Tuesday 31 January 2023

Goodbye to January again!

 When you get to 90 you do begin to wonder if this is the last January you will see.    Don't get me wrong - this is not a morbid thought - when you get to 90 you also live each day as it comes and enjoy it.   Any thoughts of the future, certainly in my case, are not at all morbid.

But I can't say I am sorry to say 'good-bye' to January and 'hello' to February tomorrow.   February is a short month and it does mean that it is not long to March and the real beginning of Spring.   Yes I know it is daft to think like this.   It sounds as though I give a personality to each month;  as though poor old January is now sitting there saying  'ah well that's me done for another year and I haven't managed a good old 'kelching' of snow like I used to do.'  (kelching is a Lincolnshire dialect word I think - it certainly (in my mind)) describes exactly what I mean.

We always used to say 'February fill-dyke' -  I wonder if he will (I think of him as a he).   One year since I have lived here he did bring us ten days of good, old-fashioned, deep snow.   The talk of the town as though if was unheard of and how dare February be so unfeeling.

They always say if March comes in like a lion he goes out like a lamb (and vice-versa) which implies that perhaps they have a discussion beforehand (who's going to be the lion this year mate?)

Anyhow enough of this nonsense.    What's the weather like where you are this morning?   Here it is teasing.   When the rookies went over (they get earlier every day and before long they will be long gone when I draw back the curtains) dawn had broken with the most beautiful sky and there was a gale blowing.   I am sure the rooks knew exactly where they were aiming for but the wind had other ideas and they were being blown back and forth and trying hard to beat it.   As Ronald Blythe used to say like a lot of 'black rags' in the sky.

By the time I came to sit here my window was covered with rainspots and the clothes line had a row of glistening beads of water as the sun came out again.   And the valerian has (I swear) grown another inch overnight.   Interesting what Derek had to say about the valerian's tap root - although the gardener cut it down to the ground in Autumn (Valerian is one of his pet hates)it is up and happily spreading along under the hedge, well-sheltered from the frost.

Well, I have just looked at the time - twelve o'clock.  Time for my roast pork Sunday dinner (brought as usual by my carer) to go into the microwave.   See you tomorrow.  If you have time and want a lift to your spirits do go to Si's yesterdays post (Careering through nature on my sidebar).




23 comments:

JayCee said...

The weather here today has been bright and sunny but oh so very windy. I am just happy that the rain is holding off for now as we are sick of the wet stuff!

Lynn Marie said...

In southern Maine we are preparing for the first real cold snap of the season. It will be progressively colder for the next few days, culminating in a -17 Fahrenheit (-27 Celsius) low on Friday night. It's been mild so far this winter with temps mostly in the 30s-40sF (0-5C), so even though we like to think we're pretty rugged here, this will be a change to get used to. Of course in northern Maine where I grew up, this is not unusual. Hoping the rest of February will not continue so. It's wearying, and I'm not as tough as I used to be.

Barbara Anne said...

We're having a soft, gentle rain today and like Lynn Marie, the temperatures at the end of the week will be COLD, but not as cold as in Maine. Still no snow here and January has been warm. Daytime temps in the 5*C to 20*C range and nights from -5*C to 5*C. Definitely odd.

I so enjoy your blog, Pat!

Hugs!

Ellen D. said...

You have such a lovely way of describing the things around you, Pat. I certainly enjoyed your blog today and thanks for the link to Si's lovely photos.

Derek Faulkner said...

Windy here, with broken sunshine and not particularly warm.
I spend all winter, wishing each month away as fast as possible and then the Spring arrives and I can begin to enjoy being outside again.
How long I wonder, before the first person complains about it being too hot.

Mary said...

What a beautiful post today Pat - I could 'see' all you wrote about from the windborne rooks to the creeping Valerian root. You may be 90 but you certainly haven't weakened when it comes to penning your thoughts and visions. You must write more like this dear friend, it really brightened up my morning, thank you!

As for weather, a never ending subject for us all, here in central North Carolina we await several rainy days starting this afternoon, but daily temps. are warmish, 61F yesterday and today. I picked my first daffodils yesterday, just a few for the kitchen windowsill. Lovely.

Have a great week dear, stay well and safe.
Hugs, Mary

Debby said...

Cold and snowy here, a good day to stay indoors. Spring is coming though. Every day is a little longer.Every day brings us one step closer. No flowers here, but a nice reminder that they are lying beneath the snow, waiting.

Susan said...

In Massachusetts, we got a dusting of snow over night. There is a solid white carpet covering the ground. It is cloudy but the sunshine is predicted for the afternoon. I am glad we put tarps over the 2 enormous brush piles as keeping them somewhat dry is important. We are ready to have our yearly bonfires and all will be neat and tidy once again.

jinxxxygirl said...

April Showers bring May Flowers is what you had me thinking of Pat.. lol.. I have heard the Lion/Lamb saying too.. Right now it is 23 F here in TX.. COLD! and we've had freezing rain and sleet.. brrr... staying inside is the order of the day.. I think i'll make some spaghetti later and just hunker down and stay warm.. One more day of this then we warm up.. Hugs! deb

Red said...

All of us contemplate things such as age and weather. We have to be realistic about weather and age. Good and bad weather is going to happen. Life carries on one day at a time.

Anonymous said...

It’s overcast and just above freezing in Seattle. You can tell it is cold because the dogs on walkies are generally wearing jackets and their owners are in a hurry. The roofers across the street are working hard and not taking any breaks. Probably eager to finish job and get warm. The neighbor’s daffodils are just starting to bud.

gz said...

In Whanganui it is showery and 17⁰...but further east, and north, it is serious. States of emergency in Northland (now withdrawn) Auckland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty.
Ten inches of rain in Auckland over Saturday, heavy rain every day over all these areas every day since.
We are ok, even if we do have flooding we are on higher ground

Heather said...

A bit less chilly here this morning, but breezy, and I was glad to be wearing my cosy coat. A lovely afternoon of sunshine which is always cheering.
I suppose it is good that we have had so much rain this winter when our reservoirs were so depleted back in the summer.
Glad to know the valerian is thriving. I used to let all sorts of wild flowers bloom in my garden if they added something to it.

Tom Stephenson said...

'Kelching' sounds rude to me, Weave. Pinch, punch, first of the month.

Chris said...

Minus 12 C here so pretty chilly but the sun was shining for most of the day. We have seen precious little of the sun this month so I am very glad to be heading into (hopefully more sunny) February!

The Furry Gnome said...

It's certainly feeling like early spring here, longer days, more sunny days -but lots of snow now. I mark spring by the day the street sweeper comes, after that I can get out in my wheelchair!

Simon Douglas Thompson said...

Gosh Pat, thank you so much for the recommendation!

Nance said...

1 or 2 degrees F, high in Iowa, USA.
I so enjoy your posts. The only way they could be any better is if you or someone could read them to me. Thank you for each post, Nance

Hilde said...

12°C here and light rain. We had a lot of rain yesterday, which is of course good for nature after the extremely dry year 2022. We live near the river Rhine, and during a short dry period we took a walk along the river. Even after a really wet January the water level is rather low.
For me, January went quite quickly, with rain and fog and rain again, but sadly no snow. February can only be better!
I so love the way you write, it is a wonderful start for the day.
Hilde in Germany

Librarian said...

Hilde's part of Germany is warmer than where I am; it was really cold yesterday, but there was a bit of sun and I so wished I could have gone for a walk, but was stuck at the office until it was almost dark.
Today is windy at 4C, there could be rain, and the sky is all grey.
I have just turned over all my wall calendars.

Love the lion/lamb discussion you ascribe to March!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Glad you all seem to have enjoyed my post

vic said...

Here in southern Indiana it's 17F (that's -8 C) right now. Only going up to freezing by 3:00 this afternoon. The only saving grace is that it isn't windy and the sun is shining.

lynney62 said...

Hello Weave...Happy February! I'm in Illinois and our "weather saying" is "just wait 10 minutes, blink and the weather will change"..lol! But it is true...today is sunny and 47F, tomorrow prediction up to 50F...Friday down to a high of 22F...needless to say we all have various sets of clothes to accommodate (lol) Tomorrow is "Groundhog Day" in the US and we all hope Punxsutawney Phil does not see his shadow when he comes out of his burrow! Then we won't have 6 more weeks of winter....*fingers crossed