Lots has been written about winter. About getting through the dark, short days and about ways to overcome the
, sometimes dispiriting darkness. Words such as 'hygge' are thrown about and how to cope if you suffer from lack of sunlight. Well I suggest - go outside! Not just go outside either - notice things.
A couple of things have made this winter easier for me. Firstly I was given an allotment in August and secondly we have had marvellous snow! We have had fog, inverted mists over the valleys, deep snow and crisp, icy blue skies. After years of winters in London under grey, almost, seasonless skies, it has been great to experience a proper winter. When you are living in a place that seems not to have seasons, it's easy to become disconnected from the land and you forget to notice the subtle changes as the year moves round and the loveliness that happens despite the concrete and pavements.
This week, I was lucky enough to go for a walk in the Dales. We walked along the River Wharfe, through Strid Woods. This is very damp and becomes almost a temporal rain forest. The trees are hanging with moss, ferns and lichen.
I walked down to Heaton Woods in the snow and found catkins.
They were doing their thing, getting ready to pollinate and become
hazelnuts next Autumn. Fab eh?! So lovely to see that Spring is on the way and indeed
the days are getting longer.
Anyway... this is me, getting back into my blog. Next installment coming soon! The Allotment. With new artwork.
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