I haven’t exactly got a cold, but the potential is there if you know what I mean, and I do so enjoy indulging my inner hypochondriac in the depths of Winter. Remember last year? I was on my last legs from January to March and hell on earth it was too. If anyone can make a meal of the odd little infection, it is I, Alison Joanne May.
But not this year. This year I am fighting the battle against January ailments with a vengeance. I will no more lay down and give in to the demon cold than I will hire John Pawson to decorate my living room (though is it just me or does that monastery look divinely peaceful? I want to take a holiday there.)
And so I am fighting the good fight with an armory of scrumptiously cosy treats and I insist you do the same…
1. Bed socks.
You must have bed socks. Ok so they are not remotely sexy but they can look effortlessly vintage chic with a too big for you white Victorian nightie and a snuggly cardigan. Hunt some out, stitch yourself a little sock bag and hang it from your bed-post.
2. The Blanket Cardigan.
Fold the top quarter of a blanket over and stitch 35cms in from each side to make some makeshift armholes. Adorn as desired et voila! A pretty blanket that will stay sitting round your shoulders and guaranteeing warmth through another episode of Ugly Betty. So you look like a Granny. What the hell, you are warm.
3. Herbal Cold Tea.
At the slightest sniffle of a cold, make yourself some herbal cold tea, then take to your bed and refuse to budge.
4. Candles.
Now I have no idea whether I am right or wrong here, but I will argue till I’m blue in the face that lighting lots and lots of candles warms you up. My Dad says I am talking nonsense, but whether the effects are purely psychological or not, I find that lighting, cinnamon, clove or other wintery spiced candles makes me feel cosier. As does a red blanket or two. And the scrumptiously cosy red floral bedding I am currently retiring to…
5. Mustard Foot Bath.
Warm feet, warm heart. Or something like that. Mustard oils are absorbed through the skin and elimanated via your lungs, promoting a beneficial anti-bacterial action and causing skin irritation mild enough to make you feel warm. Warm towels and socks on the radiator as your feet soak then snuggle up your tootsies and I guarantee you’ll feel better…
6. Bake Bread.
Nothing makes me feel more homely than the smell of bread baking. Make soda bread and serve it with crispy bacon and mushrooms swimming in garlicy oil. Set the breadmaker to wake you with the delicious aroma of hot flaky bread ready to be served with big bowls full of hot chocolate. Or eat makeshift suppers of warm ciabatta sprinkled with olive oil and sea salt, melted brie and red wine to warm you up from the inside out.
7. Hibernate For The Weekend.
While my Mum has something of a dicky fit if I stay in the house for longer than twenty four hours at a time, I am a great believer in the healing powers of hibernation. Don’t feel like going out much? Don’t. Fill the pantry with staples. Arrange to have a box of organic veg delivered. Keep a vat of scrummy soup on the go. Go the library and take out a huge pile of books. Don’t bother going out for the daily paper. Don’t spend hours on the phone. Stay in till you feel better and enjoy the peace of your own or your families company.
8. Curtains.
Close every curtain in the house as soon as the afternoon sun dies. Both in an effort to conserve heat and to trick your mind into thinking that the house is warmer than it is. It may not be terribly green but keeping a lamp on in every room and every passage way- in fact setting timers so they switch themselves on as dimly as possible as soon as dusk settles, will reinforce the feeling of welcome and warmth in your home and you will not experience the disconcerting jar of switching overheard lights on as you go about the house in the early evening…
9. Draft Excluders.
Can’t be bothered stitching vintage fabric wrapped draft excluders? Fold a blanket in half and roll it into a sausage, then tie both ends christmas cracker style with a length of thick velvet ribbon and press your home-made door snugglers up against the drafts creeping through every entrance way in the house.
10. Thermal Vests.
Now the problem with thermal underwear is this: once you move into it for the Winter you have to expect to freeze should you decide to venture out without it till around about July. But oh my it is just so yummy. Buy a selection with lacy edges pretty enough to peep out of layers of fine knit woollies and make handwashing them in lavender and letting them dry on padded hangers a quick, but really rather scrumptious evening ritual.
11. Nursery Suppers.
Give up dinner for a few nights and instead offer the kids a very old fashioned high tea when they come home dithering from school and a light nursery supper (boiled egg and soldiers?) an hour before they go to bed..
12. Handcream.
Stand a tub of handcream in a bowl of boiling water while you wash the dishes then treat yourself to a warming hand massage when you remove your Marigolds…
13. Water Bowls.
Fill pretty little bowls full of water and a few drops of aromatherapy oil and leave them in the vicinity of every radiator in the house ready to counteract the dreadfully skin wrinkling effects of central heating.
14. Early To Bed.
Set the scene right and your bedroom is the snuggliest place to be when it is very, very chilly. Line the sheet you lie on with a wool blanket so the bed feels warm on your skin, switch the radio to Classic Fm, spritz your pillow with eucalyptus, pile an extra quilt or two on top of the bed (I do adore burying myself in a muddle of cosy blankets) take a cup of chamomile to bed and snuggle up with an old fashioned love story or a thoroughly modern man.
Create your own Brocante Life Book, plan Christmas, set up routines and rituals or live life the BrocanteHome way with my guided workbooks and planners.
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The forum bookclub choice for February is You Are Your Choices by Alexandra Stoddard, and my lovely little copy finally landed on my doorstep this morning. Divided into fifty short chapters (50 Ways To Live the Good Life) , I have chosen…
Well its been a funny old day. Finley has still got the lurgy, it’s raining and the world and it’s wife are parking almost on my doorstop as they run to the polling booth to vote for the same old same old……
But I’m vain enough to want to share. Forgive my introspection. I’m trying to remember who I am. 1. The pink cardigan I am wearing in the picture above is my favorite garment in the the world. (My Mum has wonderful taste)….
Hmm. Two conversations. Both with men. Not necessarily rational themselves but at least willing to offer opinion where it has almost certainly not been invited. The first with Ste. One coffee in to our morning ritual of two cups of tea and…
Now then Sweeties, do you know the Vintage Mama? Lydia Poblano is the gorgeous bloggess over at TheVintageMama.Com, and I am thrilled that she has taken the time out of her hectic (read whirlwind) schedule to put together these scrumptious little guidelines…
21 Comments
Oooo, those all sound so cosy. I'm not feeling sick, but I might have to try them anyway. And, congrats on post 1000!
Happy post 1000!!! Can't we have a little party or something? We don't eat soldiers in the U.S. How about pigs in blankets, that sounds cozy, doesn't it???
Congratulations on your 1000th post! So glad you have stuck around through thick and thin for us!!! Oh, and those wonderful cozy treats above–I think I feel a sniffle coming on… hugs
Congratulations on your 1000th post! So glad you have stuck around through thick and thin for us!!! Oh, and those wonderful cozy treats above–I think I feel a sniffle coming on… hugs
Cute little thing. I wish I could look this cute while I was sick. So…1000.Good. I hope you have 1000 more and then even more than that. I do enjoy your posts. Or web page, or web site..what ever this is actually called…I just never seem to get it straight.
Keep warm and keep well, Alison! By the way, is there any chance of a copy of the recipe for red-velvet cupcakes. I went to Borders today & the magazine's sold out, not surprising if all the usual readers have bought 2 copies…please???
I've never read anything that actually made me look forward to a bout of illness. . . until now. Only you could make being sick seem delightful! Love your blog!! marcia in Tx Ü
I've never read anything that actually made me look forward to a bout of illness. . . until now. Only you could make being sick seem delightful! Love your blog!! marcia in Tx Ü
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Oooo, those all sound so cosy. I'm not feeling sick, but I might have to try them anyway. And, congrats on post 1000!
Happy post 1000!!! Can't we have a little party or something?
We don't eat soldiers in the U.S. How about pigs in blankets, that sounds cozy, doesn't it???
Congrats on reaching your 1,000th post, Alison! May there be a million more. 😉
Those sound lovely especially when your ill. Congrats on the 1000th post, lets hope there's many more to come, xxx
Those sound lovely especially when your ill. Congrats on the 1000th post, lets hope there's many more to come, xxx
congratulations on #1000 Alison!!
Feel better soon. I've been feeling like crap too the last few weeks. Blarg!
I didn't know that about mustard but I'm going to give it a go
Congratulations on your 1000th post! So glad you have stuck around through thick and thin for us!!!
Oh, and those wonderful cozy treats above–I think I feel a sniffle coming on…
hugs
Congratulations on your 1000th post! So glad you have stuck around through thick and thin for us!!!
Oh, and those wonderful cozy treats above–I think I feel a sniffle coming on…
hugs
1000 posts!?!? WOW! How wonderful that we get to enjoy it with you!!
1000 posts!?!? WOW! How wonderful that we get to enjoy it with you!!
Cute little thing. I wish I could look this cute while I was sick.
So…1000.Good. I hope you have 1000 more and then even more than that. I do enjoy your posts. Or web page, or web site..what ever this is actually called…I just never seem to get it straight.
Lovely ideas, it almost makes me wish I was sick! Congratulations on the 1000 posts – I think I have probably read every scrumptious one!
Lovely ideas, it almost makes me wish I was sick! Congratulations on the 1000 posts – I think I have probably read every scrumptious one!
Sounds heavenly! congrats on the 1000th post!
Congratulations on your 1.000 post.
I like very much your blog and I come back here daily.
Congratulations on your 1.000 post.
I like very much your blog and I come back here daily.
Keep warm and keep well, Alison!
By the way, is there any chance of a copy of the recipe for red-velvet cupcakes. I went to Borders today & the magazine's sold out, not surprising if all the usual readers have bought 2 copies…please???
I've never read anything that actually made me look forward to a bout of illness. . . until now.
Only you could make being sick seem delightful!
Love your blog!!
marcia in Tx Ü
I've never read anything that actually made me look forward to a bout of illness. . . until now.
Only you could make being sick seem delightful!
Love your blog!!
marcia in Tx Ü
Congratulations on post 1000! And you know, I am almost looking forward to getting a cold now!