Cozy Indoor Vibes

Turning our attention inward with indoor plants & winter treats.

Friday, January 2, 2026

Looking to the east, the supermoon is rising slowly above the treetops. The view was a bit eerie, its luminous glow encircled by bare branches. The moon’s path just so happens to be in alignment with my desk window (which is quite unusual). So I got to peek at it numerous times without even getting out of my chair. It was very bright and the moonlight seemed quite strong, enough to cast clearly defined shadows across the sill. Did it shine on you as well?

“It is a beautiful and delightful sight to behold the body of the Moon.”

– Galileo Galilei

Saturday, January 3, 2026

Being January, winter is in full swing. I have to admit, it’s difficult for me to go outside and observe nature right now. Either way, there’s not a lot going on out there. Even the trees are sleeping. Not to mention, the cold temperatures make me want to stay indoors, where it’s nice and toasty.

As a consequence, I worry that my “nature notes” are becoming repetitive, mostly discussing the weather and the moon. In an effort to change things up a bit, I am going to shift my focus to a more inward direction. Meaning topics inspired by introspection, internal ecosystems (i.e. – food), and my indoor environment (houseplants, cats, etc.).

In that vein, I am happy to say that my miniature orchid is preparing to blossom again. It’s your typical Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis), I do not know the exact species. It produces lovely white flowers with a pink center. I got it at the local grocery store (Kroger) a couple of years ago. They can be quite odd looking, with their green roots poking out, when not in bloom. While the flowers can last for several months, they generally only blossom once a year. This will be it’s third time flowering.

A word of warning! I frequently see watering instructions for orchids that say to use an ice cube once a week or so, to water the plant (it melts slowly and is a small, controlled amount, to help prevent overwatering). However, it’s important to note that orchids are tropical plants, that need constant warm temperatures ranging from 60°F to 80°F (this is an approximation for all orchids, some sources show a wider or narrower temperature range depending on the exact type/species).

Using ice could shock the plant or cause damage. Room temperature water is best, in my opinion. If using tap water with chlorine you may want to let it sit overnight or use filtered/bottled water. For a comprehensive guide on how to care for orchids, please visit The Spruce¹. They are a pretty easy plant to care for and generally considered safe for cats!

A Winter Treat

The cozy winter vibes from this self-described, “gamified focus tool”, Spirit City: Lofi Sessions on Steam, have me craving a cup of hot cocoa! Don’t get me wrong, I use it mostly for the cute customizations and the music rather than productivity, but regardless, its an enjoyable desktop companion. Enough about that, here is my recipe for making hot chocolate from scratch!

Optional Topping Ideas: Shaved chocolate, peppermint bark, cinnamon sticks, marshmallows, whipped cream, or even a small dollop of butter.

Additional Notes: Recipe was created using a 13 oz. mug. Different mug sizes will alter the recipe, however, I recommend sticking with a 1:1 sugar to chocolate ratio. If you are using a different sized mug, fill it prior to heating to get the correct amount of liquid. *Generally speaking, I use all oat milk, not a combination of water and half and half. It is important to note that oat milk will separate if it gets too hot, so it’s very important to heat it slowly and not let it scorch. While real milk won’t have the separation issue, it does burn easily. It is also easier to incorporate the powdered chocolate into water, so milk will require more stirring for this reason as well.

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Random Fun Fact: Did you know that vanilla extract comes from an orchid?

Genuine vanilla extract is made from the cured seed pods of the Vanilla Orchid (Vanilla planifolia), a vining orchid native to the tropical rainforests of Mexico, as well as Central and South America. It is considered a luxury spice because pod production relies almost entirely on hand-pollination.”²

1. The Spruce – https://www.thespruce.com/phalaenopsis-orchids-definition-1902866 ↩︎
2. Purdue University – https://www.purdue.edu/hla/sites/yardandgarden/the-vanilla-orchid/
   Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanilla_planifolia ↩︎