Cozy blanket Autumn Decor
Terri Webster Schrandt

Sunday Stills: A #Cozy Refuge

“Autumn is a time for changing leaves, pumpkin spice lattes, and cozy sweaters.” — Julie Hage

November is here, and it’s time to get cozy as we approach the upcoming holidays. What is it about this time of year (in the Northern Hemisphere) that puts us in the mood to get cozy? Is it the change in season from Autumn to Winter?

early November snow
Magical Autumn Snow

Cozy means comfortable, safe, warm, snug, and secure. After a very warm summer for many of us, I know I feel ready for cold weather and snuggling up in a fluffy blanket, enjoying a hot beverage next to a roaring fire. Most of us set our clocks back to end daylight savings time, which adds to the fading evening light and dressing in warmer clothing. I enjoy every season, but fall has always captured my imagination, and getting cozy also means planning for the holiday season.

For those of you who live below the equator, I’m sure you’re getting ready for late spring and early summer and the excitement of enjoying the outdoors. Your warm summer breezes are comfortable and pleasant, which is another way to describe “cozy.”

However you describe COZY, indulge me for a few minutes while I show you what cozy means to me.

Red barn in yellow larches

Outdoor Coziness

Despite the cold temperatures this time of year in Eastern Washington, when the sun shines for a whopping 8 hours a day (if not foggy or cloudy), the autumn scenery invites a feeling of coziness on a woody trail…

Turkey Hill Trail Michigan Bluff CA

Leaf and larch peeping…

October Autumn Central Oregon
Suburban Autumn Sidewalk
Yellow Western Larch
Yellow Western Larch

enjoying the view of an idyllic homestead…

cozy homestead

or capturing this blue heron getting cozy with his fellow Canada geese.

Blue Heron and Canada geese
Leaf-strewn sidewalk

“I cozy up to autumn’s trees. Fall asleep to the lullaby of windblown leaves.”
~ Angie Weiland-Crosby

Cozy Holidays

The holiday season seems to come quickly after early September. Kids are back in school, and stores and shops are already selling Halloween/Harvest decor and candy to make room for all the Thanksgiving and Christmas hoopla.

Local Harvest Festivals invoke a cozy feeling…

man and woman and dog sitting on hay bales
Cozy pumpkin patch

Even our pets want to get cozy.

Dog
Brodie getting cozy
cat in the box
Cozy Cat in the box

Soon, it’s time to decorate a cozy Holiday table…

Thanksgiving Table Decor

…Then, get ready to visit Santa.

Cozy Christmas Corner
Cozy Corner for Santa

Let’s EAT! (Yule Log handmade by my daughter for New Year’s Eve 2023).

Holiday Yule Log

Feeling cozy yet?

Sleeping Dog

Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders

The Sunday Stills weekly-themed photo challenge is easy to join. You have all week to share and link your post. Please use your own original images, whether new or from your archives.

  • Remember to title your blog post a little differently than mine.
  • Please create a new post for the theme or link a recent one.
  • Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
  • Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
  • Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post.
  • I also recommend adding your post’s URL to the comments.

Sharing for Dawn’s Festival of Leaves and Johnbo’s Cellpic Sunday.

Temporary, Seasonal Change Comes to the Sunday Stills Challenge November 17 – February 2

** Please note: Beginning November 17, I’ll be extending the weekly themes to bi-monthly (every two weeks) through the first week in February due to travel and family events. Beginning Feb 9, 2025, we’ll be back to weekly themes. You can post just once during the 2-week period or on both Sundays through each week, depending on YOUR schedule. No NEW SUNDAY STILLS posts will be published in the second week to remind you, although I may remind you in a Wordless Wednesday post. I will read and comment on your posts as usual.

Please visit my Sunday Stills Page for the schedule.

I can’t wait to see how you interpret this week’s theme! Creativity is encouraged, so please share your own photographs (old or new), poems, original short stories, and music inspired by the theme.

Please join me on November 17 & 24 for the two-week November Color Challenge: Shades of Auburn and/or Brown.

winter white mug on cobalt cloth

“There’s nothing better than settling in with a cozy fall blanket, a hot drink in your favorite autumn mug, the perfect fall candle, and enjoying a fall sunset.” — Julie Hage

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88 comments

  3. Cosy for me in laying in bed with the sound of the rain on the windows or the clock striking midnight on Christmas Eve, and the whole world is asleep, Terri. Of course, that could never be the case because of the time zones, but Christmas Eve evening from about 8pm has always brought me much cosiness.
    I also think cosy is having the right ambience in a room. Too much light makes a room look too bright and stark; too little makes it lose it cosiness because you can no longer see it. I don’t know about you, but I never have the ceiling light on. I always use lamps in every room.
    Your autumnal photos show how cosy the world can be, even when times are not good. From city lights to wide open spaces full of trees, plant life and people, ‘cosy’ can be evident. And that’s good when you think about how good it is for our mental health.

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    • I love your idea of cozy, Hugh. Many of our Christmas eves have been frenetic in the past with lots of family. This year we’re spending Christmas in Arizona at my brother’s with a small family group. I even bought matching Christmas Pajamas for me, Hans and Brodie. That will be cozy. My 88 yr old father will also be there. This could be his last Christmas 🎄 😔

      I also prefer lamps rather than overhead lights. We all live in stressful times. Having our own cozy oasis is important for all aspects of our health. Thanks for that reminder. Have a wonderful and cozy week!

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  5. Hi Terri
    We really love autumn and winter. It is the cosiness, the time of the open fires, reading in the rocking chair with a hot drink on the side table and the time of Klausbernd’s and Hanne-Dina’s birthday. The time for our autumn and winter holidays.
    Wishing you a cosy end of the year
    The Fab Four of Cley
    🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

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  7. Brodie sure does know how to cozy up, doesn’t he? It’s the expression as much as it is the lean that is cozy. I would classify your pictures as inspiring rather than cozy, for the most part. I love the trail through the trees. I feel like kicking up some leaves. The red leaves dotting the snowy landscape – invigorating! 🙂 Cozy to me is inside, fireplaces, hot chocolate pillows, soft music, a dog on my lap and a cat by my side. Bundling up for outdoors, but then the fire needs to be there too complete with crackle!

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  9. Two images had me smiling the most and to echo others sentiments…that Yule log was just wow! Bet it was hard to cut into that food art (or at least for a second or two) and then Brodie all cozied up made me want to curl up with him. I took a different approach with my photos to put together a cozy update on our shouse build. We will be heading up to WA for Thanksgiving this year. So although, I won’t be seeing you, I know you and Hans (and Brodie) will be popping in my thoughts as we make that trek.

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    • Thanks so much, Cheryl! My daughter and her mate LOVE cooking. They made it from scratch for New Years. And it was delish!! Brodie is a snuggle bug for sure. Enjoy Thanksgiving in WA! I’ll be visiting San Diego again in January, so we might see you then.

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  12. Terri,

    Your words paint the perfect picture of cozy. I love Fall here because it lingers. Spring is beautiful, but it’s over and hot too soon. You and Hans appear vey cozy on that hay bale–cute picture! Have a great Fall, and enjoy the rest of your week. Joe

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  13. I’m feeling very cozy now, Terri. What beautiful November photos. I’m partial to that woody path (if only it wasn’t raining here – Lol). Thanks for the wonderful images, my friend. Something to be happy about. 🙂 ❤

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  28. I like the metal turkey sculpture Terri – it is perfect for Thanksgiving. I have never seen such a festive Yule Log. Your daughter did a great job. Brodie sure does look comfy and cozy. I agree with the quote by Julie Hage. While warmer weather brings the freedom of being able to go out to walk or other activities without worrying about ice or snow ruining your plans, there is still a delightful satisfaction in staying home, cozy from the furnace cranking out the heat or being underneath a warm and toasty afghan with a good book and a warm drink. I always tried to wrap up my garden chores by Thanksgiving, so to me, after seven months of toiling in the garden, perhaps the snow would hold off awhile and I could finally enjoy a little “me time” cozied up with a good book.

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    • Thank you, Linda! My Sis-in-law has a huge, grand home and that metal turkey was quite large. She’s hosting Thanksgiving again this year, and I love seeing her decor! I’m always grateful for the talents of others–my dot’s yule log was beautiful and delish! I’m about ready to cuddle with my fall throw and watch some TV. Have a great week!

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  30. Hi, Terri – Cozy is a perfect theme for this time of year — at least in this part of the world. When I opened your post, I was already curled up infront of our fireplace, in my favourite chair, with my favourite (plaid) blanket. Your beautiful post & photos added perfectly to the coziness! ❤

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  32. It was 24C and a glorious day for strolling by the river here today, Terri, but I’m sure it will cool soon. In fact I bought some cozy slippers today for winter evenings. I usually go barefoot…. Enjoy your family time!

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  40. All those pictures so describe cozy but I don’t think I can pull that together despite the snow falling out my window. I am writing my annual Remembrance Day post today and it doesn’t describe cozy at all.

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  41. I love the picture of Brodie on the couch–comfy and cozy. And that yule log your daughter made is art and I bet it tasted great. I’m going up to Apple Hill this week and I hope to get cozy with an apple muffin. I don’t like pie.

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