Yesterday was the winter solstice. We went out to the coast to have dinner with my parents.
Midwinter:
Time to enjoy warm meals of oxtail soup and beef pot-roast.
Time to work on sewing and crafts during the long, dark evenings. Yes, I do still find a little bit of time for this, even with a crawly baby to look after! I’ve been making some home-made baby rattles, and have plans to mend some old sweaters and maybe sew a new shirt and dress.
Time to make sure warm covers are on the bed for the cold nights ahead. Though the solstice marks the solar midwinter, the climatic “midwinter” usually comes in July. We have a big warm duckdown comforter on our bed. It’s a kingsize, even though our bed is just a double. Owen snuggles between us in the nest, covered with a soft woolen baby blanket. This is a very cosy and happy arrangement, as long as Owen doesn’t wake up at 4am, churning his limbs like a conglomeration of eggbeaters. Fortunately we all sleep well most nights.
Young garlic growing in the winter sun
Time to get out the garden plans and seed catalogues, and make plans for the coming spring. We are keen to try growing a new kind of hot chile, recommended by some friends. They also have a recipe for some delicious hot chile sauce (a fermented one). We can’t wait to try this.
Time to plant garlic. Actually, our garlic has already been in the ground for about three weeks. We were given a very generous supply of seed garlic by some kind friends, so have been able to put in 300 plants. This is a huge increase over the last two years. We feel happy every time we look out the window and see all those spears of green poking out of the garden soil.
Best wishes to all on the winter solstice!
Here in eastern U.S. it is the Summer Solstice – Best Wishes to you for your winter. I have really enjoyed reading your stories about Herman. That all people who eat meat (I do) would be stewards as you of the animals they raise for food.
A few weeks ago I ate my first piece of 100 percent grass fed beef. I spent a lot of money on a very small piece. I didn’t even need salt or pepper on it.
Aargh. I told myself once not to read Farmlet when hungry.
I did it again! Thank you for your wonderful stories.
Hi Eileen,
I think I may have said this before, but we really wish you lived close enough to pop over for dinner. We’d love to share some of our grass-fed beef with you!
Cheers,
Rebecca
Rebecca,
Be careful what you wish for. Ha Ha.
I might pop over for dinner sometime in the next five years. Seriously, I have wanted to travel to New Zealand for at least 20 years now. Also Hawaii.
I’ll give you lots of advance notice re my impending visit. By then, I am sure you will have lots of fresh beef. Hopefully more lamb. Yummmmm. And Owen, what a special guy, will be walking and talking. Most likely be a youngster wise beyond his years. I hope the day comes when all of this is true.
@ Eileen,
That sounds like a fun visit. Keep us posted about your plans!
Rebecca
Happy solstice to you (belatedly)!