Outside is a day I would like to stay that way – outside!
Still I stomp along on my walk until slowly I realise where I am and what I am doing. I lift my head from the study of my welly boots. Visibility is poor, I can’t see further than the line of trees ahead. The world beyond is hidden, has become mystical and mysterious.
I tiptoe along the edge of mini lochs which appeared overnight. Coming to a standstill I see, what? What is it exactly that I am taking my time to see? What aspect of nature will I have the chance to appreciate today?
Raindrops.
Crystal fairy lights clinging to bare branches.
I tuck away my camera. Not every day is a bright, sunny one but each one certainly has its own moment, its own beauty.
I open my curtains every morning to gauge the weather. I suppose I could look at my phone and the Weather App would tell me but old habits die hard.
If it hadn’t been for the time I lived abroad I probably wouldn’t be so conscious of this part of my daily routine. I opened the curtains one morning after about six weeks in my new home to another day of blue sky.
It had been the same every day since I arrived. It was then I realized that the daily habit of a lifetime was of no more use. It was going to be pretty much sunny with cloudless skies, every day.
Now don’t get me wrong, coming from Scotland I felt there was much to be delighted about by this!
This morning I opened the curtains and a frost covered the ground. It hadn’t been there the morning before.
I knew it would be cold outside and yet, what a beautiful scene lay before me.
Nature’s artist providing a final flourish, the one to give it that wow! factor. The touch to highlight the beauty, clarify the lines, exaggerate every detail. It is a shout out to us all – Look! Look at how stunning Nature is; the delicacy, the intricacy.
My own choice and knowledge of words will never be enough to describe the scene and yet, how does it make me feel?
Like a child. Opening the curtains in the morning brings a dawning in me, winter is here. The time of woolly hats and mittens, boots and heavy coats has arrived. I step out the door to an icy freshness.
Sun, of a light different to the warm glows of Autumn, displays the frosty sparkle. It is a muted, hazy light contrasting with the freshness of the air. The first lulling you into hibernation as the latter wakes you up, demanding your attention.
I think of the bulbs underground. Tucked up for winter. Thinking of them brings me onto spring, but then again, what is the rush? Why not welcome the winter, enjoy the precious light of the days and the evenings, tucked up, almost hibernating myself? Safe in the knowledge the bulbs are waiting.
I recently wrote a post about ‘Cup of Tea Books’, you know, the books or stories you return to again and again. Comforting, familiar, like the old worn crochet blanket you wrap yourself up in at night.
My ‘Cup of Tea’ Book for Winter
Well, I had some lovely replies on Twitter and Facebook and I thought I’d list them here. Admittedly so I could make up a list for myself of books to read and then I thought, why not share it? So here we are.
A huge thank you to all who replied, it’s been great fun seeing your recommendations and a good excuse to keep in touch!
I’ll keep on adding to the list and add this to the main page of the blog so please feel free to send me the titles of your ‘Cup of Tea Books’ and spread the word, thank you!
The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood
A Man called Ove – Fredrik Backman
The Miniaturist – Jesse Burton
Theft in a Cake Shop – Italo Calvino
Agatha Christie
Elemental – Amanda Curtin
Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier
Elizabeth is Missing – Emma Healey
H is for Hawk – Helen Macdonald
Nutshell – Ian McEwan
The Heart of Horses – Molly Gloss
Birdsong – Sebastian Faulkes
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
We are all Completely Beside Ourselves – Karen Joy Fowler
Autumn has swept in with all the colours of a warm, woolly scarf.
I went on holiday recently, full of enthusiasm to leave and have a change. Well, the holiday was a real treat but so was the return.
In the time I was away the countryside has been transformed. Summer has ended but a new season, a fresh start has begun.
Last year I planted a rowan tree by our front door. As a child I remember being told a rowan tree was always planted in Scottish gardens by the front door to ward off evil. On the other hand, the wood is also used to make wands.
I don’t know if any of it is true but this rowan tree has certainly given us a magical display with it’s long fingers of reds, oranges and greens.
Now I just need to put on my own woolly scarf, go out, and start planting bulbs for the spring.
Returning to the theme of books, I wanted to mention ‘Cup of Tea Books’.
I’m sure you know the ones I mean, the books you return to time and time again. For many people it is the classics such as Jane Eyre, for others it may be a favourite series.
Maeve Binchy will always be one of my favourites, I would also count Elizabeth Jane Howard and her Cazelet Chronicles. Perhaps there is a theme, they are all stories of families through the years. The characters develop over time to become like old friends.
When I need a book to chill out with then I’ll turn to one of these.
Sometimes I think these are ‘easy’ books to read as they often deal with everyday life but I am sure they were not easy to write! If I could write one story with characters you would like to ‘meet’ again then I’d be very happy!
Okay, this sunflower photo had to have pride of place here, right at the top, hopefully bright and cheery!
I wondered if anything would come of the seeds since I planted them a bit late but my imperfect timing doesn’t seem to have really mattered.
Flowers have now appeared: majestic crowns on top of their giant bodies. (I’m thinking of Jack and the Beanstalk here!).
As far as I remember I’ve loved sunflowers since I first saw an exhibition of Van Gogh paintings at The Burrell Collection in Glasgow, I think it was in 1990. A while ago I was lucky enough to go to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, where I unashamedly enjoyed filling in the worksheet provided for the children!
On a practical note I think I can chop off the head (!) and leave it out for the birds in the winter for feed, surely a win-win all round?
Maybe next year I’ll plant the seeds late again or maybe early, who knows?
