Thursday, January 26, 2023

Pockets of Coziness

 


In the still dark morning, the faint scent of wood smoke sometimes drifts in lightly on a cold breeze through the cracked open bedroom window. Two of our neighbours heat their homes with woodstoves, such a lovely even heat, and the scent is evocative of north woods cabins and homes in the northern interior of BC where I grew up. (My sense of smell now comes and goes.)

I walked this morning, twice around the bog where placid ducks lined the path or drifted on the still water. Muted colours, grey skies, and gloves on my hands are reminders that it's only January and very likely to get colder before spring comes. In fact, a cold front is moving in over the weekend.


Anne Youngson, author of Three Women and a Boat, included the phrase "pockets of coziness" when talking about houses. It's evocative of homes that welcome, of warming soups and stews, of glowing fires, and of reading while wrapped in a soft shawl, of hot tea and fresh bread. After being outdoors in the chilly air, walking into a cozy home is a contrast that delights.
 

I've had a fairly unproductive few weeks, taking advantage of the quiet season to spend slow days at home doing little beyond the regular necessary tasks, choosing instead to read and putter. 
This week, however, in a spurt of energy I made a list of some things I'd like to accomplish and worked towards that. When I saw that Seville oranges were available, I added making marmalade to the list. It's a meditative process, slicing all the peel into thin slivers, then stirring for many minutes, swirling the golden mixture in a figure eight pattern over and over again. Time for thinking or for just staring out the window. 


I started a hand sewing project - a Japanese rice bag, komebukuro. First I pieced scraps of linen and cotton and now I'm adding patches and hand stitching similar to sashiko. It's coming along nicely, but I'm in no hurry as I poke the needle down and pull it up, stitch by stitch. 

These are some of the pockets of coziness I'm finding in my home - how about you? 

23 comments:

  1. Hand sewing is a meditative experience, a deeper calming concentration. Your sewing looks interesting. The ducks are a delightful photograph.
    Clearing snow off vehicles takes the place of walking exercise this week. More snow is in our forecast here in Vermont.Making hot cocoa instead of packs of premixed hot chocolate is a trip back in time.

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  2. What lovely even stitches, Lorrie. I used to make marmalade but I havent done for a while. It would take me a long time to get through jars, though I do love it. I do like the 'pockets of cosiness' term, and am relishing a newly decorated sitting room, with furniture back in place, cosy lap rugs ready, and maybe some flowers if I can find a few.

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  3. What a cosy post, Lorrie! Your marmalade looks beautiful and tasty and your text made me think of Paddington Bear (whom I follow on Twitter 😊). Today is the first sunny day... this year! The days are definitely becoming longer and brighter.
    I have my moments of cosiness when doing puzzles.
    Have a happy weekend!

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  4. That is an impressive gathering of ducks! It seems that if I see a gathering like that it is always Canada geese which aren't quite as exciting to me.
    "Pockets of coziness" is a lovely way to think of the little areas we create around our homes to bring comfort. My efforts lately have been working on making my reading areas cozy and adding light and life (house plants and flowers) as I bide my time until I can be out in the garden. Have a wonderful weekend, Lorrie.

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  5. I think I still have the rice bag you talked about a few years ago. I wonder if it is still good to use. I've been quiet this week...better known around here as lazy! hahaha! But it's been nice. Enjoy your day!

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  6. Your komobukuro will be lovely. I love the colors. And oh, that marmalade! Wonderful!

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  7. Pockets of coziness is a delightful phrase. Your posts are just that for me so many times. I can not literally smell any woodsmoke this morning, though after reading here, I might be convinced that I can.

    So many little projects in a home...there is never a reason to be bored or idle. Course these days I am lacking oomph for them. Perhaps I need some healthful soup. Breakfast would be good! It's late morning...

    Have a blessed weekend, Lorrie.

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  8. It's a good season to read and putter. I think we've more snow on the way, though!

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  9. I like that, pockets of coziness. That marmalade has such a nice color to it. We got another dusting of snow overnight and more is predicted for Saturday. Our pathways are covered up again. Hope you have a nice weekend.

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  10. The picture with the ducks is a treat. Winter is not good for me, so no 'pockets of coziness' could make up for the fact that I'm not free to go out because of the weather elements.




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  11. Oh to taste REAL homemade marmalade - my favorite of anything spreadable on my toast! My mum made it, my SIL in France makes it - I need to give it a go some day. Meanwhile I keep a stash of Keiller's Dundee (Scottish) - still made just like Mrs. Keiller did back in the 18th century - or so they say! It's so good.
    I love the entire Japanese way of sewing, darning, embroidering etc. You've chosen lovely fabrics and your stitches are perfection Lorrie. Will you actually use the finished bag to store your rice? That would be so great.

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  12. I love reading by the fire and walks along the bay. Both make winter pass less painfully!

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  13. Anonymous4:29 PM

    The Japanese rice bag is an interesting project. The marmalade looks wonderful, the colour is quite lovely and I can imagine how tasty it will be. Granny Marigold

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  14. The duck scene is so peaceful, something one could meditate on. The rice bag project would be a lovely meditative project, too.

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  15. Love your stitching project, blues and whites together are one of my favorites. It's going to be so pretty and a lovely way to spend some time during the grey skies of late winter. Lists; lists are wonderful! I get so much more done when I make a list that when I just dilly dally around trying to do things. It give me direction and I love check marking each job as they are accomplished. Wow, I guess it doesn't take much to make me happy, LOL.

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  16. Hi Lorie~ I love the thought of, pockets of coziness! I think you described it beautifully, with your words and your gorgeous photos. Hugs, Barb

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  17. The jam looks so delicious... I would love to try it :-) it's nice that you've had it for a long time.
    Your rice bag turns out great, I think it's fun to make. You use beautiful fabrics and colors. I'm looking forward to it :-) And I'm also looking forward to your linen piece for the summer. I also have wonderful linen ready... Pants or dress, I'm not sure yet :-))) Have you cut them yet?
    It's always great to have nice projects in the works. Greetings to you from Viola

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  18. I'd not heard of pockets of coziness before but it sounds like a great phrase!

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  19. I like the idea of pockets of coziness! Very nice way of describing these January days... I've just posted similar things. I like the quiet days of January! Blessings to you!

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  20. What a lovely expression and certainly sums up winter pursuits. I’m sat by a log fire enjoying the aroma as I type. By my side a tiny pair of socks I’m trying to make for my granddaughter. Not sure they’ll fit :) B x

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  21. I certainly feel the winter coziness coming from your words and pictures, Lorrie. That bowl of soup and your jars of marmalade and your hand-sewing project are the perfect antidote to January's cold. I do vividly remember the smell of the wood stove we had for decades at our old house and miss that coziness so much and seeing my little ones sitting by it, wrapped in towels after their baths. But not the dust it put out!

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  22. You have a way with pockets or patches of coziness, whether it's tea and scones, making soup or adding patches to patches. 🤍

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  23. This post is itself a pocket of coziness and I enjoyed being there this evening! Thank you.

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