We might be the only county in the United Kingdom not to get nailed with record-making snow and temperatures, but we are enjoying a week of temperatures around zero, some brisk wind, and a light dusting of snow each day. It really makes the town lovely. Katherine doesn’t seem to enjoy this weather, so I left her with Sydney while I took a walk in the park around noon today. Snow on the ground and in the air made everything quiet and gave new shapes to the trees, the smaller birds were unusually active, and there weren’t many people about. Although the weather has had a nice effect on the town, which is now decked out in holiday lights, in the peace of the parks the effect is absolutely stunning.
One thing that is unseasonable is our rather barren kitchen. We forgot to order a big box of vegetables last week, so we’ve been working through some other things in our cupboards. And I was sufficiently encouraged by the lack of vegetables to run out and buy things for a really decadent pizza: goat cheese, roasted peppers, sundried tomatoes, and a drizzling of olive oil with fresh basil and garlic. I’m going to make it again before our new vegetables arrive on Monday!
Since Katherine isn’t such a fan of the cold I’ve taken a shortcut through one of the malls on my way to run errands recently. Each time we passed through the mall in the past week something struck me as odd, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Finally, on my third such run today, I figured it out: I was hearing American Christmas music. I have heard plenty of English choirs singing carols with their high vowels, but when it comes to popular Christmas music it seems everyone turns to American music. Usually from the fifties. Often with a slight Southern accent. Go figure.
Erin
Alan Schmierer