The frost arrived this morning. I was up early, long before the sun. The stars still twinkled and the birds still slept. Luna, our Golden Retriever however was up, unusually. I like to think she could smell the ice in the air. I let her out and she immediately ran to the field to roll around in the crunchy grass for ten minutes, before coming back inside to her cosy bed, tucking her nose into herself and promptly falling asleep. Tiger, our Yorkshire Terrier, took one look outside and immediately returned to the couch.
While it’s fun for Luna, I find the cold weather both exciting and challenging. The willow takes far longer to soak in the cold, meaning that if I want to weave on the planned day, I will likely have to steam what had been soaking. This must be done the day before, and there is something very special about plumes of steam snaking their way out of the cracks and crevices of the steamer. Especially on a frosty, still day where little else moves except for the garden birds who eye the steam suspiciously, before returning to their feeders.
We’re also preparing to harvest. This is a hard, but also incredibly satisfying job. It’s dirty, exhausting and like a deep deep breath. I hate getting started, but love doing it. Funny how that works.
For today though, we’ll let the frost pass, and just enjoy the steam rising against the morning sky.
Have a lovely week folks.
Aelis