Last week I suggested we reduce and refresh. This week I’m all for warm thoughts. Since I write these columns ahead of time, I don’t know if snow does more than tease and leave this week, but the temperatures are certainly chilly enough to warrant another round of “let’s-get-cozy” reading. I say another round because this theme comes up again and again in “Check It Out.” Perhaps I’m in a rut, but what a pleasant rut it is.
Sweaters, socks and tea always hit the top of the list when considering warm and cozy things. If you’re a knitter, have fun looking at several sweater-and-sock-related titles available through the library. “Colorful Knit Soxx” and “Cute & Cozy Sweaters and Blankets” offer a pleasing variety of knitting patterns including — wait for it — patterns for tea cozies which tickle me to pieces because they fit so perfectly into my “let’s-get-cozy” reading theme. After all that sock, sweater and tea cozy knitting, I’m sure that sustenance is required, so be sure to check out “Knitting and Tea” for some delicious teatime recipes to get you through your projects.
Other things that make me feel cozy are candles, a fire in the fireplace and more cups of tea. Now, I’ve heard of wine sommeliers, but I never thought to replace wine with tea. Well, “Tea Sommelier” encourages this alternative and teaches tea lovers to go the “extra tea bag,” so to speak, by becoming a tea expert. The book is fun and charming and will fill you with lots of tea brewing and tea drinking information.
As our caveman ancestors once said, “Fire is good.” A controlled fire is, of course, best, and what better way to tame the flames than to light candles and/or a fireplace. I made a candle once in grade school, and trust me it wouldn’t have won any beauty awards. However, if you have the gumption to work with beeswax, I’ll bet your candles will be much nicer if you follow the directions in “Beehive Alchemy.” Not only can you learn about candle-making in this book, you can learn how to make soap and creams. Come to think of it, soaps and creams are cozy in their own way, so I think this guide is a definite win for coziness.