From The Pumpkin Patch

Longer evenings, milder temperatures and the odd cluster of daffodils can mean only one thing – we are currently balancing on the edge between winter and spring.

However, we aren’t quite out of the colder months yet – which is a good thing! Now is the time to wrap up all the loose ends of winter, from completing your to-read list to making the most of the end-of-season produce.

I decided to share my late winter to-do list here, both as a way to motivate myself and to provide some inspiration to anyone who is impatiently anticipating the arrival of warmer weather.

Finish reading winter books

I know books can be read all year round, but some are just so much more suited to the winter season.

There were a handful of books on my to-read list this year that absolutely have to be read when it’s cold outside – Midwinter Murder by Agatha Christie, The Winter Spirits: Ghostly Tales for Frosty Nights and The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking.

I’m currently halfway through Midwinter Murder, so I’m going to spend the last few weeks of winter catching up on this cosy and spooky collection of short stories. The other two books have been thoroughly read and enjoyed, so I’m nearly there.

Cast off winter knitting projects

My knitting project this season is the Winter Bluff Sweater by Ashley Lillis. It’s a thick raglan-knit jumper made from super chunky wool, which is wonderful to work on during the colder months.

I’m determined to get it finished over the next few weeks, mostly because I want to get some wear out of it. I also can’t imagine working with such heavy yarn during spring and summer – it’s a recipe for overheating and sweatiness!

If you also have a cold-weather knitting project on the needles, now is a great time to complete it and start planning a lighter knit.

Host a winter dinner

One of my biggest gripes about this time of year is that there are no winter celebrations after Christmas.

This year I want to host a winter dinner at our house, simply to celebrate the colder months. I’m definitely someone who prefers autumn and winter over spring and summer, so I’m going to give this time of year the attention it deserves.

It can be so helpful to create bright moments during these grey days, and I can’t think of a better reason to gather loved ones around a table than a delicious meal.

Bake cinnamon buns

There’s something special about baking during winter, and the absolute best things to bake are cinnamon buns.

It’s takes quite a long time, there’s a lot of waiting and the dough requires some shaping, so it’s a great meditative and mindful activity on a chilly Sunday morning.

Baking in the summer just isn’t the same. The house gets too hot, the dough gets too sticky and I just get over it. I want to make the most of cinnamon bun season over the next few weeks, and I highly recommend you do the same.

Wear your favourite winter outfits

I don’t know about you, but my cold-weather outfits are far superior to my spring and summer outfits.

There’s something about layering different tops and jackets, adding a scarf or a hat and pairing everything with a great pair of boots that just works. You don’t have to worry about getting sweaty, so you can completely focus on what looks best together.

Make sure to wear all your favourite winter outfits before the season ends – trust me, you’re going to miss them over the next few months.

Make a batch of soup

Soup is another meal that just doesn’t hit the same during the spring and summer months.

I always crave warming, nourishing ingredients during winter which are ideal for popping into a soup – sweet potato, butternut squash, homemade turkey broth… so good.

The warmer months are great for light salads, grilled fish and fruity homemade salsas, so until then I’m going to focus on getting as much soup into my body as possible.

I’ll be a little sad to say goodbye to winter in a few weeks, but I’m also looking forward to new leaves on the trees and that floral smell that seems to be everywhere during springtime.

Tell me – what’s on your late winter to-do list?