A cottage-cozy evening of sparkling spiced cider spiked with brandy and clove-studded lemon slices nesting with smokey vetiver, star anise, perique tobacco, honeycomb, tonka, soft woods, and a worn leather loveseat by the fireside.

And, for the winter fireside meet,  Between the andirons' straddling feet,  The mug of cider simmered slow,  The apples sputtered in a row,  And, close at hand, the basket stood  With nuts from brown October's wood.

What matter how the night behaved?  What matter how the north-wind raved?  Blow high, blow low, not all its snow  Could quench our hearth-fire's ruddy glow.

- John Greenleaf Whittier

Art: The Cottage at the Foot of the Mountain by John Bauer, 1914