Day 15 of the Advent Season and The First Hard Frost of Winter 2009

Floral Headbands

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The girls got some more hair accessories from the Advent Calender today, they both loved them and the little one didn't take hers out till bath time and the eldest has plans to wear hers to her school dance on Friday.
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The bible story they heard is pictured on the right.

Well if I wasn't sure I am now, winter is definitely here. We woke this morning to our first hard frost, everything is coated in a layer of icy crystals.

Plant foliage, seed heads and fallen leaves taken on a wintry beauty, which helps to take your mind off the numbing cold but only just! The birdbath and mini ponds with their frozen surfaces needed melting too.

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The greenhouse door was frozen shut, when I finally wrestled myself in, I found standing water frozen and frost damage to my yakon and tomato plants (those leaves are frozen and

were crinkly to touch).

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There was a small ray of warmth, this chocolate cosmos (given to me by a thankful freecycler back in the summer) which I am attempting to over winter in the greenhouse was blooming! It sadly had no sent but I would think it would need the warmth of the sun to gets its oils going.

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Well with the definite return of the cold weather, I decided it was time to start feeding the birds. I normally start to feed the birds with the return of the first hard frost, I generally don't tidy the garden too much at the end of autumn, so prior to this first hard frost there was lots of foraging foods for the birds to find amongst slightly tall grass, fallen leaves, wind fallen apples, numerous seed heads, etc.

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So with the ground becoming frozen and the temps getting to -1C during the night and barely getting above 1C during the day, its time to help out the feathered friends of the garden. So I have put up three feeders to begin with, a fat ball made by myself with lard, rowan berries and seeds, a regular bird feeder with wild bird food and another feeder(not pictured) filled with nyjer seed to attract goldfinches and sikens.

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For dinner tonight I used some of the pumpkin 'Snowman' in a rice and beans dish, I found the taste quite bland not much sweetness all. There is three quarters of it left in the fridge and I'll try it i at least two other types of dishes before making a definite judgement on whether I'll grow it again but at the moment its not looking too good. Interesting to look at though.

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Today's Trini Christmas song reminds us that not everyone enjoys a merry Christmas but be aware the singer I believe is getting his comeuppance for possible past bad behaviour but a surprised ending. Its a very catchy tune and is another local favourite sung by a Calypsonian with a parang influence to the music.

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Crazy (his stage name) - Yvonne