Brrr! I'm waiting for the Solstice so we can warm up again!

Cold temperatures outdoors, and now the Winter Solstice is here. Actually, it's the solstice at precisely 9:09am this morning!

We may be 'turning the corner' and heading toward warmth, but we still have our coldest month, July, to enjoy first.  We experience a seasonal 'lag' because it takes time for the Earth's land and oceans to absorb and then release the Sun's energy.  

Our house front faces south and the shadows have grown over 1/3 of our front yard, as they usually do during the approach of Winter.  We don't have a sundial to check how the sun 'stands still', which is where the name Solstice comes from (Latin: "sol" = sun, "sistere" = to cause to stand still).  These shadows do, however, clearly give us a good indication.

picture courtesy of Wikipedia

I've found myself already pulling more gardening books from the library shelves, getting some inspiration to get more of the planning done for our Spring plantings.  We definitely need more strawberry plants to get started.  Those put in by Mariposa last year were nowhere near enough for what the children like to consume.  Actually, my Dad had a great setup with his strawberries last year: all in pots and a netted frame around them to keep the birds away.  It was a very simple setup, so we're going to have a go at doing that this year.

Meanwhile, my garden is quite dormant.  We have kale growing, self-sown silverbeet, some potatoes still in, and a little parsley. Lemons are in good supply on the trees, also. I'm very grateful for the supply of fresh produce I'm now receiving from the local Organic Co-op.  A huge box of selected fruit and vegetables come in every week.  My first order arrived last week, and I'll pick up my second later today!

I'm in the process of making a list of some local winter activities we can be involved in.  Staying home on bleak days is not anyone's idea of fun.  Usually we have dance competitions for most of the winter break, but this year they are spread over several weekends (the first was last Sunday).  

Here are a few ideas we've already listed:

- learning to play inline hockey at the nearest roller rink. Going to the rink is already a regular activity, but the owner is willing to show us how to play properly! 

- Maestro's learnt of a teen gathering at IMAX, as well as the Short Film Festival he's recently entered.

- if we visit my Mother-in-law, we may also organise a trip to visit the State Coal Mine whilst over that side of Victoria.
- a visit to a cheesemaking factory which isn't too far from us.  We hope to go there with some friends on a tour, but if we're short on numbers we'll just go for a tasting treat!  (I'm told they sell organic milk, too!)

...but mostly, I want to put to prune some trees and clean out a few garden beds to get ready for Spring.  Yes, it's three months away, but I know how quickly they can go!

Interesting sites to check out regarding the solstices and equinoxes:

Museum Victoria

Bereau of Meterology

Sydney Observatory

National Geographic

Enchanted Learning

Keep warm everyone.

Thank you for dropping by!