ENJOYING A COZY PEACEFUL HOLIDAY AT HOME

HOW TO CREATE A LITTLE ‘WHITE SPACE’ THIS WINTER

BY MOLLY MAYO

We’ve all been there. Stressed out of our minds and wondering how to find a moment of solace in the midst of the craziest time of the year. Presents to buy, presents to wrap, food to purchase, food to make, houses to be cleaned, houses to be decorated, traditions to be kept, friends to visit, and we all know we don’t want to think about budgeting!

But what if I told you there is a way to enjoy the space and people in your life without running around like crazy and spending tons of money? The thought that comes to mind is white space — and I’m not talking about the wintry blizzard kind.

Let’s connect those two thoughts. If you have the luxury to sit down and read this article then chances are there is something inside you that longs to enjoy a cozy, peaceful holiday at home. You dream of the day when you can sit down, friends and family gathered around, with absolutely no pressure weighing you down. Maybe you subconsciously reach for the remote, looking to watch a little holiday-themed entertainment… but let’s hit pause on that for a second.

TAKE A WALK

Here’s an idea. New to this whole “white space” concept? Grab your favorite scarf, coat and winter boots, and let’s go on a walk together. No seriously, open the front door and step outside. Not only do you happen to have great taste in magazines, you happen to live in the best state in the entire nation. With the wilderness practically in your background you can literally slip on your boots and enjoy something people travel for days to explore. Additionally, walking can reduce stress, improve sleep and help fight stress.

You don’t even have to know where you’re going. Simply walk and allow yourself to soak in the charm of the wintry landscape and take time to notice the small things. The sparkle across the snow, the sunshine through the boughs of pine trees, children playing or laughing.

FEELING THANKFUL

As you take your winter walk and move through the holiday season, take time to appreciate each moment and see how they connect to make up a bigger picture. Mentally go through a list of things you’re thankful for. Who did you say “good morning” to when you woke up? Did you have coffee or tea this morning? What are you most excited about in the coming weeks?

If you’re looking for a way to share your gratitude with others, let me introduce you to an old campfire tradition that I picked up on a St. Croix River trip. After a long day of canoeing, a group of us would all huddle around a crackling campfire and play a game called Protons and Electrons. The challenge went something like this: Each person would say two things we were thankful for that day (the protons) and one thing that we didn’t like (the electron). Some of us were more prone to rattling off what we were thankful for, so an exception was created. If you didn’t feel like saying an electron, you could simply say four things you were thankful for. In this manner, we would go around in a circle, connecting with each other in a fun, often humorous way. Not only was this a phenomenal way to end the day, it was also a way to connect with those around us. Those whose lives were interconnected yet also took different paths.

SIMPLE ACTIVITIES

Whether it’s curling up with a good book and a warm drink (check out the recipe on page 32), playing a game with the family or calling a loved one for a chat, enjoying simple activities in the glow of a cozy fire or Christmas lights will help put you in the holiday spirit without adding to the chaos of the season. Dig out that old record player in the basement and enjoy some vintage tunes. Complete a puzzle with the family or simply cozy up for a movie night. There are lots of simple ways to enjoy the season — free of charge.

If you’re crunched on time or simply too tired to read, let me introduce you to the 1920s. Way back before movies and television, but slightly after books, there was something called radio theater. Families would huddle around their radio set and listen for hours to radio broadcasts such as “War of the Worlds,” Abbot and Costello, or even the Christmas classic “It’s Wonderful Life” with Jimmy Stewart. All you have to do is search for a radio play of your choice on YouTube, connect your phone to a Bluetooth speaker and gather the family together. You might just find a new Christmas tradition.

So, whether you enjoy the solitary sport of reading or the thrill of a snowy walk with your best friend, I invite you to seek out and savor the unexpected moments of quiet. Make each day count. When we fully grasp how incredibly blessed we are, our lives look a whole lot different. We smile a little more, enjoy people a little more and relax a whole lot more. Whatever path your life takes this holiday season, take the time to enjoy it.

WARM UP WITH Wassail

COURTESY OF METRO CREATIVE

WHETHER YOU’RE LOOKING for a way to warm up after a winter’s walk or want to share your holiday spirit with friends and neighbors, wassail is a traditional and tasty, warm drink perfect for this time of year.

The practice of wassailing is a time-honored tradition that has spanned centuries. When wassailing, people go door-to-door, singing and offering a sip of drink from something called a wassail bowl (though perhaps to-go cups would be more appropriate for today’s world). Most do it to spread holiday cheer and wish good health on their neighbors.

Wassail drink was originally made from mulled ale, curdled cream, roasted apples, eggs, cloves, ginger, nutmeg and sugar. Most wassails are now mulled ciders, which are popular in late fall — notably around Thanksgiving. Wassail was traditionally enjoyed on Twelfth Night (Jan. 5 or 6), but it can be used to toast to good health and merriment at any time during the holiday season.

There are many versions of wassail beverages, including this “Traditional Wassail,” courtesy of “The Farmer’s Almanac.”

TRADITIONAL WASSAIL

SERVES 8 TO 12

• 5 to 6 large baking apples, peeled and cored (such as Baldwin, Gravenstein, or McIntosh) • 1 cup sugar • 2 quarts beer or ale (for a non-alcoholic version, use 8 cups of apple cider) • 2 cinnamon sticks, broken in half, or 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon • 1 teaspoon ground ginger • Zest of 1 lemon • 11/2 cups sherry or sweet red wine (for a nonalcoholic version, use orange juice instead)

Preheat oven to 400°F. Cut the apples into thick slices, and arrange in layers in a covered casserole dish, sprinkling a few teaspoons of sugar over each layer. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. (The apples will get puffy and soft.) While the apples bake, combine the beer (or cider), spices, lemon zest and remaining sugar in a large saucepan. Heat slowly, bringing just to a simmer. (Don’t let the mixture boil.) When it is hot, add the sherry (or orange juice) and keep heating until the mixture reaches a simmer again, still not boiling.

Place the hot baked apples in a punch bowl, and pour the hot wassail over them. Serve hot.