Wednesday, February 3, 2010


And, Yet


The face of the garden has been scrubbed clean by the icy winds of winter. They have left behind only those most primary shades of a February day - grey and silver, brown, dark green.

The graceful hydrangeas, that once held fistfuls of blue in their leafy arms, now stand as stiff as porcupine quills, frozen sharp and brittle under the full moon’s light.

The sweet fragrance of rose and gardenia is today but a memory, replaced with the crisp scent of wood smoke and pine.

And the frosted windows are all shut tight in this, the polar season.

And, yet....

Despite these cold facts, I still hold the blanket of winter up under my chin, my fists tight in their reluctance to let it escape from my grasp. How I hate to say farewell to all those delicious hot tea afternoons, curled up with a book and a dog - those wind whistle nights spent knitting in the orange glow of the fire, with Edward asleep on my feet. The turtleneck sweaters, the fleece lined boots - the hearty soups, the chestnut scented candles ...the sublime hibernation only wintertime provides.

Is there really only one short month to go?

Oh no doubt I’ll rejoice when the winds changes course, transforming itself once again from biting blast to blustery breeze. I’ll sing along with the rest of the choir when the pale morning light takes on its Easter glow, when Spring sends her scouts of green up over the hillside at last, signaling warmer nights and longer days.

But please, until then, do not hurry me along.

Let me snuggle under this blanket just a bit more.

And put another log on the fire.


37 comments:

  1. You could not have said it more poetic!
    I had written about being rushed in one of my first posts of this year, I feel so strong about being in the moment, living the now!


    XX V.

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  2. It's so hard to decide what I love best, the written, the illustration or the combination of the illustration with your writings.

    Normally the brown of winter seems depressing but the golden glow of the illustration with the thought of only one short month to go is a reminder to enjoy the days.

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  3. Dear Pamela,
    I have been so busy thanking people,I haven't even read part two of your car breaking down story. I'll go back and read that in a sec. Many thanks for your birthday wishes and, I have to say, out of everybody wishing me Happy Birthday. I think that Edward means a great deal. I just wish that he could give me a big birthday lick in person !!
    I love all of the seasons. I love the cold winter, as you have said, warming by the fire, whilst the snow gently falls outside, but the Spring is on it's way with new green shoots and warm breezes. I look forward to Spring, but I'm still hanging on to Winter. XXXX

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  4. Love this!

    I will be gladly holding that blanket up under my chin for a while longer...and here in RI I always consider March another month of winter...

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  5. Ilve the underlying sense in enjoying what we have, when we have it and not chasing our life along like a herd of cattle.
    Beautifully put.

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  6. Up here in Massachusetts and Maine we'll be in winter until sometime in April, so it's a little too long for me, even though I do love it for all the beautiful reasons that you write about here. When I lived in Virginia and Indiana, I used to love that spring came in March. It just seemed RIGHT, you know? We always knew there would be daffodils by St Patrick's Day. That was a beautiful thing.

    But I do love winter, and today I went for a very long walk in the cold; it was gorgeous.

    Now I'm off to catch up on part II of the car break-down story! xo

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  7. This made me smile, Pamela!

    Even though we know Spring is officially on her way, we are still craning our necks and peering into the far distance for a glimpse of her approaching pageant...

    Soon I hope!

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  8. I am different this year. I yearn for spring, ache for it, prepare my body for the warmth of the sun, ready to let it soak into my skin until I feel like a melting candy.

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  9. Dear Pamela, What a lovely and interesting thought on a season which for many is not a favourite. I do so admire your opening line [and very much wish I had written it myself].

    You always seem to obtain such evocative pictures - I love looking into your 'gallery'.

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  10. Ooh, not quite so sure myself, though beautifully expressed piece. I get fed up of cleaning out the fire and the shortness of the days, so spring and autumn are really the seasons for me!

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  11. You wisely live in the moment, describing it with delicious words.

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  12. Like Gigi said-we still have a few months of winter yet! I do love the warmth and coziness of it-right to the end. My husband is an avid fly fisherman so he's counting the days. I'm happy to make another pot of soup and settle-in.

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  13. Dear Pamela
    What beautiful evocative essays you write. You really should publish a selection about the seasons. I'm sure it would have many admirers.
    I really do long for spring this year. It is so bitter cold.
    All best wishes from New York and a pat for Edward and Apple.

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  14. How beautiful! Hubby and I were just conversing over coffee about HOW much we need to get done inside this month! I do feel rushed and really there is NO reason! It will all wait on me I'm sure! :) xoxo

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  15. Hello P&E,

    One would not wish to relinquish any of those heart or hearth warming accessories around here either. Perhaps not even in one month's time!

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  16. I have been reading you for sometime now and just had to pause before entering my day and thank you for your lovely, lovely writings. This was so beautiful. Here in the midwest, Chicagoland, we awoke to a fresh blanket of snow. I don't mind it so much and know that spring is just around the corner, but, your phrasing of blanket of under your chin for awhile just made me smile with a knowing contentment to just live in the moment.

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  17. That is what I like about February Pamela - it is short!

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  18. You describe it so beautiful and I do think that all seasons have its magic !

    xo
    Anci

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  19. Yes, put another log on the fire...it will be March before I'm done with hibernation:)

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  20. Thanks for reminding me to cherish the season.

    I have a question for you, did you receive English Country Homes for Christmas? Would you recommend it?

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  21. A pair of frisky blue birds said as much about spring as you did while I was designing a landscape en plein air Monday.

    In fantasy I have you writing about my house, season, garden, cats, books, tea. Seeing it all thru your incredible words.

    Garden & Be Well, XO Tara

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  22. I am loving to snuggle up this time of year. Wonderful prose!

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  23. Your words are beautiful - I can feel the glow of the fire and hear the quiet click clack of your knitting needles. Leigh

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  24. Beautifully written and a lovely thought!
    Jeanne :)

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  25. .....ahhh, yes, "do not hurry me along". I'm in agreement which is why I'm loving being snowbound since last Saturday! Cabin fever has not set in, I'm just thoroughly enjoying looking out at the landscape as it changes, watching and photographing the birds. Today the sun is out so melting is underway and perhaps I'll get out to the store later - meanwhile I'm loving your post and in no way rushing Spring.

    My travel quiz ends tomorrow Pamela - I hope you'll stop by and leave your guess as to where my wonderful trip will take me - there's a little prize for the winner!

    Mary - ACROSS THE POND

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  26. Does Edward sleep on your feet or does he sit on them with his back to you?

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  27. I LOVE that image of hydrangea porcupines! It’s such a contrast to the cozy warmth inside by the fire with Edward.

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  28. February, and we are still in winter's icy arms. I want to be with the scouts of green!

    Beautiful writing, though -- even if I don't share the sentiment. (I do share your sentiments about IKEA, though. Awful.)

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  29. Oh! May I please join you too, for some soup and knitting around that glow of the fire? Your words are pure poetry, Pamela.

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  30. Dear Pamela
    Only you with your comforting words could have me looking forward to the winter that will surely be on my doorstep sooner than i wish... And when it comes, I;ll be coming back here to remember how to enjoy it to it's fullest... have a great week xx Julie

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  31. I so agree, i have a special fondenss for the wrapping up and hiding away and snuggling in that those winter days allow. I always emerge with fresh look at the world x x

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  32. I don't think I've ever read anything that has made winter seem more attractive than this piece of yours. I like winter but I admit that I'm ready for Spring to arrive now. She, though, seems reluctanct to put in an appearance for the moment, all the signs of Spring have disappeared under another blanket of snow. I really, really like the picture at the beginning of your post.

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  33. This is me exactly. I hate the really cold weather but adore snuggling under the duvet at night when the weather is inclement outside, and wearing long skirts and thick black tights and boots. I never sleep so well in the warmer weather. I love the stark tree shapes and the early darkness and although I look forward to the coming of spring - just not yet.

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  34. Your words have made winter sound appealing - I've noticed that light is staying with us for longer now in the evenings - the closing of the curtains against the dark is the signal for cosying down for the evening:)

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I love to read your comments! Each and every one! Though I'm always reading your comments, I may not respond in the comment section. If you want to write me directly, you may do so at pamela@pamelaterry.net. Thank you for reading!