This Spurt Of Warm Weather Is Lulling Us Into A Modest Winter.

Could the coldest part of winter be over?

Granted, it is still a bit on the chilly side but once the sun gets high enough to work its magic while moving the barometer up to a lovely 15 degrees, one might be forgiven to think about spring.

Bob and I finished stringing the rest of the wires this morning and I couldn't help but notice the apricot tree's branches sporting buds. Buds that usually appear around spring time. When I mentioned rather euphorically that I believe the end of winter is nigh, Bob burst out laughing and counted out the rest of the three months of cold left over. Spoil sport although he could be right. Tomorrow a cold front seems to be on the radar.

I tend to count winter time by how many bags of pellets we use to keep our house nice and cozy during these colder months. On Friday we have to go to Lagerhaus to purchase our second pallet of pellets. Had to wait until almost the last packet is used because otherwise we don't have the space to store the bags. Finicky lot they are; can't let any moisture get to them and the contents because a swollen wood pellet would clog up the delicate firing device in our oven. Ah well, another three months and this winter is behind us.

Early on while we were in the vineyards we spotted or rather heard a couple of older men walking up the hill. I think they walk together a few times a week and it was great to hear them chatting the whole way. So, it isn't just us women who chat for the fun of it!  I have a notion that both these men grew up in the village and have been friends for ever thus having endless topics for conversations on hand. Everything from schooldays, via wives to grandchildren. Nice.

Our outside rascals, a.k.a. Parsley, Grey and Trouble are enjoying winter as well. Can't help but enjoy it when we feed them delightful morsels being well aware that catching mice is that much harder at the moment. It feels as though Parsley has put on a few pounds and has lost his sleek physique...

The life of a well fed cat! Isn't he gorgeous? Parsley follows me everywhere and even comes along when I walk Maxi. Who would have guessed that this feral who wouldn't let us touch him six months ago, is now glued to our side and house?

Biggi

 

Back To Normal.

 The festive season subsides into normality.

At least it wasn't as cold as one could have expected. A balmy 2 degrees this morning made the end of sleep-ins bearable. School's out and workers are about.

Bob, mum and I were working in the vineyard all morning attending to the re-stringing of wires. Well, Bob did most of the work and we did the bits in between. Gosh, Bob is amazing at how precise, sure and exact he does the work. Absolutely fabulous.

Part of my job was to stand at the side of the road and watch that the wire didn't cross over as Bob walked to the end of the row of vines. A lot of standing about and that is when I noticed how life had reverted to normal.

Cars were speeding up and down the road past us, a mum pushed her pram past and friends, who had spotted our red car, took a few minutes to shoot the breeze with us. The woman with her pram made sure to go past quickly as the little one had fallen asleep. On her way past she whispered; ' tedious teething last night ' 

Enough said.

All around us in the various vineyards the sound of working could be heard. Wires being pulled and gossip being exchanged. No, just caught the odd word so I couldn't make heads or tails of it. Wasn't meant for my ears in any case although, often the most interesting tidbits can be garnered by stint of gossip!

Without a lot of fanfare this new year has descended upon us and somehow it doesn't feel strange to say or write 2022. Almost rolls of the tip of the pen and tongue, doesn't it?

Mum and Bob concentrating on the work at hand.

Bob stringing the wires.

Biggi