The Nights Are Drawing In

My winter coat is now hanging on the coathook in the barn office; my scarf draped over it and my gloves stuffed deep in the pockets.  There's even a torch snuggled in there somewhere.  I've also put the heating back on the timer. 

All this means that autumn is upon us and winter is round the corner.  Apparently there's snow in the Cairngorms already.  Instead of the hyperactive chirping and swooping of swallows, martins and swifts, the sky is full of honking geese as they fly back and forth from their feeding grounds each morning and night.

The wild garden at the back of the barn is a lot quieter too.  There's less damseflies around for a start.  I think it's just a blip though, as I'd expect it to attract other migrants during winter.  Goldcrests and redwings are already moving south from Iceland and Norway.  Perhaps we'll get another good year for waxwings too.

Aside from the natural delights of the colder seasons, there's many artistic offerings in the barn to warm your frozen bones.  We've got a wonderful shadow puppet performance of Aladdin next week for children, then we follow that with the sound festival launch.  This years festival looks to be a real treat for fans of new music and the Woodend Barn is right at the heart of it with performances from Red Note Ensemble, King Creosote, Greame Stephen, Bill Thompson, and many more. 

There's also a bunch of spooky goings on around Halloween with a carving workshop, a beastly bbq and Visible Fictions: The Hunted.  Be Afraid...

Finally, once winter has truly set in then it's time to think of celebrations.  We're kicking off the festivities with the fantastic Orcadian folk group - The Chair for our winter party on the 2nd December.  There'll be dancing, jollyness and possibly christmas jumpers.  If you fancy a more sedate affair then their back on the 4th of December for a Sunday lunchtime show.  Then we've got one of my all time favourite films, It's a Wonderful Life to really get us in the Christmas mood.  Mulled wine and Jimmy Stewart saving Christmas, what more can you ask for?

Lots more happening of course but these are just my highlights, what are you looking forward to during Autumn and Winter?  *don't have to be barn related*