icy sunset

from the clouds

in waves

rippling light

flowing down

to the very tip

Brrrrr!

We have been deluged by snow! Nothing like as bad as some of my blogging friends in the States, but still, for this usually balmy corner of Southern England, it's quite startling to see great gusts and sweeps of snow fly past the window, and bank up against the doors

Wol is huddled in his cage looking disconsolate - for a creature who started his life in Zimbabwe it must be rather chilling

The well with its varied guardians is gradually getting humpier and humpier

 there are ripply icicles developing as the fine snow streams past

 and snow patterns cling to the bricks as the catkins shiver in the wind

the courtyard pink is looking rather lovely against all the white, and I'm hoping all the plants will at least benefit from the soft blanket around their necks as the temperature drops to  -2 degrees

though the little daffs in their pots are struggling to hold their heads up

The birds are very glad we provide them with extra food. I was amused by this blackbird, politely queuing while the starling, gobbles up the fat. However starlings don't really understand politeness or queuing; the hoodies of the avian world, they fight and squabble and peck and shout at each other, so poor blackbird flew off to another food source in the end, patience all used up.

I am very glad we provide them with food as well - it is a never ending pleasure to watch them come and go, all a flutter and busily bobbing about even in the snow, a privilege that I treasure

Winter chill

We have some snow - not a huge amount, much less here on the South Coast than further West or inland, but enough to look very charming.

We're doing our best to make sure the birds and beasts have enough to eat and drink. There are several very beautiful foxes who stroll through in the early morning; one a very lordly dog fox. I've not managed to catch any of them with the camera, but am keeping a bowl of water ice free in case they need to drink.

The Jay is a regular visitor, though very shy - he'll swoop away across the garden at the slightest movement, even if we are indoors but near the window

 

The little water boy bravely holds out his shell of water, as the snow gathers on his head

much to the delight of robin, who seems to think it's OK to take a bath in water meant for drinking

while at the bottom of the garden, there is the most delicate tracery of branches weaving a snowy web in the air

February chill

This morning we woke to snow

some people thought this was just great

others weren't so sure

birthday snow

I have been moving house and so have no internet at home and no time to do anything but unpack boxes and wonder where to put all the stuff. It is remarkable how much stuff you still have, even after that pre move blitz. However, today is my darling daughters birthday so I am up in York, rather than down on the south coast and so have access to her internet while I wait for her to get dressed (usually a lengthy process (Oi!!! said Jen)), so we can visit the Christmas Market together and go OOoooohh at all the lovely things for sale.
I was amused during my delicious guest house breakfast this morning by a pair of Australians, visiting the UK and planning to drive to Edinburgh  today. I guess they just don't do snow in the same way down in Oz; there was a collective "whaaaaat" from the other breakfasting guests, at which they looked, it has to be said, a little crestfallen. Now this is what the world looks like outside Jen's window, I could hear the ice cracking under my feet as I walked up the road through several inches of fresh snow.

It is still snowing and there is travel chaos across the country. I suspect I may be seeing them at breakfast tomorrow as well, poor souls.

So what did she get for her birthday from me? Well, some cash - always useful to impoverished students, a little cat ornament to sit and smile by her computer because she misses our two, some chocolate, utterly necessary and these

also useful in this weather in the frozen north. I finished them on the train on the way here (NO I didn't try driving up!!) and sitting in my guest house room last night, the second pair of socks I've knitted. I wasn't sure they were going to be done in time!! So now she has toasty feet, which is a Very Good Thing.

Hope the trains are running when I go home tomorrow!!