Curtains and a Prelude to Winter

Minor miracles! They are sweet, also.

Remember when I ordered our new curtains? Well, it concerned me a bit that they were labeled 'yellow' when what I truly wanted was mustard. But after bleary-eyed hours of staring at curtains online--and spying these oh-so-close panels--I decided to order them anyway, yellow label and all.

And guess what? The curtains arrived today and, mostly, they are mustard. Oh wow.

(This is an updated 10/31 view.)

They're perfect (to me), they hang correctly (which means ever so much after two years of curtains which didn't) and look great from outdoors, they with their paisley design and faux wood grommets, all quite 1970's, making them rather Kim-like. (Insert a happy dancing Debra here.)

Here's a closer view:

So thank-you, Target, for offering these half-off, with no shipping cost, even, and for making them mustard, not yellow. And for helping me feel more a part of Hobbit Cottage because of having added another personal, creative stamp of my own.

And now I can move on to something else.

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The strangest thing happened last week. 

Tom told me, "Tomorrow is supposed to be the beginning of lots of really cold days."

I said, "Yeah, I heard and you know? It's time. It's ok. We had hundreds of gorgeous days this year and it feels like time for Winter. Time to wind down."

I know! I nearly fainted, too.

Maybe I'm finally understanding Winter the way folks of Denmark (voted the happiest country, anywhere) do:

"Here's how Danish people turn lemons into spiced mulled wine: Ever heard of the concept of hygge? While some would define it as cultivated coziness, hygge is often considered the major weapon in combatting the dreary darkness that befalls the Nordic country over the winter. In a place where the sun shines fewer than seven hours during the height of the winter solstice -- a level of darkness that can (and does) stir depression and sad feelings -- the concept of a cozy scene, full of love and indulgence, can help to mitigate some of the season's worst psychological effects.

After all, both strong social connections and many of the indulgent foods associated with hygge -- such as chocolate, coffee and wine -- are mood boosters."

Hmmm... The Danish and Gladys Taber, of course, have it right. It's taken me 35 years, but I believe I'm finally learning to welcome long, dark, cold months because of the coziness they carry with them--and--to relax (and trust God more) about Tom's walking across the snow.

Attitude. Attitude. Attitude. The older I get, the deeper this sinks in.

But these things take time to learn, you know and hey! Perhaps my cheerful new mustard curtains will brighten some of those icy winter days.

Perhaps.

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"And be ye thankful..."

"To everything there is a season, a time and a purpose under Heaven..."


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A special thanks to Kim for sharing the Denmark article at Facebook!