Welcoming Winter
Once the clocks go back here in the UK, we say goodbye to the construct of British Summer Time and prepare to start welcoming winter (and Greenwich Meantime!)
Photo by Emma Moore.
I’m never ready for winter’s harsher rhythms, the encroaching dark and the loss of colour outdoors and I’ve an adversion to slippery mud and damp! But I know when a fight is futile! So, I am trying to embrace the unique magic of this colder, darker time of year.
Putting the clocks back realigns us with the natural pattern of light outdoors. It’s meant to be darker in the evenings now. We are meant to be resting and renewing in the dark, as nature shows us.
There’s a reason our ancestors believed this to be the end of one year and the start of the next. Here in the quiet darkness of winter, beginnings start, preparations are made ready to spring to life in the lighter months.
‘Spring is not the saviour of winter days, it is birthed from winter, born because of winter.’ - Brigit Anna McNeill
It’s time to balance my desire to be outdoors with the richness and warmth of indoors. Yes to candles, wholesome cooking, spices, warm sweaters and fires; reading, dreaming and creative pursuits.
But definitely no to being sluggish. Winter rest needs to be paired with a healthy dose of outdoors walking, stretching, working in the garden and at the allotment preparing for the next growing season!
The winter months are ideal for indulging some of my favourite activities, reading, creating, walking and planning.
Reading
This is a great time for bringing out my favoured collection of Winter books. Dipping into the pages of these books helps me find joy in the winter months.
Nigel Slater’s luxurious description of winter food, and traditions in The Christmas Chronicles.
Beth Kempton’s soulful reframing of the festive period and the ‘Hush’ beyond, in Calm Christmas.
Lucy Brazier & Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s Christmas at the River Cottage full of inspiration and indispensable recipes.
Winter is a great time for stories too and I like fiction set in the cold and snow, perhaps at Christmas.
A story that feels like a hug while I’m warming myself by the fire or snuggled up in bed.
Do you have any favourite winter reads - I’d love to hear your suggestions.
Creativity
Winter gives me the space to explore creative activities too.
I design gardens throughout the year.
Winter offers the opportunity to see the bare bones of a plot. Without the distraction of blowsy flower beds and fullsome tree canopies.
Winter interest is an indicator of a well designed garden - it doesn’t have to be all sticks and mud.
Please do contact me if you would like to discuss a design for your garden or outdoor space.
I like nature journaling through winter.
You have to look a little harder than in the summer months. Focusing on the shapes, textures, silhouettes and small pops of colour outdoors.
Bringing in the sense of smell, sound and touch to notice winter highlights outdoors.
I promise there are plenty of winter joys to notice!
I’m planning a series of seasonal nature journaling workshops.
Watch my social media and website for more details of my forthcoming ‘Winter Nature Journaling for Joy’ workshop.
Or dm me for details.
Plus, there are all those lovely festive makes that make great Christmas presents.
My winter kitchen is a busy place with many a concoction being made, ready to package up with love for a Christmas gift.
Homemade tipples are always well received!
Walking
A winter walk is a more invigorating affair than its summer counterpart. Wind swept faces, tingling fingers and bodies working hard to keep warm.
Being outdoors getting as much natural sunlight as possible is an important part of winter wellbeing.
So wrap up warm and embrace a silly but warm hat!
Once I’ve accepted that my perennials are over for the season, I look forward to frosty morning walks, enjoying the cold air and crunchy steps and capturing the magical sparkle in my photos and films.
Got to love a touch of Narnia on the place!
Bring on those wintry walks!
Cooking
Then there’s winter cooking. Getting out the slow cooker, preparing hearty, comforting dishes, baking the Christmas cake, making chutneys, jams and tonics from the allotment and hedgerow gluts I froze in the autumn.
Batches of unctuous and immune boosting elderberry and rosehip tonics, roasted squashes, warming stews, rich hot chocolates, bubbling chutneys, roast dinners, sticky puddings and imbibed fruits.
I like to capture a little bit of summer in my recipes too.
Rose Pelargonium Cordial is perfect to make in November and added to sparkling water makes a delicious drink with a wonderful rose scent and flavour - summer in a glass.
It’s easy to make too, you just need the leaves of Pelargonium ‘Attar of Roses’.
So if you’ve been growing these lovely plants over the summer months then nab some of the leaves now before the frost turns them to mush and use them to make this delightful drink.
When you join my mailing list to receive my FREE monthly newsletter, you will receive a downloadable recipe card for Rose Pelargonium Cordial. Click here to add your email address
I’ll be posting my winter joy photos over on social media so please do come and find me
On Instagram at Her_Outdoorz and Facebook HerOutdoorz.
I’d love to hear what winter joy you find too so do tag me on your posts.
Go gently into these winter days - they need not be bleak. Yes the cold season brings darker mornings and evenings but let’s reframe them as an opportunity to indulge winter pursuits.
But please also send up a request for limited mud and damp!!!!
Further Reading…
Whatever the weather, there's still joy to be found in November. It’s a month for taking our lead from nature and turning more inwards. For still getting outdoors when the hours are light and the weather allows; then retreating indoors, to embrace the concept of hygge. In fact, November offers the perfect excuse for lashings of hot tea, cake and buttery crumpets in front of the fire and TV!