I am a Godlilocks weather person. Winter is too cold and snowy. Summer is too hot and humid. Spring and fall are just right. The moderate temperatures plus the scents of the seasons and the colors make me happy and more productive. The smell of mud and fresh green grass is intoxicating while the color of fall leaves and smell of bonfires makes me sigh with joy. Since winter is still with us for a while, and I do not know how to hibernate like a bear; I have ways to keep my sanity until spring.
First of all, I burn candles like “woodwick” that sounds like a fireplace burning. It is much cheaper than adding a fireplace. The various scents like fir, cinnamon and apple pie, or lilac stir my imagination while sitting in the dark and meditating. I inherited a cupboard with punched tin doors, built by my great-grandfather. My husband loves it so much that he wanted to give it pride of place in the garage and use it to organize his tools. That is not the place to put a priceless heirloom! After much DISCUSSION we compromised. We put it in the laundry room in the basement. I store candles in the cupboard (like 40-50 at a time) so that I never run out. I also collect candleholders so those candles are in constant use. Sometimes I burn tapers and sometimes big fat candles with three wicks. Candles come in a rainbow of colors so I don’t have to look at white all winter.
Secondly, I splurge on fresh flowers every month. It is a luxury but it keeps me sane. Sanity is expensive but my husband says I am worth it ( it also makes his life more peaceful).
Flowers are cheaper than therapy or a vacation in the south! Usually, I buy roses, either yellow or pink, with baby’s breath. In the summer I grow my own lilacs, peonies and hydrangea.
I also change my pictures to florals and greenery. My husband patiently hangs them with great enthusiasm. All I have to do is appear with a hammer in hand, and he hops to, pounding holes in the wall for me. Once upon a time I bought my very own tool kit, but it disappeared after I had just fixed a few things. Well, sometimes my house is a blackhole where items mysteriously disappear!
Recently, I read a vintage book on the language of flowers. In the past, men paid careful attention to that book so as to send the right message to their sweetheart. Now women are so surprised and flattered to receive flowers they don’t have to do that. Their women just want them to be sent to their workplace so the other women can feel jealous! I’ve used that trick myself. Red tulips mean a declaration of love, just so you know, and violets mean faithfulness. You can never go wrong with them! Ladies, it is ok to buy yourselves flowers. Miley Cyrus says so in her latest hit, “Flowers.”
Hey, you can also buy yourself Godiva chocolates. YOU ARE WORTH IT. Speaking of sweets, try this candied bacon.
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