I do not understand this bleak of which you speak. So these must work. I encourage you to take notes.
-Cook short ribs.
-Drink a nice red wine.
-XC ski, then eat a cookie.
-Drink an occasional hot chocolate. Work on decadent recipes for same.
-Make and eat turkey chili. Vary the vegetables and the type of beans. And the meat. Can be lamb. Hamburger. Chicken. Vegetarian.
-Knitting and spinning and weaving oh my
-Wrap oneself in handknits. Scarves. Hats. Mittens. Sweaters. Socks.
-Plan stuff: What to knit next, the spring garden, a nice meal for the upcoming weekend.
-Plan a trip to a place that makes you feel less bleak.
-Exercise. Surf the web. Say hi to your FB/blog/tweeting/Instagrammy/emailing friends.
-Take a walk while it is snowing.
-Look at the bird and rabbit and cat and fox tracks in the snow.
I like the tracks in the snow idea but we have no snow, sadly. Also, short ribs - do you have a great recipe? I had these last year at the restaurant we went to Saturday night in Freeport and they were amazing and I've sort of been dreaming about making them ever since.
Posted by: Carole | Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 07:56 AM
mmmmmmm, short ribs.
Posted by: Ruth | Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 08:06 AM
You're in your element so, of course, you'd have a great list of ideas to keep the bleak away. It is beyond gray and dreary here in Utah this year, but I hear fresh snow is now adorning the slopes! Short ribs and red wine...what a great idea.
Posted by: margene | Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 08:39 AM
I'm with you. Of course, I am. Winter is the best time of year for so many things. Besides, the sun never seems brighter than on a sunny snowcovered hill.
Posted by: Judy | Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 08:58 AM
Good list!! I hope you hit the slopes up north this year. :)
Posted by: Kim | Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 09:06 AM
Knitting and weaving and spinning? Yes please.
All that with some hot chocolate would be lovely. Great list!
Posted by: Donna | Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 10:25 AM
Great list! (For those who don't mind going outdoors in the cold) (I'll be fine as long as I don't look out the windows...)
While making decadent hot chocolate, try making your own marshmallows. It's lots easier than you'd think, and so very very tasty!
Posted by: gayle | Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 10:40 AM
Funny you should mention short ribs--made a good-sized batch last night and de-fatted this morning. Tonight will be a major cold-weather feast--yum!!!
Posted by: Elaine in NYC | Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 12:47 PM
I absolutely will cook short ribs! I mean to, and then I never do.
Posted by: claudia | Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 01:07 PM
I am working on getting back into exercising.
Posted by: Felicia | Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 01:09 PM
Short ribs! They've been added to my menu ideas for the week; my family and I thank you!
Posted by: Bonny | Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 01:25 PM
We all like turkey chilli, even those of us that supposedly don't like beans. I make it in the slow cooker and put the majority of it in the freezer.
My dog walking attire is handknit socks, sweater, scarf, hat and gloves - the full set on your list.
Posted by: Caroline M | Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 02:20 PM
I have made chili (and cornbread). I have knit and spun and woven. I am planning a trip to Scotland this summer. All the handknits? They're on me. I have indeed looked at the tracks in the snow, if only to figure out whether it is mice or flying squirrels who are rumpusing in my attic (inconclusive evidence so far). I also took a lovely walk in below zero weather to get coolant for my allegedly overheating car, only to find it had plenty of coolant, but the thermostat had died.
In short, I have done my damnedest to check off your list and yet, this damned winter is still BLEAK. BLEAK, I tell you.
Harrumph, I say.
Posted by: Lynn | Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 07:05 PM
If winter wasn't as brutal (I'm tired of the twenty-below temps), I might like it a bit.
Posted by: Kwizgiver | Tuesday, January 13, 2015 at 08:43 PM
Ahhh. Chili. I might have to make some. I might even break out of my usual chili recipe rut. And short ribs, now that they are trendy food, it's hard to find them cheap. The Asian market here has them in huge quantities, at good prices. Braised short ribs, yum. Now I'm hungry.
Posted by: Lorette | Monday, January 19, 2015 at 03:53 PM