A Patchwork of Comforts (RWW)

Author Carol Wiseman asked people around the country to send her descriptions of their favorite comforts. The result is A Patchwork of Comforts, a collection of comforting and comfortable things to soothe body, mind, and spirit. Comforts are organized alphabetically and Wiseman adds sidebars with bits of trivia, and even comforting recipes, such as a recipe for Zabaglione, a dessert sauce.

A-to-Z comforts include:

Alone Time: The only voice you hear is your own
Aromas: Trigger memories
Brainrest: A chance to recoup and regroup
Crosswords: The right word satisfies
Cuddling: Back to the womb
Daydreams: Going to the movies free
Dogs: Part of the family

and

Vacation: A break from responsibility
Water: Watch it, hear it, drink it, play in it
X-tra Time: Ditching the clock lets you finish . . . whatever
Young at Heart: Keeps you in the loop
ZZZ?s: Renews and reactivates

There are plenty of comforting activities to take the sting out of even the worst days: sitting by a fire after a long walk in the cold; watching birds in the back yard; enjoying a big cup of homemade hot chocolate; bathing by candlelight; a weekend camping trip with no electronic appliances. A Patchwork of Comforts is a homecoming in a bookwelcoming, warm, and wise.

A book written especially for one of those days, dipping into A Patchwork of Comforts is like a long soak in a hot tub.