Winter Joy List:
1. Greet the New Year with my daughter (and maybe some friends) - Had friends over to dinner on New Year's Eve; they left before midnight, but I greeted the New Year with my daughter. Later, on New Year's Day, daughter and I went over to an aunt's house to her annual New Year's Day luncheon/open house, for what turned out to be the last time, as aunt died just three weeks later.
2. Hot chocolate - with whipped cream! - Couldn't do that due to dietary changes!
3. A warm house - Oh, yes! And don't I have the heating bills to prove it! LOL!
4. Cozy knitted blankets and throws - I had them all out on various couches, within easy reach!
5. Winter decorations - The Christmas decorations stayed up well into January! After that, I had some winter flower arrangements with pine branches and paperwhites (and the occasional rose).
6. Homemade soup - Several pots of homemade soup - chicken and vegetable, beef and vegetable, tomato, etc.
7. Candle light in the evenings - For one reason or another, I didn't light any candles in the evenings. I don't know why, because I like seeing lit candles.
8. Continue to enjoy the rest of daughter's holiday visit - She was home for two weeks and I enjoyed every moment of it; she also came home for the weekend in early March for her birthday weekend!.
9. After-Christmas sales! - Didn't really do a lot of after Christmas shopping.
10. The Winter Photo Scavenger Hunt - Participated to the extent possible
11. Reading - Borrowed a few books and magazines from the library; received a book from a blog friend, which I am currently reading
12. Afternoon naps - Not as many as I would have liked, but spent many afternoons relaxing on the sofa, reading.
13. Relaxed days after the holiday rush - Um, perhaps a bit too relaxed! Feel like I didn't accomplish much!
14. Afternoon walks - Not as many as I should have taken!
15. Winter gardening - Planted a new peach tree; put down some vegetable seeds, some of which sprouted! And the front garden is simply delightful with all the flowers blooming:
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| Flowers in the Front Garden |
Did anyone else do a Winter Joy list? Will you be doing a Spring Joy List? Will I do a Spring Joy List?
I like the idea of a Spring Joy List!
ReplyDeleteActually, so do I! :)
DeleteWell done. Did you feel that having the list kept you motivated during the winter months?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eileen. It made me feel more aware of the joy in what might otherwise have been dreary days of rain and, possibly, a sense of let down after the build up to the holidays. :)
DeleteYou were very successful with your Joy List. Do you think you were happier because you made it?
ReplyDeleteGood question, Live and Learn. I don't think I was happier because I made the list, but, thinking up the list helped me to be more aware of simple, everyday pleasures. Like drinking tea from a favorite tea cup; I didn't list that, because I do it every day, using some of my "good" tea cups, but it brings me joy to be able to do that (it used to be in some of my earlier joy lists).
DeleteI think you did well with your Winter joy list. It is a guide after all to help you enjoy the season with warm and cosy relaxing events. You accomplished that. I also think you spent quiet afternoons and evenings knitting, which I feel is one of those joyful winter activities. I think needlework ranks up there high on making winter joyful. I burned a lot of candles this winter. In fact I was still burning a winter scented candle last night. That is because I pulled them out at Christmas and left them out on display. When they were out in the open like that, I remembered to light them.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan. You are right - I did spend time knitting! I didn't even think to list that! LOL. I shall list it in the spring joy list! I have a set of candles on the mantelpiece, and I look at them and think I should light them, but then, never do! Maybe I'll make it a point to light them, tonight! :)
DeleteI'm sure just one hot chocolate couldn't do any harm. X
ReplyDeleteYou might be right, Jules. I should get some sugar-free hot chocolate!
DeleteI like your idea of a joy list! I might just do a spring joy list. I do love spring!
ReplyDeleteI hope you make a spring joy list, Jan. I will be making one, too. Spring is a very joyful time of the year, isn't it?
DeleteI think you had a great winter joy list. I have gotten away from making mine and I think I miss it because it does make me more intentional both in thoughts and deeds.
ReplyDeleteLight those candles!
Yes, ma'am! Candles have been lit! LOL! Maybe you might consider making a spring joy list?
DeleteNice list! Winter is one of my favorites seasons, as I do like to hibernate LOL
ReplyDeleteThank you. Winter does have its good points, but, I prefer the warmer seasons, myself.
DeleteI've never made a winter joy list. In fact, when it started before the end of November I think the words winter and joy didn't seem to go together! But we have enjoyed hot apple drink, candlelight (flameless which are safer at our age),our little living room wood stove which doesn't need cleaning because it is electric (and so realistic) and of course the real wood furnace which sometimes scents the air beautifully depending on which type of wood is burning. Homemade soups, home baked goods and winter decorations have brought joy, also the sheer beauty of the snow on a sunny day or the tree shadows on the snow on a moonlit night. Of course the birds and squirrels have delighted us as well. So mine is a post winter joy list!
ReplyDeleteYou have listed some lovely, joyful things, Bushlady. You really don't need to make a list! :)
DeleteI did quite a bit of my winter joy list, but I must admit that I'm glad it's (hopefully!) coming to an end. It seems winter gets longer every year, but I think it's more that I'm getting older each year lol
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you accomplished what you did of your winter joy list, Sharon. Some years, winter does linger long after its welcome is gone, doesn't it?
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