Last Day of Winter

One of things about taking a blog break is that it disrupts the continuity of my own personal story, and I've come to realise that I really regret when there are missing segments. For example, there are some fabulous holidays I've taken in the past which I never got around to documenting here and that means there are valuable memoires missing. You see, although I dearly love that you are here with me (and apparently you enjoy my words and photos), I mainly write my blog for myself. It's the best memory-keeping tool I  can think of, a truly priceless archive of my life that means the word to me. 

So although January and February aren't ever my best months, I think they still deserve their moment and I feel bad that this winter went by with nothing to show for it here. Well, there was the Meadow Blanket of course, but you know what I mean - the snapshots of everyday life are missing. So as today is the final day of winter before the Spring Equinox tomorrow, I thought it'd be a good opportunity to have a little winter catch up.

Before we head into that, I want to tell you a bit about the above photo. The print is by an artist called Jessica Boehman who lives and works in New York. I fell in love with this illustration years ago when I saw it on Facebook and it stayed lodged in my mind ever since. Sadly the image was being used on social media without any credit to Jessica, and it took me a long while to track her down as the artist. But eventually at the end of last year I did, and I was able to buy the print which I am really happy about. I found Jessica's Facebook page, and wanted to share something she wrote back in November which had a profound affect on the way I feel about the Winter Season.....

"It's mid-November, my favorite season, the time I was born. The nights are getting longer. I find I look forward to the months of the long nights, because they offer up their many gifts: a chance to rest, long, blue nights to take comfort with lovers, your children, or loved ones, wrapped tightly under blankets, and the quiet time needed for the mind to spark and grow. Turning inward, my mind lights up. I light a candle and read or draw, allowing myself to spend time in other worlds. It's a time for growing stronger. I think we could all use a healthy and restful hibernation from the ravages of this past year. Wishing you all a happy dark season, and wishing you health and safety as we continue to weather this storm together. May we come out of it kinder, stronger, and more willing to help each other in a time of need. This is my birthday wish for the world."

After reading Jessica's words I suddenly had the realisation that the winter season can be a positive time for hibernation and healing, and that we can indeed look forward to a "happy dark season". I tried SO HARD to take this onboard, and to find the joy in the dark, short days but of course it's not possible to make yourself feel happy, no matter how much you may wish for it. Having said that, I did take great comfort from this picture, so that even on days when I just wanted to stay in bed I was able to view it as being restorative and cosy rather than a failed day of doing nothing. 

One of the ways I embrace the seasons is by decorating my mantel and if you've been visiting with me a while then you will of course know all about this. My mantel was bare for a little while once Christmas was packed away, but soon enough I felt the pull to decorate for the Winter season. It's all quite minimal really, and yet I still get a huge amount of pleasure from unpacking these treasured things from previous years. The two stitched hoops were from previous Craftpod subscription boxes, and if you like the looks of them then you can now buy them as individual projects from the Craftpod Etsy shop ((here))

The Winter cross stitch canvas was from a Cotton & Twine subscription box last year (sadly no longer available)

The crochet garland was from a few years ago and I still love it, although I think next winter I'd like to crochet a nature inspired garland of leaves and berries.

The crochet robin was made from a pattern by Little Conkers ((here)).

I've enjoyed my mantel and fireplace enormously over the past two months, and have spent many hours sat on the floor right there by the fireside. It's one of my favourite places to be when all is quiet in the late afternoons.

As tomorrow is the first day of Spring, it'll be all change on my mantel this weekend, so I'm glad I've had a chance to share the winter version with you before it gets packed away for another year.

This winter the weather has actually been fantastic, as it's been the coldest season we've had in quite a few years. I'm not bothered by the cold weather at all, and I LOVE when we have ice, frost and snow in the depths of winter. What I'm not keen on is the damp, grey, drizzly, dank parts of winter, those days can just go away for ever and ever as far as I'm concerned. So yeah, the weeks we had in January and February when the temperatures sat below freezing, I was actually pretty delighted by it.

I loved that even with our very shortened days, the start and end of each day often delivered the most beautiful skies.

I loved seeing my hill view coated in a layer of white ice....

...and I love love LOVED visiting the meadow in the crisp early mornings to see the magic of winter. 

On the morning when these photos were taken it was 9am, just as the sun was rising behind the hills.

It was also a very chilly -5 degrees, oh-so-cold, but my goodness it was incredibly beautiful out there.

During these weeks when the temperature stayed below zero, the canal stayed frozen. It looks beautiful don't you think? It was a little bit treacherous on the footpaths but as we were in lockdown and home schooling, we often didn't leave the house for days on end when the ice was very bad. 

This winter also brought us quite a bit of snow, and I think this year we had four separate snow falls.

I always went out to walk in it, there is something compelling about a snow-filled landscape and I had some fun walks with the Little People. It was actually Little Lady who built the snowman (the twiggy arms were my addition), it was a very spur of the moment playful streak which I hadn't been expecting from my mature teen!

The snowy part of this winter was really wonderful actually, and looking back at these photos has reminded me how much I appreciate the four distinct seasons that we get to experience here in my corner of the world.

I've been so thankful for the clear, bright, blue-sky days of winter, oh deep joy right down to my soul when the sky is that colour!! We haven't had all that many clear days, but you can be sure I've made the most of them when they've been gifted to us.

Our daily walking has happened in all weathers and has become a permanent fixture in our days since lockdown started almost a year ago. This routine has made a huge difference to my wellbeing - we walk for just over an hour each day (about 5 km), around the neighbourhood and through the woods and I absolutely love it. The best kind of self care I'd say.

On the home front, as I mentioned in yesterday's post, life has been slow and uneventful. Aside from crocheting my beloved Meadow Blanket, I haven't felt especially creative to be honest. But really that's OK - it's absolutely OK to have quiet times when life is slow and there isn't much doing. This past week I've felt an uprising of inspiration and I've begun working creatively again, so I figure the rest must have done me good. 

Spending extended time within the four walls of home hasn't always been easy this winter, but I really have tried to make the best of it. I learnt to recognise when I needed to retreat to my bedroom and close the door, and I learnt to make the very most of the rare times when our one downstairs living room was quiet except for me and the cat. 

Daffodils have been a constant on my table this winter, a weekly essential purchase along with the groceries. At just £1 a bunch, they are such a bargain, and I love watching those tight buds slowly open in the warmth of home.

And there we have it, a mini round up of my slow winter days. Nothing terribly exciting, although we did have the drama of a broken finger a few weeks ago, thanks to the Big Teen falling off his mountain bike in spectacular fashion. I'm not going to show you photos of that mess though, even though it's still an ongoing drama. He goes back to see the plastic surgeon on Monday I think. But yeah, broken bones aside, all has been low key and quiet. 

I'm looking forward to stepping gently into the next season now, I really am ready for the change.

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Comments

[Sandy Roethler]

Thank you for sharing yourself with the world. Your little Attic endeavors bring me so much joy. Can you please tell me where you got that cute little patchwork painting in the top left corner of your mantle photo? I noticed you had a similar one for your spring mantle. Thanks very much.

[Cathy Dutnall]

lucy I have arthritis in hands and all over my body. plus I have the menopause. it is hard at times but I found hygge a great help. look it up. your life is full of hygge. it helps me. hope it helps you.

[Alice]

I love to decorate for the seasons too, I've got a lovely little easter tree I put up in the spring and lots if daffodils too! I need to get on making your seasonal Garlands as I love these and they would make a lovely decoration for the seasons

[Alice]

These are beautiful winter photos, its my favourite when the weather is cold and sunny and all the frost is lit up, it's so beautiful! We had a very snowy time of it here in Scotland, coupled with strong winds we couldnt go out and enjoy it much but it was nice to look at and stay tucked up cosy indoors.

[Leanne]

Wonderful post Lucy! Jessica's word resonate with me too, for years now my friends all know that I'm not up for social visits during winter and that I'm hibernating. I love that they understand that I need these few months to regenerate and be a complete introvert in my own little cave and that I'll be back as soon as the ground starts to warm. As I enter my hibernation in Australia your spring and summer posts will warm my creative little heart. X

[LynW]

Wonderful post Lucy...

[Diane from West Wales]

We all need to be kind to ourselves and one another and I too just love the joy of a bunch of daffodils 🌼 sitting in the window. Take it gently and slowly 💕

[Cathleen C Walker]

This is the most beautiful thing I've read in a very long time!
Thank You.
Happy Spring.

[EL]

I love how you respond to the weather, the temperatures, the changes of season. I do too, and it grounds me, even living in a warm climate. (We have our cold snaps, too.) Happy Spring!

[Miss Daisy]

Fall and winter are my favorite seasons !!! Maybe it's living in the south where our two seasons are spring and summer.

[Lily Veenendaal]

Hello Lucy, I love your winter photographs! In The Netherlands we had some winter but not as much as you had. Tomorrow, the first day of spring is the birthday of my daughter. On 21 March, 2021. she will be turning 21! She ws born on the first day of the first spring of a new millenium, I love that so much!!

[Carolyn]

Have you read 'Wintering' by Katherine May? It's a beautiful book and highly recommended.

[Kate Buckley]

I'm so glad you're back.

[Jools Morgan-Jones]

It's great to have you back, Lucy! And I am glad you are wise enough to make self care a priority - your example will help a lot of people xx

[Jane Va'afusuaga]

Thank you for sharing Lucy.
I love your blog ❤🌺🧶 And I love your wintery photos both outside in the freezing temperatures and inside too when you're all cosy by the fire and surrounded by your beautiful crocheted blankets.
I'm from NZ but have lived in Samoa for many years and one of the things I miss the most is the seasons. I miss them all - winter, summer, spring and autumn so thank you for all your seasonal photos 🌻🌺🌞🌸
I follow you on social media because I'm inspired by your creativity and love of colour and although there isn't much call for crocheted blankets on my island home, I've made made your spring garland.
I love your Instagram posts but for some reason I can't post a reaction to them... I'm not sure if others have the same issue or its just me? Hut please know I love all your posts and would post a ❤ on everyone if I could.
Sending you love and sunshine from Samoa 🌴🌺🇹🇼

[Terra]

The way you decorated your mantel is a delight. I have a fireplace too. Where I live in California you can not have a fireplace in any new houses, but my house already had a fireplace when I moved in. I like the photos of the narrow boats, there is a romance to them.

[Tracey Joubert]

Such an inspiring post as always. Thank you Lucy. I take such pleasure reading about your wonderfully cold winter experience as I live in an environment where our summer is extremely hot and constantly sticky-humid, 30C plus most days with super high humidity so one is permanently a sweltering sweaty mess! I really battle with this. Thankfully we are slowly entering ‘cololer’ (mid 20s) autumn days now but I long to experience a ‘real’ frozen winter - so your post is a little taste of that.

[Gina]

And I always love your beautiful photos!

[Gina]

Thank you for the updates, Lucy. Please don't forget your "promise" about the leaf and berry garland!! I made a beautiful fall leaf one, tiny variegated leaves and I am always sorry to put it away when winter and Christmas come. I would love, love to make a leafy winter one. Hoping Big Teen comes through his injury with nothing lasting!

[Kathryn]

I am refreshed reading your post, and grateful that you have emerged from the winter at long last. We too have very long winters in Minnesota, and it is challenging for me too, every year. I love the print and quote by Jessica Boehman, it really does give a new perspective on the slow days of winter. Thank you so much for sharing it! I love your winter mantle and I am happy you have such beauty around you, it is so inspiring. I'm loving the Meadow blanket, and am still making my slow progress through it. You are appreciated! Take care, and best wishes to your family :)

[Jackie Farrow]

I’m lovely these Winter photos. We of course don’t get that sort of Winter. It can go down to single figure temps at night, but alas no snow here in Perth WA. So any photos I see remind me of my childhood playing outside in the snow, so thank you 🙏🏻.

[Lisa from Calgary, Canada]

Hi Lucy,
I'm new to your blog, and an avid Anglophile, so I look forward to reading your posts. But the real reason why I'm commenting is that I NEED to know when you decide to crochet your new garland; the nature theme sounds perfect! Stay well!

[Kate]

I've grown to love the Winter days also because it's my most creative time Spring and Summer finds me outside most of the time playing with my dogs and working in my garden so I need a season to slow down and just create. Love your Wintry pictures and honestly I can see another blanket using the colors of the early morning over the white, frozen meadow. You've never used white, beige or brown in most of your creations so that would be a big change, but I think you could make it beautiful. Especially if you add the sunrise colors to it!

[Coastal Ripples]

A lovely walk through your winter months with glorious photos as always. Hope all goes well with your son and his break recovers quickly. B x

[Tineke]

As an avid gardener and crafter, I need the winter to plan for next spring. It was a long winter though here. 7 months of cold and darkness, longer than usual. Much colder than usual. It has been a long time ago since we had more than a meter of snow. This night will be minus 7 degrees Celsius, I covered the tender buds and plants. I think your mind and body need this period of rest too, I believe in living with the seasons. My body is much better with cold. Heat can wear me down much faster. If it wasn't for my longing for the beauty of flowers I would love cold. All the best for your oldest finger.