The sun has been deceptively stronger these past few days, filling our Western-exposure bedroom with late afternoon light. Just when it seems the winter is getting unbearable, these breaks of sunlight sustain us to the next day, and I can already feel the way the light lasts a little longer every afternoon. We hang onto that hope, with flowers and dreams and fragrances.

Along with an aforementioned floral bouquet, the greens of evergreens have caught my notice this winter – their refusal to give up green living even in the face of the chilliest temperatures is an exhibition in beautiful defiance. The thuja and junipers in our yard have provided not only an outside bit of beauty, but a wonderful indoor display utilizing just a branch of two. I’ve had several vases of Thuja ‘Steeplechase’ in the attic since the holidays – and they show no signs of letting up. They are a wonderful yet overlooked way of bringing the outdoors in – not the dried and brown desiccated skeletons of branches – but the living, fresh and vibrant backdrop to the blandness of winter. 

If you’re looking to clip a few evergreen boughs for indoors, they benefit from a soak in cold water (‘foliage’ and all) as they may be extremely dry. (Being that I don’t have a big vat of water anywhere, I just set them in the sink and showered them from the faucet.) Then I clipped them at an angle and plopped them in their respective vases. There they remain, as fresh and green as the day they were brought indoors. No rose could last half as long. 

Rehashing some Valentine-themed photos from the distant post is the best I can muster for this year’s faux-holiday festivities for the day of hearts. Valentine’s Day is traditionally a cheese-fest, and while I’m usually here for such nonsense, it’s a Monday in the middle of winter, and we are going to need more than chocolate and roses to raise the spirits. Luckily, Andy is way more than chocolate and roses, so we shall celebrate quietly and happily at home while the rest of the world goes bonkers for restaurant reservations. If you’re celebrating V-Day, good for you – and if you’re not, even better. On with the weekly recap…

Every morning is better with a cider doughnut.

Of coup and sustenance.

Zac Efron, simply shirtless.

A year beneath the Buddha tree.

Lemon cardamom life.

Little roses.

The unexpected delights of love.

Pause for winter meditation.

Channing Tatum’s naked ass cheek.

Olympic Spotlights fell on Julia Marino, Chris Mazdzer, Mikaela Shiffrin, and Lindsey Jacobellis.

Dazzlers of the Day included Christopher Nassise, Karen Chen, Alan Ritchson, Chloe Kim, Ayumu Hirano, Dylan Efron, and Vanessa James & Eric Radford.