Levitating

Today's early morning low slung clouds quietly slipped away, revealing a glorious blue autumnal sky.

 I'd put off working yesterday due to claggy heavy mist and rain, which when half way up a moorland hillside trying to garden is not pleasant. Thursday's lovely weather more than made up for it.

It is definitely autumnal now - no getting around it and yes I know there are those of you who are atumnaphiles who can not get enough of the colours, the cool air, the dark evenings, the comfort food however they are exactly what gets me down. Where is the warmth and the sunlight, the heat of the day and the late nights?  Where are the swallows and swifts and the searing sunsets over the sea horizon? However, today certainly went someway to redeem it's rather dreary start.

Willow was her usual enthusiastic self, showing me how to just get on and enjoy life regardless what gets thrown at you - or in her case - for you ... a ball, a frizzbee or hoop.

Over the last couple of days I have been making slow roast pumpkin soup - working around having half a kitchen and it has turned out rather nicely. 

I'd planned to have it for the weekend however Himself was feeling a bit poorly and not wanting to eat much, so I enticed him with a bowl full of the pumpkin soup which he agreed to try. 

Suffice to say, he soon perked up and wolfed it down then hung around seeing if there would be seconds - sorry no, the rest is for the weekend! (We've got another birthday celebration and the soup is meant for that) Don't worry about him starving, he was offered other things to stave off his self imposed famine, he's fine.

It is now in the fridge, ready to be gently reheated and eaten with crusty brown bread - yum

Have you ever seen a caterpillar levitate? - Well now you have..... It is one of the Tiger moth family, not sure which variety, but on discovery it curled up in a fuzzy ball, balancing on the longer guard hairs making it look as if it was floating! 

It soon 'returned to its feet' and wandered off , determinedly heading towards my garden for a somewhere to hide.

So I suppose, the answer to the dilemma of how to survive autumn - be more dog, levitate like a tiger moth caterpillar, eat slow roasted pumpkin soup and just get on with it.... Wish me luck.

And the builders? They have finally gone!! Next step is a bit of electrical work then the walls can be skimmed and painted, the cupboards installed and the floor replaced - ooh that sounds like more than one step...... I shall keep you posted.

how I hug (hygge)

A chill wind is cutting through clothing outside today and despite the woodburner glowing warmly - I am cold. Bone Cold. If I put any more clothes on I shall not be able to bend.....

I know that being more active would certainly help however I have a few sit down/computer/book keeping tasks to tackle as well as a drawing challenge which I need to start. I am trying to get back in to sketching having stopped suddenly in October 2019. Yes, I can be that specific. Talk about going cold turkey.

Despite the sun, our house is quite dark, the angle it was built all those years ago (it is about 170ish years old) did not factor in the modern need and understanding for the requirement of natural light.

I resort to candles and lights to fill the dark corners with light and warmth, I love the flickering light against the walls.

On a whim (well sort of a whim - an idea has been rattling around my head for a while) I bought a mirror ball. In the optimistic hope that small shards of light could be captured from the sun and light up the room and it did for a brief time when for about 20 minutes the sun shone obliquely across the village and into our window. The lounge was filled with sparkles and twinkles and made my heart sing. Just need to find it the perfect sun basking spot🌞

So, that and the thought of the hyacinth bulbs filling the room with their glorious scent make me rather happy.

Post script : what do you do to bring a little light in to your life?