Wednesday 25 May 2016

almost winter

*pic from here


The days are shorter, the temperatures have certainly dropped around here this last week 
... and it's time to put another quilt on the bed!




The third week in June marks the winter solstice,
and here in NZ, as we get closer to the shortest day of the year
we rug up warm, make lots of yummy homemade soups, have pot luck dinners
and get those fires going.
One of us is also going to download all the 'outlander' series
... and keep busy making more quilts of course!

We also embrace a wee bit of tradition.
 *Matariki is the Maori name for a cluster of stars (also known as the Pleiades)
which appear in the night sky late May or early June
For many, it signals the start of a new year ... and the beginning of winter
... and a time to sing & dance... and to be grateful for what we have

Linking up for 'show & tell' with Lorna over here
{*follow links for more pics & details}



11 comments:

Kate @ Smiles From Kate said...

We live many miles apart Linda, and we are in late spring in the UK. It's lovely to hear a snippet about your life and traditions, thank you for sharing.
Smiles
Kate

Megan said...

Oh my gosh, the months go by so quickly! I can't believe it is nearly Matariki already!

Iris said...

It is always good to add another quilt and count your blessings.

dutchcomfort said...

I love to read about traditions in other parts of the World. I understand it feels like the start of a New Year, as in the Northern Hemisphere we celebrate New Year in the midst of Winter! Counting our blessings is always a good thing to do!

Lorna McMahon said...

We are on opposite sides and our spring is just now getting going. The soup sounds really good and the quilt is a beauty!

gayle said...

As we shed the cold weather (and soup), it gets passed to you. And in six months, you'll pass it back.
I like that.

Jayne said...

It's still hard to imagine that it's winter for you! I'm just thawing out and looking forward to only the warmth of the sun! I will say a good bowl of soup and another quilt on the bed is one of the good things about winter!!

Dolores said...

I love traditions. Keep warm. We in Toronto will be having no problem keeping warm this week with temperatures of 29 almost daily.

Soma @ inkTorrents.com said...

I have always loved the Pleiades star cluster. Thank you for sharing the wonderful tradition. Happy Winter Solstice! Stay warm and enjoy the food and fire :)

-Soma

Cut&Alter said...

When we lived in NZ rugging up was certainly a tradition - getting out all the quilts and blankets, lighting the first fire, soups and stews .... you're almost making me envious. Hopefully summer will arrive here in the UK shortly!

Nifty Quilts said...

Sounds like you have many warming ways to welcome winter. Beautiful quilt!