What a truly miserable week it’s been. There have been the odd flashes of brightness, but for the most part the days have been damp, drizzly, and thoroughly dull. On our walks, a bitterly cold wind has stung our faces, making us question our life choices.
Ruby, naturally, remains completely unfazed. She has continued to explore every interesting smell with great enthusiasm, while we’ve been keen to complete our walks at record speed and return to the warmth indoors. Priorities, clearly, differ.
Aside from Ruby’s walks, most of our time has been spent inside, so there’s little to report. Even when we have ventured out, it’s been far too cold and wet to hang around taking photos. Here’s hoping next week brings something a little brighter — or at least drier.
Excitement was in short supply, unless you count washing and ironing — two of my most favourite activities… I jest. Still, it’s done, which feels like an achievement in itself, and at least it kept me warm.
More interesting for me, though perhaps not for you to read about. I spent some time reading on my Kindle and even managed to finish one book and start another — very much a cold-weather activity. The first was The Holiday by T. M. Logan, which was full of twists, turns, and red herrings that kept me guessing right to the end. That’s quite unusual, as so many books tend to telegraph the ending well before you get there.
I’ve only just started the second book, so I don’t yet have an opinion on that one.
I’ve also been spending some time with my new AI friend, ChatGPT, using it to enhance existing recipes and come up with new ones. Sometimes I give it a recipe and ask for improvements; other times I simply list the ingredients I want to use and ask it to create something from scratch. It’s been surprisingly addictive, especially when it’s too cold to linger outside — rather like having a very patient kitchen assistant who never minds being asked to tweak flavours or swap ingredients.
I needed more onions, so I took advantage of one of the drier, brighter spells to pop up to the summer house and collect some. I think these are the last of them. Most years, we manage to have onions in store right up until it’s time to harvest the autumn-planted ones, but not this year, as they’ve been smaller than usual. We do have a couple of bags in the freezer, though it looks like we’ll also have to start buying them again.
There are still some squash stored in the summer house, and we’re continuing to use our stored carrots, parsnips, and potatoes — although the potatoes are beginning to shoot, clearly sensing something we’re not. The stored garlic is also starting to grow. Other than that, we still have a few leeks hanging on in the ground at the allotment.
While I was out, I had a quick look around the garden. Clumps of snowdrops were dotted about, the first hellebore flowers were opening, and bulbs were pushing through the soil. Hyacinths were starting to produce buds, the mahonia still had a few flowers that hadn’t been nipped off by the birds, and the camellia was full of fat buds.
A few months ago, my blog friend Debbie sent me cuttings from two of her epiphyllums. I’m thrilled to see that both have sprouted new shoots! Watching them grow has been exciting—each little leaf feels like a tiny victory. Now, I’m patiently waiting for the day they’re big enough to burst into bloom. I can’t wait to see their flowers in all their glory but I guess that I’ll have quite a long wait.
That’s all for this week, so as always, until next time, stay safe, stay well, stay warm and stay dry.
It’s been such a miserable spell of weather but we’ve got sunshine today, hooray! I believe it will be short-lived, rain’s forecast again tomorrow.
We had the same, Jo
Oh isn’t it awful! I’m fed up with hearing myself moan about the weather, but really it’s too much now!
That’s a great use of ChatGPT for suggesting recipes. I shall have a go at that.
I’ve read The Catch by TM Logan which was pretty good. I like the look of your Rachel Burton one too.
Stay warm but no more ironing 🙂
Definitely no more ironing, Belinda
It certainly has been miserable. I saw some rather sage advice on how to dress for this weather. Put on pyjamas and go back to bed! Sounds like a plan to me!
It does Debbie.