Full Scandi

I've decided to go Full Scandi(navian) this winter. I've decided to embrace the dark and the cold. And to do that, I'm all in on the warm and cozy clothes and blankets. I want to get out there every day, but dressed so that I can enjoy being out there. This is only partially motivated by my planned trip in January to the far north of Norway, into the polar night. It's also just a way of coping with the inevitable slog through this season. 

For the trip, I've got a new waterproof as well as warm coat, and a new pair of waterproof boots with a great luggy sole, for tromping through uncleared snow drifts. I already had a lot of wool clothes - I ol pants. I've got a couple of polar fleece sweaters, one pair of fleece-lined nylon pants, two pairs of long johns (excuse me, "base layers") and many wool and fleece hats and neck gaiter-scarves. I'm happy for the cold weather and today's snow as a chance to get out there and see what works. 

I went out for a walk at about 7:30 this morning, just as a full-on blizzard was starting. It was enchanting! The boots worked well, easy enough to get on and off, easy to walk in. I'd taken the hood off my coat, and wore just a hat instead. I was wearing a neck gaiter, and it got damp from snow coming down around the edges of my collar. The lined pants stayed dry on the inside. It only took a couple of blocks to realize I would be too warm if I kept going up hills. I circled around the hood, and after about a mile I ran into the neighborhood parents and kids at the elementary school bus stop. I stayed and chatted - the bus was runnng very late, so I was there for 20 minutes, giving the layers a chance to show how well they kept me warm when just standing around. I suspect my trip will have a lot of standing around, looking up at the sky.

Yesterday in contrast was sunny and cold, and Bixby and I took a very brisk walk around the 'hood. I was a fountain of energy around the house, spurred on by the sunshine. It was invigorating! There was a huge full moon last night, and Bixby and I took a few minutes to enjoy it outside. But I was pleased at the prospect of a darker day today, and planned nesting-type chores, slow cooking, and a fire in the late afternoon to keep things cozy. I have no appointments, no-one needing me today.  I filled up my on-hold queue for ebooks and audiobooks at the library this fall, with long-term wait periods - six weeks, 12 weeks, even 20+ weeks. But a whole slew of them have come through at once in the past week or so. I have to hunker down and read for real, not just fritter time on tiktok or bluesky. The audiobook that came through this afternoon turns out to be 32 hours long! I'm not sure I'll be able to pay attention that long! But with a fire in the fireplace to tend, and lego flowers and some coloring books, I can sit and listen a lot.

Every morning starts with stepping outside with my cup of coffee to admire the sky dressed only in PJs while Bixby uses his nose to catch up on overnight vistors to the yard. (I'm channeling my inner Cecilia, an Instagrammer who lives in Svalbard and does the same, in colder weather and with much more spectacular views.) I'm eating my ryecrisp toasts, and smoked salmon, and brown goat cheese. My homemade dishes tend towards cabbage and potatoes and savory lentils with coconut and curry. Hot tea appears in the evenings, sometimes with a slug of whiskey. I would really like to bake, but it doesn't fit with my current eating goals. Still, my girl is coming over tomorrow and there may be cookies in her plans, along with the Christmas decorating.

I'm definitely going for my maximum hygge.