When I first woke up this morning, the sun wasn't up yet, so not much use even looking out of the windows. I was also tired, so went back to bed and my audio book... And fell asleep again... Next time I got up, and looked out of the window, I could hardly believe my eyes. Instead of the usual grey that has been hovering over us all December so far, there was blue sky, fluffy white clouds, sunshine - and frost on the ground! Quite an impressive winter solstice transformation since yesterday!
Best to make use of the sunshine while it lasts! I thought; so around 11:30 I set out for a walk to get the most out of the daylight.
Although the sun is "back", it still doesn't go very high over the horizon even at noon...
The fact that the sun was showing its face inspired me to expand my walk beyond the old cemetery. One thing I cannot order with the home deliveries from my usual supermarket is flowers. (They sell flowers in the store, but not online.) And the nearest florist's is downtown in the city centre - still too far for me to walk to (considering that if I do, I also have to walk back home). So I've had no red poinsettias or amaryllis etc at home to brighten up the gloomy first three weeks of December.
However, today it struck me that about half way between home and the city centre, there is nowadays (since some time back in early autumn, if memory serves me right) a Lidl grocery store. So far I've only been in there once, shortly after they opened. But now I checked their ads online, and it did indeed seem like they might have some seasonal flowers. So that's where I steered my steps today.
And I found what I sought. I bought one large and one small poinsettia, and also an amaryllis - still just a bud, but showing signs of perhaps even producing a second one later on. (They had taller ones, but those would have been difficult for me to carry home - as I was using two walking poles, I had to choose flowers that I could fit into my backpack...)
I think being so tiny makes them even cuter! And better to arrange on shelves. We used to have a Lidl and I loved it! But after only a couple years, it closed. I think it was too much like the nearby Aldi.
ReplyDeleteGinny, my experience of Lidl is very limited so far - and I don't think we have Aldi in Sweden at all. The advantage of this new Lidl store for me is that it's situated between where I live and the city centre. (While my regular supermarket, from where I also shop online with home delivery, is in the opposite direction.)
DeletePoinsettias are lovely, though mine is shedding leaves and bracts at a rate of knots. I hope it's settled now. How lovely to have the amaryllis to look forward to, as well, to brighten the post-Christmas days.
ReplyDeleteJanice, yes, that's what I'm hoping for - the amaryllis to go into bloom later!
DeleteWhat lovely live flowers to have with you for the holidays. And super great to see the sun! We had a peek or two of it today also. Pretty cold but not freezing in the daytime. I bought just a Christmas Cactus for this year's color.
ReplyDeleteBarbara, the sun had gone into hiding again today. The clouds not quite as thick as earlier in the month, though...
DeleteWhat a quietly perfect reward for persistence: after weeks of grey, the solstice offered you blue sky, frost-bright light, and just enough sunshine to guide you to flowers that will now carry that moment of winter clarity back into your home
ReplyDeleteRo, I was glad to be able to make use of the day both to be out for a while and get an errand done :)
DeleteWish the sun would appear here! It's so grey and dismal. Lovely to see some colour and life in your flowers.
ReplyDeleteJenny, I do usually buy some kind of red flowering potted plant(s) this time of year, so it has felt a bit like something was missing...
DeleteThis is wonderful! I miss the sun even after only a few very grey and cold days; how much more must you have been missing it during all of December.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big fan of poinsettias myself, but I can see how they brighten up the room. And Amaryllis are simply gorgeous!
It's funny how our German supermarkets Aldi and Lidl have expanded into other countries, while we don't get their supermarkets in our country. For instance, there is an Aldi in Ripon (and probably a Lidl not too far away), but I've never seen a Tesco's or Morrisson's or Costco in Germany, and I wouldn't even know the name of any of the supermarkets you have in Sweden.
Meike, we're back to mostly grey skies again today - but not quite as "heavy" as earlier in the month, and it's still dry and frosty rather than wet. Poinsettias and Amaryllis are probably the most popular potted plants here for Christmas, and in the Lidl store that was what they had to offer - but that was enough for me! :) - We don't have Aldi in Sweden but we now have two Lidl in Borås. (I've never been to the other one since that one is very "out of the way" for me.) Our biggest chain of grocery stores and supermarkets is called ICA - they also have pharmacies, and a bank. As far as I know they've never tried to go international, though. (My regular supermarket belongs to that chain.)
Deletethe red is the perfect splash of color to showcase the appearance of SUNSHINE. YAY! so glad its back with that gorgeous blue sky and white clouds. you are now ready for gifts from the your tiny santas. put out a few tiny cookies for them and a teeny tiny cup a tea.... so happy you were able to shop on foot again
ReplyDeleteSandra, as the tiny santas live in the kitchen, I suspect they help themselves to whatever crumbs I've left behind, while I'm asleep... ;-)
DeleteIts been very grey and foggy this week over here.
ReplyDelete