Waiting for the sun
Today is the winter solstice. At 8:50am the sun was as far away from us as it could possibly be, and I was there for it. Like a crazy person!
The sunrise was set for 7:35am but we’re on the back side of a hill away from the rising sun so I knew it would emerge a tad later than that for us. Not wanting to miss it, I wrapped up warm with a hot cuppa tea in hand I headed up to The Thankful Garden in The Palace to get my own weird Stonehengey thing with the solstice. I was up there about 15 minutes before the sun was due to appear over the general horizon, because although this kind of think is set in stone – I didn’t want to miss it.
I was there waiting for almost an hour! The first peep of light didn’t emerge until 8:12am! I have to say I am grateful it was a nice day and there wasn’t a breath of wind or a cloud in the sky – not ones that are laden with potential rain, just those wispy wistful ones that add to the ethereal effect of the moment. But my gosh it was cold. Not cold by most people’s standards as there wasn’t even a frost or heavy dew. But with these old (well nearly but not quite old) bones sitting on cold damp bricks in a crouched position with fingers frozen into shape clutching the camera, lest the sunrise race ahead of itself and I miss the moment… Well let’s just say, an hour later, in the warmth of indoors, with many more hot cuppa teas inside me, sitting beside the heater with a nana blanket wrapped across my knees, I’m still feeling the cold in my bones.
To be honest I thought it would be some deeply spiritual moment, in my garden designed for spiritual moments with our creator. However, the excitement of capturing the perfect photo, the cold, the impatience and the growing cramp were more prominent in my mind. Had I been there, without a purpose, just absorbed in the moment I expect it would have been quite different. Maybe I should go up again next Friday for the start of Matariki which is a celebration of the appearance of the Pleiades star cluster in the early morning sky. I may even drag Hubby the Un-Gardener with me for that one – to sit next to me for warmth – I mean to share the wonder of the experience. Although it will be a lot earlier!
Hoping not to miss this auspicious occasion I took many photos… just in case… over 150 in that hour. Not all of them were fixed on the exact same spot, some I wandered with my lens and got some great early morning shots.
And now I need to get on with my day. The shortest day is traditionally onion planting day and that is what I’ll be doing! Today there isn’t as long to get things done.
Come again soon – summer will be here before we know it.
Sarah the Gardener : o)
Interesting post. Did you get the onions planted?
Oh yes I did! I planted 184 tiny little seedlings that should grow into some nice fat onions. These days – as empty nesters we only seem to need half an onion in our meals so that would almost be a year’s supply – all going well! : o)