There's a warm west wind blowing a gale but not a hint of winter in the soft spring air. No doubt an illusion, the cold will return any moment, I'm sure. And yet, according to my online almanac:, today is :"15 minutes, 8 seconds longer than winter solstice (Dec 21, 2019)"
The cottage has been dressed---or undressed---in its winter quietude. I'm partial to white flowers in January, especial spring bulb flowers.
The first tulips of the year..
White hyacinths.
Some softly linear black toile pillows:
Mo and I went out earlier, thinking to add some pine cones to our winter-y display---I thought last night's storm and 40 mph winds would have blown many cones and pods around for gathering, but no. Maybe the wind blew them all in heap somewhere, against a grey weathered fence? We'll keep looking.
Instead we saw feral cats Tuxie and Stripey among the mossy fairly rocks,
...their velvet covers bright green with the sudden damp and warm air. [Stripey was so cute and rolled over and over, offering his fluffy apricot belly for a rub. But Mo was jealous so I left Stripey a treat and moved on.]
And we saw Mr Mockingbird, singing his spring song in the barren ugly locust tree.\
Earlier Mo enjoyed the warm afternoon on the deck, but he isn't fooled. He climbed into his warm bed for his after dinner nap.
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On a social note: I went to a lovely baby shower yesterday, held in a favorite pub in the village. And, of the 30 or so women, ages 5 to 85 I was the ONLY person not wearing black or dark grey, or a busy print of same/ mixed. All wore black, even the 5 year old! I felt weird in my Talbots ankle pants [taupe, not khaki] here and deep cobalt blue cashmere sweater . Cobalt blue suede pointy toed flats. Silver necklace, my mom's from Arizona, an opal pendant on a silver rope chain. [not a huge piece! ].My other outfit choice was winter white velveteen jeans and a matching cashmere sweater, with my thrifted necklace of pearls and gold scallop shells. My fave red suede ballet flats with the suede pompom flowers on the toes or black suede scallop edge flats.
Oh I was glad I didn't wear THAT!
I told L, Next time do not let me go to a party in anything but black! She was chic in a knee length heather grey cashmere sweater dress, elbow sleeves, V-neck, gorgeous black pearls from Tahiti, strung spaced on a thread fine gold chain!
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On a Blog note, my email went wacko last week and restored ALL emails since September. I deleted most but still am sorting recent blog comments that I certainly read but may or nor have replied to. I prob will have to start again for the New Year and just answer most recent, please forgive any overlooked notes. You know how I love comments and emails.love
lizzy
gone to the beach...
sorry for the schmutz, a speck of sand on the camera lens, no doubt
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