Despite the fact I say ‘I hate winter’ everytime I get cold, I don’t really dislike winter (generally), though I am not crazy about being cold. Fresh snow, Christmas lights, hot chocolate – those are three things just off the top (of my head) that I really enjoy about wintertime!

Food plays an important part of winter for us. Whether it is family gatherings or quiet nights at home, we love food and the traditions they uphold.

I love to craft, all throughout the year, but there is a focus to it in the winter. Whether it is a new wreath for the door, bow to adorn something, or a card to send some holiday cheer, I spend a lot of time in my studio making stuff!

Trees… I love trees! Themes – be it Snowmen, Penguins, or sugar plums, ribbons, bows – or just old fashions coloured baubles, my trees are always events. They (yes, they) usually go up mid-November and stay up until after the New Year, spreading their cheer! I also have a ladder tree that houses our Christmas village collection. Created early one morning when I had an idea and my kiddo and I took off for Michael’s craft store at 7:30am one Black Friday morning and started our collection of houses! This year, kiddo is putting a small tree up in the studio too!

And living in a northern climate, you learn at a young age to embrace the snow (and the cold). We usually get several weeks a year of temperatures close to -40C (which is around -40F). Cold, yes, but you figure out how to manage it with big warm coats, not staying out too long, and drink warm drinks and having lots of warm blankets. Also, because those temps are usually prefaced by -30C, by the time you get to -40, it really isn’t that bad.

There are many things to love in Canada that we don’t even do (anymore) tobogganing, skating… And then there is skiing – which our son did one winter and loved! Many enjoy a variety of winter sports (hockey, snowshoeing).

One our favourite things (when it isn’t -40) is to dig out our firepit and have a fire and a hot chocolate on our patio! It is SO much fun to sit around bundled up around the fire in the winter. We are hoping it will be a mild Christmas eve and we will get the change to do that this year!

What about you? What do you love about winter? It is here, often, from October to March, it’s a good idea to make the best of it!