Sippin’ Cocoa

I heard we might have warmer weather by the end of this week.  It may get into the 40’s.  I’m sitting at home sipping on a mug of cocoa enjoying a relaxing winter morning on a long weekend.  I figured it would be good to get in some cocoa time before the ‘warm-up’.  Wink.

I remember cold Maine winter afternoons coming home after school when I was a little girl.  We would get chilled to the bone after navigating our 300+ foot driveway once we left the school bus.  Brrrr!   Then we would have some chores – feeding and watering whatever critters my parents thought were a good idea that year or bringing in kindling or helping my brother bring in wood for our wood stove.   And once we were done my mom would have made a pan of hot cocoa.  Sometimes there would be little marshmallows.  There were days when she would have made a batch of cookies and we would have those with the cocoa.  It always made us feel so special that our mom made the homemade treats for us. 

This past Christmas my mom came to stay with me.  My first holiday without my husband.  It was a quiet visit.  We stayed at home and watched movies a lot.  And a couple afternoons I surprised my mom with a cup of cocoa.  Topped with whipped cream and a little drizzle of caramel and dark chocolate.   As I brought it into the living room to where she was sitting her eyes lit up.   I could see it made her feel pampered and loved.   And I in turn felt all warmed inside for having made the effort.   Sometimes there’s a lot of love to be found in sippin’ some cocoa together.