Monday, November 09, 2009

When the Cold Comes...

I once lived in a doll factory. The first two floors were devoted to the production of dolls and the top two floors were renovated into huge loft spaces. It was in a cheerless part of town, what they refer to as an industrial park. The cold seemed colder and the shadows seemed longer. One of my then five roommates and I devised a way to combat the cold – hot chocolate.

It may not seem like anything new or special, but it was just what we needed to lift our spirits in those cold winter months. We had all the fixings: marshmallows, chocolate and other flavored liqueurs, and a wide array of mugs to chose from. The best part was that we would get all bundled up (it was expensive to heat the entire loft), make the hot chocolate, and sit around and talk for awhile. The other roommates would be holed up in their rooms or doing other things, but we would sit and talk for hours while we sipped our hot chocolate and fought away the winter blues.

Tonight I was a little blue. The quiet seemed a little too quiet – the cold a little too cold. Instead of moping about, I revived an old tradition. I used the mug painted by Gina Chalfant of White Swan Illuminations. She gave me this mug with Count Dracula painted on it at the Pittsburgh show on Halloween. I used a blend of chocolates recently unearthed from the move and dropped a marshmallow in from Whimsy and Spice (not shown). It's a small pleasure, but an important one when the cold comes.

7 comments:

Rebecca said...

That sounds really lovely! I definitely need something to fight off the winter blues over here in rainy, chilly northern England. Hot chocolate sounds perfect!

kate mckinnon said...

Andrew, I could use a cup of hot chocolate as well. What a wonderful idea.

I've been thinking of you, moving, being cold, missing the bustle and ready availability of everything in the City, and sending you my love. Changes are hard in ways that can be difficult to predict...

I'm sending you a hot chocolate warm soft sweater crackling fire high speed internet kind of sweet thought right now.

Unknown said...

Rest assured you are being thought about! Ive been wondering and thinking about you in the country many times. Like Nina said in a recent post there is a wonderment that comes to living out in the country. How I cherish those days. Be well and remember theres so much warmth being sent your way! xox

Leslie @ Bei Mondi said...

A good cup of hot chocolate does do wonders for the spirit. These winters in PA are long and we don't see the sun for months. :( It's a good way to fight of the seasonal blues.

TesoriTrovati said...

Small pleasures are simply the best. I wish you warmth and comfort, dear Andrew. Enjoy the day! Erin

Joan Tucker said...

A, I love to put cider on the stove with cinnamon and cloves and smell it all day on. Smells of comfort do in deed warm our souls.Stay well.
JT

Andrew Thornton said...

Thanks everyone for your words of wisdom and kindness. I am finding my stride here and new work is emerging from my fingertips and this makes me happy.

I always forget that I am so attached to my home and environment and that every little change affects me deeply. Uprooting and moving to a new place has taken its toll on me... for sure... but I am looking forward to my life in this new place and the work that I will make here.