The older I get the more I appreciate all the comforts life has to offer. Oh sure, I can rough it like the best of them, sleeping on the ground in the Boundary Waters or in a metal tent surrounded by wildlife in the African outback, but seriously, is there anything better than a warm bed, soft sheets and best of all, a cozy blanket? Now you know, I am a blanket hog.
I love them in all shapes, colors and sizes. The only requirement I have is that they be soft. I mean kitten-withoutthe claws soft! I have piles of blankets around the house. Some are special blankets, homemade by friends or family or me. Some are store-bought cozy. There is even a beautiful afghan or two. I like them all.
In the winter if I pull out my Kindle and cozy up on the couch with a blanket, that’s it, I’m done for the night and it might only be 6:30 p.m. I was wondering if I could pick a favorite but I found it was like picking a favorite child…it just couldn’t be done…so I narrowed it down to three.
Number One: My afghan. In 2005, I adventurously ordered an afghan kit off the Internet. The pattern was beautiful and it was made from eight different types of yarn including angora, alpaca, mohair, cotton and wool. My patient mother walked me through the first several rows of the pattern. I knitted on this afghan for about two years then she took it over and finished the lion’s share in about two weeks. I made the tassels, though…I had to contribute something to the final product. It is gorgeous.
Number Two: My NAP blanket. This sounds like a blanket I would use to take daily naps but it is a type of blanket that is ultra soft and cozy. It is just the right size and weight to put around my shoulders when I read. I will admit I took a small version of this blanket with me to Africa. (My one creature comfort on the trip.) I just heard they are now making the NAP blanket with sleeves. Seriously, I might have just died and gone to heaven.
Number Three: The heated throw. I have two of these. One for each couch. We like to keep our house on the chilly side at night so a heated throw is perfect for crawling under when we watch TV. Just plug it in and turn it on, in about two minutes I’m toasty warm. I have to watch it though because I’m never alone for long as the kids and the dogs love these blankets too. Pretty soon I have ice-cold baby toes or puppy noses sneaking under my blanket.
I have been known to say that the coldest spot in the world is an outhouse seat in January… now let me add to that…the warmest, coziest, safest feeling place in the world is under a cozy blanket.
A blanket that has arms to hold
you when you are sad, now
that’s what I call a comforter.
Jarod Kintz
Taste of Home columnist Sandy (Anderson) Holthaus lives on a farm in South Haven, MN with her husband, Michael, and their children Zoe, Jack and Ben. Her heart remains on the North Shore where she grew up with her parents, Art and LaVonne Anderson of Schroeder. She enjoys writing about her childhood and mixes memories with delicious helpings of home-style recipes.
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