Well, isn't this a "fine kettle of fish"...?

 December 29, 2023

That is for want of a pronouncement that is not profane!

This is what I want, and would be normal for this time of year.

All except the last picture, were taken around Christmas time in 2017, the most perfect Christmas. The last one was 2021

This is what we have today. The overnights are not even reaching the freezing mark, and it rained last night...RAINED. Nuff said.

This stretch of weather has been so grey and dreary. Heavy fog has hung around day after day. Don't think we have seen the sun since the 22nd, when we had one sunny day.

That morning, there were lovely hoar frost crystals on all the twigs and branches, but since then the mild temperatures have whittled away at the snow until now, there is nothing of consequence left. The ground was still covered with snow for Christmas day, so technically, we had a 'white Christmas', but it was mild and melting, nothing fresh about it!

So the cooking and feasting is pretty much over. The turkey bones are simmering on the stove for stock, and we are still enjoying the tree and Christmas music. Why not? It is damp and cool and just not wintery outside. I will dismantle things early in the new year.

I've been spending some time in the craft room...got the last pair of Hubby's holey work pants patched, and all my decks cleared and organized for some fun stuff. He has been warned...that is the last time for that particular pair, as there are patches on patches. This time I put a whole big patch covering the legs, from upper thigh to mid-shin, and zig-zagged heavily over all the rips. 

Son gave me an AeroGarden for Christmas, and I am waiting for the sun to begin showing itself more consistently before setting it up. It uses a little bit of power for the light and the circulating pump. It seems to be a hybrid between hydroponics and in-soil plantings. It comes with pods, pre-planted with dill, mint, parsley, thyme, and two types of basil. The bottom of the pods protrude into the water, to which you add chemical fertilizer.

I'll be having a good think before starting those plugs, as the germinating time and growth habits of those plants are different. It would be nice to have fresh parsley and basil though.

Nothing much planned for the next few. We are usually pretty quiet over New Year's Eve and day. I'll be making something special for Hubby's birthday on the 31st, and a cake, of course. I'm thinking cranberry/orange carrot cake with cream cheese icing. 

I always think it is best to start the new year with a good sleep under one's belt! 

All the best to everyone for 2024. Happy New Year!

 

 

Winter, where art thou?????

December 19, 2023

Well, this is a little more like it!

It snowed last night, and the accompanying heavy wind gusts moaned loudly around the edge of the open window. This morning, there are BIG blue patches in the sky.

We have been enduring very mild, dreary weather, with temperatures fluctuating around the freezing mark, and few sunny days. There have been many small skiffs of snow, and then, on December 4, we had a lovely 8 inch dump of snow that required blowing and ploughing. 

It was up to the boot tops, and we did get out the snowshoes and broke a few trails.

Since then, the warm weather has melted all of that snow, leaving just small ridges where the snow was ploughed to, and on north-facing areas in the bush. What little frost was in the ground has begun to come out, making the surface of the drive and road a little squishy. 

Some mornings, there were strange, spikey hoar frost creations on all the twigs and branches.

All in all, it has been a loonngg stretch of dreary, sunless weather, so un-Christmas-like. 

Despite that, the house is spiffed up, decorations have been put up, and the tree is in and decorated.

Over the last couple of summers, I've been pruning some little spruce and balsam fir trees around the acreage, and this year, we harvested the first one. It is a beautiful, bushy little tree, so unlike the 'Charlie Brown' trees we've had in the past, beautiful in their own way, but hard to find enough branches to hang the ornaments! No snipping was required on this one, except removing the bottom branches to put it in the stand. There are plenty of branches to hold all of the ornaments we've collected over the years, with room for more. Every ornament has a reason, or a memory attached, from the ceramic cow, to the birds, angels and glass icicles.

Gingerbread men have been baked, Christmas dinner planned, the cranberry sauce made, dressing for the turkey made and in the freezer. This year, instead of pudding, I am trying my hand at a Christmas trifle. Extensive list making has (hopefully!) ensured that I have all the ingredients needed for everything, as we are not going to town again until well after Christmas day. Family and friends are coming, so we are looking forward to a lovely day. 

In the back of one's mind, is the horror that is going on in the world, and a feeling of guilt(?) that we are so very fortunate with our peace, full larder and warm, comfortable home. 

The snowfall of the 4th, had the deer moving toward the yard a bit. Their migration trails were showing lots of tracks, and a trail camera caught this trio moving in daylight hours.

Meanwhile, the twin fawns hanging around the house and gardens were pawing at the snow to reach the grass below,

and had even started nibbling on the cedars right at the front of the house. They were appearing in the yard like clockwork, just as dusk started falling. We have never had summer/garden deer issues, and sure hope next year will not be the exception! 

So, things are on track, and hopefully Mother Nature will stop fooling around and get down to Real winter.

Sending warm wishes to all for a peaceful Christmas, and a healthy new year.