Giving a feeling of comfort, warmth, and relaxation. The sensation of sitting by a fire. The warm feeling you get being wrapped under a blanket with friends
Winter is never what I expect it's going to be Sometimes, I'm ankle deep in the snow, nordic skiing and soaking in as much time in nature as possible Other times, I'm inside, wishing spring would come that much faster. Just like the temperature in March (which can't seem to decide if it wants to be cold or warm), this is a truly unpredictable season.
And speaking of unpredictable, I had a truly unexpected medical mishap this January and February which delayed this issue of COZY. If you know me, you know I don't like being late, especially with something I love creating. But I know I needed the rest, and what better time to rest than winter? A season of warmth A season of sleep A season of relaxation
To be honest, coziness truly did get me through this time. Almost every night I wrapped myself up in a big, squishy blanket and allowed myself to sink in and unwind. I made so much tea I'm surprised I didn't turn into a plant I started meditating before bed and listening to more music to calm my nerves on those tough days I even developed a new morning routine. Now, no matter what day it is, I put on some music, make some coffee, and read for an hour before starting my work. Even though I was going through a bit of an unpredictable time, I'd never felt more cozy at the start and end of my day In some ways, those little, warm things helped more than anything
This winter has reminded me to carve out time. Time for the things we love. Time for new things. Time for old things. Time for the things that make us, well, us And I have yet another
new hobby that makes me feel like me: spinning.
As I mentioned in the Fall 2022 issue of COZY, I recently learned how to spin my own yarn on a spinning wheel. As a knitter and a weaver, I'm surrounded by yarn constantly Yarn is everywhere in my house and I mean it Almost every day I find scrap pieces of yarn that have snatched onto my clothes or that have tethered themselves to my carpet. After being around so much yarn for so many years, I began to long for yarn with a bit more character. While factory made yarn can be beautiful, I started to want something with a bit more energy I wanted imperfection
So I took a class at my local craft school. Spinning... was not easy at first. I know I just said I wanted imperfection, but my first batches of yarn were practically unusable. Instead of turning thin and soft, my wool became something bulky and stiff In those first few days, I wanted to give up I wanted to return my spinning wheel and go back to the comfort of knitting Something I was good at. Something I didn't mess up. But as the weather became colder and the nights shorter, I knew I needed to keep trying, because the reward would mean cozy nights curled up next to something I love: fiber.
Eventually, my yarn became real yarn, and spinning like weaving and knitting became second nature. When I had my medical mishap, I turned to spinning to unravel the tight coils of worry nesting in my brain. I let those coils flow through my fingers and into my wool. I made so many yards of yarn, I lost count somewhere in February Just like with my new routines, I put something new and important and worth it into my life
Even when we are low, even when we are cold, engaging in the things that make us happy are, yes, worth it. Whether it's movies or games or a new hobby, I hope you let yourself indulge in joy this season
Lastly, issue of COZY will be noticeably shorter than others because of health and time. We'll return to our full issues this spring. Thank you for your kindness and patience. I hope you enjoy this quick winter issue.
La Lune by Billie Marten
Eugene by Arlo Parks
Celestial Dancers by Birdy
Honey + Tea (Acoustic) by Mōzi
Warm Foothills by alt-J
Swan Upon Leda by Hozier
Winter by Matt Corby
Winterwood by Shea Ernshaw
50 Words for Snow by Nancy Campbell
She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran
Delicious Monsters by Liselle Sambury
A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf
The Hen Who Dreamed She Could Fly by Hwang Seon-mi
Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman
Winter Hours by Mary Oliver
A Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking by T Kingfisher
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
You Can Go Your Own Way by Eric Smith
Poems for Every Winter Day edited by Allie Esiri
Winter Tales by Dawn Casey
Mushroom Ravioli
Black Bean Soup
Kale and Apple Salad
Sugar on Snow
Potato and Cheddar Cheese Soup
Apple Cinnamon Scones
Roasted Beets
Chicken Spinach Artichoke Soup
Poutine
Maple Roasted Carrots
Homemade Hummus
Kale Chips
Mulled Wine
Candied Oranges
Homemade English Muffins
Golden Milk
Almond Cake
Roasted Butternut Squash
Blackberry Apple Pie
Gingerbread Cookies
Homemade Chamomile Tea
When I'm looking for the perfect winter snack, a hearty, warm granola is one of the first things I think of. Nothing too sweet. Nothing too salty. But something earthy and in between.
This Toasted Cinnamon Nutmeg Granola recipe makes a wonderful hiking companion, a fantastic addition to yogurt, and a balanced addition to any snack board. Plus, like many recipes in COZY, it's highly customizable.
Let's preheat the oven, shall we?
2 1/2 cups of old fashioned rolled oats
1/2 cup of unsalted almonds
1/3 cup of salted pumpkin kernels
1/2 cup of raisins
1 tsp of cinnamon and 3/4 tsp of nutmeg
2 a tablespoons of coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup of unsalted peanut butter
1/2 cup or 1/3 cup of maple syrup (based on preference)
Two tablespoons of coconut oil
Honey and salt to taste
Collect your ingredients and preheat the oven to 325 degrees fahrenheit In a medium bowl, mix oats, almonds, pumpkin kernels, raisins, cinnamon, and nutmeg (any of these ingredients can be increased or decreased based on preference). Once mixed, set aside.
In a small sauce pan on a medium-low to low heat, put together your vanilla, peanut butter, coconut oil, maple syrup and a generous pinch of salt Whisk ingredients together to incorporate Watch this step carefully the ingredients will cook fast and you don't want them to burn. Be careful of intense bubbling simply cook the ingredients until they are warm and totally incorporated. Remove from heat.
Immediately transfer your wet mixture to your bowl with your dry ingredients. Mix until your dry ingredients are fully coated by your wet ingredients. At this stage, you may add two or three generous squirts of honey to encourage sticking. Mix in honey.
On a lightly oiled sheet pan, spread your granola out evenly (roughly a half an inch in height) Bake for 20 minutes Let cool for another 20 minutes before breaking into chunks and eating.
Bonus: I accidentally keep mixing up my vanilla extract and my peppermint extract when making this recipe. If you want to try something new, "accidentally" add a splash of peppermint extract
Winter knows how to linger. Snow banks and bare trees always manager to stick around our homes far longer than we ever remember they could. For these ice months, we need a bit of art to help us dream
This season, we have a few art and writing prompts for any kind of creative to choose from. We hope you make something new.
Some birds stay with us in the winter. Crows, chickadees, cardinals. Write or create from the perspective of a winter bird managing its routine even in the cold
March is a time of late winter. A time of last minute snow storms and teasing glimpses of grass. Write or create a piece that evokes the in between feeling of March.
Soon, the squirrels will be up looking for the nuts they hid Write or create a map for the squirrels to follow
As we look towards spring, we start to put away those inherently winter things: mittens, hats, boots, and candles. Write or create a piece about that one winter thing you don't want to store just yet
Some warm weather creatur themselves hibernate in the themselves in ponds and lak how these creatures pass th
All snow days are different. small and uniform. Some day down in puffy, lazy flakes S snow and arrives wet and dr piece that reflects the many
Oftentimes, we slow down in and find ourselves turning in Write or create a piece abou
The trees aren't completely have their buds. No, not pals become leaves. Write or cre a winter tree bud.
Winter is certainly its own ki lakes evoke an old, unknown create a piece about the old winter.
Winter is the season where w what keeps us more cozy tha piece about your favorite wi
I don't know about you, but I've always wanted a handmade scarf with a certain kind of simple elegance. A scarf that is not busy or fussy in its pattern, no, but beautiful all the same. For weeks I played around with some red tweed yarn until I finally landed on a pattern that fit my vision and fit the winter season
The River Scarf Pattern features two stripes (or "rivers") at each end of your scarf. Instead of making the stripes with a different colored yarn, you make your stripes by alternating what kinds of stitches you use. In this pattern, the base of the scarf is a simple knit stitch, and the stripes are created by utilizing the stockinette stitch making this an excellent scarf for beginners who want to elevate their knitting.
Grab your needles and your favorite colored yarn, and let's start knitting.
DK or light worsted yarn, approximately 600+/- yards
US size 7 needles, long
Measuring tape
K - knit
P - purl
CO - cast on BO - bind off
Start: K to create roughly five inches of scarf. River/stripe one: After five inches of K, it's time to begin a stockinette *K one row, P the next row * Repeat pattern between ** four more times
Once river one is complete, K for eight rows
River/stripe two: Perform the same stockinette pattern as the first river.
K the rest of the length of the scarf until you reach desired length
End: Repeat the two river process by creating river one, K eight rows, creating river two, and finishing the scarf with five inches of K.
BO all stitches and weave in ends using a tapestry needle.
As always, we'll write that out for those who might need a little more explanation
Cast 34 stitches on a long, straight needle. Begin your project by simply performing the knit stitch until your project measures five inches in length. Now create your first stripe, or river First, knit one full row Next, purl one full row Repeat this knit purl process four more times Return to simply performing the knit stitch for eight rows To create the second river, do your knit purl repeat five times. Once the second river is complete, knit the rest of your project until it reaches your desired length. Once you get to the end of the scarf, it's time to create matching stripes—just like the ones you created on the other end of the scarf Simply repeat the stockinette pattern for the first river, knit eight rows, repeat the stockinette pattern for the second river, and finish the project by knitting five more inches of knit stitch. Bind off and weave in your ends.
Let us know how your project goes and show us your completed River Scarf at @Cozy zine on Twitter and @Cozyzine on Instagram!
My partner and I just moved into a new spot this past fall, and one of my favorite winter activities has been simply exploring my lawn. We live in the forest, and even in the winter, the trees are teaming with life. In these past few months of walking and searching, I've found beaver teeth marks in trees, deer tracks by the river, and plenty of birds nests just waiting to be identified. I've been thoroughly entertained, and I barely had to go past my own front door.
Finding something new in a familiar space again and again has brought me joy, inspiration, and a certain sense of wintertime playfulness I didn't know I had So for this issue of COZY, I though I would set you out with your own treasure map.
Have some fun this cold season and go on a late winter scavenger hunt This scavenger hunt can be performed in any green space, whether it's your yard, local park, or in the woods. Plus, it can be adapted to fit your needs and interests. The only thing that truly matters is that you spent a bit of time outside.
As always, remember to be safe, tell people where you ' re going, bring supplies, and respect the nature you ' re in
Five bird nests
Ten leaves sill stuck to their respective trees
One small cave
Two bushes with their berries still attached
Three different sets of animal tracks
Two trees with woodpecker holes
One tree still covered in lichen
Four different bird calls
Five tree stumps
One winter animal (deer, rabbit, etc.)
One beaver dam
Two moss covered rocks
One tree with a bend in its trunk
One deer scrape
Three logs perfect for sitting on
Two trees with a hollow in them
Four clouds that look like animals
Two pinecones
One forgotten rock wall
Three stones to put on your windowsill
One new winter river to watch rushing by (safely)
Two new forest walks to enjoy with friends
