keeping warm

While we've also had some warm days, we've definitely felt the first real chills in the air this week. Slowly, I'm noticing the signs of the season happening inside too: the firing up of the wood stove; friends gathered round the fire for cozy visiting; rice pudding; wool slippers; soup nearly every night; hot cocoa; down comforters and flannel sheets; and lots of fireside knitting.

Keeping home. keeping warm.

Comments

[Suzanne]

Love rice pudding! Got to try that receipt for it:-)

[bellablue]

Oh, how I love sitting before a wood stove. Such a perfect gather place for friends and family.

[Eren]

I cant wait for the first fire in our fireplace. Ironically, the WI house didnt have a fireplace and I miss it so. But it is supposed to cool off again here tonight. So maybe we'll be cozying up to a fire soon. Love the slippers shot!

[cyndi]

oh soulemama! you know how to do it right. love the photos especially the one with the choco strawberry cake, empty wine bottle and fire ablaze. what decadence. love it!

[Nelly]

Have a nice day Soulefamily. Winter is finding it's way to Greece, too. I envy your wood stove.

[Healthy Mummy]

I want to move in with you.

[Beth]

We're feeling it here too in Nova Scotia (although that big snow storm we had on the weekend did push the agenda a little quickly for my liking!)

I have been trying to ignore the little voice in my head that insists on turning up the heat instead of wearing something warm. So, sweater, slippers and blanket are my very chic ensemble du jour.

Also, the knitting has begun again! Sign of the season for sure.

Warm wishes (har har!)

Beth

[Mary Beth]

Even here in Southern California we are noticing some changes. It gets cold at night now and we are sleeping under the down comforter. And in the morning we need a sweater. Even these little changes make me happy.

[jean]

uh oh. snow in Nova Scotia? Can't be far away now.

[sarahjane]

Are those Redwing slippers? My husband has the same ones. And they look about as worn. I wish I had those pompons on my slippers. Very Elvish.

[Melissa]

We've had the woodstove fired up every day for about a month here in Vermont. Ours is in the corner of the kitchen, right by the big sliding glass doors, so it's a favorite spot to sit and watch the birds in the backyard (which we just started feeding again) and be cozy warm ;o)

[Jen]

Oh yum!

[Devida Bushrod]

There is something magical about lowering temperatures bring the family closer together to the warmest part of the home...

Dee
x

[heather]

you have all the appropriate firesdide accoutrements, including... is that a moosewood six minute chocolate cake i spy?

[julie]

I love the line "Keeping home. keeping warm." It all looks so cozy and inviting!

[Heather]

I love these pictures, it does look nice and cozy.

[Erin Lang Norris]

your home always looks so cozy...just how i picture our future house to be. we just can't get as cozy as we'd like in an apartment.

[Jessica Keith]

Are you sure you live in Maine? It looks more like heaven to me!

[Jade]

Lovely photos of home. I listened to your podcast the other day (finally). Thanks for being so candid and sharing your story. I don't feel so bad about not being as crafty. I can cook a mean pot of spaghetti!

[annette]

What are those pom-pom slippers? I need new ones...

[Melissa!]

I'm digging the pj bottoms in the 3nd picture! And leave the coffee table as is, I'm flying over in my pjs! :D Keep warm!

[Sarah Jackson]

Living where I do, I forget that it's actually cold elsewhere! I sent my kid to school with a sweater today because it'll "only" be 80 degrees today in Phoenix.

All of your coziness looks so wonderful.

[Nikki]

Yes its getting cold here in the Midwest too. Last night we had chili and cornbread, which really hit the spot.
Love the pictures by the fire, so cozy!!!!

[Lissilulu]

yes, we here in the pacific northwest are definitely feeling the chill also.
woodstove going with the cinnamon water simmering on top for yummy smells in the house, soups several times this week...roast, potatoes and carrots...mmmmmmm.
sleeping in a sweatshirt instead of a t-shirt.
yep, the weather has turned.
Lori

[kristin]

such warm and toasy happiness amanda.
i loved so many of the details in these shots, like the
blue stripey mug and the yarn ball that got away...

[SOULEMAMA]

heather - my goodness, yes!! I can't believe you recognized that! It is the Moosewood Six Minute Chocolate Cake. One of my favorites - I've made it so many times! Yum.

[Jenny]

I must know--what do your jammy pants say? Looks like a word repeated...

[Alicia A.]

Oooo... cozy. My husband covets thine stove.

(or would it be thy stove?)

Oh anyway, he wants it. :)

[Jo]

What a fantastic photographer you are! Your blog is candy for the eyes and I will definitely be back!
Cheers!
- Jo
http://followtheroadlesstraveled.blogspot.com

[Kristina]

Beautiful stove!

[kendra]

I have the same slippers as you and I find that I am searching for them every morning and evening now, and usually every afternoon too. It's still somewhat warm in northern california, but the evenings and mornings have their sweet bite. Love it!

[Qalballah]

How weird - I just bought a stack of rice pudding - too ill to cook *sniff* - now I know where the urge came from - hibernation mode!! Good stuff. I love open fires. Really wish we had one too...

[brianna]

how lovely. today was the first remotely chilly morning in tucson. bring on the cold!
care to share the chocolate cake recipe?

[greenemother]

If only the weather could make up its mind here. We've been going from the mid 80's to high 50's and back and forth for the last month or so. Can't wait to snuggle down under a cozy blanket and finally put away the summer quilt. Some years we've had the AC on to cook the turkey!

[Kelly]

so cozy!

[meg]

I see that Geyser Peak wine! We're obsessed with it right now and in fact just took the short jaunt up to Geyserville to visit the winery.
Thanks for sharing your cozyness with us!

[Gail]

Oh, how I love your posts! I live in SoCal, and it has been HOT, HOT, HOT....don't like it at all, with the fires, and it plays havoc with allergies....and hey, IT'S NOVEMBER...bring on the chilly weather, fer chrissakes!!!

I love your pictures with the leaves...I envy the fact that you live in an area that experiences a real Autumn....we kind of coast on into Spring, so any indication of Fall is really welcome out here.

(Lovin' the woodfire stove!)

[Beth]

Amanda~
I love your eclectic, vintage way with dishes. But I do have a question: what about lead? Do you test your dishes before use or do you have some sort of source for finding out if lead was used on them or not?
Thanks! Beth

[SOULEMAMA]

Hi Beth! Yes, there is some concern with lead in dishes - both vintage and contemporary, however - and there's really very little information or specifics out there. I do make my choices, and take reasonable precautions as highlighted in this Environmental Defense article that you might find helpful:
http://www.environmentaldefense.org/article.cfm?contentid=955

[elisabete]

Hum, a very comfortable aspect! the cold appeals to aconchego of the home. Here in Portugal today only it started to cool!

[Tonya]

We're obviously in the same chill (I'm just a town over). I wrote today about keeping warm as the weather turns colder and listed a bunch of my favorite hats/mittens just for fun.
I too envy your woodstove! Steam heat just isn't the same thing.

p.s. I'm wearing those very same beat up Bean's slippers as I write this.

[Veronica TM]

and keeping cozy! such beautiful images.

[wesleyjeanne]

I especially like the third photo. Looks like a wonderful evening.
I wish I wish we had a wood stove.

[tommy]

The images make me feel warm and cozy just looking at them. Lucky you, I have a cold house.

[Gypsy]

Amanda,

I know that you write for so many reasons and I am one of the many who wants to thank you for sharing it with all of us. At this time in my life as I learn to be a mother to my 1 and 2 year old, living in a foreign country far from family and reconnecting with my outlets and passions, I visit your blog daily. You have inspired me, reaffirmed my instincts that I am doing the right thing with my boys though I often feel like I'm in the minority within my little world and given me so many ideas. This retreat of yours is such a bright and happy place to come - yet real and tangible. I'm currently looking for an Ostheimer Farmhouse on ebay since we are in Germany. Hopefully I'll find one before I leave! There are so many lovely things I will be sad to leave in my village but I have also learned that I can create and expose my boys to so much of the things we treasure each day in the States too. You have been a part of this learning process and I appreciate that greatly:) I hope this finds you well in your early evening. My evening has run way too late - six hours ahead - time to hit the hay. We have big plans to walk to the open market in the morning and let my two year old pick out a plant, croissants and fruit. Goodnight!

[Sonya]

Your slippers look like mine - an old pair of comfy shearling slip-ons that I can't stand to throw out. I was just thinking about rice pudding today. Definitely a warming comfort.

[Jacqueline]

Love it!
Here in Australia we are getting HOT HOT HOT as summer starts and you guys are cooling down. Isn't the world a wonderful place!

[Nicole]

mmmm.... cozy!

[Zelia]

TÑow thats not only keeping warm on the outside... on the inside i am sure you all felt GREAT!

[*tania]

i too LOVE the 6 minute chocolate cake! it's one of the best cake recipes i've ever tasted, and i'm not even vegan. here's a link to the recipe:
http://www.animaladvocacy.net/recipes/6minutechocake.html

the last picture reminds me of my days in vermont. i would take up residence next to the woodstove for months at a time, rotating from side to side for a nice all-over broiled effect. :)