It’s now dark by four thirty and it’s really difficult to adjust to it. Hubs and I have to build up to walking the dogs in the pitch black and the endless driving rain. It’s so strange seeing bus after empty bus passing us by. How odd it must be for the drivers.
I took Sam to the vet recently as a few lumps have appeared. I had to take him in this time and got stuck with the chattiest vet ever! I couldn’t get out fast enough as my glasses kept steaming up under the mask. He goes back for tests tomorrow, I have everything crossed that they’re as harmless as the vet suspects.
The greenhouse is more or less empty now, all that remains is some chard which is still going strong, a few herbs and my home grown ginger which I must say I’m pleased with, as I’ve never seen the plant growing before.
Leaves, soggy apples and beech nuts litter all the gardens, I’m hoping for a dry spell so I can begin to brush them up.
My olive trees are all sporting small green olives, maybe one fine year they’ll grow to fruition.
The beech leaves are all finally down, the recent wild winds have seen to that. I lose time gazing at their beautiful bare branches.
I’m wondering how Christmas is going to play out this year. As usual I haven’t a present bought yet and I’ve heard that buying online is likely to be chaotic with many gifts arriving after Christmas, and supermarket delivery slots are becoming increasingly harder to book.
We don’t know how long this lockdown will last after the 2nd of December either. At a push, I have potatoes, carrots, parsnips, leeks and brassicas in the ground and plenty of vegan mains and other items in the freezer so Christmas dinner should be doable. What strange, uncertain times we live in.
And Finally…
I always collect the ends of candles, they are excellent for bringing a dying chimenea back to life, fast.
This time I used the old wax to indulge in a little candle making.
I have to say it was very therapeutic and relaxing, and I ended up with lots of candles and still plenty of candle ends to make dozens more.
So that’s the candles sorted for Christmas! Onwards!
Until next time, stay safe.
That ginger is impressive, I had no idea it grows so big. Well done on being so productive with your veg, I feel ashamed that I have been so lax about veggie growing for winter this year. In these uncertain times it is good to be self- sufficient. And candles too, well done!
I am really enjoying seeing the ginger plants grow, hopefully they’ll have a decent root to harvest, if not, well it’s a pleasure seeing an exotic plant grow. You don’t have to worry about veggies, your daughter is probably growing enough for the whole family. Thanks Chloris.xxx
Oh, the short days are draining, I can’t seem to get anything done once it goes dark, it’s all psychological isn’t it? The streets are dark here too with pubs and shops being closed. Thanks Amalia.xxx
I don’t like these short days as well. By the time the afternoon rolls in you feel that the day is almost over and because many places are still closed for business, there is less light on the streets than usual. But there are many things about the season that I do like, I guess it evens out. Love the candles and all the best to Sam.
Amalia
xo
I hope all goes well with Sam, I know how worrying waiting is. As I write I am sitting watching for the supermarket to release more slots. The candles are lovely by the way.
Thanks Sue. I am relieved knowing all is well with Sam. I do hope you get some supermarket slots, they really are filling up fast.xxx
Keeping my fingers crossed for Sam.
I don’t like the early evenings either, and with the recent grey, drab days we’ve had the days have seemed even shorter somehow! We do our best to get a walk in though, you feel so much better for it.
I’m not sure what this years Christmas gatherings will be like, we shall have to wait and see BUT your candles look great, such a lovely idea 🙂
Take care, and enjoy the new week.
All the best Jan
Thanks Jan, you do have to make a huge effort to go out in this weather, especially without a dog. Yes, goodness knows what Christmas will look like, one thing is for sure, people will gather.xxx
How resourceful you are! I love how those candle ends became new again, ready to warm and beautify.
While sunset isn’t quite at 4:30 around here, it nearly is. Temps are still warm enough to be enjoyed on the patio, but once that sun goes down, temps drop. We have yet to encounter much in the way of rain.
I was worried that giving Christmas decorations too early would mean less interest. Well, soon as my Buy Nothing sessions cleared, I noticed houses in the neighborhood swapping out Halloween lights for Christmas ones. It feels awfully early to me, but there’s certainly a sense of hurrying the year away by getting into the Christmas spirit as soon as possible.
With the new lockdowns, Thanksgiving celebrations are a bit wobbly. One thing to be thankful for, the shops appear to have been better prepared for shoppers and I have yet to come across any shortages.
Anyway, here’s to hoping all will go well for Sam and for your family needs, Dina. xoxo
Thanks Anne, as I said to Linda I can’t imagine it being warm and dark during winter. It’s the same here, so many homes have their decorations up, I’ve never known them fly up so early, I think people need the good cheer after the year we’ve had. I’m pleased to hear the shops have been well stocked for Thanksgiving, I do hope you had a good one. It’s a relief to know all is well with Sam.xxx
Lets hope your Christmas is a happy time, candles and all. hope Sam gets better. We’ve had a mixed spring with many storms and hot weather mixed together.
Thanks Peter. All is well with Sam, yes, here’s to a happy, healthy Christmas for us all.xxx
The candle making looks like fun. It brings back memories of making candles with my daughter when she was a teen.
I must say I enjoyed making the candles, I did end up getting wax everywhere though. Thanks Sheryl.xxx
I hope that Sam’s lumps are benign. Taking the dogs out is a great way to get motivated for a walk and some exercise especially when it’s cold and wet. Then you can get cosy in an evening and light some of those lovely candles that you’ve made. What a good idea! xxL
Thanks Linda. If we didn’t have dogs I doubt we’d move! I do love lighting candles and putting mellow lamps on when it gets dark, you can’t beat getting cosy.xxx
I do hope Sam is ok, I am guessing you might have some results by now? I am loving the dark evenings. I love this time of year for the rest and stillness it brings to my life, but the continuous rain is hard work isn’t it!
I love your candle jars/pots they are so pretty.
I am impressed that you have olives, I wonder what they would taste like?
Thanks Sustainablemum. Yes, thankfully all is well with Sam. Yes, endless rain gets old fast! I’m hoping the olives reach maturity as the trees age, I really must taste one of them!xxx
We’re not getting full dark until about 5:45 at this point, but that’s soon enough. It is odd to be roaming around doing errands in what amounts to winter light — especially since we’re still quite warm.
I do hope all goes well with Sam. From what I hear, many times those lumps are nothing more than fat. I hope that’s so. You brought back wonderful memories of making Christmas candles with my mother — decades ago, now. We used wax milk cartons for many of them — sometimes adding ice for that special effect. She liked to make snowball candles, too. We’d whip the wax and then apply it to the outside. Sometimes, we’d even add glitter!
I can’t imagine it being dark and warm! Yes, most lumps tend to be fatty as dogs age, all my old dogs were riddled with them. I’ll have to look up adding ice to candles, I’ve never heard of that but it sounds most interesting. Thanks Linda.xxx
We have drifted into winter up here. Yesterday afternoon felt like -2C with the wind chill and we forecast to rise to +1C overnight! Today is dreich, very cold and with waterworks. Your description of weather is very recognisable!
Are your candles wax? I am not a candle expert, but I have heard that not all candles are equal, in that many are now not wax as we have known it. You have been very occupied with the recycling of candles for the darkest months and your festive period.
The ginger is a perky plant. Interesting to look at. The olives are obvious, which is nice, even if they are not absolutely edible. xxxxx
Goodness, your weather sounds grim. I hear snow and plummeting temps are on their way too. Time to hunker down! I tend to use soy wax for candles, they burn well. There are somany types of wax out there these days, it used to mainly be beeswax. I do hope I get a good clump of ginger from that plant and that it copes over winter in the greenhouse. I have a few more growing which I’m pleased about. Thanks Menhir.xxx
Poor Sam! Hope he is alright!
Your ginger plant looks tall and strong! Mne are all short and not doing very well lately because the mugwort plants that shared the same space with them are too invasive. Hope it will give you a big clump of ginger!
Wish we could grow olive in our weather!
Love the candles! We love to make our own for the lantern festival when we were kids. But ours are all pencil-like. Not so fancy like yours
You too, take care and stay safe!
Thanks Jade. I’m surprised you can’t grow olives, I would have thought they would love your climate. I’m looking forward to seeing if I get a decent clump of ginger, I hope the plants survive the winter in the greenhouse. I did enjoy making candles, I’ll be giving it another go shortly.xxx
Love the candles….and I must say your olive tree looks very good….
Even though I am sticking to my routine and painting /writing every day I am still very confused about what day it is….and what month it is. So strange.
I have to double check every day….
The important thing is that we all stay well…wash all hands and paws and take things one day at a time . XXXX
Thanks Janet, candle making was fun. Oh, you and me both re what day it is, I even got the month wrong the other day. Here’s to us all coming out the other side.xxx
Getting dark at 4.30 really tells you winter is on the way! However, your lovely candles will make your house cosy and warm looking. I hope you will be able to spend Christmas with you daughter and family.
This pandemic has really shown us how adaptable we have to be. Good luck with your Lockdown time.😊🤞
Oh yes, winter is almost here. There’s talk of snow here soon. You just can’t beat candles during these dark evenings, I go through shed loads of them So far, it seems family’s will be able to gather, let’s hope the numbers keep coming down. Thanks Gerrie.xxx
What beautiful and clever candles! Fingers crossed for Max xxx
Thanks Gill, it was a day well spent. xxx
Dear friend, we’re sending immediate prayers and positive energy for sweet Sam; please keep us posted. And give him a smooch for me.
How moody and stimulating the landscape looks! And the olive tree, the red dogwood (?)…it all looks so seasonally inviting! I’m with you on this early darkness and navigating before and after the sun shines her light. Glad we know the drive and path by heart; even so, it gets tricky when the pups dart off to sniff some new wonder Yikes.
Your candles are gorgeous! Wow! What fun! You are so gifted.
Thanks for shining light in my day, too: your posts are always a sweet, lively gift. Gentle peace to your week’s end. xoxox
Thanks so much Kitty. It really takes some adjusting to when the darkness drops so early. I was surprised how easy it was to make the candles, really good fun and relaxing too. I’m going to have another go this week, it’s a lot cheaper than buying them. Love and hugs.xxx
I hope that Sam is okay. I don’t mind earlier, darker evenings as I usually settle down to read. I appreciate how difficult Christmas will probably be this year for many people but thankfully I don’t celebrate it and will just carry on as I have been doing most of this year.
Thanks, and you too. xx
Thanks Flighty, reading is certainly the way to go. I try and tone Christmas down each year, it can be stressful for so many people.xxx
Fingers firmly crossed for Sam. Archie’s covered in lumps and bumps now, we just keep an eye on them but they’re just fatty lumps, I hope Sam’s are the same. They don’t seem to cause Archie any problems or discomfort. Yes, winter is definitely on the way, I hate the darker evenings, the days seem so short. I’ve hardly done any Christmas shopping yet, though I don’t really have that much to buy and we don’t know yet whether we’ll be able to spend time as a family or not. I’m hoping that Daniel and Jasmine can come home, we haven’t seen them since last Christmas. The candles look lovely, what a great idea.
Thanks Jo. Dogs do tend to get lumpy as they grow older don’t they, all my dogs have developed fatty lumps as they’ve got older. I do hope you get to spend Christmas with your family, it seems to be on the cards. I can just imagine how many people will be getting tests in the run up to the big day.xxx
Poor Sam. Fingers crossed that his lumps turn out to be benign. I’m very impressed with your ginger plant – I’ve never tried growing ginger, although we get through a lot of it in the kitchen. I had a go at candle making too this week – good fun isn’t it! Your containers are beautiful – see, you do have some Christmas presents! :O) Here’s hoping that this lockdown doesn’t go on longer than necessary and that you get to spend Christmas with Littl’urchin. xx
I grew my ginger from a little piece bought at the supermarket. I was surprised that it grew so quickly. I’ve planted more bits of root and one has sprouted already. I hope the greenhouse id warm enough for them over winter. Oh yes, candle making certainly is good fun. I’m looking forward to making more as I’ve ordered some moulds. Thanks Veggiemummy.xxx