cold

Autumn popped in for a very brief visit a couple of days ago, right on time, in fact. 

But today, three days after Equinox, King Winter has arrived in extravagant style. There's snow on the nearby mountains, howling wind around the house and sudden blowy squalls soaking both verandah and garden and anything that may have been forgotten outdoors. 

Oh yes, the Cold Weather has certainly arrived! 

                                  

I struggle with the cold weather, I really do. I didn't realise how much I liked the sun until we moved to Tasmania. Here, the summers are truly beautiful - mild and sweet with so much growing potential - but the winter is oh so long. The cold wind is often unrelenting for days and weeks and it's almost impossible to spend any time outdoors. And then there's no sun for days on end which can be a bit daunting for a sun worshipper! Cooped up in the house, especially such a tiny house is just a bit stifling for six months of the year. It's really not surprising that some people in gloomy northern climates get SAD (seasonal affective disorder). I must admit that I do get a touch gloomy and irritable during winter and will be supplementing my quota of sunshine with some good quality Vitamin D....... and perhaps a glass of sweet, red happy juice, now and again!! 

Enough of that...... I really just wanted to document this first cold day! 

The first of the years fires was lit this morning - oooh it was toasty and we all basked in the lovely radient heat. I love the smell of the wood smoke that wafts up into our tiny loft - it makes me think of pioneers and old timers roughing it in the bush! 

There hasn't been much happening in the craft dept here but I did manage to crochet these tiny hearts a while ago and today I pinned them to the bottom of an old fruit box a pin board, sprayed them with water and hopefully they will stay nice and shaped when I pull them off! 

There was some rail road building happening and quite a few derailments too. 

We've been collecting this large set of Brio/Thomas Tank Engine wooden railway line over many years. Not cheap, but bit by bit and birthday by birthday it has amounted to a fairly extensive rail network and still provides lots of fun.

  

The youngest one wanted to crochet and I knitted! Once I would have crocheted too but not now - now I am a knitter and am diligently working on a gnome hat for the new baby. 

I did start this last week and then lost one of my double pointed needles so couldn't continue........aarrgh, I was cranky!! Who lost it?? Who moved it?? Where could it be? I searched and searched for days to no avail and had given up when I happened to pick up the book that the pattern was in...... and yes, you guessed right - there it was as a book mark!!! 

  

A new chart for Fairy Girls times tables. We warmed up this morning by clapping and stomping as we recited them - much to the dismay of the other family members. I told them they should loosen up and join in!!

Late this afternoon I rushed out between rain showers to pick some beans, carrots and greens for a creamy lentil soup. Yes it was delicious and warming! 

I have to face the fact that the beans, tomatoes and cucumbers won't be around much longer. The wind is so cold that the tomatoes are shivering under their leaves and the beans are curling with the chill. The Best Man did bring home a few metres of clear plastic and I will attempt to cover the tomatoes tomorrow so that the almost ripening ones have a chance, but..... we'll see. 

I've been perusing a few blogs today too and am just a teeny bit jealous of the coming spring at the top of the world. It's always interesting to see the changes of the seasons and I'm fascinated that we are winding down in the south and in the north life is picking up pace. Like dying and rebirth in opposition to one another. Yet perfectly balanced.

Amazing indeed.