Not ready for winter to end
Something I thought I'd never say
This email is part of my Monthly Updates column, which includes my latest published stories, a mood board, and shareables like what I’m reading and making,
The sun is out, and I should be happy about it, but instead I’m wishing for rain. Hard, heavy rain. I want to stay in my loungewear and read by the window and listen to the patter on the deck and sip homemade tomato soup and sew until my fingers are sore. For some reason it feels rude to spend my time that way when the sun has made its debut. Did you miss me?, it taunts. Spring has come early in Portland despite Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction. I could sure use six more weeks of winter to catch up on projects and find stillness. The predictable rain of the Pacific Northwest brings me comfort and permission to do whatever I want.
Last week, I got a healthy dose of a different kind of winter. I was in Québec on a press trip experiencing the Laurentian and Outaouais regions. The former spans the Laurentian Mountains, one of the oldest ranges in the world, including Mont Tremblant. And the latter is located north of the Ottawa River and Canada’s capital, Ottawa. It was cold up there, getting down to -9 degrees Fahrenheit on the last day. So cold that my hairs froze white when I stepped out of the sauna. The itinerary included visits to two Nordic spas, snowshoeing in a national park, ice skating on a trail, a stay at micro cabins, and some incredible meals. Every day, I bundled up in wool base layers and pulled a tuque (winter hat in Québec French) over my ears. Gloves were a necessity. Nearly a foot of snow fell while we were there. I loved seeing my breath and clomping through the fresh powder.
One night while staying in an A-frame at Farouche, a gorgeous eco-resort and Nordic farm that I’m writing about for Field Mag, I woke up before sunrise to pee. The cabins don’t have their own bathrooms; they are a short walk away. If it weren’t for the string lights, it would’ve been pitch dark outside. I stuffed my feet into my snow boots and my arms into my puffy jacket. Half asleep, I trudged down the path to the bathhouse, kicking up the fluff that had fallen in the night. And then I trudged back. But before I returned to my heated cabin, I looked to the sky. Stars dotted the velvet, and several planets shone like spotlights. In only a few nights, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune would align in a rare celestial event. I breathed in the sharp air and went back to bed.
I know it’s only March but this will likely be my last press trip of the year (more on that soon in my freelance digest for paid subscribers). Instead, I’m sticking around home in an effort to slow down time. Trips tend to make life go by too fast, and I want to savor time with my little family and lovely friends.
Other things that I’m not ready to give up with winter’s end: Uphilling (and one day of downhilling) at Timberline. Waking up early on Mondays for run club, even when it’s wet out. Trying new recipes for cookbook club. Lingering in bed with a cozy novel on weekends. Layering up in chunky sweaters. Wearing beanies. Crafting by lamplight. And the gentle grumbling of the heater coming to life.
With love and light,
Latest Stories
La Paz is the Mellow Mexico Vacation You Need Right Now (My first byline for Portland Monthly!)
My Husband and I Tried a 30-Day Yoga Challenge. The Results Were…Not What We Expected. (My first byline for Yoga Journal!)
5 Knots Every Backpacker Actually Needs to Know (Backpacker)
How Much Protein Should Hikers Get and What’s the Best Way to Get It? (Backpacker)
Monthly Shareables
Reading: The Year of the Horses by Courtney Maum is a collection of essays evoking the familiar wet-hay smell of a barn, the pride of sitting in a saddle, and the confusion of depression. I’m halfway through and loving the alternating timelines between womanhood and childhood. As a horse girl, this one hits.
Testing: I just got a pair of Norda 003s in the mail that I’m excited to wear for urban and trail exploits, and I’ve been running in the 2XU Ignition Shield compression tights that shed rain surprisingly well.
Buying: I pinched pennies for several months to afford the Julia Gaucho Boots by Dico Copenhagen. Absolutely love. And I was influenced to try the plastic- and aluminum-free AKT Deodorant Balm. I started with the scent After Thunder.
Cooking: These loaded sweet potatoes are so easy and so mmmmmmm.
Building: This weekend, I’m going to try my hand at some cedar garden boxes to get excited for spring things. The next yard project will be laying a gravel patio.
Making: I finally get the hype for the Sommar Camisole by Paradise Patterns. I sewed one up in some scrap fabric and then immediately bought navy and black rib knit to make two more. I’m also a pattern tester for the Boxcar Shirt by Mech so I’ll be making that once I decide what fabric to use.
March Mood
I feel similarly about winter this year, which is surprising! Winter was short and mild in the Midwest. I could use some more time to hibernate with my art projects, and some quiet time to reflect. I guess this means we could *make* the time to hibernate, despite what the calendar is telling us.
I grew up just outside of Ottawa and did my undergraduate degree in the city. It's such a lovely area. I'm glad you got the chance to explore!
Your mood boards are so lovely, do you curate them on Pinterest? That restaurant is so very cosy. Really loving your Substack reflections xx