Arriving At Aurora Chalet: A Cozy Winter-Themed Sleep Story

Winter can be a time of quiet contemplation.

It's a time for cozy clothing and fluffy blankets,

Crackling fires and warm beverages.

A time for slowing down,

For resting instead of rushing.

A perfect time to enjoy a deep,

Peaceful slumber.

No matter where you are or what you have been doing,

It can take some time to calm the mind down and get a good night's sleep.

Let's lay any thoughts and concerns from our day aside and spend some time together.

Tonight we are going to a quiet mountain chalet where we will relax,

Recover and rest.

As you close your eyes and get comfortable,

Take a moment to breathe deeply with me.

Breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth.

Breathe in and out.

Breathe in and out.

Letting your thoughts down,

Letting your body relax against your bed,

Feeling your worries slip away.

The sun is setting as you arrive at Aurora Chalet,

A beautiful place for a winter getaway nestled in a grove of thick,

Many-bowed spruce trees on a picturesque mountainside.

Fresh,

Pure white snow crunches beneath your boots,

And you feel cool,

Refreshing alpine air on your cheeks.

It smells like winter here,

A clean,

Pure scent woven through with notes of evergreen trees and a hint of gingerbread.

The snowbanks on either side of the well-maintained cobblestone driveway glow rosy in the end of daylight.

Perhaps you were expecting a cabin,

Something modest for your winter retreat,

But this lovely three-story building is more like a cozy castle.

Beneath its gently sloping peaked roof,

Its two upper stories are built of long planks of honey-colored wood.

All windows are framed with charming red shutters,

And French doors open onto a balcony that runs the length of the third floor.

The main floor looks like a stone cottage,

Its walls built of sturdy boulders that appear pink and orange in the setting sun.

Bits of embedded quartz sparkle in the fading light.

A covered veranda wraps around the front and sides of the chalet.

Outdoor heaters sit discreetly among bistro tables and comfortable armchairs,

And you think it might be very nice to sit out here with a mug of hot chocolate and watch the stars come out.

You climb the veranda's stone steps to a pair of heavy mahogany doors,

Which swing silently open as you approach.

The proprietor stands in the doorway and smiles in greeting at you.

Before you enter,

The proprietor asks if there is anything you'd like to leave outside.

Any cares,

Concerns,

Or worries can be left in the capable hands of the staff to watch over for you during your stay.

Take a moment to sort through what you are carrying.

You might picture any particular thoughts or worries as parcels or suitcases.

You might hand these things to the proprietor,

Or place them on the veranda's stone floor.

The staff will keep them safe.

You don't need to think about them during your stay here.

Anything you want to pick back up again will be waiting for you tomorrow morning,

When you are refreshed and ready.

Take a few moments to relieve yourself of these things.

Unburdened now,

You step inside the chalet,

And are led up a wide stone staircase to your room.

The proprietor reminds you that this time and this space is yours to do with as you please,

Before handing you an old-fashioned brass key for the door.

The decorative top of the key shows off beautiful spirals of metal,

And you realize after a moment that they form a stylized version of the mountain.

The distinctive teeth of the heavy brass key make a satisfying click as you slide them into the lock.

The proprietor slips away,

Leaving you to enter your room.

As you open the door,

A welcome scent greets you,

Reminiscent of apple pie and hints of fresh cedar.

This space is all yours for as long as you need it.

The walls are that wonderful honey-colored wood,

Rustic and almost glowing with welcoming warmth.

A small fireplace is ready for you in one corner.

A bentwood rocking chair sits before it,

A perfect spot to read or knit or daydream.

The bed across from the fireplace looks to be a mile wide,

With fluffy pillows and warm blankets.

Perhaps your favorite stuffed animals from childhood,

Or the ones that you keep close now,

Are somehow waiting for you here.

Everything feels fresh and clean,

But also familiar and welcoming,

And like home,

In all the best ways.

You pause to examine the quilt spread on top of the bed.

You can tell that it was made by hand,

By someone with a lot of skill and a lot of love.

The pattern is the same as the one on the key,

A stylized version of the mountain where Aurora Chalet sits.

Somehow,

Something about the colors of the quilt seem familiar.

The scraps of fabric remind you of different happy times in your life.

This quilt is a memory quilt,

Stitched together with feelings of warmth,

Joy,

Tranquility,

Safety,

And peace from your own memories.

Here,

You see the fabric from a favorite sweater from when you were small.

There,

Perhaps a bit of silk from a school dance,

A square from the shirt you wore to an important ceremony,

A bit of baby blanket,

Soft and soothing,

A scrap from a couch cushion from the home of a favorite relative or caregiver.

You run your hand over the quilt.

Feel the different textures beneath your fingertips now.

Some smooth,

Some soft,

Some crisp,

But all familiar and well-worn and loved.

All good,

Comforting things in your life to support you and help you relax and let go of your cares.

You take your time to freshen up and change into a comfortable outfit.

Fleece or sweats,

An ancient t-shirt with your favorite band's logo,

Your pajamas or a robe and fluffy slippers,

Or comfy sneakers.

This cozy chalet prioritizes comfort,

And you can wear whatever makes you happiest here.

Perhaps you are ready to stretch out on the bed under the warm,

Loving,

Lovely quilt.

Perhaps you wish to continue exploring the chalet.

The brass key weights heavy and reassuring in your pocket.

This room and this bed are ready for you any time you want to return here.

You head down the stone stairway once more,

Your hand on the wide wooden banister.

It curves beneath your palm,

Smooth and inviting,

And lovely to the touch.

As you reach the main floor,

You hear the telltale crackle of a warm fire.

You cross the quiet lobby and enter the great room,

A common area for chalet guests to unwind in.

One wall is a floor-to-ceiling window that welcomes visitors to take in the majestic views from this far up the mountainside.

On the opposite side of the room,

A massive stone fireplace is built into the wall.

A roaring fire warms the space,

The source of that inviting crackling sound you followed into the great room.

A few chairs are pulled close to the fire,

And a rug invites anyone who wishes to lie down in front of it.

A third wall is entirely taken up by burnished mahogany bookcases that you'll be sure to explore later this evening.

You walk fully into the room.

The floor here is made of stone too,

But with lush area rugs scattered through the space.

Armchairs,

Recliners,

Loveseats,

And couches are placed singly and in little groups,

Each with throw blankets and soft pillows to curl up with.

The furniture is spread throughout the room,

Ready for you to choose your favorite spot.

Perhaps there are other guests here,

In their own sweats or PJs,

Reading,

Dozing,

Or chatting together quietly.

Or perhaps you have the chalet to yourself,

And you can enjoy this space in peaceful solitude.

You make your way to the window wall,

Which overlooks a clearing behind the chalet and out onto the mountains beyond.

It is twilight now,

The sky a rich violet blue.

A few stars are visible,

Shining down on the mountain slope,

Where the snow glows an ethereal white.

Spruce trees spread out on either side of the clearing,

Up and down the mountain,

Providing a home for many animals.

The trees are tall and full,

Their needles a deep,

Fresh green that you can almost smell,

Even here inside.

They are very old,

And they stand proudly in the deepening night.

You see small tracks leading into the evergreens,

Left by an arctic fox or a fluffy rabbit perhaps,

On its way to its own cozy burrow for the night.

In the fading light,

You see the mountains all around this one,

Rising in friendly,

Snow-covered peaks.

You're about to turn away when you sense movement in the trees,

And you find yourself holding your breath as a graceful deer steps delicately into the clearing.

Her ears are alert,

Her eyes watchful,

But her bearing is calm.

As she ambles past the window,

Two smaller shadows emerge from the forest,

And you see two baby deer following her.

The fawns are much less careful than their mother,

Prancing joyfully through the snow.

They both have white spots across their coats and long,

Long eyelashes.

The mother deer pauses to watch as they play.

And you watch too,

Taking joy in the little fawn's delight at the crisp winter air,

The crunchy snow beneath their hooves,

And each other.

The sky deepens further,

A purplish navy that will soon slip away into full night,

And the mother deer knows it's time to continue on.

She begins to move once more toward the woods,

And the little fawns quickly end their game and follow her,

On their way to a warm,

Comfortable thicket where they will cuddle up to sleep.

You feel that sleepiness too,

As you turn back to the room,

Bathed in the bronze hues of the gentle firelight.

Your brass room key rests in your pocket,

Ready for you whenever you want to retreat to your bed.

Your feet sink into the plush rugs as you cross over to the bookcases.

The shelves are well-stocked,

With everything from current bestsellers to leather-bound antiques.

You skim your fingers along the classic novels,

Enjoying the feel of the soft leather as you read titles wrought in golden font,

And breathe in the scent of old but well-cared-for books.

Some of the shelves hold games—decks of cards and cribbage boards,

Backgammon and chess sets,

Board games of every kind for one or two or more players.

Another set of shelves is home to skeins of wool and pairs of needles,

Cross-stitch kits,

Coloring books with fine-tipped markers,

Crossword collections,

And jigsaw puzzles.

You take your time as you peruse your options.

There's just enough here to offer you choices of all your favorite things,

But not so much that you are overwhelmed.

Perhaps you choose a book,

An old favorite,

Or a new title you've been meaning to read,

Or perhaps a hobby or a game.

Perhaps you decide to leave these for another day,

And simply enjoy your own thoughts and the atmosphere of the chalet.

You have all the time you want right now to enjoy a quiet break,

However you wish.

You are growing more and more relaxed as you move toward the massive stone hearth.

The air is filled with the gentle crackling of the fire,

And you choose an overstuffed armchair,

Sinking into it to watch the flames dance for a while.

On the end table next to your chair is a round oaken wood tray that someone has brought in for you.

Your name spelled out in black ink on a little card,

Confirming that this treat is yours.

An earthenware jug that holds your favorite cozy drink,

Maybe a perfectly spiced mulled cider or a rich hot chocolate.

Beside it,

A matching mug,

And a lovely handmade plate with just the right nighttime snack,

Ginger snaps or coffee cake,

Or perhaps a thoughtful selection of cheeses or an array of fresh fruit.

You savor your treat.

You have nowhere to rush off to,

No deadlines to meet.

You can take your time by the fireplace now,

Unwinding,

And knowing that you are taken care of here.

Your eyelids are growing heavier as you watch the fire.

In its warm orange light,

You look at the stones that make up the fireplace.

They are of many different sizes,

Textures,

And colors.

You notice names or initials carved into many of them.

Visitors who have come before,

Perhaps,

Or those who helped to build this wonderful sanctuary.

A mystery for another day.

For now,

You are drowsy and content to know that there is something new to learn tomorrow.

Something you can leave until then.

You are drifting closer to sleep now,

Cozy and safe.

You can wrap yourself up in a blanket and stay here by the fire in the great room.

Or make your way back to your own room.

You choose where you wish to get comfortable.

Cocooned by the chalet,

And the blankets,

And your own sense of ease.

Aromas of firewood and delicious baking lull you.

Outside,

A gentle wind plays in the branches of the ageless spruce trees.

And inside,

All the fireplaces fill the chalet with warmth.

It's time to let yourself settle in and fall fast asleep.