December 2025 - A Seasonal Diary
A seasonal diary of nature spots and little moments
"I heard a bird sing in the dark of December. A magical thing. And sweet to remember. We are nearer to spring than we were in September. I heard a bird sing in the dark of December."
-Oliver Herford
Hello December
I’m sat writing this on my phone, it’s 7:45 on December 28th and I’m outside with my garden fire and slippers. I spent large amounts of 2025 smelling like roast ham so it felt apt to have another good burning before the year is out. I am still just as in love with fire, we’ve had our garden fireplace nearly 10 months and my enthusiasm is yet to wain. Maybe it’s something inside us? A survival instinct to feel calmer, maybe even safer near burning wood? I don’t know, anyway, I’m content sat here.
I feel calmer this year. Having just read my December journal from last year and remembered how rung out I felt, I like to think I’ve managed a little more balance this time around. The life of the truly organised still aludes me, a hidden pile of wrapped presents did not exist until 5 days before the big red man came, but at least it wasn’t the scramble of 2024.
a dayne’s dyke dawdle
Just me and my big boy, we headed to Dayne’s Dyke and walked and walked, powered entirely by Maltesers. There was time for being silly, looking for shells, for lots of stops and fun. We stopped to watch the Treecreeper, Ted said is looked like a mouse, he wasn’t wrong. We admired and smelt the gorse, picked dried yarrow and found some sort of fish skull, we pocketed that and turned for home, pleasantly tired and ready for a cuppa.
A friend invited me for another walk on another day… I jumped at the chance and was rewarded with a Great spotted woodpecker and a Kingfisher. We had lunch on a bridge, feet dangling into the beck.
We saw purple catkins and learnt they are from an alder tree. I live for these kinds of moments. I really do.
Christmas Day
We have our proper Christmas Day on Xmas eve with my family, Christmas Day itself is just a gentle, present opening, toy playing day with a sunset dog walk in our wood, whilst Daddy fed the cows and Christmas dinner at the farm in the evening. I like it this way. My family work Boxing Day so we find if we hit Christmas early there’s room for them to rest too.
The in-between days
We’ve walked our wood most days. Collecting sticks for our fires and enjoying the lack of haste and hurry. We’ve decorated a small part of our hallway a deep plum colour impulsively. It’s been chaos, hard, wonderful and calm all at once.
The hazel catkins are out, our beloved tree worms in our wood.
Special moments list from December
Walks with the boys
Moons
Berries
Cups of tea whilst clearing the garden
Moonlit childfree beach walk checking the farms water drains (There’s always a farming job to do)
Garden fires and marshmallows
Sprouting bulbs popping their little heads
Working on the stationery club
December In Watercolour
Stories from the studio, a little glimpse into my watercolour creations from this month…
What has December been like for you? Have you seen anything out in nature that’s made you smile or just peeked your interest? I would love to know, tell me in the comments below...
