Taking in Life Around Me.....Getting Cozy with #Sunday Stills

This #sundaystills challenge is hosted by Terri from Second Wind Leisure. It's a great themed photography challenge that you'll enjoy. I love seeing the other participants interpretation of the theme each week...it causes me to think outside the box. I joined in hopes of it pushing me to get out and take more photos...I have to some degree, but I also like that Terri is okay with us finding photos in our archives, which is also a lot of fun. So check out my photos and then head over to Terri's page to participate or visit other's posts. There are some awesome contributors who always inspire me.

This weeks theme is around all things cozy! Who doesn't like to be cozy? I certainly like anything that brings on that warm, comfortable feeling..whether it's a fire, a candle burning, comfy clothing or blanket, or a coffee shop, bookstore, etc. Many things can bring about that feeling. It is easy to create that atmosphere in the PNW where we experience the seasons in their fullness (though where I live, snow isn't often seen til late winter)..I always say I couldn't live somewhere without all the seasons. During fall, it's time to start hunkering down more, bringing out the crockpot and making more soups. It's dark earlier and that can be hard for me, so I will create an atmosphere in our home to combat that darkness! Cozier lights, etc. 

A few years ago I heard the term Hygge and just loved it. Hygge means a feeling of contentment and coziness. It can refer to the act of creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying lifes simple pleasures. I want more of this in my life. 

Let's have some fun with this.....first up...

Cozy cooking: I love to cook and bake and especially as the months get darker and colder, the more I find myself finding comfort in the kitchen. If I and the kitchen didn't get so hot, I'd have our gas fireplace going all the time. No matter what it is I love to make it...the second side bar recipe is from a restaurant but pasta is always cozy. 

Cozy clothing......I am always hot, partially because that's just me, but also hot flashes, so while I'd love to dress in bulky sweaters, hats (who am I kidding my hair cannot handle hats), I have to dress in layers, but I still love to be cozy. 

This photo I had to snap because I was at the top of Hurricane ridge in the Olympic National park and while below was beautiful and fairly warm, up on the ridge was frigid, so I, thankfully read advice and packed a winter coat, which I donned to keep at least most of me warm. I joked that it was just kind of like being in a cold plunge tub.

Cozy Drinks....I love a good hot drink. I love seasonal flavors. On our recent getaway I had a maple spiced pumpkin chai latte and it was amazing. Whether at home or out and about a hot drink screams cozy!!!

Cozy Spaces...I love going to places that give off a cozy vibe! 

I love a cozy coffee shop. 

Bookstores will forever feel cozy to me, especially if they have seating areas. 

The one below was actually for sale when we were in New Hampshire and we thought it would be so much fun to own. 

A local gal hosts a barn sale several times and year and it is SO. COZY. At the last one I snapped this scen, because the chair, the way it was set up just made me want to curl up with a good book and read for awhile. 

Cozy Mysteries...I love to read (which is cozy) but I also REALLY love to read cozy mysteries. They're fun, easy, I love figuring out the whodunit and they always have that small town, family/friend, cozy vibe!! In the large photo below I went to a local book signing with a local author and I have loved following her on social media and her two books are so cute. You can find her here...her original page was hacked last year so she had to restart, which is so sad. 

Cozy places...Some places just feel cozy, especially historic areas. They remind me often of a Hallmark setting, or where the setting of a cozy mystery would take place. This last week we traveled to a part of Oregon we've only ever drive through to get to the beach. It was fun walking the streets and browsing shops. It definitely felt cozy with the fall leaves, storefronts, and lights along the way. 

Other Cozy things....Below are a few other things that I find cozy.

Working on puzzles is an activity that I enjoy a lot and it causes me to slow down and just be in the moment. It is a cozy activity. 

Raclette is a meal they make in Switzerland usually in the fall and winter months. Potatoes are either roasted or boiled, and then on this griddle you cook up your favorite meats and veggies and underneath you melt raclette cheese. All of which you pour over the potatoes. It's a way they gather around the table...or island in our case, to eat and spend time together. 

This could've been in spaces, but my living/kitchen area especially in fall and Christmas is my cozy space. I love it. 

My grandkids had a fort the last time they were here. I needed to get a few things done so I built them a fort so they could watch a movie.

My youngest daughters newest photo set is sure cozy!!! 

Cozy Fires.....I love a nice fire (though I don't always like smelling like said fire)..whether a fire in the fireplace (even if it's gas...I love ours because it looks so real) or a fire on the beach or in a fire pit. It is a cozy feel. Making you want to pause and stay awhile. 

The bottom right photo was when Marsha, Terri and I visited Fort Vancouver. I loved this exhibit. 

Thanks for coming along on my cozy journey! 

With Joy Unquenchable,

Kirstin