Winter Foraging …

Each afternoon I take a walk – if the sun is out it becomes more of a saunter, an amble.  Sometimes I stop and hold my face up to the sun, close my eyes, and feel its warmth on my skin.  Passing motorists must wonder what I am doing.  I am savouring these brief moments in an otherwise dull and overcast day.  When the fog lifts it is cause for celebration, to see a little blue sky, the sun shining on the leaves that are still hanging on precariously, ready to fall.  Watch glistening raindrops teetering on the edge of red berries giving a Christmas tree feel to the hedgerows.  I am looking for colour, checking out what is available, what Mother Nature will provide for me to bring indoors to decorate the house for the Christmas period.  I like to keep things simple – twigs and branches, vases of berries, holly and ivy, candles and a few baubles – are all that is needed to complete the festive feel.

The bulbs that I planted earlier in the year are all now pushing through – bringing them indoors into the warmth will soon have them growing away, and they too will add a little colour and fragrance to the room.

The garden still hasn’t died back completely despite one or two frosts

and even though I have missed a few sunrises catching up on sleep that has evaded me during the night due to my cold and the constant coughing – I did manage to capture this beautiful sunset.

I  have even started to think about a Christmas wish list

top of the list is a warm winter coat – my old one has seen better days and must be over fifteen years old – I have found a fur-lined parka-type one on line that will be just the job – now all I have to do is convince the husband to pay for it and we’re all set.

“In winter, the kitchen is always warm, and, always, there are smells: of roasting meat and stewing soups, frying onions and baking bread.  There is the chop-shop-chop of the knife, through carrots and turnips and mounds of fresh leeks, and the rhymthic pulse of the electric beater.  And, in the sudden silence after it has stopped, the ticking of the clock.  Outside, early dark, rain like a whip lash, gale and hail, rattling the latch, or ice, sealing it tight.  But inside, all is bright, warm, savoury, companionable.” ~ Susan Hill Through the Kitchen Window

I came across this book by Anna Pavord in a second hand bookshop, which will come in handy as I start to plan my vegetable garden for next year

and this one by Sarah Raven – full of interesting and delicious ideas.

So all I can say is – Christmas, you don’t frighten me – I’m not going to be dragged in to all the hype and spending frenzy – I’m going to do it my way – keeping it simple – just the way I like it.