Freeze Dried

Ancient grains granola and freeze dried blueberries sat atop a bowl of Greek yogurt on my breakfast table. What a delicious way to enjoy the fruits harvested from last season, giving a faint reminder of their fresh plump juice when picked in season. Freeze dried is not, however, an attractive adjective when it comes to describing the old wood in my house, my aging skin damaged by years in the sun, or the foliage of the evergreens under attack by old man winter. Winter battles these latter treasures, and it is time to engage in the war and prevent further casualties.

The woodstove and heat registers contribute to the loss of moisture in the house. To combat this, I run a humidifier, keep my houseplants moist, leave a full pot of water on the woodstove to release vapor, and keep the diffuser filled with water and essential oils to release healthy vapors into the atmosphere inside.

My skin has been the longtime defender of my insides for many decades. As the calendar continues to turn, my skin becomes thinner and drier more quickly. The sun has been beating on me as I have spent so much of my life outdoors. Winter reminds me of the care I need to take to love on this lifetime companion. Thick creams and sunscreen and drinking water all help. Coming in from the cold outside, it is tempting to jump into a hot shower, but this is not the best for my skin and hair, I must resist and keep it lukewarm.

The plants outside suffer no lesser fate. Here in New England, by mid winter the roots of our trees and shrubs are frozen, unable to deliver moisture to the evergreen foliage. Any stored moisture is at risk of being lost to harsh winds and winter sun. Some plants experience discoloration and death in their leaves due to loss of moisture. Like a moisturizer for our skin, an anti-desiccant can be applied to lock in moisture. According to the extension service, mid-winter can be a good time to apply a coating to our broadleaf evergreens if needed. I took a stroll around the yard and found my shrubs in good shape, but I will keep an eye on them in the bitter cold days ahead (especially this weekend!) Much as we wear a down jacket and mittens, some evergreens will benefit from a covering of burlap if you’d rather not spray the foliage, a project to pencil in for next Thanksgiving week.

Bundle up this weekend as we hit single digits, and don’t forget to moisturize and hydrate - yourself and your surroundings. Be well!

Wish list:

Diffuser and essential oils

Humidifier

Wilt-Pruf anti-desiccant

Bee Silk, rich restorative cream