Merry Midwinter

When the days are the shortest, the nights are the coldest,
The frost is the sharpest, the year is the oldest,
The sun is the weakest, the wind is the hardest,
The snow is the deepest, the skies are the darkest,
Then polish your whiskers and tidy your nest,
And dress in your richest and finest and best ...
For Winter has brought you the worst it can bring,
And now it will give you
The promise of Spring!

from The Secret Staircase by Jill Barklem

Merry Midwinter!

Merry Midwinter to you all! Although looking very wintery here in East Devon, it is very icy, rather than snowy, much to Mad One's digust. She did laugh when she heard I fell over going to work this morning though! Humph! Many jokes about tremors and aftershocks were not politely received!
Decorations mostly up, thank goodness! All the cards posted at the last minute, as usual, and now I'm going to sit down in front of the fire with a sore bottom! (and maybe something medicinal to drink)

Hope your Winter Solstice was a happy one!