Wednesday 20 January 2016

As Glorious Winter Makes Her Snowy Bed ...


I went to bed as the first snowflakes fell.
Opening the morning curtains
Behold, a transformation.
Each day Mother Nature paints a different picture.
She gets out her paint box and brush and with a few strokes turns our world from green to white
Softly.
Overnight.
With stealth.
Turning the landscape into a winter wonderland.
Hurrying through breakfast like excited children
We went out into a crisp white world.
With snow comes a hush and bright, reflected light
Muffling noise into silence.
Horses stand motionless
Breathing white plumes of frosted air.
Stark winter hedgerows turn into a thing of beauty.
Beyond, fields of pure unsullied virgin snow.
The village becomes Narnia.
And flowers bloom beneath their snowy quilt.
This white world didn't last long.
By next morning it had all but disappeared.










But, oh, it was beautiful while it lasted.

Oh, these white winter walks exhilarate
As does the crisp frost tipped air
Blown 'cross the mountain tops and vales
Light as a butterfly-snow so fair;
'Tis the whitest of white times
Heralding in all the holidays best
Celebration 'cross the countryside and nearby vales
Pass the most perilous of slippery road test;
Out upon the sod - a snowman or two
With building of snowcastles supreme
Oh, those white winter walks incite exuberance
Hence giving credence to my white winter dream;
As glorious winter makes her snowy bed
And the invigorating air chills to the bone
I am ever thankful for this white winter world
And for all of the past winters I have known.

 ~ White Winter Wonderland ~ Theodora Onken
                              
Elaine

66 comments:

  1. There is always beauty in the landscape covered with a freshly fallen snow, especially the snow covered red berries. And now you write beautifully about it. We have the same Christmas snow on the ground, now stale and dirty. The days are warming some so the snow melts, turning to large puddles of water that freeze overnight, making walking about treacherous. It is winter and that's the way it is supposed to be. Have fine week end, Elaine. PS Still enjoying your pins on Pinterest. I could make an "Elaine" board.

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    1. Thank you Ann. A fall of snow is a special occasion for us - it happens so rarely. We were sad it only lasted a day and glad that we made the most of it whilst it lasted. The temperature has risen once again but hopefully we may get another snowfall before spring arrives. Glad you enjoying my pins - I can't seem to get enough of Pinterest :)

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  2. It was beautiful while it lasted - and I love your pops of color in the white world.

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    1. You reading my post about snow must be like taking coals to Newcastle, as we say. Something that you see everyday and probably take for granted, over here it isn't something we see that often, so tend to get a little bit more excited when it happens.

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  3. Oh...I'm utterly enchanted! What stunningly beautiful pics and verse....you have me yearning for snow, yet not a flake has floated down. The snow on the berries is just stunning! How I wish I could run across those snow covered fields....I hope you did! It looks quite deep looking at the tire tracks! I hope it lasts for a while and you get to play out!!!xxx

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    1. It really was gorgeous. I took 62 pictures while we were out. Talk about overkill :) Sadly it only stayed for a day then disappeared. Let's hope it wont be the only snowfall of the winter.

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  4. That is beautiful, so very beautiful. You are truly blessed to live in such a magical place. We don't get snow here.

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    1. There is nothing like a fall of snow to change the landscape so absolutely and so beautifully. Such a shame you don't get snow where you are - it is magical (in small doses).

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  5. A true wonderland - great photos and verse. We don't get snow here but I have wonderful memories of snow covered hills when my parents had a cottage just outside Oswestry.

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    1. Thanks Susan. We aren't guaranteed to get snow every year so we just enjoy it when it does appear - as long as it doesn't disrupt day to day living too much.

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  6. Snow provides brilliant opportunities for photographs, doesn't it? Now that I don't have to worry about getting to work on the morning it doesn't really worry me too much when the snow starts to fall whereas when I had to drive to work it was always unwelcome.

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    1. It does Sue - I took so many photos while we were out - everywhere just looked so lovely. And yes I agree it is good not to have to worry about getting to work when the roads are bad.

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  7. Beautiful it does look just like Narnia and your words make me feel that I am standing beside with you enjoying the beauty. Sarah x

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    1. Thanks Sarah. The snow does tend to make me wax lyrical :)

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  8. Goodness me Elaine .... you had a lot of snow ...... we only got a light dusting. It looks SO pretty and your photographs and words add to it's beauty. I just love how clean everything looks and how quiet ..... it doesn't matter where one lives, a fall of snow makes everywhere look so magical. XXXX

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    1. Yes, it was more than we expected it certainly transformed the countryside much to my delight.

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  9. We seem to have missed the snow just a touch of frost here - I recognise that childlike excitment, looking out of the windows first thing in the morning, and seeing a new world outside which you cant wait to enter.

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    1. While we were out walking we could hear the sound of children laughing and snowmen appeared seemingly out of nowhere - it is very hilly round here but I didn't see any sledging going on. I remember one year, when we were all a bit younger, when practically the whole village came out for a sledging spree - unfortunately marred by our friend breaking his ankle.

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  10. Your world of white is absolutely gorgeous and those touches of color certainly add stunning to the description.....We are suppose to get snow this weekend and I hope to be taking pictures of my white world too....

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    1. Snow is a photographer's dream isn't it. Hope you get your snow.

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  11. Such beautiful photos and such beautiful words too! xx

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  12. Isn't it nice that so many of us still experience that childlike excitement? Magical!

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  13. So beautifully written and the pictures are simply pristine!

    Jane

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    1. Hi Jane,
      We were out early so everything still looked perfect, it didn't stay around long enough to get slushy - just disappeared overnight without a trace.

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  14. I enjoy looking at pictures of snow, but can't stand the stuff if it falls anywhere near me. Luckily none here so far.

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    1. So do I Cro - there was just enough not to make getting about difficult.

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  15. Lovely snowy scenes which remind me of my childhood for some reason. I think it's the field shots! Love the red berries and the horses don't seem too bothered - perhaps hoping your presence had brought them some hay!
    I did feel a little sorry for those yellow spring flowers though.

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    1. I remember winters in the north when I was a child when the menfolk had to dig tunnels through the snow - so severe were the winters then.

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  16. Lovely pictures and words. There always seems a magical quality in pictures like these. Flighty xx

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    1. I agree Flighty - I took so many pictures that it was hard to chose which ones to include.

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  17. It does transform the landscape doesn't it and absorb sounds too I think. The countryside is a peaceful place (most of the time) but it seems even quieter when it has snowed. Beautiful pictures, 62 eh, that's just the sought of thing I would do!

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    1. It does seem to muffle sounds - I love the creaking noise when walking on snow - it does have to be the right sort of snow though - this was perfect.

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  18. Such lovely photos. The first snowfall produces such lovely scenes as it clings to trees and buildings. Its a joy to walk in too. So peaceful

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    1. Thanks Annie. I love it when it is clean and freshly fallen - so pure and beautiful.

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  19. Beautiful, your photos are stunning and your words perfect. Snow always adds such a fragile beauty to any landscape. I love the hush that descends as the snow falls :)

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    1. Thanks Rosie - you are too kind - and I do so agree with you about the snow - so photographable (not sure if that's a word or not) :)

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  20. It's so amazing to wake up in the morning and see a completely different - white - world outside. Those are our favorite mornings and before we do anything else we go out for a long snowy walk. So glad you got to enjoy this! The pictures are wonderful!
    I hope you are doing well!
    Have a fabulous day!
    Lots of hugs to you,
    Beate

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    1. Hello Beate
      Thanks for visiting - I seem to have lost touch with your blog? This was our first lot of snow this year but it vanished pretty quickly - so we definitely had to get out there and make the most of it. Enjoy your weekend. Give my regards to Keith.

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  21. Wow, you had snow! We just had a little bit of sleety rain.
    I particularly love the horses and the cowslips.
    All the best :)

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    1. Yes we did - I do like a bit of the white stuff.

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  22. These snowpictures are great, I wished we had some snow here. Especially the snow with the red berries and the yellow primulas are so beautiful.

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    1. Thanks Janneke - I hope your wish for snow comes true before spring arrives. I felt sorry for the primulas but they have survived ok.

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  23. Love the photos. Do you think the horses knew they were about to be snapped?
    And what flower is that in the last pic? How lovely the yellow against the white snow...
    Susan x

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    1. Thanks Susan. The horses do look as though they were posing don't they - I think they were just waiting for their owner to arrive with some hay, The yellow flowers are primulas (regretting that they had flowered too soon)but a sprinkling of snow doesn't seem to phase them.

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  24. Oh so lovely to see your photo's and to enjoy looking at this white world. Love the way the flowers are showing too though - it just adds a slight splash of colour.

    Aren't those horses amazing, they look so placid, patiently waiting for something ... perhaps some hay, I don't know.

    Your choice of verse (as always) is just perfect.

    Enjoy the remainder of this week and have a good weekend too.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thanks Jan - it was a lovely, if short, episode. You have a good weekend too.

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  25. Oh, look at this winter wonderland! It looks similar & different. I love how you said Mother Nature paints a different picture every morning. She sure does! Sometimes even more than once in a day.

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    1. He'll Elizabeth. Thanks for visiting - I do agree, about Mother Nature, which makes every day interesting to see and be part of

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    2. That should read hello - not he'll 😊

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  26. Wonderful photos, it been nice to see a little snow..
    Amanda xx

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    1. Thanks Amanda - yes, shame it disappeared to quickly.

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  27. Dear Elaine - winter looks so lovely in your part of the world. Those flowers peeking out of the snow was the best part - looks like spring is coming soon. Have a beautiful week. Hugs!

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    1. Dear Debbie
      I can't remember you saying whether you have had any snow yet - a bit different from last year! The flowers that were blooming did look pretty in the snow. Enjoy the rest of your week :)

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  28. Just so beautiful in every way my friend! From the snowy landscape to those magical words! So lovely to be back in this space with you! Happy week ahead! Nicole xoxo

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    1. Lovely to see you back Nicole - you have been missed.

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  29. Beautiful! We just had a ton of snow but it didn't stick to everything quite like yours did. Your photos are so serene. :o)

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    1. Hi Tammy - snow does transform everything doesn't it - it was very tranquil out there.

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  30. Simply beautiful....

    Thank you.

    Gentle hugs....

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  31. Oh, this is just gorgeous! I landed in a fairytale Elaine! The words, and the images. It's all made me long for snowy landscapes. x

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    1. Thanks Antoinette - you can't go wrong for beauty with a covering of snow - just the opposite to where you live shame it didn't stick around for long.

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  32. Wonderful words and images! I too like especially the photos of the red berries and yellow flowers. Such cheerful splashes of colour.
    Here it's snowing now, soft, fluffy snow, but there isn't much light yet. I hope to get some photos like yours after some weeks, maybe.
    Have a lovely end of January!

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    1. Thank you Sara. The berries you mention were in fact ornamental crab apples which the birds love but there are still plenty of them on the tree. I can't believe how quickly January is going - soon be February already!

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  33. I like your reference to the fact that Mother Nature acts with stealth. She does always seem to have some surprises up her sleeve. We have a light dusting of snow here and that is rather perfect. It's pretty, but not so deep as to be an inconvenience.

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