Between now and the end of April there is little to do other than stay comfortable, keep the place reasonably tidy, and do some painting.
Haddock's is lying fallow, it's too cold to swim, and all we can do is wait for spring.
The pool cover is filled with water after all the rian, and there are plenty of leaves that still need to be removed. It won't be too long before the Toads arrive, and start laying their long chains of eggs. I tend not to go too near the pool at this season.
In the afternoons we sometimes go 'upstairs' to the barn, make sure it's warm, and have a cup of tea. We occasionally light the woodburner, and play table tennis. The barn is always comfortable, its big open space is so different to the 'downstairs' cottage; we feel as if we're on holiday.
It's still early in the year, and the weather has plenty of time to turn nasty; we are certainly not complacent.
So, we keep the home fires burning, eat comforting stews and roasts, and make sure that the Husqvarna is kept busy.
Our fingers are crossed that the wretched Aussie Flu doesn't hit us, and that we emerge into spring in good form.
Nothing is certain in the bad season.
Just after 8 p.m. here and it is 27 degrees. Could do with some rain for the garden. None forecast for a few days at least and, as we get closer they move the forecast forward.
ReplyDeleteI could do with some 27 C. It's not cold here, just damp and miserable.
DeleteWhat a wonderful description of your winter days. Not too bad at all. A cosy cottage and that airy room in the barn when you need some space to stretch.
ReplyDeleteLeave the frogs to spawn, it will be spring in a couple of months!
Yes, it's nice to pop up to the barn. It's so different to here, it makes quite a change.
DeleteDo you do the flu vaccine Cro?
ReplyDeleteLovely wooden ceiling. I love the colourful crochet sofa cover; looks very cosy.
Greetings Maria x
I haven't had a vaccine this year, but, as I believe they used the wrong strain of vaccine, it wouldn't have helped anyway.
DeleteThe crocheted cover was made by my mother. All mothers make one!
The barn looks so cozy and beautiful.23c here today, very very dry winter this year.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great space to live in; you can wander around with your arms stretched out. You couldn't do that here.
DeleteHow lovely to be able to stretch out in your barn. We had a lovely blue sky day in the Surrey Hills yesterday so I cycled to the allotment to check on purple sprouting broccoli and rhubarb progress and in the afternoon walked up to and along the North Downs ridge, about five miles there and back. Felt alive and energised when I got home. We have a Kettler table in the garage but haven't played for ages. I might set it up today as we're back to the grey murk. We've managed to avoid the flu so far although my husband now he's 65 had the jab. Our son was quite poorly before Christmas and took two days off work but it did not migrate to us luckily. I like the photo of your covered pool reflecting the sky. It looks like an Arts and Crafts classically rectangular pool. Interesting piece in the Guardian today about the new William Blake exhibition opening at Petworth tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteTable Tennis is excellent for hand/eye coordination.
DeleteI'd like to see the Blake show; I used to love looking at his work in the Tate. He is rarely spoken of, but hugely important.
Why don't you go somewhere warm for a week or two? I love the barn. I would invest in a pool table if it was mine.
ReplyDeleteIf I didn't have animals and work to see to, I'd do just that. We did think of buying a café football game (the one where you twiddle a bar with the players on it), but we couldn't find a nice old attractive one. We're still looking.
Deleteyour barn looks cheerful and cozy. Glad you feel you're on holiday when you go up there.
ReplyDeleteCompared to our tiny cottage, it feels like being in a big hotel.
DeleteAussie Flu. Sorry about that. I never caught it.
ReplyDeleteWe're sending it back, and calling it 'European Flu'.
DeleteThat crochet work reminded me of a double bedspread (two pinks, two blues edged in black) that I made some 50 years ago. By the time I had finished it I rather hated it and it went to a spare room, I left my then husband and haven't seen it (or him) since!
ReplyDeleteThey are very standard fare. One always used to find them at Jumble Sales.
DeleteIt is so easy to be complacent in January and, when the first few days are O K, think the worst of the winter is over. I try not to do it because there are another eight weeks to go before we can be fairly sure. But my bulbs are up!
ReplyDeleteI've noticed the Day Lillies are sprouting, and a few Daffs.
DeleteWho wins the most ping pong games - you or Lady M?
ReplyDeleteWe don't actually play 'games' as such, just knock to and fro. Otherwise I win, of course; although Lady M might say otherwise!
DeleteThe barn looks like a great get-a-way and you don’t have to go far. A ping pong table or other such game would certainly be fun to have there.
ReplyDeleteLike you, winter is hard on me. It is work trying to keep the blues away. My family left a week ago and the house is so quiet and lonely. Today I go to my volunteer job and that should help. I am thinking of getting a second one working with animals.
You're right, one needs to remain busy in winter. We take long walks with the dog, and do our best to find other things to do. When spring arrives I'll be complaining about too much to do.
DeleteA stew recipe or two would be nice, please, Cro! Yours hungrily - James
ReplyDeleteMy stews tend to be either Coq au Vin or Boeuf Bourguignon. Both very simple and similar. Beef or Chicken, chunky cut smoked bacon, baby onions, mushrooms, red wine, and herbs. The Chicken takes an hour to cook, the Beef much longer.
Deletekeeping busy and warm, the best plan
ReplyDeleteIt's the only way. The alternative is not an alternative.
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