In the Deep Midwinter

The utter cruelty of winter never fails to impress me. There's something about knowing that, if not for heat and shelter you would die (probably in under 2 hours), to really depress the crap out of you. But we Northerners have work-arounds. When the cycle of life is truncated, go with the cycle of shopping. Steer clear of flash in exchange for volume.

For my own part, I'm saving the world economy (and to the best of my ability specifically the Canadian one) by having purchased a number of things recently. Amongst those are boring things like preservatives for emollient liquids (the kind that actually kill germs without being toxic to humans are far and few between), fun new containers for potions (roller ball glass for perfumes!),  a restock of my go-to Gap Body long sleeved T (I must have bought this in all the colours, at least 20 times now, in multiples) and lip stick.

But I have also purchased a couple of other things I feel the need to highlight:

• With the reversal in strength of the Canadian to American dollar, I can no longer justify buying fabric online, from the US. That's fine, I can generally find what I need in TO (the knit options have improved even if availability is spotty). Having said this, I was recently compelled to try Blackbird Fabrics - a Canadian online store, from BC - after having heard terrific things about it. Sure, this allows me to broaden my options and to shop the broader Canadian economy. but it comes at a cost that's pretty well equivalent to what I would spend to ship from the States. Having said that, the fabric I just bought 2 metres of (they sell in half metre lengths, which is why the prices don't look bad), is spectacular. It's in the top 5, quality-wise, of any knit I've ever had the opportunity to source. Which in my opinion makes the 57 bucks (12 of it shipping, 7 tax) for 2 metres, almost worth it:

Nautical Bamboo Stripe in Navy and Cream (it comes in other colourways...)

• My herbal tea obsession continues. It appears that I love anything "dragonfruit". Why? Well, it's a fun name, for starters. But moreover, it's pink and it tastes pink. When it comes to tea, I realize I'm rather lowbrow. I want fruity and pretty, comparators to Kool-Aid be damned. My fave Dragonfruit tea is from Tealish. (Just buy it and thank me afterwards.) But the Teavana version I tried yesterday is a pretty close second. Add a couple of those Jasmine Dragon Pearls (not to many or your tea will taste green!) for a delightful experience that will transport you, if only for 10 minutes, to Bali. Trust me.

I've also set up camp at the health food store, stocking up on super foods (goji berries, weird seeds) and supplements to ward off bugs and to make me feel like I have some agency in this climate.

I know that one day - and it's not so far from now - I'll wake up to birds singing and some buds on the trees. I'll be awed, as ever, by new shoots in the garden. The spring breeze will carry an earthy scent of new growth and a gentle warmth on its tail. But that's conservatively 8 weeks hence, and probably 12. I've hit that point when I can no longer comment on the gorgeous, budding gardens of others. I'm truly too consumed with envy. 

But enough about me. How do you manage deep winter weather? (I wish I could say I've been knitting instead of spending, but the last excursion left me in pain for 3 days. I'm still on the slow-track with that activity...) Do you cook? Do you watch travel shows? (I can't bring myself to.) Do you embrace the winter activities? Let's talk!