Jan 31
In case any of you are wondering where I disappeared to, I now blog over at www.junemolloy.com, where you can find my musings on writing, food, travel and photography. You can also find me on Facebook at June Molloy Writes and Wild Lithuania. Read more
The weather here in Lithuania is currently not playing ball. I was promised discreet seasons – snow, spring, sun, autumn. That was the deal. That was why I left rainy ole Ireland. (Well, no, but it was certainly part of it!) Read more
The veg patch has been ploughed, the clocks have rolled back and the flocks of geese and cranes have ceased their noisy flyovers on their way to warmer parts. A cosy space has been prepared in a shed for our beautiful goat, Julė, to spend her nights protected from the cold and rain, and with the feast of Samhain, we enter the dark half of the year. Read more
Winter can be dull and gloomy, especially after the festive lights of Christmas have come down. Days are short and cold. Snow falls, making simple jobs like walking the dog or getting to the shops more difficult. But then the sun comes out. And magic happens… Read more
Whiskey is the panacea. There is little it can’t cure, especially in winter. If I have a cold (as I do at the moment) I would far sooner have a hot whiskey than expensive cold and flu medications. The vapours clear my nose, the honey soothes my cough, the spices warm my bones and the nip of alcohol makes me sleep like a baby. Read more
Lithuanian graveyards are bustling at this time of year, not with the dead (as some movies might suggest), but with the living. In every town, in every village, people gather in graveyards to tidy graves in preparation for All Souls’ Day (Vėlinės). Read more
The first signs of autumn – the browning of the leaves and a slight chill in the air – used to herald the end of fun and relaxation and a return to the grindstone of school or college. Mind and body were refreshed from summer adventures and pockets were heavier from summer jobs. It was time again to knuckle down to some serious work. Read more
Winter has been brief in Lithuania this year. We had unseasonably balmy temperatures in December and didn’t get any real snow until after Christmas. We had two or three weeks of what I consider a typical Lithuanian winter, with snowy fields, clear skies and a low sun that highlights the stunning scenery. Fearing it would not last, I got myself stuck in the snow trying to take photos while I could. Read more
It’s been a difficult week. A number of things went wrong in quick succession that have left me a little out-of-sorts. Firstly, my favourite jeans died. You know, that perfect pair you’ve had for years, that fit perfectly and that, between the patches and the fading, are like a diary of your life. If those jeans could talk, what a story they’d have to tell. They’ve been patched and repatched and now the material is so worn that the patches won’t hold. I have to accept that they are no more. I would love to go out and buy an identical pair, but given that they’re nearly 10 years old it’s unlikely they’re still available. Which brings me to problem No. 2 – shopping. Read more
I could watch snow falling for hours. It’s so quiet and soothing, like looking at a lava lamp. Weightless flakes float down and settle on trees, windowsills and rooftops. If the sun later makes an appearance, the whole vista sparkles like diamonds. It’s beautiful and hypnotic. Until, that is, you notice that a large volume of snow has collected on the roof of your polytunnel. It is no longer weightless, but is instead causing the entire structure to buckle and bend. I spent a chilli hour yesterday scraping it off but the damage caused will require significant attention come spring. In the meantime, I am entranced by the snow. Read more
Lithuania is truly beautiful at this time of year. The ground is covered with a fine layer of snow, the skies are clear and the sunsets are magnificent. We can watch the sun setting from the warmth of our conservatory. It happens to coincide with our afternoon coffee and we are both drawn to the rapidly descending circle as it approaches the horizon, steaming mugs keeping our hands warm. Read more
I’ve never been good at sticking to the rules. Maybe I have a rebellious streak or maybe I simply have a logical mind and just can’t bring myself to slavishly follow rules I find to be arbitrary. And a lot of them seem to be arbitrary! Read more
Winter has final arrived here in Lithuania. It feels like we’ve been waiting for months for the snow to fall. We had a sprinkling in December and another in early January, but only now are we getting the thick blanket of snow typical of a Lithuanian winter. The sky has been grey for weeks. Now that the snow has fallen, hopefully the grey will give way to the clear blue skies and sunshine that make the snow sparkle like a million tiny diamonds. In the meantime, the snowy ground and grey skies are creating a very serene landscape, highly conducive to curling up with a glass of wine and a good book. I can live with that, for now. Read more
The evenings are getting shorter, there is a distinct chill in the air and golden trees are rapidly giving way to bare branches. After a mild and sunny September winter is suddenly closing in here in Lithuania. Much as I love warmth and sunshine I am very much looking forward to winter. We have a warm and cosy home. We have a wonderful new kitchen where I will make comforting stews and slow roasts. We have a stock of homemade wine and beer which we will sip curled up in our panoramic conservatory, looking out at the dreamy winter landscape. We will read, write, savour, enjoy. We are ready. Bring it on. Read more
My Food Odyssey 