Well the clocks changed this weekend so the long dark nights are here and although it may be unseasonally mild at the moment cold, wintry weather probably isn’t too far off. I don’t like winter. I’ll admit it has it’s moments. I do love those cold, crisp days where the sky is so blue and frost has touched every surface making even the most mundane of objects look beautiful. There are the birds that visit my garden, birds that for the rest of the year seek their food from other places. I love the lights and decorations of Christmas and the warm hearty stews that my body craves. But, and it is a fairly big but, I hate being indoors. I get restless, I’m an outdoors girl at heart. Much as I love snuggling up in front of my woodburner, given the choice I would swap it like a shot for a warm day in my garden or on my plot. I don’t do being confined in my house all day very well, as Wellyman will testify. Wellywoman doesn’t want to hang up the wellies for long.
So what can I do to get through the next couple of months before the days start to get longer, bulbs start to push through and Spring sunshine lights up the sky. Well I don’t want to wish time away. I, like many people, utter the phrase ‘there’s never enough time in the day’ on a frequent basis. Well I’m going to make a list, a Winter list of all those things that I say I never have time for and I’m going to see if I can use these dark nights and inclement days to do them. (When I say I haven’t time for them I think what I mean is I would just rather be doing something else i.e in the garden or on the plot).
So rather than grabbing packets of seeds that take my fancy at the garden centre I’m going to study my seed catalogues this year and come up with a proper plan of what to grow.
I’m going to spend time planning my allotment so that I get maximum efficiency from the space next year.
I’m going to go through my old seeds and anything I don’t want, I’m going to donate to my local community garden.
I’m going to go through my cook books and try out new recipes. Most people only cook a few recipes from each cook book they own and I’m no different, so I’m going to add a few more tasty meals to my repetoire.
And finally I’m going to learn a craft. I would love to able to capture my love of all things plant-like in some way. At the moment I’m thinking linocuts. I love Angie Lewin, an artist who is inspired by nature. So I’d like to give something like that a try.
So, hopefully these should keep me busy and keep the Winter blues at bay and then it won’t belong before snowdrops and daffodils are on their way.
wellywoman 
I’m with you every step of the way Wellywoman – I hate being indoors and suffer from cabin fever – so I make sure I go for a long walk every day, whatever the weather. I have a lovely book by Angie Lewin ‘Plants and Places’ and have also sent cards from her range – big fan. There will hopefully be some lovely days to get out and about and do a bit in the garden.
I love Angie Lewin’s work too. We did lino cuts at school and it was awfy hard on the fingers. Maybe it’s easier now.
I’m just about to start putting all our old photos onto DVD… a winter task I’ve had on my mental list for the last three years…
Oh my goodness – your picture of snow gave me a fright! I hate being indoors too – although I am lucky enough to have my “studio” at the bottom of the garden. It sounds like a really good idea to use the winter months for creating a proper seed plan 🙂
Love Angie Lewins work
K
Sounds as if you are going to be more than a little busy! I rather like the enforced indoorsness of this time of year, as long as I can get outside regularly to be blown around by the weather and get my boots muddy. Thank goodness for the allotment, which will nag at me to go up and pick, weed, mulch, plan, dream… It helps me justify all that lovely rich winter food I crave. Enjoy your seed planning – I am looking forward to clearing out and sorting my now very disorganized selection too. Perfect winter’s evening chore.
I don’t mind winter unless it’s cold, wet and windy. I’m happy to sofa fly some days but really do like to get out when I can.
Perhaps it would be easier for us if we had specific seasons and could plan accordingly.
Never mind spring will be here before we know it! xx
I have at least one walk every day whatever the weather, with the dog. Genealogy is my winter hobby, along with knitting which I do all year round anyway, and I’ve recently learnt to crochet. I’ve already cleared out all my old seeds and sent them with hubby to work so that his work colleagues could take their pick, I feel much better now that my seed stash contains only seeds which I’m going to sow.
Was worried when I saw your first photo – from last winter I presume ! Also love Angie Lewin’s pictures – do let us know how you get on. I bought her book for my god daughter last year, she is a fan too. I think you are going to be so busy over the winter, the snowdrops will be up before you know it.
Brrrrrrr – looking at that snowy scene made me shiver Wellywoman. Sounds like a good idea to have a definite action plan in mind to see you through what can be a difficult time of year. I try to get out still even for a short time every day unless it’s persisting down or mega – freezing. Then for when I am stuck indoors I already have a backlog of books to catch up on and like you will be seed sorting/ordering and allotment planning. Funnily enough I have a small collection of named snowdrops which are in pots – I was looking at them today and one or two snouts are already breaking through so not long to wait 🙂
Hannah McVicar is another favourite illustrator – she obviously gets plenty of inspiration from her mother’s herb farm! Good luck with your winter crafting – I keep meaning to get my sketch books and illustrating tools out, perhaps this winter I might squeeze some drawing in between the crochet (I may even finish the blanket I’m working on!!) I always feel so much better for having had even an hour outdoors and I’m lucky that my work lets me do that. (Of course, plodding through cold, driving rain is a different matter!) Looking forward to seeing your plans for next year …