When Autumn Turns Into Winter: Joyful Notes From My Garden
The first snowfall, a confused cat, birds and looking for the last spots of colour
Hello, I’m Claudia, and Happy Quiet Life is where I share my view on the world as a Highly Sensitive Person. You’ll find reflections and stories about slowing down & living simpler, reconnecting with nature, mental health & self-care, books & reading adventures. Welcome!
The first snowfall & a confused cat
24 November
We had the first snow of the season last night. It came quietly, but in full force. I got up several times during the night to watch it fall and soften the landscape. Several centimetres of snow covered the path, the lawn, the patio, the sheds and the fence posts. As there was no wind, snowflakes landed softly on bushes, branches and the very last leaves. It felt so peaceful, an enchanted night.
The snow didn’t last during the day, but it was a wonderful preview of winter at its finest, and I’m so glad I got up to witness it.
I’m a snow lover at heart ... ☃️
So is our neighbours’ cat, E. T., apparently.
Wait, what exactly is he doing in our composter …?
Well, this must be the hugest litter box ever, but you have to give him credit - he left it very tidy and in style. E. T. always has a suprise up his furry sleeve, that’s for sure. 🤣
Birds, birds birds
27 November
There’s a new bird in the neighbourhood. With its vivid green and red plumage, it’s a particularly striking one.
It’s a European green woodpecker.
My husband and I saw him on the lawn in front of our neighbours’ house as we walked past. Of course, we stopped. What an unusual colour, we marveled. I wondered what he was doing on the lawn. Aren’t woodpeckers supposed to be in trees?
I love occasions to look something up and found out that European green woodpeckers feed on ants on the ground, so he was spot on. I also learned that he is a shy bird, and is more often heard than seen, that’s why I’m especially grateful that we were so fortunate to see him, and so close up too.
He wasn’t shy at all, just very busy, and didn’t mind that my husband and I stood just a few metres away on the path and watched him for quite some time.
It felt like an honour, a privilege - and it was my favourite nature moment this past weeks.
1 December
The great tits are on the ball - or more precisely, on the coconut. I only hung them up this week.
The tits seem to have waited for them, as they systematically pick away the high-calorie fat enriched with tasty (if you’re a bird, I suppose), protein-rich mealworms and various types of sunflower seeds and peanuts.
The birds love this combination in winter, and I can’t get enough of watching them at the bird feeder. Perfect for slowing down and just savouring the moment.
Birds feature a lot in my posts, you might have noticed. It’s only this year that I’ve fallen in love with them. I’m so amazed by these wild animals we share our space with daily. We meet them in the garden, see them in the streets, even in the city. We hear their songs, their calls. They are always present, often visible or audible, unlike other wildlife that we share our neighbourhood with.
I particularly enjoy bird watching in winter because many birds come closer to the house and are happy to visit the bird feeder. I hear our robin all year round, for example, though I almost only see it in winter, but then very often and for lengthy stays.
Even though the blue tits and great tits are around all year round, flying over the patio and the garden, enjoying the many bushes and trees of all sizes and hanging upside down from the roof overhangs of the house and the garden shed in search of spiders (I love them for that!), they are particularly easy to observe for long periods in winter because they are big fans of the filled coconut halves.
I’m absolutely fascinated by them at the moment. That’s why I’ve ordered a book from the library about the hidden life of tits by Norwegian author Andreas Tjernshaugen. It hasn’t arrived yet, so I enjoy reading a rather adventurous story about the Blakiston’s fish owl, the largest living species of owl, in the meantime.
🪶 Bird nerd, I know. 🦉
Looking for the last spots of colour
3 December
Colour has faded in the garden and in the landscape. As you would expect this time of year. But when you look closely, there are still some spots of colour to be found. Also, the christmas rose is already making a beautiful appearance.
But even if colours on the ground become pale, there’s still the sky at dawn or dusk. That’s where I find the most amazing colours this time of year.
Wishing you a lovely December with lots of beautiful moments!
So beautifully written Claudia💟 The first snowflakes are a magical moment for me❄️☃️ I am a birdlover, especially the small blue/ yellow tits, so cute. I like watching from the window when the « dig in» the goodies. E.T is a very funny name for a cat, love it. I am going back to Norway in around 10 days. Hopefully to more real winter than here in Stralsund. And its nice to get home to my son and his dog for Christmas🙂
Lately, the only birds we've been seeing are magpies, crows and ravens. I wonder where all the small birds have gone? In any case it's nice to have them come and visit every day, I must buy them some extra special treats for Christmas, I was thinking of scrumptious pecans - mostly because I like them too! Wishing you many delightful days of bird watching over the holidays.