New paintings and regular art updates.
Weather is grey, cold and drizzly. I had three things to do today, but looking out the window?
So I’ve cancelled two things, I don’t want to slip or slide in this slowly freezing, icy rain. But I still need to go out, I have a deadline to collect something and I can’t miss that. But the gloom is gathering, I’m putting off what I need to do. Darn it.
There was a clear sky this morning and a red hue hung on the Eastern horizon. The day has stayed cold, and consequently the house has been cold. I only put the heating on for a few hours then turned it off. I have now put it back on for the evening, it’s too cold!
My house only has a building on one side, so the other catches sunshine in the daytime and leeches it out at night, so depending where you are in the living room you can get warm, but it’s also draughty due to ill fitting doors and old double glazed windows. Currently I have a plug in oil heater opposite me to surround me with a bit of warmth. I used to put the gas stove on in the kitchen but since that stopped working I don’t really have much more ways to stay warm so I’ll put a dressing gown on soon.
People were meeting for sunrise at Stonehenge this morning as today was the shortest day of the year in the northern Hemisphere. This is the Northern winter solstice.
Apparently the day was less that 8 hours long, although it was so cloudy and grey it might have been shorter for all I could tell.
Of course on the equator days and nights are pretty much of equal length and I presume the Southern Hemisphere had its longest day either yesterday or today. What will it be like in six months when it’s summer here again? Who knows.
Mid November and the snow is falling. Not deep, but palpably real. Very early for this time of year, it usually doesn’t happen till January if at all. I’ve had the central heating on for three days now and it might keep going till the weekend. I’m waiting for the morning as it is forecast to get worse before it gets better. Sorry it’s not a more exiting view!
Leaf leaves tree
How long will it be
Before naked branches
Are clothed again?
First frost, then rain
Maybe snow will come again.
Icicles hang on gutters
Defrost as cold rain sputters
Then one day a bud bursts open.
Spring comes slowly,
Time is sullen.
In these months leaves are rotten
And autumn colours are forgotten.
Farewell friend
The end….
A writing prompt from Esther Chilton.
My favourite season is Spring. The anticipation of warm weather to come. Flowers and buds emerging after a bleak winter, and birds, bees and animals taking advantage of the newly green fields.
But to be honest this year the, spring seems to have started, but winter is still here in July. Low temperatures, low pressure and 80% of July’s rainfall in just 10 days in the UK has made for a dismal start to the summer. The jet stream is south of us scooping down cold and wet air from the Arctic.
Meanwhile Southern Europe is baking in record breaking heat with numerous deaths.
Hopefully it will turn into a mild autumn. Unless the weather morphs into a more wintery scene…..
How do you feel about cold weather?
I like cold weather as long as I can get warm when I need to. I like cold, clear, frosty days. Days when trees look like white sculptures, where hoar frosts build crystals of ice on leaves and twigs. Where spiders webs festoon hedges.
I don’t like warm wet winters, where you go out and your feet feel wet all day. Where the rain blows into your coat hood and trickles down your neck. Cats drive past and spray you with water from the gutter.
I don’t like too hot summers. I can’t cool my house down enough. I feel like I’m melting. Cold showers or an electric fan with a bottle of frozen water in front of it (not too close) are methods to keep cool.
Britain can get very cold and very hot but it rarely stays the same every day. Sometimes we have short heatwaves and cold snaps, but the weather has changed over the last few years. Those mild wet winters are confusing the plants and insects. Life is trying to keep up with man made climate change and I don’t think we are doing enough.
Mahonia with it’s spiky leaf
Tinged with winter frost
Brushed bronzes
Of Autumn colours
In the Spring.
But orange tints
will be replaced
As soon new life
Engulfs the place
Bright greens and pinks
Yellow flowers
Full of dew
Red, orange, blue
Then colours of
a summer hue..
Till autumn and then
winter comes
And the seasons round
Begins again.
14 years ago and we had heavy snow. On the night of 14 February 2010. The orange sodium streetlamps cast a reddish glow across the snow. Those lamps are now changed to white LED lights. Less energy used, less atmospheric lighting. No snow!
This has been the hottest February on record. Even in the alps and other mountains in the UK and Europe the amount of snow is 47% less than in previous years. Not good for skiers and winter sports.
This was on my Facebook memories today.
Cats know how to keep warm, whether it’s by the central heating radiator or this electric powered oil filled one they know the best places to snooze. Sometimes they even use me as a source of heat. Having three cats on the bed at night is almost as good as having a hot water bottle. I know I need to save money, but I care about them. They have fur coats but I still want them comfortable.
Hopefully the weather will improve and the central heating can go off soon. We are almost in to spring and the winter has been relatively mild. I’m hoping the garden grows and the cats can sleep outside if they want X
Mallaband-Brown