Cacooned

Growing up in Africa, as I did, I can only really recall two seasons - hot and not so hot. Some times the hot had rain (lots) and some times it did not. Simple really. Men still wore shorts all year round with their only concession to the slightly less hot season - a pullover which could be taken off by mid morning, when it was too hot.....

Here, in the uk, seasons are slightly more discernible - a cool damp spring sliding into a probable cool damp summer with a brief glorious warm bit which then suddenly transforms into a russet and orange coloured damp autumn followed by a long slow cold and damp (occasionally snowy) winter.
sigh.

(the sky this morning at 9am, bleugh - just bleugh)

I do miss the sun during winter when the endless grey sky is just that - endless, it can get quite depressing. I long for spring. I want to see buds on the honeysuckle, leaflets on the rowans, I want to see snowdrops quietly filling the dark corners of the garden.

Eldest and I went for a walk in the late afternoon yesterday- not planned to leave setting out so late, but as ever we'd been distracted.  Wrapping up warmly (but not warmly enough to keep out a bitterly cutting wind) we set off up on the lower hills which border the valley our village nestles in. I'd chosen this route as it has been the least muddy recently but a night-full of rain and springs full to bursting had made the long meadow an interesting backwards sliding trudge as we made our way up it.

However, once up on the edge, the view was very rewarding (as long as we had our backs to the breeze). Then it was a race with the sinking sun to return back down along the ridge to the village before fully dark.

A walk does improve my mood, it helps with my SAD and with my 'mindspace' - however, it isn't always easy to persuade myself to get out. When I do drag myself out of my warm home and in to the cold air with a dilly dog - it does do me good. (Well - I keep telling myself that!)

So, as a reward, yesterday evening - I chose some alpaca wool from my stash and am knitting myself a slouchy hat - keeping both the fingers and mind busy and me happy :)

 Cacoon in Alpaca select - 'tweed' and 'charcoal' by La Maison Rililie

 Not sure if it was subliminal but I have just realised the name of the slouchy hat I am knitting - cocoon - how very appropriate for today - needing to be cocooned and kept warm because I've just looked out the window - it is now sleeting. *yay* (updated to now read as .... snowing)

Think I shall go and put the kettle on - hope your Tuesday is full of sunshine 🌞(how ever you make it/find it/hug it/hold it) xxxxxx