cleaning the carpet in the snow

Outside, the world has been white for almost 4 weeks and it is cracking cold this morning. The thermometer read -18 celsius early this morning and the stove has to work hard to get and keep the little house warm. The mornings are the worst, when you have to get out of your warm bed into the cold. Break the ice in the water vessel in the kitchen to get water for the tea.

Everything is so beautiful it almost hurts, hoarfrost lies like a thick blanket over all the branches and glistens in the winter sun. Yesterday it was just as beautiful when we were working with the pony in the woods.

A little later I drag the carpet from the living room into the snow. Now that it's so cold, you can wash them just fine. It is not difficult and environmentally friendly too. It's not every year that I get the chance to do this, because apart from the frost and preferably cold, you need soft powder snow. Earlier in the year we already had snow, but it was too wet and lumpy, so it won't work. Most I know let the mat hang outside for a while before they put it in the snow so that it cools down well and the snow doesn't melt but that is not necessary for me... It was still cold enough after last night ....

Both sides of the carpet get their turn with snow and the brush. I throw shovels full of snow on the carpet and brush it off again, drag the carpet to a clean spot and repeat a few more times until I get too cold. I drag the carpet to the porch where I hang it over the balustrade and knock out the last of the snow. The mat is now completely fluffy again and shines with radiant deep colors and smells so clean and fresh.

After I have cleaned the rest of the living room, I roll up the carpet and take it inside. Now the living room is cozy and homely again. The sun shines nicely through the windows.

 

As the days lengthen, I long for the promises and expectations that spring will bring. Birds flutter to and fro, singing a shy tone on this cold winter day. As if they know that winter will now slowly fade away. Cold days and nights will certainly come, but if you take a deep breath you can already smell the scent of spring.