A Cold Day At The Lottie

I was aware that I was awake in bed...I heard a whirrrrrring wind outside and as I turned my head, I saw snow blowing horizontilly--the temptation to roll over and go back to sleep was strong, but I was "slept-out", as they say. We had had a little gathering the night before and when the guests had left we straightened a little, aired-out the house then flopped into bed.

I eased out of bed, leaving my bride deep in dreanland. When I went into the kitchen and saw that veritable mountain of glasses, cups and dishes my heart sank...I needed some tea. I put on the water and surveyed the living room for ashes and crumbs. I was in luck, the visitors had been tidy.

When the tea was ready, I set the table for brekkie and called my partner to come---she moaned a reluctant response from far away. When I tinked the sides if the tea glass as I stirred the sugar I heard her little feet pitter-patter out of bed.

As we sat at the breakfast table squinting at eachother through gritty eyelids we discussed the day's agenda. We looked outside at the snow storm and decided ...Right! We'll head off to the lottie.

---PUT THE FONE DOWN, READERS....we have long ago been declaired looney, and the boys in the white jackets and butterfly nets no longer respond to calls to this address. --

What would dispose anyone to head out into the country to their lottie in these sorts of conditions? Well, for one thing, I recently got a new birdhouse from my M-i-L. It is specific for robins (european). Another reason was to refill the the bird feeders and fat-balls. A call has gone out in this country to put out some food for the birdies due to the severity of the weather conditions. Finally I need to check the shed and fences as there have been hooligans that came across the iced-over canals and desrtoyed things on the allotment complex--not the least of which was our clubhouse.
I just wanted to be sure that no more damage had been done to our lotties whilst we had the flu.
Besides all that, we are the sort that like to sit in our little shed and drink tea as we watch the birds and snow. There's something so cozy and romantic about that...y'know what I mean?

I have some fotos to illustrate how it was.
To begin with a couple of overviews showing what happens during the winter, Here the flower garden:

...and the "old" veggie garden:

Some broadbeans before and after the hard frosts:
Before

After

The new birdhouse:

A closer look:

This is the european robin (not my foto) You can see that this tiny bird looks nothing like the North American robin in appearance or size. This little man is about the size of a sparrow but rounder:


So...by the time we got there most of the snowing had stopped and what had fallen melted a bit. We scratched here and there in the frosted ground, but the soil was hopelessly frozen solid.
No matter, there were lots of fat balls to hang-up and peanut cages to fill and seed containers to re-fill.
When all that was done we made a round of the gardens in our end of the complex to look, then we went back to the shed and broke-out the tea and sat and waited for the birds to come.
It was delightful to watch them--there were titmice, robins, a single chaffinch and a merel (an european black bird that is actually exactly like the american robin--just no red breast and the colour is much darker). It was fun, but the hot tea and bikkies were quickly consumed.
We looked at the plants that were still there and discovered that the broad beans had suffered terribly from the prolongued frosty conditions here. The Purple sprouting broccoli wasn't looking too badly though, in fact I imagined that I saw some flourets forming. A bit of warmth and those guys should come on out.
After the poking-around, the weather turned dark, very windy and quite cold. We had sore fingers and toes so we decided to call it a day--we were stiff and cold by that time.
Once home, we rolled into the house like a couple of frozen snowballs. My bride whipped off her shoes and sat in the chair groaning as she rocked back and forth, clutching a foot. She had a painful cramp in her frozen toes. I made some cocoa.
When she could stand on the foot, she limped out to the kitchen and hand-whipped some cream for the cocoa.
We heated up some apple strudel and had that and the thick cocoa over by the heaters whilst warming our toes on the radiator. We sipped and slurped with huge smiles of contentment.
She had plopped a thick dollop of her whipped cream on top of the strudel figuring that if we're going to do decadent--we're going to do DECADENT.


It was a perfect end to a cold day at the lottie.

 

Sounds like a great day Sjoerd - all except for your frozen toes! Spring seems a lot closer for you there...I can't even SEE any soil! My mouth is watering at the sight of your cocoa and strudel

 

Thanks Toni and Netty--it's fun to share experiences and pics here.
Not much chance of catching the vandals. When they trashed our clubhouse they broke the clock and it stopped at about 03:30--so by the time that dawn came they were long gone.
It looks like they came several evenings and destroyed a number of things across the complex.
As for the flu...well, it's almost gone--just some lingering 'ticklers' in the sinuses and chest.

That cocoa and strudel was indeed delicious. Just recalling, my eyes roll heavenwards and become all glazed-over.

 

Thank you for sharing your day out. You need some thick, home knitted woolen socks on those feet of yours, I think.

It's so kind of you to think of the birds and go out to feed them, even though you run the risk of being branded "slightly insane but generally harmless" by your neighbours. I hope your beans will perk up, you've worked hard for them.

 

Your new bird house is fetching! What a handsome little birdie that Robin is - I would love to see that little guy in my yard.
I bet there was tons of hungry birds taking advantage of your kindness. Yummy fat balls and peanuts - just the thing to keep them going in that cold weather.
Shame on those vandals. Why would anyone do such a thing.
Thank you for the little glimpse into your day at the frozen lottie.

 

What a lovely day Sjoerd for you both. You are lucky to have only had flurries unlike the deluge of snow we have had - I dread to think how my poor lottie is suffering, especially as I had 2 cauliflowers starting to form.

The cocoa and strudel does look mighty delicious, a perfect end to a perfect day me thinks.

 

I think that you are right, Droopy and Eileen--some nice, old-fashioned knitted sheep's wool socks would have been better. I really should look in the back of my sock drawer to see if I still have a pair.

Eileen, that cocoa and strudel was verrrry tasty...and it is indeed a crying shame that you and Ian weren't here to share some.
You know...a cctv isn't per se a crazy idea--it's just the cost. I may well suggest it anyway to see what the committee thinks.

Thanks for the nice words, EJ. I actually would not have minded a bunch of snow here, as our council are well-trained and prepared for it. It would just be so nice to see covering everything. I reckon that you will not be working for a while with all that you got though. Try and enjoy your freee time--spring's on the way.

 

I knew you had been missing. I'm sorry it was the flu that had you down. Nasty stuff. I hope you are feeling all better now. I always like pictures of your lottie. dooley

 

Sjoerd I truly enjoyed reading your days adventure as I always love your lottie pictures.I had the perfect socks at one time ya'll needed they are for deer hunting I think but they operate on D-cell batteries.Keeps your toes all nice and toasty.Do you have sporting good stores there.If so maybe you could check and see .I am so sorry your clubhouse was messed up and also hope your outing didn't make you relapse with the flu.
I am drooling over your hot chocolate
and strudel.
The little robin is a really pretty little bird.I am glad they got to eat
and you two enjoyed watching them eat.
I'm sorry your beans were frozen.

 

Thank you 4G...It is never easy to take when things are needlessly destroyed.

Thanks, Dooley for ther well-wishes. Yes, I was not so active during the period that I was down with the flu. I felt quite bad with this one, more so than a regular cold.

Hahaha Glenda...those sound like some kinda socks!

 

Here ya go Sjoerd

The 12 Hour Heated Socks.
Even in the most bitter cold, these heated wool and Thermostat socks provide soothing warmth. Thermostat is made from hollow-core fibers that trap air while moving moisture away from skin. A battery-powered heating element in the padded area of each toe has low and high settings and won't overheat. The low-amperage element is so thin as to be undetectable. Socks run 12 hours on low and 10 hours on high setting. Gray. Requires two D batteries. Made of 40% Wool/40% Acrylic/20% Polyester. Made in the U.S. Unisex size M (Women's 4-6, Men's 5-8), L (Women's 7-10, Men's 8-10), or XL (Women's 10-12, Men's 11-12). (9 oz.)
http://www.hammacher.com
type in The 12 Hour Heated Socks

 

Thanks Glenda...I shall have a look!
It´s truly amazing what all one can buy, if he only KNOWS about it.