Joys of Winter

* JessM* so pleased to hear you're considering Wateraid; it's one of our main charities, especially for DH, who is a speaker for the charity. We're off to Kwazulunatal in March to look at an irrigation project, and have ongoing stuff in Burkina Faso too. As you say, now is the moment.

Now is the time to gird our loins and get on with it, one way or another. And to count whatever blessings we do have. It will soon be over for another year.
One thing I do need to do this evening is to pick a charity and make an online donation in lieu of the cards etc I didn't send etc. And post good wishes on Facebook to that effect. I think it is going to be Wateraid, in honour of all those women who have to carry water every day. Young ones, old ones, pregnant ones and sick ones. Yup. Now is the moment.

Warm and thoroughly wet here. It has just been throwing it down. I intended to shop before the light goes - but it's still raining..........well, they said we needed some water, here it is!
Apparently 1" of rain is 100 tons per acre? Is that right? I got in from 'Victorian Farm Christmas'.

I am resigned to Xmas now, not depressed any more. Whoever said I was angry was right. I did a bit of psychological therapy by building a fir tree in the minecraftfree game, a very large one, decorating it - and then blowing it up with TNT. End of tree. Large hole in the ground. And a feeling of satisfaction!
Weird, eh! But I feel I can cope now.

And concerning I think. It all seems to be oscillating a bit more in the Uk in the last few years. Drought order in SE corner.
Extreme cold this time last year. And a very very un-windy winter.
Extreme warm this autumn. indeed.

Is it really winter? Half way through December last year I was helping to dig cars out of the snow in a car park, before digging a way out all the way up the hill to the car park of the pub by the main road.

This year I am still picking tomatoes from a bush plant grown in a pot that I brought indoors at the end of November because it had produced another crop of tomatoes. There are still a dozen or so tomatoes quietly ripening.

Truly wondrous are the ways of nature. [hmmm]

supernana

oh, ode to gransnet

Yesterday -
A chill grey day
Misty, dull and still.
On waking -
Heart felt heavy
Eyes were wet
Spirit sank into a well.
Where to go?
Who to tell?
Where would answers lie?
Reached out to strangers
With unreal names
Living far and wide.
Comfort winged the air-waves
With virtual smiles
And virtual hugs -
Warming heart
Drying eyes
Lifting spirits skywards.
To each and every one
I bless you for true friendship.

Well i have been out for a run with bare arms, and that was before the sun came out so brightly! I still have roses and a few determined fuschias in bloom and a smattering of other things. Daffodil shoots have appeared that were not there an hour ago I swear.
Strange to think that this time last year we had so much snow we could not get cars off drive. And 2 years ago too, was wandering around taking photos of snow, including a great one of a fox running across the path in a snowy wood (luckiest shot of my life to date)
But we get cooler days than this in sept. I don't believe it is only 9deg.

to you all.

Have a joyous winter festival!

givet? GIFT! fingers can't spell today!

That's a lovely poem, Butter - I can actually see the basket and its contents. It's a great givet to be able to paint such a word picture.

That's lovely, butty. I think this colourfulness that we impose at the dark time of the year, this friendliness and the giving of simple but beautiful things is the real festivity of the season. And thank you, my chest is getting steadily better. The first day of an infection is often the worst until my antibodies jump to work and start kicking out the intruders.

Butter perfection!

Mid winter, and it could be grey, dank, cold and sunless (which it is)
But for the vibrancy of a friend from Mexico,
Bringing gifts of home-made, multi-coloured macaroons,
To take home.
Colours of pinks, chocolate creams, softest greens and rich browns
In a little cardboard box, all tied up in ribbon, in a willow basket
That her husband wove, just for me,
Of grey reds, deep yellows, charcoal blacks and earth browns.
The colourful joy of winter,
And I feel held with such beauty, such bounty.

Baggy Hope that you'll be your usual fit-as-a-fiddle self very very very soon. (((hugs)))

JENIIIIIIII you get the prize for Minx of the Month! I wish you had the video on sale...

One of the ones I went on I fooled all the men at my table into thinking that I was the Madam of a very exclusive. Brothel. Their wives backed me up and it was all hilarious.

bags, look after yourself. We need you fit and well and writing lovely winter poems.
jenni have fun on that cruise and tell us all (?) when you get back!

Take good care of that chest infection, Bagitha - you need that cleared up quickly!

bagitha Sounds like a lovely late cosy Winter's afternoon, but sorry you're feeling poorly. You're clearly being taken care of. Get well soon.

A cruise at this time of the year sounds a great idea - have a lovely time, Jeni.
Whilst I am enjoying the summer in NZ, my Swiss friend tells me that my car (she is looking after it for me) is snowed in up to the windows. They have been praying for snow for the ski season, so she is not unhappy, and quite used to it anyway.
I hope your chest infection clears up soon, bagitha, in time for Christmas.

Have a lovely cruise, jeni!

I'm 'enjoying' some of the lesser joys of winter at the moment: a painful chest infection. However, DH is cooking dinner and DD1 is occupying the children with plastic bag monster-making and papier maché while I recline with my feet up and a . Love them all.

jeni

There only plain White m&s " medium control" I suspect ec means more like Victorias secret and they don't do a size18