Tea @ Dawn's ~ Cozy Little Nests (& a Big Cozy GIVEAWAY!)
November 22, 2019
Hello my friends, and Happy Friday! I'm so pleased to welcome you back for another Late Autumn Tea. ❤
On this raw and blustery day, how about we settle in for a nice little coze ... as well as, of course, a wee something sweet and a cup or two of refreshment! I'm so grateful to be here and I've had such fun putting this post together - it's been quite a week, let me tell you! - so I'm very happy to finally sit down, reflect and sip.
I hope you will join me - it's a rather long post as usual! - but if you're curious about the details for my Tea at Dawn's Giveaway, please skip to the bottom of this post. 😉
Now let me just put the kettle on and we can begin ...
I often think how nice it would be if we could all truly sit down together "in real life" and share tea and little stories about our lives. Since that's most likely not possible (though, never say never!) I will be content for the time being with our online connection. I do love hearing from friends who also enjoy tea and the seasons and the changing weather and good books and crafting and seasonal living ...
So today I'd like to share this cozy picture from a dear longtime reader, Gill ...
"Happy Friday! I spent a few minutes perusing our newest picture book with my cup of tea this afternoon. The tea is a West Country blend, from Somerset, and its in a vintage Wedgwood cup and saucer given to me by a friend for my birthday. It’s dark here by 4pm so I have candles lit already.
Thank you so much for sharing your cozy tea spot, Gill! Your teacup is gorgeous. ❤ And as luck would have it, my library was able to acquire a copy of that lovely new book for me ... I hope to read it with my boys during Solstice week. It's getting dark very early here, too ...
And please don't forget to swing by Kim's later today ~ I know she'll have a lovely tea ready for you all!
As for my own tea today, it's a soft and refreshing blend called Lady Grey ... a new (and decaffeinated) favorite! (And absolutely wonderful as the base for a London Fog Latte, by the way.) My mug is an oldie but goodie - sturdy and big, featuring a swath of acorns and leaves (our homeschool symbol) - and on my napkin is a pretty autumn leaf cookie, purchased at Whole Foods. (Made with plant-based dye! I shared this with Little Bear, natch.)
I thought this cookie was a perfect choice for today's tea because to me, a sweet little seasonal treat like this is the epitome of cozy eating. In fact, if I had to pick a favorite dessert it would probably be a simple butter cookie with a thick coat of icing, decorated for whatever holiday or season is at hand. Unless of course we're talking apple desserts in which case, my grandmother's aptly named, "apple dessert" (a kind of autumn cobbler concoction) is pretty hard to beat for scrumptious and seasonal flavor! Another very nourishing and autumnal dessert is Indian Pudding ... are you familiar with that old-fashioned dish? I love making that for Thanksgiving Day - and while it's a great crockpot dessert, here's an oven-baked version.
Speaking of Thanksgiving ... what are your plans for the holiday this year? Will you be traveling or staying at home? Keeping it simple or hosting a crowd? Don't you just love Thanksgiving? It's always been my favorite day of the year. This year we are blessed to be hosting our family gathering, and there will be close to 30 of us for dinner! (That might be a new record!) I absolutely LOVE hosting holidays, and this one in particular ... a celebration focusing on thanks and thoughtfulness. A day to reflect on the blessings of family, freedom and food. ❤
Simple as that premise might be however, there's always much to do before we all sit down together to feast!
This is the to-do list from my Thanksgiving planner. Where would I ever be without my lists? I guarantee there would be not enough chairs and too much pumpkin pie ...
(Though is there even such a thing as too much pie?)
Pssst - A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving will be aired on ABC next Wednesday night at 8 p.m. And yes, I realize we can now watch holiday specials any old time of the year - thanks to streaming and DVDs and the like - but don't you think there's something special about sitting down to watch, all together, the very night that the special is on? Maybe I'm just showing my age here but I am a stickler for these kinds of things!
🤷🏻♀️
Ok, back to our Tea ...
Now, if you recall, we follow a simple annual schedule in our family and homeschool, wherein each week of the year is assigned a theme, reflecting a particular seasonal nuance or event.
So why Cozy Nests for this third week in November? Well, for a few different reasons!
The trees are now bare, so we can easily see where birds and squirrels have made nests.
Hibernation (as well as migration) is well underway ...
Dark and dreary weather sends us scurrying inside, with a promise of more (and worse) to come.
Our own instincts kick in and we remember that it's hibernation time for humans, too! And that doesn't have to be bad thing, not if we plan ahead and create a warm nest of creature comforts, just as the local fauna works so very hard to do.
Because let's face it: winter is dark, cold and - if you live in New England - long. I personally don't mind it too much (though I do wish for an earlier spring every year!) but then again, I'm someone who really enjoys being home. I don't really get cabin fever!
Of course every home is a blessing of shelter, but within each home there is potential for some serious nesting behavior. It's a perfect time of year to focus on HOME ... to look inward for contentment and light .... and to nurture ourselves and our families!
So what would your cozy nest look like? Where would it be? What would you be doing in it? What would you keep close at hand? Would this be a space to cuddle up and read, or a space for working together on a project? Perhaps cooking up a hearty meal, puttering over a puzzle or sitting by a window to watch for little snowbirds?
Many of us naturally feel sad as the year winds down, and light and warmth are mostly stolen away for months to come. For some this goes much deeper, and I certainly don't mean to make light of what can be a very serious affliction. After the bright blip of the holidays, those long weeks of winter will arrive - stormy at times and secluding - but I think arming ourselves with a plan is always a good way to begin any season. For me that's making sure I have a cozy nest to where I may retreat and indulge in the blessings of home comforts.
As I embark on my own seasonal observations and appreciation, my greatest desire is to share it with my children and encourage them to look for the blessings in each turn of the year. I want them to be aware of their surroundings and especially their own "habitat" if you will. This is why I set up this concept of seasonal homeschooling many years ago. I like to think it's left my kids with a deeper connection with nature (and its creator) ... and some really nice memories to carry with them as they grow.
With Little Bear, my one and only homeschooler this year, we began exploring this week's theme by thinking about just what the word "cozy" means. Cozy, after all, is a particular feeling and everyone has different feelings about things! So to get ourselves started we dove into some wonderful books ...
These books got us started and gave us much food for thought! Cozy can mean many different things, depending on the season, where you live and what you love! Little Bear and I made up our own list of ideas - something to refer back to as we build up our nests.
And now, I have a whole bunch of pictures to share, but first I'm going to pause to refill my mug since I've been chattering on for a bit now! Would you perhaps care for another cup? ❤
So what does cozy mean to me? Well, there are a lot of things that make me feel cozy inside and out ...
My journal pages and special children's books ...
Calendar-keeping and planning for holiday fun ...
My sunny kitchen, spreading out and taking control of my day.
Walking the woods with my Little Bear ...
... looking for signs of nesting in nature!
My cats are the BEST at being cozy!
On a rainy day, a library can be wonderfully cozy ...
(Exploring nests at the library!)
This bean teepee would be OH SO COZY next spring! (A next-year garden journal is a wonderful winter hobby!)
Window seats are also so very cozy ...
As is crafting!
Here are a couple of crafts for your kids this Thanksgiving - cranberry structures above and pumpkin pie plates below:
(Thanks to our local librarian for the idea!)
Family traditions are cozy ... like this Tom Turkey who graces our front lawn every year. Little things like this - that everyone enjoys and remembers - helps foster a sense of togetherness. We are all individuals but we all share the same nest!
Candles in my kitchen window are super cozy! Especially when they are made of beeswax - that smell is particularly sweet and comforting.
And dare I say it, but ...
Snowfall is cozy!
(We've had a few dustings so far this autumn.)
And finally, comfy corners where one might gather their favorite things and just sit and putter ...
These little "personal" nests are perhaps coziest of all!
Ok, at long last, now it's time to talk about my "Tea at Dawn's Giveaway!"
What I would like to offer one dear reader is a Box of Winter Comfort & Joy - a la By Sun and Candlelight. This would arrive just after Christmas, and it would include some happy little things for feathering a warm winter nest ...
PLUS:
A By Sun and Candlelight 2020 Planner!
(Fresh off the presses just for you!)
So, here are the contest details:
On Monday, December 23rd, I will announce a winner, randomly drawn from Post comments, Tea submissions and social media shares. During the week between Christmas and New Year's, I will mail my Box of Winter Comfort & Joy to that one lucky winner!
Here's all you have to do:
--> Leave a comment on this post - and/or either one of my next two TEA posts. Every time you comment you are entered!
That's it!
However ...
You can improve your chances of winning by sending me a submission for an upcoming Tea post! You may contact me via email (drhanigan AT gmail DOT com) - send me a photo or a link to a post you've shared at your own website!
Also ...
Bonus points for spreading the news about Tea at Dawn's through social media!
(Feel free to grab this little "logo" if you'd like.)
(Please give me a heads-up if you do, so I can keep tally!)
Now, before I go, here is the upcoming Teatime Timetable and Topics:
12/6: Heaven & Earth/Holiday Greenery/Christmas Trees
12/20: Winter Solstice/All Creation Waits/Gingerbread
12/23: Giveaway Winner Announced!
1/3: Winter Stars/Comfort & Joy/Word of the Year
I'm rather talked out at this point, but perhaps we have time for one more pot?
Well my friends, as always I thank you very much for joining me ... I hope you enjoyed our Tea! I would love to hear from you, whether you want to enter the giveaway or not (and if you do not, please let me know in your comment so I don't include your name in the drawing). And please feel free to email me (see above) or contact me via Instagram DM or Facebook PM. I look forward to hearing from you!
Most of all however, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and very Happy Thanksgiving next week, if you celebrate. Take care of yourselves and your loved ones ...
I'll see you here again very soon!