"The shortest day has passed, and whatever nastiness of weather we may look forward to in January and February, at least we notice that the days are getting longer. Minute by minute they lengthen out. It takes some weeks before we become aware of the change. It is imperceptible even as the growth of a child, as you watch it day by day, until the moment comes when with a start of delighted surprise we realize that we can stay out of doors in a twilight lasting for another quarter of a precious hour."
Vita Sackville-WestHere she is at Sissinghurst in 1960
This is so true! Every day it is lighter longer. Tom keeps a weather journal, and says we are gaining about two minutes of daylight per day. The night doesn't come boom! now. There is a real twilight time. And as of January 19 at 9:39 pm, one third of winter is past.
I was just looking up the sunrise/sunset times for the next couple of months. I'm ready for spring and wildflowers. Hoping this year has a better crop than last year and also want to see how it is here in our new area. Last year's super ice storm threw everything off in the plant world. Come spring, come! LOL
ReplyDeleteI am not ready quite yet. These cold and sunny days are so beautiful. I really should put up more pics.
DeleteI'm delighted that we are a good way through winter - even here where we go into a freeze frenzy when the temperature dips into the mid-twenties - because Spring is my favorite time of the year. I love this quote and it's optimism.
ReplyDeleteQuick Note, Nan: After 15 years of book blogging I'm putting Book Chase to bed, but didn't want to disappear on you without a word about it. Just too many things going on at the moment that require a change in the way that I allocate my time. I'll still be reading and commenting as much as I can. Keep those great header photos coming...absolutely love those. Sam
What????? Is everything okay?
DeleteDear Nan, opening your blog just now and of course instantly spotting my favourite header picture of yours made me smile - thank you!
ReplyDeleteYes, sunset is now just a bit after 5:00 pm and not at 4:30 anymore, which means if I finish work early enough, I can still go for a walk and not land in the dark straight away. Hooray!
I thought of you when I put it up!
DeleteIt is lovely having some evening now.
Here in SW Florida, closer to the Equator, there isn't much twilight ever. It turns dark really quickly, but of course later each day -- it just goes from day to night in a snap. I remember that wonderful time of playing outside in the twilight -- I'm glad I grew up in the Pacific Northwest instead of here!!
ReplyDeleteThat is so interesting! Thank you for telling me!!
DeleteGreat quote. I have always planned on exploring Vita Sackville-West.
ReplyDeleteI love this, and Sissinghurst. I grew up near there and Knole and have been in her writing tower a few times.
ReplyDeleteLucky, lucky!!
DeleteI dearly love winter and long dark nights but I also love the gradual change of light. Not that I'll welcome time change Sunday and being retired means that I pretty much ignore it.
ReplyDeleteI bought her son's Portrait of a Marriage last year, started it and put aside for Christmas reading so will have to put it in my stack again. I think it didn't work for me as bedtime reading so will have to put it in my daytime stack. I still remember the bits of one of Anne Morrow Lindbergh's books about her and her husband when the Lindberghs rented their home Long Barn so I would like to read more about their family.
I have Tom's late father's copy of PoaM, and I do want to read it someday. That is interesting about the Lindberghs living there!
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