Is Winter Nearly Over Yet?

Hello there from my little corner of the world. I hope this finds you well. Myself and my little family are all doing okay. Living quietly; which is what I need after last year. There really isn't much to report. We don't go anywhere or do anything. I roam the hillsides. I watch the birds in our garden. I am back at work, so my priorities have shifted. The precious little time I have that isn't working (from home), or caring for my one year old, is generally spent being restful or doing restorative things like yoga. 8pm is an acceptable bedtime.

When the first of the snows came, our valley was at its most beautiful. I like how quiet it is after the snowfall. Less traffic, and even footsteps are muffled. We took the little one out into the snow for the first time. He seemed a bit confused at first, and then decided the snow must be a bit like the bath water and tried to do a front crawl through it!

Above: The valley at dawn, viewed from our house

Above: The trees in our front garden

It hasn't warmed up for long at all. The odd day, and then it's back to freezing temperatures again. My tumble dryer is in the garage and won't work when it's this cold, so the laundry is mounting up. It is also getting increasingly difficult to entertain an inquisitive, adventurous 14 month old within the same four walls, day after day. It seems like the right time to let him run riot in a soft play centre, but of course nothing's open at the moment. He hasn't met any other children, so I do wonder how he will cope when we are eventually allowed to rejoin society! We do try and make sure he gets out of the house at least once a day. It has been icy weather even for a walk, but sometimes you just need to get out of the house.

Above: icicles outside my kitchen window

Above: Dressed in a vintage sheepskin hat and vintage coat, with as many layers underneath as I could fit - tights, leggings, thermal top, two jumpers... I am not exaggerating the cold, all of the mountain streams had frozen and the wind chill was Baltic.

Above: weird ice formations where the stream joined the lake

It's snowing again as I type this. The little one is napping, and I am trying to summon the energy to do something constructive like a quick yoga session or some housework. Somehow I will probably end up staring out of the window and drinking yet another cuppa.

Stay cosy!