That time of year

"Between Christmas and New Years"

by Carl Larsson

Larsson's 19th century Swedish house looks neat as a pin between Christmas and New Years. Where's the mess?  He liked to paint his family, so he must have married a good housekeeper. However, there is a telltale stash of empty Christmas bottles tucked behind the cabinet, ready for the recycling bin.

Speaking of recycling, our trash men were in such a foul mood this morning from holiday garbage they smashed our bin in half and left it in the alley without so much as a note. 

John went on the City of Seattle Public Utilities website and ordered up a new bin.  He has this week off work each year, which always makes us feel like we should "go somewhere or do something." But the time passes by so fast, and travel over the holidays to popular places must be planned months in advance.

Besides, the weather is deteriorating across the country so it's good to be in Seattle. Who ever heard of violent tornadoes at Christmas?  After a record wet December, it's going to be dry and cold here well into 2016. Unfortunately, that means freezing morning fog.

But soon I'll be thinking about spring, when the first bulbs start poking up in January and the forsythia blooms. There's a clean planting slate waiting out along the new back fence, which is dangerous. Before you know it,  those winter garden daydreams turn into a lot more work for the gardener.  The last thing we need is another mixed flower bed to weed and water. 

Shrubs and grass, I think.  As for the remains of the bamboo, the roots are still writhing around under there, but the new shoots look spindly and unhappy.