As the Year Begins, We’re Sharing More of Ourselves
- Wine & Whiskey
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
For years, you’ve known us as Wine and Whiskey, but at the heart of it, it’s always been Julie and Tom. As we head into a new year, we’re shifting the focus and putting ourselves more clearly at the forefront. We’ll continue sharing our thoughts, experiences, and discoveries, while also opening the door to more of who we are—our perspectives, stories, and the paths that brought us here. As the year unfolds, you’ll be hearing more from us, not just about what we enjoy, but about the people behind it.
I, Julie, typically write nearly all of the blog posts in the first person, and that remains the case here.
Now that we’ve shared a little more about ourselves, we can settle into the rhythm of the season. January came as January should—snowy, steady, and cold. It was a month that requires embracing winter rather than opposing it, adopting a slower pace, and noticing the small, simple moments that often go unnoticed throughout the rest of the year because we are confined indoors practicing hygge. I wrote a piece about hygge on my professional work blog if you want to read that click here.
Although the snow creates beautiful landscapes with its bright reflective light, I don't spend much time outdoors. This is the season when my indoor skills truly excel: cooking, baking, writing, and making videos.
In the kitchen, one of the ongoing activities is making sourdough, which I find endlessly fascinating. During this season, the process is straightforward, and the outcomes are consistently good. Currently, I'm focused on discovering a reliable sourdough pizza dough recipe. I've experimented with numerous recipes, but none have achieved the results I desire so I will keep trying.
Chilly weather brings me back to the kitchen, and January was filled with homemade dishes perfect for long, cozy nights. We had meals simmering, roasting, and baking as snow accumulated outside, accompanied by bottles we opened for fun that seamlessly became part of the entire evening.
A friend of mine bakes a delightful double ginger cookie using candied ginger. When she leaves New Hampshire to enjoy the sun and warmth in Florida, she's not around to make the cookies, so I decided to bake them myself. I also candied fresh ginger instead of purchasing it. The results were incredible! Making it myself yielded ginger water and ginger syrup, both delicious byproducts that I've incorporated into drinks and savory dishes for an extra burst of flavor. The candied ginger itself delivers a zesty kick when enjoyed as a candy. Link for recipes down below.
These cookies aren't the prettiest, but they are delicious and pair well with bourbon. 😋
Tom's role as an independent insurance adjuster takes us throughout New England and upstate New York which continues even in winter. In January, we took two work trips in our motorhome, which we fondly call our mobile condo and office. There's a profound satisfaction in shutting the laptop at day's end and knowing that everything you need — kitchen, "bathroom", favorite happy hour accoutrements, and bed — is right there, wherever you've settled.
In early January, the weather was significantly warmer than it is now, and many of the work sites were muddy. However, this didn't deter us, and we took full advantage of the circumstances, including meeting up with Tom's high school friend, whom we hadn't seen in a very long time. Watch a video of that trip, link down below.
A day work trip took us to Massachusetts, traveling south to cranberry country, followed by visits to Cambridge and Boston. If time permits while in Boston, stopping at Mike's Pastry in the North End for cannoli is essential. Watch a video of that trip, link down below.
The second extended work trip covered Hartford, CT, Chatham, NY, and Westfield, MA, where we stayed overnight at Skyline Beer Company, a Harvest Hosts location, before heading to Vermont and then returning home. This time, the weather was quite different, with daytime temperatures in the teens, nighttime temperatures below zero, and two feet of snow blanketing most of the region.
By the end of the month, January had revealed its own quiet purpose and subtle lessons. Winter isn’t just a pause in the year; it’s a season full of its own moments, discoveries, and ways to savor life even in the cold. Snow, comfort food, road miles, slow sourdough, and projects that don’t demand speed all belong right here.
We truly appreciate your continued interest and support, and we hope you’ll stay with us as we embrace our sixth decade on this planet. There are countless experiences, stories, and moments still ahead, and we can’t wait to share them with you as our journey continues.
Warmly,
~Julie (& Tom)
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