Brrrrr . . .

Brrrrr . . . it is very cold this morning. I  can see a light coat of frost on the car and am sure it is well below zero out there.  Todd is predicting a cold Winter this year and yesterday they were saying there might even be some snow in the more Northernly areas and on the high ground over these next few days!  There is no snow here yet, but we might get some!  Very exciting stuff!

I love that first snowfall of the year.  We don't get a lot of snow over here, which makes it even more special.  There is magic watching those first few tranquil flakes float down . . . first a few and then a few more . . . flakes falling faster and faster and with purpose.  The stone walls silver over and puddles glass over as all begins to wear a mantle of white.  The trees cast feathers of snow from their branches as the inside of the house takes on a luminous glow . . . whilst outside the sharp etchings of November begin to blur . . . 

There are more birds at the feeders now . . . we fill them each day with cracked seed and nuts, millet and mealy worms . . . stale bread from the table and fat balls of suet.  The trick it so get it high enough so that Mitzie can't get at it.  The air rings with their chatter . . . tits, nuthatches, sparrows . . . a pair of goldfinches, our resident wood pigeon and a lone blackbird.  If we are lucky the robin comes along . . . seemingly unafraid of human companionship.  He often is our companion when we are out digging in the garden . . . always only a few feet away waiting for a fat worm to appear between the tines of our garden fork . . . but there are no worms today . . . 

They are all hungry and waiting for our ministrations, which we happily apply.   Little heads popping in and out of our frozen hedge as the sun begins to gild the top of it's frost covered greenery.  The hedge flutters with the beat of a thousand wings . . . and it makes me wish that I had wings that I too, could beat . . . winter has arrived . . .

Winter came down to our home one night
Quietly pirouetting in on silvery-toed slippers of snow,
 And we,
we were children once again.
~Bill Morgan, Jr.  

Fading is the month of dramatic sunsets.  The air fills with the sharp smell of burning wood, wet earth and rotting leaf . . . now laying crisp and frozen beneath our feet, whilst the wind picks up a tang which sets our blood to a quicker rhythm.  Our steps are brisker, wanting to get to where we need to go . . . quicker, braced for the cold.  Noses tingle and fingers burn . . .

As the sun grows smaller so too does our world diminish in size.  Life now centers around the hearth . . . there is much to do in the garden . . . but for now it lays quietly waiting . . .  brooding beneath the leafless trees.  It is as if nature is whispering . . . time to rest for a bit, sleep and wait . . . tis time now to slow down  . . . December is not far off, and with that Christmas  . . .

Of winter's lifeless world each tree 
Now seems a perfect part; 
Yet each one holds summer's secret 
Deep down within its heart. 
~Charles G. Stater  

 

Preparations are well under way here for our Thanksgiving. I know I am Canadian, but I live in the UK, where they don't do Thanksgiving for the most part, and if they do, they do the American one.  Its almost impossible to find a turkey at the beginning of October actually. I also like the way that Thanksgiving in November seems to usher in the whole Holiday season. Oddly enough, they do Black Friday here, which is  totally abhorent to me. Totally.  Funny how that goes.  In any case we do have much to be thankful for. So Thanksgiving it is.  I can honor my Pilgrim Ancestors and be grateful for our bounty.

A thought to carry with you  . . .

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *"Always do right.  
This will gratify some people, 
and astonish the rest."
~Mark Twain  •。★★ 。* 。 

 

Cooking in The English Kitchen today  . . .  Green Bean & Almond Casserole.  Scrumptiously tasty!  

Have a beautiful day!  Don't forget!  

═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════ ⊰✿░G░O░D⊰✿⊰L░O░V░E░S⊰✿⊰░Y░O░U░⊰✿
═══════════ ღೋƸ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒღೋ ═══════════  

And I do too!