December's here. Yesterday we woke up to a dusting of snow on hard ice and today it is pure and simply hard ice!! As I should get to Kyle today, the heater is on in the car, and the lovely fern shapes that hard frost creates are slowly melting….. I know Alison in Toowoomba will be envying me this very Scottish, seasonal weather – she knows too that I would really enjoy the temperatures in Queensland!
After the last visitors of 2008 left, on November 14th, Heron’s Flight had a very, very brief hibernation! Now I’m getting cards and presents into piles, ready for posting soon. About half of my cards are now sent email and this system works a treat – if I’ve got the addresses correct!!!
I’ve been out at the front, hanging up the first load of white pillowcases – there will be about three dozen in all. If they hang outside overnight, and it is really frosty – then they will be just that bit whiter. I remember the older ladies of the village (gosh, I’m one now!) draping their table covers, pillowcases, even sheets and handkerchiefs on the hedges overnight, “to get the frost”. And what was good enough for them…….though our jaggy red barberry hedge would probably create a “Broderie Anglais” effect!!
Last week we did have some very pleasant days and I got quite a lot of pruning done – the three bonfires in the making are quite substantial! My neighbour Ruari gave me a few spring cabbages, so they are wintering along side the leeks. The green house got its annual clean out, as the vine had shed all its leaves. I’ll prune the vine shortly too. I’ve still to tidy up are all the small perennials, but they can do with a cover of dead leaves over the worst weather. Oh, that little red leafed plant that graced the breakfast table this year is, according to “Donald Loch Duich”, the nurseryman, “Oxalis Iron Cross”.
Ruah was neutered, much to some people’s distress (“Oh, I’ll have a puppy”) three weeks ago. Much as though I love her, I would have been no use when a row of little angry faces glared at me – because the breed has a cross face, I think! Anyway, I probably could not have parted with one or all the protesters might have melted away……
Sponge and Ruah continue their slightly uneasy, got to get on with it, relationship. Most times it’s friendly and calm. Then Ruah oversteps a mark and, like lightening, Sponge swipes. If it is a great big deal, the swipe is accompanied by a growl! Ruah has the sense to stop and look very contrite and peace soon reigns again…Though I know Sponge misses us when we are away, he also revels in the luxury of complete peace!
We’ll be in Edinburgh for Christmas and home for New Year. Before that, Sam is sixteen on the 10th. He shares the day with little Emily Casey, who’ll be one. I hope Dad Paul and Mum Fay read this “Happy Birthday”!
Thank you for joining me! We’ll talk again next month.
I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a “Guid New Year”.
.
Ann
