Thursday, February 12, 2015

A Tribute to Winter

I was flipping through a lovely little book and came across this quote:

"Live in each season as it passes: Breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each". ~ Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Much like spiritual seasons, some being easier to deal with than others, we also deal with physical seasons. Being from Cape Town, I am used to 4 seasons in one day rather than 6 months of winter, and so I find sun and heat much easier to live with than grey and cold.

I thought it would be a battle for me in winter because of this - and aside for the odd "grey mood" that corresponds with same skies - I have found that I absolutely love the obviousness of the seasons here.


So we are almost through with winter - and for that last little push I have decided to list some of the things that I love about winter in Lux.  (In no particular order)
  1. Soups and Stews!
  2. Hot chocolate
  3. Gluwein
  4. Christmas markets
  5. Dinners with friends 
  6. Fires
  7. Puzzles
  8. Reading with my blanket and hottie
  9. Scarves, boots and beanies
  10. Warm coats
  11. Thermal tights
  12. Heated car seats
  13. Cinema's
  14. Coffee shops
  15. The chilly air on your face when you leave your heated house
  16. Forests of frozen fog and other lovely forest things
  17. Long nights
  18. Wine (although I do like that all year round!)
  19. Snow
  20. Not having so much dog hair to sweep up
  21. Not having to shave every other day
  22. Blowing warm air out your mouth and trying to blow rings! :)
So, like the quote says... I am happily resigned to another month or two and then I shall embrace spring with much celebration!

Onward and upwards!  We're nearly there...  :)





Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Just waffling about snow and gardens ...

After a few weeks of mild hysteria at the thought of the French exams, they are finally over and we proceed to the next level.  We breathed a collective sigh of relief since neither of us felt very confident when we walked out of the room. However, it is done.

We have had some snow which has been fun. We've enjoyed making an SA snowman, taking the dogs for their first "free snow run" on a field nearby, shovelling the pavements, and avoiding the icy patches on the pavements. It's actually an art avoiding landing on your butt alot of the time.
Our SA Snowman

I am wondering how the garden will manage. We love gardening and our FH garden was a source of great challenge (with snails, caterpillars, wind, sand, etc) but outweighed by a tremendous deal of love for it. We know little to nothing about what grows and what doesn't here, and I am sad to say that I have killed more indoor plants here than collectively in my entire life. I have always been able to grow anything indoors so it's a huge blow to my ego - I can only think that it has something to do with the indoor heating and I need to figure it out.

Outside, our new terracing which we recently did, is filled with snow, underneath that snow are the 100's of Euro's worth of plants we planted during our Spring/Summer - I wait with bated breath to see if any of it survives. Many times now when I take walks I look at the gardens of the locals and make mental notes of what they have, some plants I recognise, and others are a complete mystery - but next winter I shall be better prepared.

Snowy view from our balcony
We had one day of frost a few weeks ago which was absolutely just thee most beautiful thing ever. 
A frosty day in the city
Posted on FB by "Ville de Luxembourg"

My pic of what frost looks like up-close and personal.
This winter has been colder and wetter than last year, and I am dreaming of a long ice cold beer while sitting outside in a T-shirt and feeling just, hot!

In the meantime though, I am about to board a bus, head to the city for coffee with a friend and enjoy the cosyness of scarves, boots, beanies, coats and gloves. Yes, today there will be gloves because we are at a wonderful -5 today. 

Only about 10 days till the World Cup Cricket starts- that ought to heat things up a bit! 

Have lovely days wherever you are! 

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