Winning at Wintering

Sunday, March 19, 2017

With the arrival of spring it's time to look back over winter, but first a quick digression - when did meteorological seasons become a thing?

It's only over the past few years that I've been hearing about meteorological seasons (it's not wholly beyond the realms of possibility that I've just had my head in the clouds for years  - no pun intended - and just not noticed).

I've always followed the astronomical seasons and for some reason become disproportionately annoyed when people say 'hello spring' on March 1st.

It's. Not. Spring.

I can't imagine many people get annoyed by such a thing, but it niggles me. Isn't it nicer to be guided by the stars than by the weatherman?

Anyway, for winter I set myself a few goals, incorporating some of my resolutions. Winter was very much about taking it easy, staying home, hibernating and planning.

1. Read 12 books
I'm pleased with the amount I managed to read over winter. When I originally typed '12' I thought it was unlikely that I'd succeed. In the end I read 14 and I'm almost half way through my 15th, which means I'm nicely on track to meet my target of 29 before my next birthday.

2. Plan my greenhouse growings
I have packets of spring onions - two varieties, salad leaves - two packets for staggered planting, garlic chives, thyme, and climbing peas waiting to be planted and nurtured (and in the case of the peas, picked and eaten straight from the plant - pod and all).

3. Make home improvements
This didn't really happen. I've done a lot of decluttering but no actual DIY. I do have lots of plans for the spring though - which is a much better time of year to tackle home improvements.

4. Mend
With a sewing pile on the verge of toppling over I decided to dedicate a weekend to making alterations but got side tracked by a book. I have a hankering to wear my maxi skirt again so I'm certain I'll get the sewing machine out soon to repair the hem.

5. Felt
I spent a pleasant afternoon teaching my friend the basics of needle felting. I started her on a pumpkin, which is the first thing I ever made too. Within days she'd posted a picture on Facebook of a hare kit she'd bought and felted. She's hooked just like everyone else who gives it a go.

6. Veggie meals
I earmarked a couple of meals that took my fancy and added them to my meal plan - Lentil Chili, Spinach Lasagna, and Veggie Burritos. The Lentil Chili was much nicer than I expected it to be and I've already cooked it three times. The lasagna was rather dull, every mouthful was the same and I couldn't help but think that it would be vastly improved with the addition of some beef mince. The Veggie Burritos were delicious, full of flavour - something that I'll definitely be cooking again.

7. Do stuff
This was simply a promise to myself to make plans for my weekends instead of drifting through them, feeling like I was doing nothing much at all. It's worked well, some weekends have been full of going out, doing things, ticking things off my to-do list, others I planned to simply relax with a good book. Either way I feel like I'm making more of my weekends.

How has your winter been?

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14 comments

  1. Sounds lovely. Your veggie meals reminded me of the veggie option we made for our wedding - corn, black bean, and mushroom enchiladas. I feel the same about spinach lasagna.

    It's nice that you've managed to do so much reading, too.

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  2. Your comment about planning to relax really hit home - I've been struggling to relax recently, instead racing from one list to another. Building in time to do nothing/read/light a fire and making it an item on my to-do list seems an excellent way to trick myself into taking it easy!

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    1. It's worth a try. I've stopped feeling guilty if I ignore the housework to relax a while. Looking after ourselves should be a priority.

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  3. You've just reminded me, I've got loads of seeds that need planting, I ought to crack on and do it. The tortoise will be needing his lettuce when Spring arrives!
    I can't say I really live in seasons, maybe because I'm a townie. One day is sleeveless maxis, a jacket and sunglasses and the next maxis with sleeves, fake fur and a hat - and that's throughout the year!
    I love inventing new dishes, so good when they turn out successful. xxx

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    1. Yep, I mustn't forget to get mine in the soil at some point very soon.
      When our visiting tortoise comes to stay I can feed him home grown lettuce leaves - yay! I hadn't thought of that :)

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  4. Spinach lasagne really is boring! I like pumpkin lasagne, but it's a bit of a faff to make.

    I have always thought of March as a spring month and not paid attention to when spring is actually supposed to start! November-February = winter (I know November is technically autumn still but it acts like winter, so it's a winter month!). Four months is quite enough winter, and there are daffodils now, so March is SPRINGGGG!!

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    Replies
    1. I'm not a fan of pumpkins, when I carve mine for Halloween I have to admit the flesh goes to waste.
      I guess it's about how the weather makes us feel when it comes to the seasons, there's always a cross over period that can feel either way. That's the worst time, I can't tell if I'm coming or going.

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  5. I guess it's wishful thinking making out that Spring actually begins on the 1st of March. We can have some Spring like weather, but it isn't Spring! That said, with tomorrow's forecast, it doesn't look like it will feel like Spring! My winter has been a long one, or at least that's how it felt like. I've been quite busy, and I really need to make an effort to relax. No time to tried out new dishes, unfortunately. Need to make an effort in that department too, as I'm definitely in a rut. Here's to hoping Spring will bring more energy! xxx

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    1. Winter always seems to last a long time but I think that's just because I prefer warmer weather - summer never seems to be long enough!
      Spring is all about trying new things and the lighter, longer days give everyone more energy I think.

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  6. A nice mixture of both for me - a few events interspersed with a few lazy weekends at home with red wine and The Replacement on the iPlayer. My next aim is to finally pin Mr P down to book a holiday. We tend to go away in May but it's creeping up and there's nothing in my diary so this needs to be remedied ASAP.

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    1. Sounds perfect. I tend to do nothing for weeks on end and then have a flurry of activity which makes me crave peace and quiet... and around I go again...
      Hope you book somewhere nice!

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  7. You've done very well! Well done for the seeds AND books! Please teach me to do felting!!!! x

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    1. thank you :) I'm super chuffed with my reading. The seeds still need to be planted so I'm only half way there on that front :)
      I'm sure i can teach you felting, we'll have to sort something out when we meet up!

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