Keeping Cozy

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Now comes the end of January, the depth of winter, the coldest days of the year. For those of us who are New Englanders (or you, our readers, in the northern states and in Canada) it means nights that can freeze the water pipes, mornings where the car battery doesn’t start, and daily outfits of long johns, thermal tops, and heavy woolen sweaters. 

But even in places like Phoenix and San Francisco, the days only rise into the fifties this week and the nights chill close to freezing. Only Lucy, living in Key West (the same latitude as the Gulf of Bahrain and the Arabian Sea!) doesn’t need to slip on a pullover and some fuzzy socks.

 

None of us are escaping to tropical beaches this winter, and short of breaking the bank to crank the heat up to 78F, we all need trucks and workarounds to stay warm, and sometimes more importantly, to feel cozy. For me, it all starts with fires in the woodstoves. They throw off real heat, but there’s also an atavistic human response to flames that just makes you feel better.  I have a friend with no way at all to burn wood who swears by the You Tube 10 hour crackling fireplace!

Another must-have: snuggly throws. I have woolen throws (seriously warm,) velvety plush throws, chunky knitted throws and crocheted-by-grandma throws. While wrapped in a blanket in front of a fire, I add the third necessity for coziness - a hot drink. Herbal tea, hot cider, hot cocoa - it doesn’t matter so long as it warms your fingers as you hold it and warms your insides on the way down.

How about you, Reds? What are your stay-warm secrets? 

RHYS BOWEN: I confess to being at the warmer end of the spectrum here in California. John keeps our house around 70 degrees so sweaters aren’t necessary. We bundle up for our morning walk when it can drop to the thirties. I’m a great believer in cashmere and my cashmere cardigan insulates brilliantly. My Christmas present this year was an electric fireplace that I love. One flick of the switch and I have crackling flames plus as much heat as I need.  And our winter routine is soups. Lots of hearty homemade soups for lunch—carrot and parsnip and leek and cauliflower as well as chicken and dumplings seasoned with curry or ginger or cinnamon. All yummy and just right for gloomy cold days. And hot apple cider at night!

 

 

 

JENN McKINLAY: We’ve had the most consistently cold weather in Phoenix that I can remember in a long time. Day after day in the low sixties and nights in the high thirties. What the heck? This is not what I signed on for! That being said, my fluffy pink bathrobe is getting more than its usual two weeks out of the closet and has been in rotation for two months. My thermal shirts are my daily wear, soft, warm, and comfy, I have them in all colors which conveniently match my collection of flannel plaid shirts, which are favorites even though I’m sure I look like I’ve misplaced my axe. 

Throws are a must, although the pets out maneuver me for them, which is annoying because I don’t have the heart to boot them off. And, yes, hot tea! Yorkshire Gold, please, with honey and keep it coming.

LUCY BURDETTE: I admit to being the warmest Red of the bunch. But I am wearing socks and jeans and a sweatshirt to walk Lottie for coffee in the morning. That sort of counts. We had the most wonderful Italian wedding soup with turkey meatballs, spinach, orzo and lemon this week. I think what pushed the recipe to the next level was John’s turkey stock, which we’d frozen after thanksgiving. He roasted the carcass with vegetables and then we boiled. It was wonderful and the recipe made a lot! I tweaked Mary Jane Maffini’s recipe which is here: https://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com/2021/01/turkey-meatball-soup-with-spinach-and.html

 

 

 

 

 

HALLIE EPHRON: When I went out this morning for the paper, the thermometer was reading 20 degrees--a shock after what’s been a pretty mild winter so far. I swear by fingerless gloves, socks, and hot tea. And I have the coziest throw that my daughter got us for Christmas--fleece on one side, velvet on the other. But really the key to staying warm is layers. I’m partial to Cuddl Duds silky long underwear. 

Now I want some of that Italian wedding soup. Or actually, just a cup of John’s turkey stock would do. Roast the carcass with vegetables first?! I’m going to do that to the chicken I roasted last night. 

DEBORAH CROMBIE: 78 degrees, Julia! Not happening in our old house. There are days when the north wind is blowing that I have trouble getting it up to 65. So lots of throws--I gave myself two new incredibly fluffy ones for an early Christmas present. Throws in the living room, one at each of my two writing desks, extra quilts on the bed.

I have one latte in the morning, and after that I’ve been switching to ginger tea (thanks to that arm-length ginger root I scored a couple of weeks ago) which is lovely and warming, and I wrap my hands around my pottery mug when not typing. Maybe I need to try Hallie’s fingerless gloves.

Lots of soups here, too, and I’ve had a hankering for Italian Wedding Soup. I have some ground veal in the freezer that I need to use--maybe for the meatballs? 

Oh, and a fire most evenings. We have gas piped into our wood-burning fireplace, so if we’re lazy we can just turn on the gas. Not nearly as warming, however, but it is cheerful.

 

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: I am so glad you can't see me! Socks, camisole, thermal t-shirt , yoga pants, fleece hoodie, Uggs. And a blanket around my shoulders.  It is grotesque and so very very warm. I also have this ridiculous sky blue thing that's fleecy/fuzzy, it's a fleecy hoodie that goes down to my knees. It is shamefully cozy.

Our house is so old that every room is different to heat (or not) so we just add and discard clothing as need be, leaving wraps and shawls wherever. Oh! Do you know Uniqlo heat-tech tshirts? Very very thin, but SO warm! And Hanro camisoles. 

 

JULIA: Okay, dear readers, it's your turn. What are your tips and tricks for getting through the coldest days of winter?

A Mid-winter Warmer Primer

DEBORAH CROMBIE: We are inching towards March, but the days are still short, it’s still cold (although Rhys and Jenn are enjoying gorgeous Arizona February, I’m sure) and most of us are suffering from the mid-winter blahs. Here are a few things, however, that help me through the last doldrums of February.

A wood burning fire! I’ve spent the last two weeks camped out on the living room sofa, convalescing from meniscus repair surgery on my knee, and in that two weeks we went through at least half of our winter’s supply of firewood. But it was so comforting! Having that cheery fire in the hearth made the time feel more like a treat than a pain. 

In lieu of a wood burning or gas fire, I light candles. I think our need for a bright flame in the cold must go back to our primal ancestors…

I drink loads of hot tea! Not that I don’t love tea any time, but it really perks me up on a cold, gray afternoon.

Comfy quilts and good books--although these two pretty much go without saying for this bunch.

Fresh flowers, the brighter the better. I tend towards white blooms through December and January, but come February, bring on the hot pink tulips and orange roses. Sunshine in a vase!

I have a jigsaw puzzle on the dining room table, carefully covered to protect it from the cats. Not that I’ve made much progress on it, but it’s a fun little break to look forward to.

And as contradictory as it may seem, it helps to get outside for at least a few minutes a day even when it’s gray and cold. It reminds our bodies that no, we are actually not hibernating.

What about your, dear REDS? Any special tips for beating the last of the winter blues?

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Blankets. I am so big on blankets! I have a wonderful chocolate brown and cream herringbone one that I wear around myself, wrapped like a towel. VERY attractive, I can tell you.

And I so agree--going outside is great. All Ugged and mufflered and mittened. We only have one car, which Jonathan takes on the days I work at home, and I try to still do my walks to the town center to the drug store and post office and bank. And the manicure place, nothing like bright red (or my new love, blue) fingernails!  It’s beautiful outside, the sky here can be an amazing blue. And I always have flowers--right now, yellow tulips. I forgot to get paperwhites this year-is there still time? And oh, our little white snowdrops are blooming out in the garden--so nice to see! 

And I am SO happy the days are getting longer. You can really tell, right? But I don’t like to wish the time away.

DEBS: Paperwhites! Hank, I saw them at Trader Joe's on Sunday. What a great idea. But I know what you mean about not wanting to wish the time away. And for us, spring is a harbinger of summer and HEAT, so I am trying to savor the cold and dark. 

READERS, tell us your tips for coping!