Changing Lights.

The vagary of winter.

It is raining buckets and as the ground is rather soaked already, puddles, streams and rivers abound. Even the little trickle that usually translates to the pond behind our house is now a raging torrent that can be heard from a distance. Cold though, it isn't. Strange to imagine walking about on Christmas Eve avoiding puddles, mud and rain. Snow would be much nicer, I think.

I shouldn't complain about the rain as rain denotes warmer temperatures and more importantly, enough water to negate any droughts. Had one a few years ago and many were starting to panic. Good vintage though!

But, the most amazing bit about this time of the year is that from now on, the days get longer and the nights shorter. Yes, the winter solstice has done its magic. Dusk at four is on the way out and not a day too soon. Cabin fever has gripped quite a few and moodiness is not a stranger. At least we love to read but what about those that don't? Suddenly a month of being more or less stuck indoors could be anything but a charming holiday.

The changing light will also impact on our feral boys' dinner times. Usually I feed them when on the cusp of dusk as I feel that dinner times should coincide with dusk and darkness. Of course the two of them have only yesterday been outed as epicures by pure chance. Our neighbour had stopped outside his garden shed across from our house and proudly told me;

" Biggi, I always put out food for your cats as they scout about looking hungry. "

Agh, what scoundrels they are. Breakfast at the lady down the road, lunch and snacks at my neighbour's garden shed and scrumptious dinner at chez nous....Could it be the year of the cat?

Regardless of what the weather holds in store, we are going to enjoy this relaxing and quiet part of the year. Being together, healthy and happy is all that counts.

Biggi