There isn’t much to say in the way of what’s happening on the balcony – the only differences with November are that I discovered a fairly large, half-ripe strawberry on the Alpine strawberry plant (which didn’t produce any fruit this summer), and the birds have found the bird-feeder we put up a few months back.… Continue reading Nature Notes: Christmas on the Balcony
Category: Life
Places and other observations.
Notes From My Office: December’s Words
It’s early this month, the words. This is because my office closed for Christmas on Friday, and I’m now on holiday until 2021. Which is both a good feeling, and a bit weird. Having none of the normal sorts of “Points of Interest” with which to break up the last year, it’s a bit difficult… Continue reading Notes From My Office: December’s Words
The Beginning of Advent
Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas. This year, it was last Sunday. Which means my 24-day calendar needed an extra couple of markers. I used the first two stockings, filled with mini Lindt truffles. The rest of the markers are Mouseloft cross-stitch patches, which I made some years ago. We turn them over,… Continue reading The Beginning of Advent
Notes From My Office: November’s Words
I’ve been getting better at crafting around the computer. Or do I mean working around the crafting supplies? Perhaps that. I’m trying to remember to tidy up as I go along, or as soon after I’m done with the crafting as possible. But I don’t always. And then I have to work around the paper… Continue reading Notes From My Office: November’s Words
Nature Notes: November on the Balcony
There’s not really a lot to say – there’s nothing much happening on the balcony at the moment. It’s been quite a wet and windy sort of month. We had to take the ledge-box off the railing, before the wind blew it off. The trees have lost their leaves for winter and the flowers are… Continue reading Nature Notes: November on the Balcony
Stir-Up Sunday
Yesterday, the last Sunday before Advent, was Stir-Up Sunday. At least in the Anglican tradition. Apparently, there’s a prayer in the service that has the line “Stir up we beseech thee, O Lord” (or words to that effect). It’s the day when, traditionally, all the Christmas cakes and puddings are made, with everyone in the… Continue reading Stir-Up Sunday
Life in Isolation: The Return of Lockdown
Every year, I’ve always wanted to be able to go into hibernation from about the end of October until about Easter-time, with a foray into the world for festive feasting about Christmas/New Year. This year, I suppose I’ll get a taste of it, with this new lockdown. In theory, it’s just for a month, until… Continue reading Life in Isolation: The Return of Lockdown
Nature Notes: October on the Balcony
Ah, October. When the clocks go back and the evenings darken. When, ideally, I would go into hibernation until spring (waking up for Christmas, of course). The weather is being especially dark and gloomy right now. Very soggy. The cherry tree, whose blossoms first inspired me to track the months on the balcony, has gone… Continue reading Nature Notes: October on the Balcony
Notes From My Office: October’s Words
At the end of last month, we thought we’d be returned to the Office by now. Now, of course, that plan has changed, and we’re still at home, and likely to be for a while. We’ve stopped trying to guess when we might return. I decided not to wait until the work-computer has gone before… Continue reading Notes From My Office: October’s Words
Life in Isolation: Thinking About Christmas and Raspberry Cakes
I had planned, this weekend, to make a Christmas cake. They’re best made early, to mature. But, given the current Covid-situation, I’ve decided to work on the basis that we probably won’t go home for Christmas. It seems safest to plan for that since we’re in a Tier 2 area. That way Christmas plans won’t… Continue reading Life in Isolation: Thinking About Christmas and Raspberry Cakes
