What does one do when the ice that has accumulated in the gutter RIIIPPPPPPPS the gutter off the house taking the satellite dishes, a window screen (but not the window) and a couple of stairs with it???  There is the giving of thanks that there was no injuries or loss of life and then . . . . . .Well, I'm one of these people who feels if life gives you lemons, then you should make lemonade!!!

There is no better way to entertain yourself than to read a book (or two, or twelve).  I like to have a nice cocoon on a cold day and a nice cocoon on a cold night. 

The Night Cocoon

The first thing you need for a good reading cocoon is a comfortable place to situate all the proper reading utensils.

This is my side of the bed.  I have outfitted the bed/cocoon with a memory foam mattress pad, soft flannel sheets, a thick fluffy comforter, a thick fuzzy throw blanket, and a couple of pillows.  Notice the clip-on lamp or as Honey likes to call it, "the second sun." 

My nightstand holds my current reading selection and some book lights for when Honey has trouble sleeping with the "second sun" shining.  The drawers of my night stand hold tissues for cleaning glasses or wiping noses and many other items that enhance my comfort while reading.

In close proximity to my reading cocoon you can also find a space heater, a warm steam vaporizer (which Honey tried to tell me was keeping him up with all the noise until I pointed out it doesn't have a motor so there IS NO noise) and . . . 

 . . .my favorite fuzzy foot warmer.

I've just had a revelation.  You know that missing smelly gene of mine?  It seems that I was blessed with the gene that concentrates on color, texture, warmth, and functionality.  Oh my God, I'm not the freak I thought I was.

Then I also have a confession.  There are some days when I'm so much a slug I go right from the nighttime cocoon to the daytime cocoon (with a quick detour into the shower because while I may not be preoccupied with pleasantly smelly things, I DO NOT care for unpleasantly smelly things, especially when it comes from myself).

The Daytime Cocoon

Once again comfort and the proximity to comfort is the name of the game here.

This would be my end of the couch.  There are two table in close proximity to the cocoon.  One has a good light source, some reading material storage, and a place for tissues should you come to a particularly moving part of the book and not want to get tears ruining the pages of your book.  Notice the book I just finished--Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult (very good).  Now a good reading cocoon should also have . . .

Some throws to keep you warm.  I call them couch binkies.  They are soft and fluffy.

Some good reading glasses to protect your eyes while you entertain your mind.

The cute baby kitten bookmark with a kitty bead and a tassel.  This way you can mark your place without mucking up the book by folding pages or breaking the spine which I found out recently is a thing much frowned upon by many bloggers and the main character of my current book, Twelfth Card by Jeffrey Deaver.  The tassel is also a good excuse for when . . . . .

 . . . . . . Mr. "look at me now" crawls between me and what I'm doing for some quality time. Then the last thing I make sure to have in close proximity to the cocoon is . . . .

 . . . . a nice cup of tea.  No sense in interrupting a good book just for something to drink.  Speaking of interruptions, I hear Lincoln Rhyme calling me back to my story.  Gotta go now.

tags: books  bed  couch  reading  warmth  cats  livingspace  cocoon  

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