At the beginning of January I wrote about Just-stay-in- January which is my version of 'hibernating' and had a list of things to do to get through a difficult month. It's not always easy to find things to write about in January so I'd also planned to write some blog posts with words from the book - A Winter Dictionary - that I bought last summer from abebooks after seeing it mentioned on Mary's blog . (Apologies to Mary for stealing book and blog post ideas!)
Mary has already written about Hibernaculum.............. a winter refuge, originally for Roman Soldiers.
This is the photo I took of the sign that introduced me to the word Hibernaculum back in 2018. It's at the NT property Ickworth House near Bury St Edmunds.
But we're now halfway through January and so far I've only mentioned gramshoch which is a word for the clouds that foretell snow.
So here's another word................... brumation which is wintertime sluggishness- a state of torpor. (coming from the Latin bruma, 'winter' and used for animals that don't hibernate, but are semi- dormant)
That's me on dark mornings when I don't want to get up!
Back Tomorrow
Thank you for the mention! Considering my home to be a hibernaculum (in the Roman soldier sense) has added joy to my winter.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you mentioned that book, it's very handy for blog posts!
DeleteBrumation is a good word and I definitely meet the definition at the moment! It must have been horrible for Roman soldiers to come here particularly up at Hadrian's Wall in the winter.
ReplyDeletePenny
From sunny Italy to bleak Britain - not fun, no wonder they all went home again
DeleteI like the idea of brumation!
ReplyDeleteIt's a handy word for January mornings
DeleteThere is a book by Katherine May called "Wintering" - the power of rest and retreat during difficult times.
ReplyDeleteSee tomorrows post!!
DeleteBrumation happening here today....... in thick dollops!
ReplyDeleteI was better getting up this morning even though it was gloomy.
DeleteWell, it would appear that our summer "brood roost" for bats, under the roof, is actually a Bat Hibernaculum too, as one of the wretched things appeared in the kitchen the other night, having come down the chimney . . . Kittens were very interested. I managed to get it into a yoghurt pot (empty) and out the front door . . .
ReplyDeleteBats in the chimney - what fun - for cats!
DeleteAnother storm kicking up here. The winds are fierce. It will be a good day for brumation.
ReplyDeleteJust grey and drizzly here today, no snow forecast
DeleteI think I live in a constant state of brumation in January and February! Thanks for telling us the word!
ReplyDeleteIt'll soon be Spring - hopefully!
DeleteI think I am semi-dormant at the moment ... and that's AFTER I get up and have two cups of coffee!! I don't seem to have any energy for anything.
ReplyDeleteThat doesn't sound like fun - hope it's not a virus of some sort
DeleteAgree with you about getting out of bed in the darker months, although I wake around 6am, the bed clings to me like a comforting limpet!! Jan in Castle Gresley
ReplyDeleteI even slept through the bin men's lorry crashing the bins yesterday morning
DeleteNow I know what ails me when I really just want to linger in bed. I making myself get up because otherwise the morning goes by too fast to do everything I need to do in the mornings.
ReplyDeleteMornings whizz by and then so do afternoons and evenings!
DeleteThe comments on your post today Sue are great! Such a good wordzzzzz
ReplyDeleteI need to find some more
DeleteFascinating new words for winter months. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSemi-dormant is very relatable, especially on cold, icy, cloudy January days.
love the use of unusual words. I have no need of such - its Summer here and I am about to go for a walk before it gets too hot!
ReplyDeleteI have been exhausted…for not much productivity…trying to think of it as Wintering
ReplyDeleteOhhh, what a lovely word for the winter sluggishness.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
It's only mid-January and I'm already over winter and snow!
ReplyDeleteMy sister, in Ipswich, sent me photos of some spring flowers she took yesterday. They were lovely and cheered me up (made me a little jealous too lol)
Brumation almost sounds like something I could get a sick note for! So much nicer than sluggishness which conjures up such slimy images!
ReplyDeleteI definitely like brumation to describe how I drag through January. Every year I try to remember it's okay I'm not to blame!
ReplyDelete