Rainy Days

Winter has arrived. The garden is wet and cold but there are compensations. Lots of nice winter vegs to eat for example, safely tucked away in the polytunnels.

Lovely leeks, carrots and parsnips make hearty, warming soups. I love walking down the garden to fetch good things to cook.

Although many of the perennial plants have died down now until Spring some hardy sorts are just beginning to show off. The hellebore buds are gradually swelling and the winter clematis are beginning to flower. Clematis cirrhoza “Freckles” has a few pretty blossoms and the “Winter Beauty” has a few white buds on show. Some of the primulas are pretty but sadly the slugs love them too.

We’ve had a lot of rain and gloomy grey skies this week. Good excuse to bake, knit and sew. Also to use my camera. I love to see the dripping leaves, flowers and berries and the crystal drops with the light shining through them. Every opportunity, I’m out with my camera.

Here's a little poem I composed which sums up how I feel.
Rainy Days

Raindrops patter on the pane. 
I will the sun to shine
But all in vain.

Watching cloudy skies I sit.
No gardening today,
Perhaps I'll knit.

But when the raindrops slow
I fetch my camera
And out I go.

My eyes are full of rapture
As shimmering drops
I try to capture.

I'm so happy on my quest.
Sometimes the wetter days
Are just the best.

While it’s been wet I’ve been happily baking, knitting and sewing. I made my orange and cranberry cakes again. The first lot went in a trice. This time I doubled the recipe and baked the mixture in a roasting tin then cut it into squares.

Sunny days are few and far between at this time of the year when I can go out and do some garden work. However, it’s a good time to do some of those indoor jobs which have been on a list for ages. Today I felt very virtuous because I caught up with some mending I’ve had in mind for a while.

Some of the stitching around the edge of a bedspread had come loose and a little tear needed repairing. So I fetched out my sewing machine and set to work.

My husband is not a man to buy new clothes. The older something is the better he likes it. So when his favourite workshirts become tatty round the collar I turn the collar. In other words, I unstitch the bit that holds the collar, turn the collar over so the worn bit is underneath and then stitch it back into place. I did one of these today.

Before you start thinking I’m some kind of a martyr I must admit that I actually enjoy doing this!

I was helped by my handy little stitch ripper to open up the seam before removing the collar and turning it over. When the shirt is being worn again the old tatty bit lies underneath and doesn’t show. Good job done and one happy man.

If you like sewing, this stitch ripper is a vital tool. It removes tiny stitches that scissors just can’t reach without cutting the fabric. I also use it to remove labels from clothes because I find they prickle and irritate the back of my neck. I’ve had mine for many years but they are probably still available at sewing shops.

It was a pleasure to use my sewing machine again. I haven’t had it out since last Christmas when I made some little felt Christmas stockings to use at the table instead of crackers.

It’s nice to keep busy on these colder days. I’m not a fan of Winter so I have to find pleasurable things to pass the time and make it seem to go more quickly. I hope you’re all enjoying being creative as much as I am and if you don’t feel inclined, I hope you’ll enjoy reading about mine.

Be with you again in a few days. Bye for now.