December . . . .

Our visitors  have left and I’m getting back into routine. . . We had a trip to the garden centre to see Santa,  his reindeer and donkeys whilst the family were with us.  The three year old went very shy and was not at all sure about the old guy all in red (who was very patient and jolly!). However, Stardust and Snowflake the reindeer were a huge hit  – it was all delightful …..

It is not long now until the shortest day.  It certainly gets dark pretty early on gloomy nights and we have had a fairly bleak week with snow on the tops.  The lane down to the main road was really treacherous several mornings running ; covered in thick ice. The birds have been eating voraciously from the feeders which means I have had the pleasure of seeing the greater spotted woodpeckers close up again; right outside the kitchen window. . .  (as above in my December picture). Brings to mind the carol:

In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan;
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago.

(Christina Rossetti. )

Typical UK weather – freezing one moment and it is mild and “damping” again today.  Layers of clothing going on and off.  However, we are still stoking up the woodburner at night to make it cosy. . .   logs it get in now . . . .