Have you heard of the book " the dragons of blue land"- Fog horn loves the series.
    Tell Reece how much I love his soap mold sun catchers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think The Secret Garden will move to my favourite book list, it was so good. Can't believe I hadn't read it before.

      I have not heard of that book, will look it up though. Thanks!

      I will, he will be happy to hear that :)

      Delete
  13. sounds lovely! I always forget about the sun catchers-- I have had them on my list for years, but it so rarely gets below freezing here. And when it does, it seems that I am always out of sorts, and worried about the ducks and the plants, and I forget all about the fun part.... Enjoy your winter days. Stay warm!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Taryn. You could always do it in the freezer, not as fun, but at least you could do it. They would melt once outside, but it is fun to watch them melt too :)

      Delete
  14. Good morning dear Kim... Reece looks like Nevaeh all bundled up for our walk to preschool. I left Boen behind this morning (my dad stopping by to watch him). -42'C just didn't seem right for someone so little. But I agree with you, as cold as it is, there is something so invigorating about it. It almost seems like the colder it gets, the easier it is to get used to it.

    Stay warm dear friend... the bunting is beautiful!

    PS : The Secret Garden is one of my favorite books of all times. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was definitely weather to be bundled up in. You should have seen me :) So nice that your dad could come and stay with Boen.

      Hope you guys are staying warm too.

      It has been put on my favourite books list, so good.

      Delete
  15. Love the ice catchers! Your front porch looks so welcoming and your days sound so wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Happy New Year Kim - we are also returning to some routines and it is time... love your simple embroidery.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And to you too. Hope you guys are settling in to 2015, and staying warm.

      Thank you, that would be Reece's embroidery. I think it is his most favourite one to date :)

      Delete
  17. i love your sun catchers and your welcoming front porch !!! We had hit some - 20s during our Christmas visit in Alberta and my teens still refused to put on toques and mitts. Hope your cold snap doesn't last too long.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! Haha, teens are like that. I remember never wearing hat or mitts as a teen, and wearing my kilt with my socks instead of tights. Luckily I grew out of that and like to be warm now :)

      Delete
    2. heehee... i wore a kilt too (did your highschool kilt get shorter as you went up a grade? LOL) have a great day Kim

      Delete
  18. Oh that sounds so lovely and wintery. I'm having a hard time with our hot weather. It just feels so off. I know I live in California and should NOT be complaining about nice weather, but I long for days like yours, under quilts and drinking hot tea (and not iced like we had today).
    I will live vicariously through your winter days, while we melt in ours. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have to admit Summer, I am not sure how you do it. I can't imagine life without the four distinct seasons. Yes at this time of year, summer, sun and heat would be nice, but truly I love each season and the variety it brings to our life. As a family we have let Mother Nature wrap us in her arms, and lead us, so much of our life is connected to the rhythm of her seasons.

      I will toss a snowball for you today, and make sure to run free in the snowy woods thinking of you. xo

      Delete
  19. I have to say I always love getting back into the flow and rhythm of the days after the holidays, it seems to reestablish a slightly misplaced equilibrium in our home. Sadly for us its the summer hols here so we have another 4 weeks before all the usual activities and events return.

    Love those winter sun catchers, so beautiful

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It does feel good doesn't it. Yikes, four more weeks, well enjoy it, and know that the flow and rhythm will return soon.

      Thank you!

      Delete
  20. I think maybe you sink back into normalcy so happily because your normalcy is so lovely and perfect for you all! Love your bunting, we've never added sequins/glitter before so you've now given us an extra dimension - if we get a spell of hard frosts that is. So far cold wind and rain but no frosts to speak of, nevermind any beautiful, crisp, white snow :(. I must read The Secret Garden with the girls, it's so long since I read it that I don't really remember it so it will be a treat for me too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awe, thank you Sally. I have heard about all the rain your way, not fun. I much prefer snow to rain.

      It was the first time I read it, not sure how I missed it as a kid. It will be read again I am sure. Enjoy it with your girls.

      Delete
  21. I do love these frigid days and how quiet I feel inside and out. I think it's due to the kids going back to their places. Love your porch and doorway, inviting :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Karen. I love the quiet sounds of winter :)

      Delete
  22. Yes and yes, we have fallen back into our rhythm and flow much like a fish that has been out of water returns to the stream. It feels good now that things have quieted down. Your ice bunting looks pretty even without food coloring. The Secret Garden is such a good book and a lovely winter book idea as well. Stay warm my friend, winter is not over yet ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. I like it, just think it might have a bit more punch with some colour. Hopefully we will try again soon.

      It was so good, Reece is still talking about it. Yes, I know, we still have a few months of winter...yeah!!!!

      Delete
  23. your days sound like pure magic :) i love reading about them. i am in love with your front porch... the lovely details... the use of color... fantastic! we are back in our rhythm now too, but it is still a bit busy... with four ages 10-3 we are certainly in a busy season of life... but i feel it starting to slow down and i know that right around the corner is another change so i am embracing the now and thoroughly enjoying any moments of calm and still that come my way :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Awe, thank you Jenny. We were a bit bold with the colours last time we painting the house. It is due for a repaint this summer or next, and we are leaning towards a more traditional colour, a dark grey, with white trim, and Justin is planning to make a lovely wooden front door. I am looking forward to the change.

      Yes, I can imagine it is busy, but so full of goodness too. Good for you for embracing the now, it really is so important. Have a lovely weekend.

      Delete
  24. Love the sun catchers! Have a slow and simple weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Your days sound so peaceful, and I am terribly jealous of your cold and snow. Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Carlin. They are for the most part pretty peaceful. Yes we do have our moments when things get a little crazy, but with two adult introverts in the house, and a little one who seems to be the same, peace and quiet are par for the course.

      Wish I could send some cold and snow your way. We had a little dump of the white stuff last night, and today it was the warmest it has been all week (-10C), and the sun was shining. We hit the woods for a hike and it was amazing.

      Wishing you a lovely weekend too. xo

      Delete
  26. Lovely photos Kim. I always find it amazing each year as we sink into our hot summer, you sink into your cold winter and vise versa. Mother Nature sure is amazing. Did Reece do that embroidery? It is gorgeous and so neat! We live about a ten minute drive to the beach. After two nights of thunder storms, I'm sitting here this morning and I can hear the waves crashing. I'll be heading there this afternoon to take our dog for a walk. Can't wait. xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Julie. Yes, she is pretty amazing isn't she. Yes Reece did the embroidery, it was one of our handwork projects this week. Thank you, I will let him know you said so.

      I bet those waves sound amazing. When we are down south, I love listening to the waves crashing on the beach, so peaceful in an odd way. Enjoy your walk on the beach. Much love to you, enjoy your weekend. xo

      Delete
  27. We are bundling up too, though a residual cough has kept us from really enjoying the weather. But my, it is cold outside with that wind. I do love that cross stitch you've done. Such a fitting theme. And the bunting is just genius for this time of year! :) An extra special way to say "welcome home" after a cold foray into the woods. Loving reading about your winter adventures, Kim. xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It has been cold with that wind, but today wasn't too bad :) That cross stitch is all Reece, and he loved creating it. It was one of his handwork projects this week. And yes, our theme for the month is snow/ice/winter, how wonderful that Mother Nature cooperated as we got started this week.

      Thanks Alexa, I bet one of those buntings would look great on your balcony :) xo

      Delete
    2. You are a genius! What a perfect idea - perfect too for the kids to help with! I'll get right on that. :)

      Delete
  28. What a lovely post, everything sounds just wonderful, I agree with you, after a nice walk in the cold nothing better than going back home to the warmth and enjoy a nice hot drink.

    Have a nice weekend!!

    Lluisa xoxo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Llusia. Things have been pretty wonderful this week as we really sink into winter, and we have even had more snow since this post :)

      It is the hot drink that often keeps me going on these very frigid days.

      Thanks, you too. xo

      Delete
  29. Lovely to find your blog! I love the title! I have just ordered the book 10 mindful minutes so hopefully I can follow in your footsteps! Lovely photos! x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Welcome, so nice of you to stop by. Great book, you will enjoy it, and your journey into mindfulness. Thank you.

      Delete
  30. We always so appreciate the return to routine as well. The break from it, is at first rejuvenating, but after a while becomes somewhat tiring, I must say. That said, we are recovering a bit this weekend from the return to routine!

    We're having some odd weather here, one day in the 20's next in the 50's. In other words, lots of mud! This is not totally unusual weather for us, but it's not usually so up and down. It's okay though, snuggling in with three small children is hard to attain for too long, so they are more than happy to be digging in the mud!

    The ground is thawed enough for us to plan our newest fruit tree--with Opal's placenta. Took us a while to get around to it!

    Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Exactly how I feel, the break was welcome, but now we are happy to be back into the swing of things.

      How exciting to be planting a new fruit tree. We planted Reece's placenta too, under one of our gardens.

      Enjoy your weekend. Can't wait to catch up with you a little more. xo

      Delete