October was an awful month for me, and November as always really sucks. Sun set at 4 pm today and it will only get darker + next week we expect severe frost.
But …
It is now only more or less 1 month until the winter solstice, Dec 22 at 4.27 am (UTC+1), and today my garden was prepared for winter.
This is what it looked like this morning … #saraswinter23/24
Plus the two large Rhododendrons were severely watered and new soil added in the flowerbeds in need.
My herbs behind the logs along the fence got cover. (I cross my fingers for rosemary and tarragon…)
The pile of branches to be mulched grew as the trees in the far back corner were pruned
Very tidy. Also up front
Remains tulip bulbs for me & return to painting in my kitchen without bad conscience
Of course the person accomplishing all this had a just as severe cold as last time he was here (sent him off with Coldzyme & my last copy of @Skolinkvisition ’s book, now on its way to the staffroom in a sec school in Borås of all places)
I’m still shivering … I think I’ll spend some time in bed, planning for dinner (fish perhaps?) & solving #sudoku
Talk about last minute to get rid of those leaves. Here’s the first snow at 8.30 am next morning, Nov.22:nd
The thermometer says +-0° & it’s 29 days, 20 min until the #winter solstice.
This afternoon we expect heavy downfall, rain or #snow & #stormy winds.
I’ll definitly stay inside.
It is now 25,5 days until the #wintersolstice. Outside it’s -5°C & the first thin ice is forming by the shore after a few days of hard winds. Next 10 days will stay well below +-0. Seems I’ve completly missed my chance to get tulips and narcissi in the ground. If this goes on the ground will be frozen solid.
Keeping busy inside instead …
Today I’m cooking … “Pressylta”, typical Swedish x-mas food & the one you can buy is both expensive & less spiced. I’ve also prepared an outdoor “fridge/freezer”, lined with styrofoam on the inside - a true recycling project, the other half of an old music case for records & vinyl-player. The top half is a bench in the hallway. Strangely enough I did not have a proper size hatch to protect food from magpies, squirrels & mice. #sarasmidwintercount23 @gardening #cooking #carpentry #recykling