The Hibernation Edit
When I lived in New York City, January meant bundling up to navigate windswept, wintry streets to get myself to work and the kids to school. At 4:30 pm each day, I’d wistfully take in the nighttime view while daydreaming about hibernating: instead of busily bustling around town, I’d be home with a fire crackling in the hearth, a soup or stew bubbling on the stove, sipping endless cups of tea, reading delightful novels, and sleeping a lot, until the days got longer and I could venture outside wearing a t-shirt.
I fervently wished that work and school schedules would be tied to the sun, with short days in the winter gradually becoming longer with the amount of daylight, and all evening events postponed until the spring.
Now that I live in the countryside surrounded by farmland, the seasonal shift is pronounced: the cattle, sheep, chickens, pigs, and horses are mostly indoors, the fields are brown and barren, there are no lights illuminating the streets, the farmstands and roadside eateries are closed, and for the past two weeks, I've been living my hibernation fantasy (or as close to it as possible, while remaining responsible for two children, two dogs, and seven chickens.)
Hibernation means I can experiment with a few things an active social life precludes: taking a break from drinking alcohol (it remains to be seen if I’ll make it all the way through Dry January) and eating all my meals between sunrise and sunset (apparently this is good for you). While my meetings are via Zoom, I am leaving the house for the daily school run and errands, but being able to stay dry and warm in the car feels easier than battling the elements on slushy city streets.
But! Reality never quite matches up to fantasy, and the downside of hibernation is boredom! All this restful healthiness feels decidedly lacking in excitement, especially after the holiday hustle, and my inner socialite is torturing me with neurotic questions, like: What happened to all the parties? Is everyone else having fun without me? Will I ever wear anything but sweatpants again?
Even so, I’m committed to at least another week of bear-like behavior, and if you happen to be doing the same, I’m sharing my hibernation recommendations below, including my “uniform” and the one thing that’s providing some much-needed excitement!
Are you hibernating or doing Dry January? I’d love to hear what you’re reading, sipping, watching, and cooking to make it through. Advice welcome!
What I’m Watching
My favorite TV series to watch in the winter, All Creatures Great and Small, is back with its fourth season. Living the English country lifestyle depicted on this show - where everyone from farmers to street urchins wears hardy (and stylish) tweeds and corduroy, and screens are blissfully absent - is another one of my fantasies.
All Creatures only releases one episode each week, so I was casting around for something else to watch when I read a very persuasive piece in the NY Times about Reacher, Amazon’s action-hero series. The article’s title was enough to get me to reach for the remote: “Reacher: Women Want What He’s Got, and Not Just the Beefcake.”
I now have a standing date with Jack Reacher, his ridiculously large muscles and high-minded ideals every evening - and Jim’s into it too! The show is action-packed, includes violence and some quite gruesome scenes (I look away), and is infusing my winter evenings with some much-needed excitement, plus the occasional laugh (Reacher’s delivery is, ahem, deadpan). After I finish the second season, I’m planning to check out the bestselling series of books (there are 29!) the show is based on.
Which brings me to…
What I’m Reading
I’m currently reading Pattern Recognition by William Gibson, a bestselling novel set in 2002, and heavily influenced by the events of 9/11, about a globe-trotting “coolhunter” named Cayce Pollard. I’m halfway through, and finding it moody and a little cryptic. I would love to hear from anyone else who’s read it and has thoughts!
At this time of year, I typically revisit one of my favorite Laurie Colwin novels - if you haven’t read it, Happy All The Time is a cozy classic.
Some other things I’ve loved reading lately:
- asked 100 New Yorkers for a Dollar's worth of wisdom and gained so much more!
I laughed out loud at
’s take on the men at this year’s Golden Globes giving “Shiv Roy” vibes. For the full experience, pair it with the related Instagram post!
Which, naturally, leads to…
What I’m Wearing
My daily winter uniform (let’s be honest, it’s also my fall and spring uniform) is comprised of sweatpants plus a somewhat fancy turtleneck or cashmere sweater. I tell myself it’s “high/low” but it’s really all about flexible waistbands and keeping my oddly long neck warm.
My all-time favorite sweatpants are from Etre Cecile - sadly they no longer sell the ones I’m wearing above, with their natty side stripe (slimming, right?!). For outside activities, I love these Stio sweatpants; and I’ve got my eye on Varley’s pants, too. My favorite sweaters are from Vince and White and Warren and I buy them on sale at The Outnet.
When I’m not wearing my “uniform” I’m wearing flannel PJs and my beloved fleece robe from LL Bean: it has pockets, plus a collar to swathe my always-cold neck. While you’re there, check out their flannel bedding: I have white flannel sheets, and this blue checked set for my duvet and pillows, and I cannot believe a bear’s cave could be more cozy.
What I’m Sipping
Those are not my boots, nor is that my fireplace, but I am enjoying Fentiman’s Ginger Beer as an evening drink. I’ve also sampled the various Recess and Ghia mocktail/aperitif flavors and must admit: if I’m not going to drink wine, I’d rather drink something truly festive like a Boylan’s Shirley Temple. Most of the time, though, I’m sipping endless cups of peppermint tea (I love Harney and Bigelow)…
What I’m Eating (and Treating)
Last weekend, I made Ina Garten’s short rib stew, which was perfect for our first very snowy day: hibernation heaven! If you make this yourself, I recommend adding an entire can of tomatoes, not just the one cup the recipe requires.
This weekend, I’m thinking about tackling Ina’s Pastitsio, which contains all the flavors of lasagne, or this very popular Oven-Roasted Chicken Shawarma that I learned about via
at .A hibernating human requires treats (this one does, anyway), and I am obsessed with the milk chocolate baking chips from San Francisco-based Guittard. They’re bigger than regular baking chips, and I like to pair a handful with some fresh strawberries, salted macadamias, or peanuts.
I’m also loving fresh (oil-free!) popcorn from this cute electric popcorn maker recommended by
whose newsletter is a treasure trove of cozy ideas.
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I’m obsessed with that oven-roasted shawarma recipe...ridiculously easy and equally mouthwatering!
As for Dry January picks: I love Athletic Brewing’s NA IPAs (hazy and non). Off to have one as we speak—and probably buy the sweatpants you linked to 😂🙏🏼
Amelia I love this call to go with the natural rhythms rather than fighting. I've been taking a lot of naps since the start of the year. I'm just going to trust that it's okay and my energy will slowly return with the days growing longer...