It's been snowing here today in Atticland - not a huge amount, but enough to beautifully dust the hills and rooftops and see us setting out to school this morning fully wrapped up against the flurry of freezing flakes. Little B very excitedly (and rather optimistically) asked me if I could manage to find his ski goggles (old inherited ones, we aren't a ski-type of family) as he felt sure that a flurry of snow in the morning would equal some sledging action after school. Sweet boy, I didn't have the heart to tell him that the brief snow shower we walked to school in wouldn't be nearly enough to merit the wearing of extreme winter gear.
I walked up to the park on my way back from the studio mid morning, just to see if there was any remote chance of needing goggles, and it was oh-so-pretty out there.
The snowy clouds were already drifting away to leave us with some weak winter sunshine....
....and there was a soft glow over the landscape which made me sigh with pleasure.
I can certainly appreciate the beauty of the winter landscape, even if I would much prefer to see dancing green leaves on those bare branches. There is a clean clarity which I do enjoy, the pared back bareness makes me feel like I can breathe more deeply somehow.
The trees were dripping wet and the sight of the light-filled water droplets stopped me in my tracks. Much like reflections on still water, I find myself captivated by the suspended beauty of water droplets, such a still, precious moment in time.
I was looking at these photos on my camera a short while ago before I uploaded them to my computer, and zoomed in on the droplet to take a closer look.....................
............isn't that something? My camera is a small point-and-shoot type with all settings on auto (it's a Sony - this one), but I do have a very steady hand and a good eye for pointing it at visually appealing things. I showed the photo to Little B, and explained about the image being upside-down as the water acts like a lens...I felt quite science-ish and intelligent for a brief moment in time (!) and he was suitably wowed. Nature is bloomin' mind blowing at times.
My "red" hyacinths came into bloom over the weekend, adding a beautiful dash of colour to my winter mantel...
....I think calling them Red is a bit of a stretch as they are very clearly not red, but they are more vibrant that the usual pale-pinky pink hyacinths which are actually labelled Pink. Lots of pinks in that sentence, I should probably edit that eh......
Coming home from school at 3.30 and not a scrap of snow remains here in the town, so no real need for protective eye wear after all. The hill was still looking mighty fine and winterish though, and it was most definitely hat weather. I noticed today how light it still was at 4.30pm and my heart literally felt like it was expanding with pleasure at that thought. We've still got a whole lot of winter to come through yet as Spring doesn't make an appearance in Atticland until well into April, but we are on our way. A whole month since the Solstice, we are On. Our. Way...............!!!! Very happy about that!!!
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My heart is so happy when I see you write New Post!!!!!
Posted by: Leah | January 26, 2019 at 12:23 AM
Lovely photos Lucy !Love detail on the branch and twigs great photo love Jenny x
Posted by: Jenny | January 24, 2019 at 09:01 PM
Lovely post Lucy & could you blow some cool air our way here in southern Australia. Stay warm & take care.
Posted by: Susan Smith | January 24, 2019 at 08:22 AM
Love seeing the landscape where you are, Lucy. So pretty. After a week of rain, we are having very chilly (by our standards) but sunny days. I can see flowers budding on trees already.
Posted by: Kimmy | January 23, 2019 at 10:09 PM
Hello Lucy, Lovely to look through your photos. Couldn't help noticing your bunting over the fireplace, are they by any chance Yorkshire buttons? I have just bought a kit from Hochanda. Helen
Posted by: Helen Stevens | January 23, 2019 at 09:52 PM
Oh my gosh, I'm SO watching the days getting lighter later already, too (I think our daylight time here in Eastern Washington is similar to yours there)! Those long dark days don't do me any good at all! We just got a dump of snow and it's really pretty but I just want it to melt as quickly as possible! Come quick, Spring flowers!!!
Posted by: Annie Chermak | January 23, 2019 at 08:09 PM
Thank you for sharing your lovely photos. We have had snow here in Illinois over the course of a few days and quite cold. Yesterday, it was a layer of freezing rain, then, heavy snow.
I received my packet of yarn from Wool Warehouse and will begin my CAL today. Such pretty yarn. Blessings.
Posted by: Sue McQuade | January 23, 2019 at 06:04 PM
Your water droplet photo is amazing Lucy. Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Arlene | January 23, 2019 at 05:08 PM
Loved your photos...we haven't had much snow here since the first of the year. Sorry your little guy did not get to use his goggles...
We sat by Lake Junalusku (North Carolina) yesterday. It was such a beautiful sunny day that I could not bear to leave until the sun went down and the temps started to drop. My hubby and I sat there and soaked in the sun for at least 2 hours...he with his book and I with my crochet. It was bliss!!
Blessings to you and all your family!!
Vicki
Waynesville, NC, USA <3
Posted by: Vicki M | January 23, 2019 at 03:56 PM
Hello Lucy. I have been following your blog for a long time but don't often comment. I live in Canada (we had about 6 inches of snow overnight) and my husband and I are planning a holiday in England in September, timed especially for Yarndale. Do most people go for both days or is it possible to see everything in a day? We need to plan our itinerary.
Thanks,
Nicola
Nicolaknits.com/nicolaknits on Ravelry
Posted by: Nicola | January 23, 2019 at 03:34 PM
The water droplet photo is just beautiful and worthy of the Countryfile calendar, Lucy. You should enter it for next year!
Posted by: Wendy Bassett | January 23, 2019 at 01:27 PM
Hi Lucy,
We’ve got about the same snow wise, and it’s very cold. The roads and pavements were very icy this morning.
The blue tits, coal tits and a great tit are pinging in and out, on and off of the Perspex window feeder full of mealworms. Well, a snotty robin for whom the window feeder is designed, (the company name is I Love Robins!) is sticking to the seeds feeder hanging from the tree!
Stay warm. xx
Posted by: Rachell | January 23, 2019 at 12:16 PM
It looks so beautiful.i wishilived ee it snowed 💕
Forecast in
Melbourne-Australia tomorrow 37, Friday 42!
Posted by: Brenda | January 23, 2019 at 12:03 PM
Snow is so magical! Here in the southern US we don't see near enough of it, usually here and gone in a day, probably what makes it so magical. (not much mess) lol Have a fab week!xxxxxxxxxxx
Posted by: Angela- Southern USA | January 23, 2019 at 11:16 AM
We had a light covering of snow over here in Norfolk. Mighty cold, only just above one degree at breakfast time. Still lots of winter to come as you say, and I for one don't mind that at all.
By the way, love that little canvas behind the red-but-not-red hyacinths.
Posted by: Nina Kellock | January 23, 2019 at 09:33 AM
I'm glad you got to get out and enjoy your pretty light snow. We haven't had even one snowflake so far and it's looking like we may get to Spring without one! But I'm already looking forward to snowdrops and lilacs!
((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Posted by: Teresa Kasner | January 23, 2019 at 05:08 AM
I agree with Mother Nature being amazing! I love taking pictures of my garden, as being behind the camera makes you focus on the tiny delights...pollen on a stamen, drops of frozen rain on a branch, water droplets on roses, frost on leaves...all the things you would have been so keen on when you were wee and closer to the ground to see it all with wonder.
Your wee lad would have loved the storm we just had, over 1.5' of snow over the last 24hrs...your small snow fall looks so inviting to us on this side of the pond; we've just put shovels down and now the weather man says we get more tomorrow with ice rain as a chaser. So enjoy your photos and I feel like I get to travel to your shores every time I read you stories and view your lovely pictures.
Posted by: Nancy Mac | January 23, 2019 at 02:54 AM
I just love the way the snow blankets the hills, wrapping it up in a winter coat to remind us that it is still hat weather and the nights might be getting lighter but there's still a way to go before the spring xx
Posted by: Winwick Mum | January 22, 2019 at 09:49 PM
I very much enjoyed the pictures....
Posted by: grace horton | January 22, 2019 at 09:07 PM
Amazing water droplet shot, beautifully captured. My youngest has made a snowball from the tiniest amount of snow, he would be digging out the ski goggles as well without a shadow of a doubt. I have seen snowdrops and crocuses this week along with some daffodil shoots today. Won't be long before there are spring flowers everywhere I think. CJ xx
Posted by: CJ | January 22, 2019 at 09:06 PM
Such beautiful pictures! Thank you for sharing Lucy x
Posted by: Jan Buckley | January 22, 2019 at 08:04 PM
Enjoy taking a walk with you!! Wishing snow for little B... But only on the grass.
Snow, sleet, freezing rain, ice and all things white and slippery here in Chicago suburbs. Spring is only two?? three?? months away!
Posted by: Elsie | January 22, 2019 at 08:00 PM
Love your pictures. And so enjoying the sweetpea colors in the CAL. Sweetpeas were one of my aunt's favorite flowers. (Along with Zinnias, Peonies,... you get the picture?) But I think of her as I crochet.
Posted by: Helen | January 22, 2019 at 07:43 PM
Yes indeed, the pleasure of the light coming back is worth a little dance Lucy. The snow took its change at the other side of the sea and there's a 5 cm white cover making the biggest traffic jam ever occurred. But my garden is absolute stunning <3
Posted by: Tinke | January 22, 2019 at 07:41 PM
Driving to town tonight at 5.30 and there were still light clear patches in the sky between the clouds. Son moaned because summer was on its way. He suffers awfully from allergies in the summer so prefers winter when his nose doesn't run and his eyes don't itch.
Posted by: Caz | January 22, 2019 at 07:37 PM