Peg Kerr's Journal

I'm feeling better than I did last week.

The weather is getting colder, and I'm cozying up. I've always been interested in cooking (and I'm pretty good at it if I do say so myself). I miss living with my family, but at least no one is moaning that I've put onions into whatever I've cooked.

I've been making soup. My favorite Lentil Soup is a reliable standby. I was exceedingly grateful I'd made a big pot of Vegan Wild Rice Soup right before I got that triple vaccine. All I had to do was to totter downstairs, fill up a bowl, and put it in the microwave for two and a half minutes. Boom. A delicious dinner. I've taken to making a big pot and eating it for two or three days and then freezing the leftovers in single-serving portions.

Image description: Semi-transparent background: various bowls of soup. Lower center: a pile of vegetables (potatoes, carrots, garlic, parsnips, etc.) center: a woman's hands use a wooden spoon to stir a pot of soup. To the right are three containers of herbs (Rosemary, Sweet Basil, Parsley). Upper left corner: a pot of lentil soup seen from above. Upper right corner: a woman's hands hold a bowl of Wild Rice Bean soup, seen from above.

Soup



Click here to see the 2023 52 Card Project gallery.

Click here to see the 2022 52 Card Project gallery.

Click here to see the 2021 52 Card Project gallery.

I'm having a difficult time with the change from summer to autumn. During the summer, I love hanging out (including working when I'm working from home) and eating on my front porch. I have loved stepping out my back door and puttering around in my flower and vegetable garden.

But my front porch is not heated. Now the days are getting shorter and colder, and being outside is less attractive. I'm also prone to seasonal affective disorder, and this can be a hard time of year.

So I'm being proactive: trying to remind myself what is pleasurable about autumn. I'm doing this by upping the hygge factor as much as I can.

I think I've talked about hygge before. Open Instagram and you'll find a million pictures to get an idea of what it's all about. Hygge is a Scandinavian cultural value, which I understand roughly translates as 'coziness together.'

Hygge is warm fuzzy socks and afghans and candles and coffee and cocoa in oversized mugs and cozy sofas and comfort food. Putting away the technology and instead hanging out for a quiet evening with friends and family, eating yummy food, playing table games, and listening to soothing music.

Lately, I have been lighting a bevy of pillar candles in my living room, turning on an eight-hour Youtube video of ambient music like this one, and settling down with a good book. (The evenings are long when you're going through sleep boot camp).

I think it helps.

I had a more frustrating time than usual trying to come up with this card. I played with a bunch of elements and nothing quite came together. (Maybe I've scrolled through too many pictures about hygge on Instagram).

Eventually, I just went with what is essentially one main image. I tinkered with the coloring of the photograph more than I usually do, trying to get that low light/golden color that to me is the essence of hygge (the original photograph was darker). I added my feet on the coffee table (with fuzzy socks, of course).

Hygge



Click here to read about the 52 card project and see the year's gallery.