Because it’s been too long. In honour of the change of the seasons, and to force myself to be positive about the freezing weather, this week’s Friday Five is celebrating the five best things about Winter.

1. Fires
It’s almost worth freezing your fingers off outside, knowing that you can come in to a blazing fire. Yes, it’s dark at 5pm, but the fire is roaring and you don’t have to worry about the outside world. This is where the hibernation kicks in for most people in Leitrim. Something has to be really blooming good to make us leave our fireplaces.

2. Winter Food
Mmm, winter food. Slow cooked with rich flavours, winter meals just warm you from the very core. A wonderful lamb stew, with meat falling apart on the fork…a split pea and sweet potato soup…shepherd’s pie…It’ll all sort you out.

3. Crisp winter mornings
When it’s not pelting with rain, those perfect winter mornings of watery blue sky, fresh (and freezing) air and a clouding of frost just make everything look like a picture book.

4. Hot Whisky
The perfect end to a winter evening. So long as it’s made properly, with clove-studden wedges of lemon, good quality whiskey and honey.

5. Duvets, scarves, blankets and jumpers
Snug as a bug in a rug.

Read the Original Article at Ard Nahoo Eco Retreat Blog