In December
time flies. I am sure one reason for this is the fact that up here the days are
short and they get shorter by the hour. Today sun rose around 10 in the morning
and set around 2 in the afternoon. I got up in pitch dark in the morning, drank
coffee, lots of it to persuade me that it really was morning and not the middle
of the night, double checked the time,
and I waited for the day to begin and for the coffee to kick in, and then
right after lunch, the sun set and it felt like it was bed time again. Tomorrow
the day is going to be even shorter. Sometimes I wish I was a bear. I would
make myself a nice, cozy little cave, eat lots of berries in the fall, over-eat
really to gain all that fat, sleep tight until April, and wake up skinny to
enjoy all the summer activities like fishing.
This month
is short and there is so much to do, to prepare perfect menus for the three
festive days, to buy and make brilliant gifts (Mom really needs a big and warm
blanket, all my three daughters need new hats and matching mittens, it would be
nice to design and knit a fair-isle
sweater to my husband, and Ruusu would look kind of cute in a new coat) and
then to clean the house thoroughly (now is the time to sort out all the old clothing and clean all the kitchen cabinets). It is the
time to write the long, meaningful letters to far-away friends and bake many
extra, rich and tasty Christmas breads to give to neighbors and other
acquaintances that one would like to impress.
Let's add to the list snow; what if there is not going to be White
Christmas, and there has to be. I must make some snow, because all these
preparations are in vain if the ground is not going to be white. Everything has
to be perfect for these three short days, because even though we have then
passed the shortest day of the year, it is only two days after it and let's
face it, the days are going to be very short, shorter than they are now. One has
to enjoy quickly of all the fruit of the preparations in those few hours. Right
after Christmas is New Year, new menus, more cleaning as some of the decorations
need to come down, they seem a bit much
in New Year's celebrations. All this means that December truly flies by.
So, ok, maybe
I won't get all that done but the truth is that there are few things that I
want to do to get the spirit of the season. And I mean few things, just a
few:
I will walk
a lot. One has to be in good condition and grow a healthy appetite.
Wool with
you,
Lene
PS1. There
is a video clip about aurora borealis. According to an ancient Samí legend,
aurora borealis, northern lights are caused by a fox, whose tail brushes
against the snow and sparks.
PS2. My husband
has been touched by all your nice comments.
Eipä tässä etelämpänäkään juuri päivää näe. Aamulla töihin ja kun kotiin tulee on jälleen pimeää. Lumi tuli ja suli pois, sataa vettä ja tuuli ulisee nurkissa, rytisyttää pellikattoa. Mikä mukavampaa kuin olla sisällä ja nauttia neulomisesta. Sinun kauniin siniset lapaset ovat kyllä melkoinen innoituksen lähde. Olisipa minullakin yhtä kaunista lankaa mistä niitä tehdä. Näyttävät lämpimiltä.
ReplyDeleteThe days seem short even in Germany at the moment, which must be, like, equatorial to you ;)
ReplyDelete(btw: A fox tail brushing through the snow? Oh this is SO much cooler than the "real" explanation :D)
PS: What the heck does "lämpimiltä" mean? It sound so cute and cozy.. One day I'm going to learn Finnish so I also can use all those funny and cute words :D
ReplyDeleteLove reading your blog although I don't leave a comment occasionally...but thank you so so much for the film on the aurora borealis. Me and hubby are going on a Hurtigruten trip in Norway next year in search of the lights.....heres hoping....thank you once again I thoroughly enjoyed it. Hopen your days are filled with knitty delight and some sun.
ReplyDeleteThis post is pure poetry to me, perfectly capturing the feeling of December in the Northern hemisphere. I love your blog.
ReplyDeleteI too love reading your blog, Lene. It is always an inspiration. Oh, and the clip on the Aurora Borealis is better than any fireworks display I've seen.
ReplyDeleteThe days are shorter here too, but not nearly as short as yours. I am in Vancouver, Canada, a stone's throw from the US border on the 49th latitude.
Wishing you snow for your three days of festivities.
Knitterly blessings,
Naomi