Images of autumn into winter…….
What an easy, long lazy kind of autumn we have in these parts.
Trees take their time, unwilling as they are to rush in the annual release of leaves. The shift from the tired end of summer green gets stuck for a period while many hues of yellow emerge before the glorious rusts and reds appear as we get further into December. At some point a harsh north wind will awaken and rage through the columns of trees lining mountainsides revealing where streams and rivers hide, often there’s a hardy tree, alone, with roots that have reached the depths where water hides. That’s when a drive to Hania will have me passing bare branches and discarded leaves dancing across the road.
While driving my eye may miss what usually captivates, as attention these days is caught by the most unexpected shift in my interests. For instance, upon reaching Hania enticing shop window displays of shoes, bags, clothes are no longer seductive. Instead, when I pass a neatly stacked pile of logs outside homes, well, I just forget about autumn leaves drifting playfully onto the bonnet, the rapidly ripening oranges and stop wondering about dangly things. That, by the way is not a reference to an inadvertent stroll along the nudist side of the beach! What I’m referring to are the array of fruits and berries that this time of year brings – colourful and impressive. Some I know (oranges and lemons, obviously! …also quince, olives & persimmons) and some I still haven’t acquainted myself with, a tardy element in myself I need to address…..one day….
The attention grabbing distractions of log piles is just another aspect of living in the country in a house that depends on wood for warmth, therefore survival by my way of thinking. Otherwise it’d be all day in bed with hot water bottles when temperatures drop, fortunately not too many days are like that this ‘winter’.
So far this year, socks and wood stoves haven’t been required much; only towards the end of November did I search for warmer footwear and stock up on firelighters before beginning the nightly routine of lighting the stove.
Right through December it’s still possible to have a swim, although the last dip was markedly cooler than the previous one. Several days of heavy seas quickly make a difference, so changes are afoot but I aim to persist when waves subside and a friendly sun requests my presence. What a contrast to be in the sea, numb toes and fingers notwithstanding, warm rays on my face and looking up to see fresh snow on the mountains……but not yet, the first shiny snow capped peaks have yet to manifest. And that’s a contrast we’re blessed with – snow, falling leaves, sunny day swims alongside sudden growth spurts, not personally – out in nature I mean – everywhere I look there’s fresh greenery and already a good range of wild flowers have entered the stage, just quietly appearing thankful for recent rainfall, although it does mean that nettles are again crowding out my preferred garden foliage, ensuring there’s a warming weeding activity on a winters afternoon.
There’s not been quite enough rainfall yet for agricultural needs, but hope persists that ensuing months will bring much needed snow and rain at which time I will be hastily dismantling my messy bundle of olive wood. These neatly stacked piles I pass trigger a wave of incompetent despair, to which I’ll offer soothing words of comfort, reminding myself that I’m new to this, that in a few more years a ton of wood will be so swiftly and evenly lined up that photographs will be taken by passersby, and thankfully the risk of logs suddenly rolling painfully onto toes eliminated. A good reason for mastering the art of creating a well constructed wood stack, thus ending the coveting of others marvellous handiwork. I appreciate this is a skill to learn while wearing steel capped boots.
During the continuing mild weather and the sea fails to beckon, a short walk out in the country can yield surprises that a drive never will, – sun seeking flowers, a ladybird or two, dancing butterflies, some splendid bird song, fuzzy caterpillars, various varieties of mushrooms tucked under bushes, around tree trunks, arranged on fallen branches or simply wantonly out in the open. And then an angry territorial crab can come rushing out and threaten to drive me into the nearby river….what’s not to like in this kind of winter? How lucky we are.