Thursday, February 11, 2021

Five on Friday: Chilly Days

 


Living on the west coast, I really can't complain about cold temperatures. Family in other provinces and regions would laugh themselves silly at our bemoaning temperatures just below freezing. Be that as it may, it's much colder than normal, with a wind that drives to the bone. 

Late Wednesday morning I looked outside to see fat flakes of snow drifting down. The snow flurry continued throughout the afternoon, but only a light coat remained on the ground overnight. I took a turn around the garden and found this first anemone drooping in the cold, but such a rich colour that contrasted beautifully with the bit of snow. 

During the night the wind rose and I awoke in the wee hours with it howling around the corners of the house. The breeze from the open-just-a-crack window was fresh indeed! 


We have a Meyer Lemon Tree growing in a sheltered spot. It's covered for more than half the year, and a string of old-fashioned Christmas lights (the ones that emit heat) are wound about the branches and connected to a timer that comes on when temperatures read just above freezing. The lights cycle off and on during the cold weather. This is our second lemon tree, and in its second year, so quite small. We uncovered the first one too soon one spring and unexpected cold temperatures killed it. Tim put an extra covering over the tree this week as a bit of extra protection. 


Indoors, there's been a little sewing. Some experimentation with the new serger, and continued work on a red and white four-patch quilt. I gathered a collection of scraps and stitched up a new pin cushion with a matching scissor keeper. The embroidery scissors were a Christmas gift from our youngest daughter and her family. Such a pretty pair, and so sharp and pointed. I love using them. 


There's been considerable reading, as well. I discovered Cynthia Harrod-Eagle's novels set during World War I, and raced through all six of them. They are easy-to-read, and give a picture of life in England during those terrible years, and of the weariness of the war that went on for so long. "Raisin Wine" is the story of one of our Governor Generals and I'm just beginning it. The others I've not yet begun. "Jedidiah Days" is about living on an island that we hope to visit this summer in our boat. 

Sometimes it seems there is a dearth of good reading material and I can't settle to anything. That is NOT the case lately, as I've found so many good books to read in my library. They have to be ordered online, and after I get the email notice of their arrival I pop in to check them out. "The Thursday Murder Club" by Richard Osman was good, although not as good as some of the reviews indicated. A good premise for a book, though. 


One of my co-workers gave me a vase of purple tulips on my last day of teaching. They've been in the front hall and are now done, but I love the way the colours intensify, and the petals thin like aging skin, and curl and twist so artistically. Tomorrow they will go on the compost heap. 

Tonight again the wind races up and down the street with great gusts. Tomorrow night and into Saturday snow is in the forecast. We'll see how much we actually get. I hope enough to cover the ground and make everything pretty for a day or two. 

Is is spring-like where you live, or is winter having a last blast? Or perhaps you are in the southern hemisphere and enjoying the last days of summer. 

25 comments:

  1. It does sound cold, with that freezing wind blowing. I like your arrangement for the lemon tree, which appears to be very effective. We have not had frost here for quite a few years, but ten years ago we had a few days every Winter, and sometimes lost plants. Global warming seems to have given us longer, hotter, Summers and very short Winters, more's the pity. We still have two months of Summer heat. Your anemone looks gorgeous with a dusting of snow. I hope the spring and daffodils come soon.

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  2. Prayers the lemon tree. The wind in winter is more dramatic than in warm weather.
    Cold, 10ºF (121C) here this AM.
    A brisk walk would be nice if it wasn't so cold.

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  3. Thank you for some wonderful reading material ideas. We are having a cold winter here north of Toronto, -15C this morning.

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  4. It is mid winter here, with the temperatures now just below normal, they have been above normal for much of the winter so far.

    I love the idea of growing lemons, however they’d never survive here.

    You have settled into retirement nicely by the sound of it. Enjoy!

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  5. Dear Lorrie,
    Such lovely fabrics you have chosen for your pin cushion. Looks like Spring. I enjoy waking up to a night wind, When I am so cozy and warm under my bed covers the wind can howl all it wants.
    My lemon and my kumquat trees are getting ready to bloom in my greenhouse. I will try and cross pollinate them in the greenhouse because it is still below freezing here.

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  6. Right now we are having a winter blast. Just north of me (even an hour away) there is snow and ice but I am just getting rain. I love the picture of the tulips. I never thought of how the petals of dying flowers are so akin to our own skin as we age. Thanks for that insight. Hugs.

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  7. Tricky weather out your way! It's the freeze/thaw that kills our plants. We have a good snow cover this year, though.
    We were -22 this a.m.!

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  8. Congrats on your recent retirement. I enjoy your posts around house and home, and sometimes around the surrounding parks. I too live in the same city. The library is a great resource right now. I always have a number of books on hold and never seem to run out of more titles to request. I just finished The Searcher by Tana French and it was an engrossing read. It has been ages since I read a book I truly could not put down. Loved it. I believe I read Jedediah Days years ago. Your little sewing project is inspiring. I don't have the energy or state of mind for anything overwhelming right, but am inspired by your example. Stay warm, snow coming tonight... Violet.

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  9. I know just how you feel about the cold - it has been unusually cold here for the past few days even my hellebores have pointed their flowers down to ground and not lifted them up all day - I have never seen them do that before. I really do hope that they do not suffer and perk themselves up again.

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  10. Alas, we're in deep winter here. Glad to see a bit of spring in your area even if it is cooler than usual for you. Love the blue anemone with the white snowy contrast and those deep purple tulip petals give joy right up to their final demise into the compost bin. I love how they deep in colour as they age. Your sewing project looks so inviting as does your pile of library books. I am glad to see you are enjoying your new retired status with various projects and pleasures. BTW, your new embroidery scissors are a lovely example of William Morris's adage to have something beautiful and useful in your home.

    I hope you have a lovely weekend, Lorrie.
    Brenda xo

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  11. Your sewing projects are beautiful! I love the colors! The vintage looking scissors are so pretty as well!

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  12. Hope that lemon tree survives. I like that fabric you are working with. So pretty. We are frigid here starting out at 6 degrees F. this morning. They are talking about snow coming on Monday. We'll see if the predictions prove true. Hope you have a lovely weekend!

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  13. What pretty fabrics you are using for your patchwork, all colours that I love.I think we are all rather taken with your scissors!
    Cynthia H.E is a prolific writer and has been very popular over the years here. It's a long time since I read one of her books.

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  14. The pin cushion and scissors keeper are very lovely. The fabrics you chose are beautiful.
    The cold weather really is bone-chilling. I hope your lemon tree will survive.

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  15. The snow tinged Anemone is so pretty. Needless to say, it is bitterly cold in Manitoba. I only go out if absolutely have to.

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  16. That blue flower is stunning with the snow!

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  17. Your lemon tree, warmed by the old fashioned bulbs, makes a charming view! -smile-

    We are in the NE of the US, where winter is really winter. And in a cold spell now. But then, it IS Winter. -smile-

    💕 💓 💗 💖 💗 💓 💕

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  18. There are some good book ideas there. That fabric is really pretty.

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  19. Hello, Lorrie. We are enjoying winter here with daffodils and snowdrops on their way up. But, we certainly do not have gorgeous blooms as the one in your opening photo. More snow on the way this week.

    I have not read any of the books in your reading stack other than Lynne Olson's, Madame Fourcade's Secret War. I am almost finished and it has been a great book. I believe you will enjoy it.

    I plan to savor these next few weeks as spring and garden season will soon arrive. Stay well, Lorrie.

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  20. The Warmth of the Christmas lights is genius!! We have so much snow. I don't ever remember this much in Chicago OR wisconsin. But Fireman got the carburetor in to the old snowblower, and she's working hard again. I've been blowing the snow from the skylights with the leaf blower. These last few days of snow have been steady, but super fluffy

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  21. Similar temperatures here and I know just how you feel. Thank goodness for books on these chilly days. I will check out your titles:). The sewing looks good, what fun to have a new machine to experiment with. Have a good weekend. B x

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  22. Winter is definitely having its last blast here--I think we're going to get more snow this week, than the last 2 months!

    I don't know if it's the lockdown-induced boredom, but I almost bought a pair of winter boots (thermal rating: -100 degrees Celsius AND made in my city) that I saw on Instagram. I'm stalking it online until it goes on sale. LOL.

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  23. I love this stage of tulips for some strange reason. They are so pretty.
    Reading is always a good thing.
    I think of your lemon tree every once in the while and wonder how it is doing.
    The Christmas lights are a good idea. We put them on our hummingbird feeder, but hadn't thought of putting them on a plant. Great idea! Now if we can find new bulbs. Ours are almost all burned out.

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  24. That looks like good reading to me!
    Your sewing looks great, I do like the fabric colours.

    All the best Jan

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  25. Hi Lorrie! I’ll bet you’re enjoying your retirement time. I gave a friend who does the same thing with Christmas lights on some plants in wintertime. I was wondering how you’re liking your serger. Your pin cushion and scissor case are so cute. We’ve had very frigid temperatures, blackouts, and snow here in Texas. Thankfully I haven’t lost power yet, but my daughter did.

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Thank you for your comment. I read and value each one, cherishing the connections we can make although far apart. Usually, I visit your blog in return, although if you ask a question I try to contact you directly.

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