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Scandinavians have a particular way of embracing winter called hygge, creating coziness and comfort, focusing on making winter the best it can be. You can learn all about it here, or from this Millicent McKay article SaltWire published last March. To help you embrace hygge in your own life this winter, this week's newsletter features ideas and activities to help you get started: diving into a great book, taking a winter walk, embracing winter activities, catching up on sleep and keeping cozy with a warm winter soup.
I hope you enjoy!
~ Jill, SaltWire Audience Team
Weekend weather
A narrow line of weather connecting two weak systems will stop us from seeing the sun and spread light flurries and occasional showers across the region today. There's snow headed for the Avalon tomorrow – but the rest of us are in for a pleasant Friday – ahead of an approaching weekend storm. Get Cindy's latest forecast here.
Warm winter soup
Whether you've been sledding, hiking, skiing or just feeling chilled, this warm winter soup featuring apples, sweet potato and chickpeas blended to perfection with a touch of jalapeno, ginger and nutmeg to warm you up from the inside. The creamy coconut milk, turmeric and lime juice finish it off for a flavourful soup you'll surely crave again and again.
Food resolutions
Instead of a resolution to simply eat healthier, why not make food resolutions that will help you accomplish that, while also enhancing your life in other ways? With food prices on the up and up, using vegetable scraps can eliminate the need for pre-made stocks and other ingredients you can easily make yourself. Take pressure off and reduce excess waste with make-ahead meals. Be conscious of where your food and beverages are coming from and commit to buying as locally as possible. Explore new culinary flavours, or work on your skills training and become a better home chef. Click to learn more about these food resolutions you can be proud to take on.
Things to do
While many events are still on hold, there's plenty to keep you entertained and busy this week. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Find your voice
Renowned Nova Scotia author Sheree Fitch joins the Cabot Trail Writers Festival’s Splash! Polar Dip Writing Workshop for five consecutive Thursdays starting on Jan. 21. The workshop title is meant to describe the act of diving right in: deciding on what you want to write about, the format you feel best suits the material — poem, short story, novel — and the elements drawn from life that will flavour the prose.
Hit a local trail
With little snow blanketing our region and milder than normal temperatures, it's a great time to hit the trails and find peace and solitude in the quiet of the woods. Our region offers unlimited opportunities to connect with nature from easy walks to challenging hikes. Check out the Salt Marsh Trail in Cole Harbour, N.S., the East Coast Trail in Cape Broyle, N.L. or the Island Trails in P.E.I.
Take your workout outside
Rather than hibernate this winter, get outside and embrace it! If it’s been a while since you explored the great Canadian winter sports scene, here’s a primer on what to expect. Just remember to dress for the weather and the activity, piling on or taking off layers as needed. And don’t forget to bring the family with you. The combination of fresh air and exercise never fails to reset the mood in a house filled with bored adults and kids. Check out these winter fun activities and embrace our winter months.
Sleep heals
The pandemic is impacting our health in more ways than one. Are you having trouble sleeping? Falling asleep but waking up shortly after hitting the sack? How about sleeping weird hours? Are your dreams more vibrant and detailed? Research shows the pandemic has disrupted normal sleeping patterns since its arrival, leading to increases in stress, anxiety and depression. This leaves many Canadians looking for help in everything from relaxation apps to over-the-counter and prescription medications – anything for a few good ZZZZs. If you find yourself sleep deprived, here are some tips to get your cycle back on track.
Local reads
Kevin Major’s One For the Rock (2018) introduced us to Sebastian Synard, a former school teacher who had reinvented himself as a tour guide and Scotch/literature blogger.
As the sequel Two for the Tablelands opens, Sebastian and his teenage son, Nicholas, are exploring the wonders of Gros Morne National Park, hiking across the rockscape of the Tablelands when they discover the half-buried body of a murder victim.
Thanks for reading!
