Embracing Winter

When we first returned from vacation in a wonderfully warm place, I resisted the return to winter. Because I had become acclimated to Hawaii's balmy climate, I had trouble getting warm and even adding layers, jacking up the thermostat or getting under the covers to read didn't seem to help as the cold seeped into my bones. The constant rain was a downer, too.

But, at heart, I'm a lover, not a fighter. What's the point of resisting the weather, for heaven's sake? It just wears you out and it doesn't change the weather one iota. So, I decided on the one sunny day since we returned, to embrace the winter and the possibilities for heavy sweaters, wooly socks and hearty dinners that it affords.

Swiss chard steamed in garlic butter, so deep a green that it reminded me of the mountains in Hawaii. A nice, thick lamb chop as a reminder that spring is just around the corner. Kabocha squash (the other half of the soup and curry one), whipped with a generous thumb of butter, as warming on the plate as a summer sun.

After this dinner, my toes were finally warm and my outlook was finally bright. Let's hear it for winter!