WINTER'S SECRET LUXURIES FOR GENTLE FOLKS
Camille Aubray’s view of a Winter Sunrise
Beauty, pleasure, joy--in winter? Yes! You don't have to wait until spring to revel in seasonal luxuries, or what the French call luxe, calm, volupté. So here are my favorite secrets of winter pleasures:
1. Watch the pink sunrises sand sunsets. I took this photo at sunrise from my window, delighted with the pink clouds that are stunningly visible now that the leaves are off the trees. Sunny days give you much more blue sky to gaze at, too.
2. Sleep. The science is clear: Standard time is so much better for the rhythms of your body and soul. Try waking up at sunrise and then winding down the day when the sun sets. (Hint: get some good blackout blinds so that you can sleep at night.)
3. Cook, bake and eat. Now is the time of year to make cozy food, like homemade bread or scones or chocolate-chip muffins. And I love to cook dinners with my husband, things like meat loaf, chicken stew, homemade soup with white beans and vegetables, baked ziti. We also love our breakfasts of pancakes with maple syrup and hot chocolate; or scrambled eggs with prosciutto, and a pot of hot tea with honey.
4. Go outside and walk. The air is pure, and you don't have to worry about wildfire smoke drifting over you as in the summertime. Not only will you feel invigorated, you will fight off the colds and flu. And don't forget to look at the night sky, too, because in winter the stars are more visible, and the moon is gorgeous.
5. Spend Saturday or Sunday morning in bed if the weather is too inclement. That's right. Watch old black-and-white movies from the 1930s, or the fabulous 1970s movies like Three Days of the Condor, The China Syndrome, All the President's Men, The Candidate; or television series from the golden age, where the pacing, acting and the "moral of the story" are refreshing, as in Bonanza, Perry Mason, The Partridge Family, Leave It Beaver, That Girl. Play cards, play checkers, have fun.
Or, read a good book!
https://www.amazon.com/Girl-Grand-Hotel-Novel/dp/B0DD4QFDXN
https://www.amazon.com/Godmothers-Novel-Camille-Aubray/dp/0062983709
https://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Picasso-Novel-Camille-Aubray/dp/0399177663
All text and images are © Camille Aubray LLC.