The Joy of Snow

 

Having snow around at Christmas time is very unusual for us here in the UK these days. Even though it's one of the things that many people wish for each year it very rarely actually happens. So when the snow started falling last week, hopes for a White Christmas began to rise rapidly, bringing with it much excitement and outdoor play opportunities for those of us with Little People.

Waking up on Christmas Eve morning and discovering we'd had a fresh few inches fall during the night before was wonderful :: everything looked so perfectly snowy and beautiful that day.

You may recall that when I wrote my last post here in the Attic, it was Christmas Eve afternoon and I was about to light the fire and settle down whilst J and the Little People were sledging at the park. But on the spur of the moment I decided to pull on coat-hat-scarf-gloves-boots and head out to join them :: I couldn't bare the thought of missing out on the Joy of Snow on Christmas Eve.

And I'm so glad I made the effort to trudge up our little hill to the top of our park...oh it was just fabulous! I plodded along the snowy path, through the snowy wood....

....emerging at the top of the snow-covered park to the above scene. It looked like an illustration from a book, so perfectly wintery and joyful. Many families were out enjoying the delights of zooming down the snowy slope on sledges, lots of excited shouting and laughter filled the air.

At the top of our park along the line of trees there're some wooden benches, and here I found J waiting for our Little People to climb back up the hill after their recent downward run on sledges. I watched as they came closer, and oh their little faces were a picture!! Such sparkle in their eyes, such rosy cheeks, such excited chatter, I felt fit to burst with happiness observing them.

I lost count of the many times they went speeding off down the snowy slope, down and up, down and up they went, time after time after time.

It was cold that afternoon, cold for us Big People sitting on a damp wooden bench. So J decided to nip back home (we only live 5 minutes walk away) to go fetch a blanket, a flask of coffee and some chocolate.....ahhh sitting on that bench with a mug of hot coffee on that cold, snowy afternoon was just the best! I don't think I can remember such a fun and joyful Christmas Eve as this one, it really will be one to remember.

Today (Boxing Day) the sun's been shining and the snow's begnning to slowly thaw and melt here in town. The surrounding landscape is still impossibly beautiful and joyfully snowy mind you, so we decided earlier this afternoon to head out and stroll around in it a bit before it completely disappears.

We didn't go far, just to our favourite local Easy Countryside Option (Bolton Abbey). And although it was very busy with other people all having the same post-Christmas idea as us, it was still quite lovely to be out and about. Fresh, crisp air, the soft winters sun shining through the trees...

...lots of throwing of snowballs into the river, a rather competitive game of I-spy, and finally a very welcome rest in the cafe for coffee and chocolate cake.

Having the Joy of Snow this Christmas time has been very special and I've enjoyed it hugely. Even if i have been forced to wear J's (big, black) welly boots to go out in it.

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Comments

[Linda]

Lovely photos Lucy. I have so enjoyed your writing and pictures throughout the year. Co-incidentally our house here in France is number 24 too. (no attic)!
Very best for 2010.

[Sarah west midlands]

Dear Lucy lovely photos. Our snow has all
gone! Might we have some more?
Number one son had idea for making a cover for a memory book for his girlfriend. He made the template and selected the material from my recycled stash. Guess who wound up stitching,assembling and adding some final embellishments. Up until
1.30am. Still good fun!!
Love Sarah west mids.

[Nina - Tabiboo]

Beautiful snowy pictures Lucy - ours melted last Wednesday, but there was still 'that' hope for a white Christmas.

I love the park picture - it reminds me of Lowry (Matchstick Men)

Have wonderful rest of the Christmas break,

loads of hugs,

Nina xxxxxxxxxx

[The Coffee Lady]

I think I've enjoyed the snow more than the children have this time!

[driftwood]

Merry Christmas Luce, it looks perfect xxxx

[stella]

thank you ! for this nice christmas walk....

[Claire Hilton]

oh how gorgeous & how different to me sitting in my sarong infront of the air con!! my daughter rang Christmas day she was so excited to have a white Christmas as last year
(her first in Wales) it didnt snow where she is till January...

[Jude]

Hello!
How lovely is that...such a beautiful Christmas scene..
So glad you enjoyed your trip out,must be treacherous with a bump!! and somebody else's wellies!!
We had a lovely day but such a contrast to yours, see my blog for more.

[Shannon]

So lovely. Our snow was mostly gone for Christmas, so we have been feeling a bit forlorn - especially the boys, who received sleds from their grandparents! Thanks for a glimpse of your White Christmas.

[rach]

i had a great christmas but feely very blue today i prayed that you had written as i love to read your blog it makes me heart happy thankyou i am feeling better already. the snow and surroundings look heavenly

[Kelly Bassett]

I do love a white Christmas....but now I'm over it and ready for baseball!!!

[claudia w]

Great pictures! Great fun!

[frances]

Lucy, how grand that you acted on that impulse to get out to see the sledding! And how truly lovely that your husband went back to get warming provisions to allow you all to stay the course.

Quite a soggy Boxing Day over here in New York ... we have had our recent beautiful snow washed away, and now ... wonder when we will have the first snow of the magnificent New Year.

xo

[The Garden Bell - Kate]

Congrats on having a snowie Christmas over across the pond. We.... of course are digging out of 12 inches today....On top of the Ice Storm over Christmas Eve. Will try to get pictures up soon of what 12 looks like, but way too much digging out right now to think about pictures.

I'm so happy you had a wonderfully white holiday. Can't wait to get back to normal and get caught up with everyone.

Hugs,
Kate-The Garden Bell

[Mildawg]

No white Christmas for us, but I'm glad to see you enjoying the snow :)

[Helen]

It all sounds delightful. So glad you had a lovely memory-filled day.
Cheers
Helen

[Jo]

oh my that is so beautiful, what a wonderful way to spend Christmas Eve :)

[Mandy]

Delightful, thank you for the pictures, oh how I miss snow.

[Brenda Kula]

What gorgeous scenery! I just found you a few days ago. Enjoying your photos and blog! Funny, my now grown daughter use to have these Fisher-Price little toy figures. She use to call them little people. She'd say, "Mom, where's my little people?" Now she has little (real) ones of her own. You enjoy them and remember all the funnies so you can do as I have: tell them on their wedding day, to their dismay!
Brenda

[FarmgirlCyn (Cindy)]

What absolutely beautiful photos, with memories to match!

[Kimmie]

Don't you just love white Christmasses?
Just across the little pond, we've had a huge melt-down, leaving us with a very messy-gooey grey mass of sludgy icy snow. Not worth to take the camera at hand.. I love your pictures...

[Charlene]

What lovely photos Lucy... I am so glad that you got to enjoy those special moments with your family. I have always dreamed and wanted a white Christmas since I was a little girl... I guess thats part of growing up in Australia where its always summertime :)

[Aubrey Cotton-Stapleton]

Hi, I am Greedy Kate's Mum and I too love all your amazing photos!! I would so love to seeit all. It does look like a story book, all the people out enjoying the snow, all dressed in colourful clothes add to all the sparkle of the scene. I am so glad you made the most of the opportunity to go out on Christmas Eve with the family, a treasured memory for you all. I am in Australia and we have had beautiful coolish days for Christmas, but our parched paddocks do not compare with your snow, the village scenes, in fact all the winter wonderland scenes. Thanyou for sharing it all with us out in blogland!! Thankyou too for all your blogs, I really enjoy reading them all, Aubrey, Kate's Mum

[Christina]

You are so right! The scene you came across does remind one of an illustration. Many lovely memories from this season I am sure. Take care. :)

[Laura]

My heart made a warm and happy sigh when I saw the kids sledding. I'm so happy you decided to walk up there and share it with us. Your blog is like a gift every time I visit. Thank you so much for a year of English delights!
We had twelve for Christmas Eve luminaries at our house, then visited the snow on Christmas Day and now today we are awaiting our friends for Boxing Day lunch. Soup and cold cuts and various leftovers as usual. With cookies, fudge, and cake for dessert. With plenty of tea too!
Happy Boxing Day.