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Wednesday, December 22, 2021

First Day of Winter

28 this morning, frosty with a cold-looking sun rising just an hour ago over the ridge.

Here we are, the first day of winter. Also my husband's late father's birthday. Born around 1919, he'd have been a very old man indeed had he lived, but years of working in the coal mines--as a full miner since he was 13--decimated his health, and he passed away at 72. I wonder what he'd have made of the world today. Yesterday was grandson Clayton's birthday; he's in the Navy but in home port now so got to celebrate the day with his wife.

Outside, it's not looking very wintry. Last year we had little bits of snow almost every day in December but this year is a different story, with temperatures in the 40's and 50's most days, and sometimes even warmer than that. So we have flowers in bloom. It is surprising to me at this time of year, but there they are in the gardens, looking so pretty and oddly out of place.

Pansies

and Calendula, both still holding their own, if a little battered.



The Calendula self-seeded this year and have taken over a part of the garden, but I'm happy with that, as they are one of my favorite flowers. So low maintenance and unassuming.

The grape arbor looks almost skeletal at this time of year.


The barberry has a few red berries still, apparently missed by the Cedar Waxwings. Or maybe they don't eat these? I know they eat holly berries as they denuded my sister's tree a couple years ago, so it would seem likely that they eat barberry berries as well.


Plenty of green still in the grass,


and on the root cellar door.

But in the woods, the only green is pine, and the hardy ferns. 




Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.
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3 comments:

  1. sustainablemumThu Dec 23, 10:17:00 AM

    Your husbands late father sounds like he had a tough life, I am sorry he is not with you any longer. I have a great aunt who was born in 1917 she is still with us today and celebrated her 104th birthday in September.

    I noticed my honeysuckle had tiny leaves on it the other day, they have been burnt now with the frosts we have had lately. I am guessing they have burst into leaf as we too have had much warmer weather of late too.

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    Replies
    1. Granny SueThu Dec 23, 11:09:00 AM

      Yes, his life was hard. He was injured many times, sometimes so badly it seemed he would not recover. He worked hard all his life, and it took its toll on his body. I didn't know him until just a short while before his death so only know what my husband tells me,

      This has been a strange winter here in the Appalachian mountains. Warmer than usual, and not enough rain or precipitation really. It is nice to still see a few blooms though--I can't remember this ever happening before.

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  2. jcmThu Dec 23, 05:02:00 PM

    No flowers blooming on this side of WV--strange how different our weather is. It looks like winter here, just doesn't act like it most days. Yesterday morning was our coldest so far, only 16 degrees. It soon warmed up to a chilly 40, with the wind blowing. Wish I had some pretty pansies blooming, but the deer eat them.

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