I've been noticing the moon every night since Christmas Eve, quite by accident, as it turns from an eyelash to a bowl. It calms me to observe it change during this in-between season of transition. Other seasonal things: my son falling asleep on the church pew in his Santa PJs during the candlelight singing of Silent Night; a blue jay flashing through bare branches of the woods; eating seasonal favorites of ham and corn pudding; and of course watching my son's delight in waiting for Santa and rushing out to the Christmas tree (at 5:30 am!)
Yesterday I looked up to see a double rainbow (I put the image on my instagram account). The main rainbow had the most vivid colours. I went outside to see the whole arc. It was a glorious moment.
I think we will all be looking out for the divided snack bowl for you, Lia in antique shops across the land and by next Christmas you’ll have at least 4 😄
Love the Christmas crockery! At home, the first bright yellow witch hazel flowers shining through the gloom in the garden and the wind roaring through the limes and horse chestnuts in the road outside our house. Today, heading across the North York moors to Whitby, beautiful colours on the hillsides, with low cloud adding to the atmosphere. Then the sight of the sea and the abbey in the distance. Here for New Year, as we have been many times before.
I too have been noticing the catkins, time to start searching out some of the different ones too. I've been noticing the silhouettes of the bare trees, and it's feeding a idea for my next painting series, once I get some ink on paper! The relentless rain and the need to rest has meant I haven't been out much but staying at my parent's , I've enjoyed lying in bed at night listening to a male tawny owl calling, unfortunately with no reply.
Mine will stay short too as I am also trying to stay off my phone and savour this time. First seasonal thing is the sparkle of Christmas Eve and the lighting of the candles on the tree which only happens on the 24th so always feels very magical, secondly a hazy pink sunset glimpsed at the end of a rainy day through the new scaly buds of a lilac tree, and finally many many evenings hunkered down by the fire knitting and laughing with my family, whilst the winds blow gale-force outside! Definitely cosy season.
Thank you Lia. On the 27th we had a brief snowfall and once again everything was dreamy and quiet. Huge snowflakes fell and we caught them on our tongues. I noticed how the beech leaves still clung to the trunk, the last to let go. Beautiful burnished hues against the white. Now everything is damp and wet, the rain heavy in the air, leaves squelching underfoot, breaking down.
I have a betwixtmas birthday, so enjoyed a day out in Saltaire with the family. The drive from Lancashire to Yorkshire is just beautiful from the Pendle countryside through the Brontë moorland. I love how atmospheric it is at this time of year.
I love the Leftover Food Fest we do every year in the strange liminal time between Christmas and New year … it’s the same every year! The Betwixtmas pie which gathers up all the scraps from 2 Christmas dinners ( Turkey, ham, stuffing, pigs in blankets and all the veg) and is mixed with left over bread sauce and gravy under a crisp buttery crust of pastry heavily decorated with arty embellishments! Then the Turkey carcass stock simmered for hours with herbs and root veg - which becomes a deeply savoury and hearty broth, full of pulses, more root vegetables and the final shreds of Turkey meat. This feeds us for days. Finally on New Years Day I make Mum’s Raj Curry with the chunks of left over breast meat ( frozen on Boxing Day for food safety) - this is a fruity, mild curry as my Mum made it with sultanas, mango chutney and a sprinkling of flaked almonds ….. and served with chopped up fruit like apple, dates and clementines. Very inauthentic but delicious. So then I feel very virtuous because I’ve squeezed so much value out of all the expensive and indulgent Christmas food!
the contrast between the stark bareness of most of the trees and the leafless but golden strands of the weeping willow, like coarse hair; That dark dark night sky with mars shining golden; treasuring the homemade Christmas cards I've been sent, esp the one with leylandii stuck on the Christmas tree
I also saw a beautiful, bright double rainbow this week, and I continue to marvel at the stunning skies and silhouettes created at dusk and dawn. I have also felt lucky to hear geese in the night sky thrice this week. Warmest winter wishes from the North East Coast x
I too have Christmas crockery, inherited from my Mum. Nothing fancy, department store bought, but I love it and it made its annual appearance again this year.
Boxing Day was our 30th Wedding Anniversary, which was spent with family and friends at the rugby, we all managed to get the grown up children to join us. Finishing up in the pub for a celebratory drink afterwards. Lots of laughter and smiling faces.
The weather this betwixmas has been very wet and grey, the perfect time to curl up with a book, enjoy the twinkling light from the tree. Time to reflect and recharge.
I've been noticing the moon every night since Christmas Eve, quite by accident, as it turns from an eyelash to a bowl. It calms me to observe it change during this in-between season of transition. Other seasonal things: my son falling asleep on the church pew in his Santa PJs during the candlelight singing of Silent Night; a blue jay flashing through bare branches of the woods; eating seasonal favorites of ham and corn pudding; and of course watching my son's delight in waiting for Santa and rushing out to the Christmas tree (at 5:30 am!)
Oh the Santa pjs! So sweet.
Yesterday I looked up to see a double rainbow (I put the image on my instagram account). The main rainbow had the most vivid colours. I went outside to see the whole arc. It was a glorious moment.
Gill @talesfromasmallgarden
Beautiful!
I think we will all be looking out for the divided snack bowl for you, Lia in antique shops across the land and by next Christmas you’ll have at least 4 😄
That's such a fabulous thought!
Love the Christmas crockery! At home, the first bright yellow witch hazel flowers shining through the gloom in the garden and the wind roaring through the limes and horse chestnuts in the road outside our house. Today, heading across the North York moors to Whitby, beautiful colours on the hillsides, with low cloud adding to the atmosphere. Then the sight of the sea and the abbey in the distance. Here for New Year, as we have been many times before.
I too have been noticing the catkins, time to start searching out some of the different ones too. I've been noticing the silhouettes of the bare trees, and it's feeding a idea for my next painting series, once I get some ink on paper! The relentless rain and the need to rest has meant I haven't been out much but staying at my parent's , I've enjoyed lying in bed at night listening to a male tawny owl calling, unfortunately with no reply.
Mine will stay short too as I am also trying to stay off my phone and savour this time. First seasonal thing is the sparkle of Christmas Eve and the lighting of the candles on the tree which only happens on the 24th so always feels very magical, secondly a hazy pink sunset glimpsed at the end of a rainy day through the new scaly buds of a lilac tree, and finally many many evenings hunkered down by the fire knitting and laughing with my family, whilst the winds blow gale-force outside! Definitely cosy season.
In connecticut, a family of blue jays pecking at the base of a big pine tree finding seeds just after Christmas day!
Gorgeous
It was a week of blue for me during a trip to Normandy.
A beautiful walk on the beach, dog racing for a ball and the sea and sky almost matching in colour.
The moon rising above bare winter trees in a navy sky.
Finally, setting the Christmas pudding alight and watching those blue flames crackle always an enchanting sight.
Thank you Lia. On the 27th we had a brief snowfall and once again everything was dreamy and quiet. Huge snowflakes fell and we caught them on our tongues. I noticed how the beech leaves still clung to the trunk, the last to let go. Beautiful burnished hues against the white. Now everything is damp and wet, the rain heavy in the air, leaves squelching underfoot, breaking down.
I have a betwixtmas birthday, so enjoyed a day out in Saltaire with the family. The drive from Lancashire to Yorkshire is just beautiful from the Pendle countryside through the Brontë moorland. I love how atmospheric it is at this time of year.
Sunrises are particularly spectacular at the moments ... enchantments ! Light is so important at the moment! Have the most beautiful new year eve ✨️
I love the Leftover Food Fest we do every year in the strange liminal time between Christmas and New year … it’s the same every year! The Betwixtmas pie which gathers up all the scraps from 2 Christmas dinners ( Turkey, ham, stuffing, pigs in blankets and all the veg) and is mixed with left over bread sauce and gravy under a crisp buttery crust of pastry heavily decorated with arty embellishments! Then the Turkey carcass stock simmered for hours with herbs and root veg - which becomes a deeply savoury and hearty broth, full of pulses, more root vegetables and the final shreds of Turkey meat. This feeds us for days. Finally on New Years Day I make Mum’s Raj Curry with the chunks of left over breast meat ( frozen on Boxing Day for food safety) - this is a fruity, mild curry as my Mum made it with sultanas, mango chutney and a sprinkling of flaked almonds ….. and served with chopped up fruit like apple, dates and clementines. Very inauthentic but delicious. So then I feel very virtuous because I’ve squeezed so much value out of all the expensive and indulgent Christmas food!
the contrast between the stark bareness of most of the trees and the leafless but golden strands of the weeping willow, like coarse hair; That dark dark night sky with mars shining golden; treasuring the homemade Christmas cards I've been sent, esp the one with leylandii stuck on the Christmas tree
The wind firmly on the outside of my cozy home. Bird silhouettes in the field and so many roads with temporary fords.
I also saw a beautiful, bright double rainbow this week, and I continue to marvel at the stunning skies and silhouettes created at dusk and dawn. I have also felt lucky to hear geese in the night sky thrice this week. Warmest winter wishes from the North East Coast x
Beautiful part of the world!
I too have Christmas crockery, inherited from my Mum. Nothing fancy, department store bought, but I love it and it made its annual appearance again this year.
Boxing Day was our 30th Wedding Anniversary, which was spent with family and friends at the rugby, we all managed to get the grown up children to join us. Finishing up in the pub for a celebratory drink afterwards. Lots of laughter and smiling faces.
The weather this betwixmas has been very wet and grey, the perfect time to curl up with a book, enjoy the twinkling light from the tree. Time to reflect and recharge.