There are certain times, throughout the seasons, when I experience moments which I hope never cease to bring me joy.
The first green shoots, signalling the approach of spring, the wonderful petrichor scent in the air when there has been rainfall at the end of a hot, summer day, kicking through the leaves in autumn and, at this time of the year, waking up to discover there has been an unexpected snowfall during the night.
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And so, it was with great excitement, one morning last week we awoke to discover a beautiful light dusting of frost and snow, which had turned the garden all sparkly and the grass hard and crunchy underfoot. Lily declared, in her now predictably dramatic way, "Finally.....it's winter!"
The snow continued to fall on and off throughout the morning and although, by late afternoon, there was still only a sparse covering, we knew further up the road it would be a different story.
The following day, wearing our winter woollies, warm jackets and mittens, we set off to enjoy an afternoon of sledging and fun. The snow was knee deep in places and, at times, it was difficult to make our way up the track, but the air was still, the sun shone on the hillside and all around had been transformed into a beautiful winter wonderland.
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We enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of sledging and making snow angels, our noses gradually turning pink and our fingers and toes becoming numb with cold. Eventually the chill began to set in and we made our way home to warm ourselves with steaming mugs of tea, exhausted but happy.
I am so envious as we haven't had a flake of snow that has settled yet. I don't want it to hang about for long but I'd just like it to cover enough to give me a break from looking at brown mud.
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are wonderful.
Hugs-x-
It was so lovely, Sheila. Proper snow too, not the wet slushy kind. It would make me incredibly happy to get a little bit more before the end of winter. X
DeleteIt's amazing how the places we know so well are totally transformed when covered with snow, not only in how they look but the feeling around us and the sounds. It looks like you had a great time in the snow. We didn't get much here and it didn't last long.
ReplyDeleteEverywhere looks so beautiful with a fresh dusting of snow and I love how it absorbs any sounds bringing a sense of calm. X
DeleteLooks like you had a most memorable and wonderful time
ReplyDeleteJulie xxxxxxxxxxxx
We had such a fun time, Julie. X
DeleteThat sounds absolutely wonderful. It brought back lots of memories of doing similar treats with my 2 girls. Of course I get of see the grandchildren now, whom I might say have been seriously disappointed by the lack of snow in Essex.
ReplyDeleteI can understand your grandchildren feeling disappointed. It's rotten when the rest of the country appears to be getting snowy weather when you're missing out. Fingers crossed the weather will bring some before the end of winter. X
DeleteMy goodness, what beautiful photos. You certainly did get some snow, it looks like a Winter Wonderland.
ReplyDeleteIt was wonderful. Some people were making igloos and others took the opportunity to go cross country skiing! X
DeleteIt all looks so beautiful, I always enjoy your posts Jules, I find them so calming and beautiful. xx
ReplyDeleteThank you for your lovely words Marlene. Although the reality of sledging with Lily could not really be described as calming, the scenery definitely was. 😊
DeleteHow fabulous - you've had considerably more snow than us. So glad you were able to get out and enjoy it while you could - rain over the weekend has pretty much washed "our" fells clear of the white stuff, and more rain today has completely finished it off.
ReplyDeleteIt's a bit wet here now, so I'm very glad we got out to enjoy the snow while we could. X
DeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jill. X
DeleteWinter, through the eyes, of a child... Delightful...
ReplyDeleteAnd it is also delightful, to read a happy post, concerning snow! Really.
Hugs....
It can be wonderful and magical as long as there is no need to travel far from home. I was so relieved to read your good news today. I'm going to have a proper blog catch up this evening. X
DeleteThe photos paint a picture of a winter wonderland I can only recall seeing a couple of times in the 44 years I've lived on Lewis. Our children only ever once went of a sled I think. I do recall as a very young man climbing Haystacks on one of the most gloriously sunny days when the tops were covered in snow. We had our lunch in the snow with our shirts open to the sun. That was a glorious memory. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you enjoyed the photographs, Graham. I love being able to get out and enjoy the snow and I'm fortunate, where I live, to be able to experience each of the seasons throughout the year. The feeling of being on a mountain top in the snow and sunshine is wonderful isn't it. I think the last time for me was up Walla Crag in January last year. X
DeleteHahaa Lily is really enjoying the snow. :) It's beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed it too! X
DeleteI must say, you and Lily certainly know how to enjoy yourselves, no matter what the weather is like! I'm glad you were both able to enjoy playing in the snow. :)
ReplyDeleteWe had a wonderful time Bless. We love to play in the snow. X
DeleteNice to see that you got some proper snow, even for just a short time. :)
ReplyDeleteWe were very fortunate. It has mostly gone now. X
DeleteGlad you were able to make some amazing memories...and so pleased to be able to leave comments once again...seems like every few days I get a techy blip! xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Jackie. It was good fun to be out in the sun and snow. X
DeleteIt looks and sounds like you both had a good time. The photos are beautiful, I love the bluey whiteness and the last shot is stunning - it would make a great calendar picture :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eunice. I love a snowy photograph. You can almost feel the cold just by looking at them. X
DeleteFun and exercise in the snow, perfect ...
ReplyDeleteI didn't think of it as exercise but I guess it was hard work at times. X
DeleteOh, how beautiful! Such beautiful photos! We've had a couple of light dustings, but that's all. Lily looks to be having a wonderful time! I've never been on a sled in my life as we've never had enough snow!! Best, Jane x
ReplyDeleteYou should put it on a to-do list Jane, it's great fun. I promised myself a wooden toboggan if we were forecast a lot of snow this year, but this snowfall was so unexpected I didn't get around to buying one. X
DeletePerfect photos. Bet you had fun :). B x
ReplyDeleteWe did, indeed, Barbara. I have the bruises to prove it. X
DeleteJust beautiful! So much wide open space there where you live. I love to see snow against a bright, blue sky. I'm so happy you had a snow day. I know Lily loved it. My daughter loves to play in the snow. Stay warm!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Julia. We enjoyed a wonderful afternoon. X
DeleteYes, snow is exciting and wonderful with a child around! Your photos are perfect. Unfortunately now when it snows I worry about having to clear it up and how bad the roads will be if I have to get out, so that takes a lot of the joy out of it. I do love when everything is plowed and shoveled out, and the sun is shining on the big pine trees covered with snow out my living room window, and I'm warm again by the pellet stove! Your Lily is very fortunate to have such a wonderful mom to experience all this with.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sue. I completely understand your worries and I was exactly the same when I needed to drive around for my work at this time of year. Fortunately here the roads have been fine and the rain has since washed away most of the snow. X
DeleteSounds like you had a lovely day!
ReplyDeleteThank you. It was a fun afternoon. X
DeleteHow lovely, proper snow. It all looks so beautiful and magical when evrything is covered in snow. My son is longing for a snow day. At 16 yrs old, he's had a few now but I did point out 'you'd only waste it on your xbox all day'. He obviously didn't agree. Enjoy your snow Cathy x
ReplyDeleteWe were so fortunate the snow arrived in time for the weekend because, sadly, there wasn't enough for the school to be closed. It doesn't really feel like we've experienced winter until there has been some snowfall. X
DeleteLooks like you had a wonderful time. I remember your saying Lily was hoping for snow, how wonderful for her. None to speak of here but I'm of an age when it's nice to look at from the window :)
ReplyDeleteShe was so desperate for snow, Eileen. She was looking out of the window in December wondering why, when it was the first day of winter, it hadn't arrived. X
DeleteSuch beautiful photos of real, proper, Narnia snow, so different from the slushy stuff we usually her here, if we get any at all.
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Thank you, Joy. I don't like the slushy stuff either. It falls with such promise but is such a disappointment. X
DeleteWhat a lovely afternoon
ReplyDeleteThank you, Shirley. I hope we get to experience some more snow before the end of winter. X
DeleteWhat an evocative post. You have a lovely way of writing, Jules. Have you ever done so professionally?
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eloise. What a lovely thing to say. Putting my thoughts into words, both spoken and written, is something which does not come easy to me, so I'm just relieved when they seem to make some kind of sense. X
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DeleteIt is magical isn’t it? X
ReplyDeleteIt was. Sadly all gone now. 😕
DeleteWhat a wonderful playground you have on your doorstep! x
ReplyDeleteIt's not bad is it, although Lily needs all the space to burn off her energy. X
DeleteSounds like the perfect way to spend time with someone you love.
ReplyDeleteIt was a lovely way to spend a winters afternoon. X
DeleteIt just looks so beautiful. I hope Lily is able to read your blog one day, the way you write will definitely bring the memories alive for her. xx
ReplyDeleteIt really was, Suzanne, although the snow has all gone now, so I'm glad we seized the opportunity to enjoy it while we could.
DeleteYes, I do hope Lily will be able to read this properly one day (she often reads it over my shoulder as I type,) as it's a wonderful way to keep some memories. X
Fantastic photos,so glad you and Lily had such a Happy time together so precious.xx
ReplyDeleteThank you Lee. There were a few of us so it was a lot of fun. X
DeleteWhat a fabulous post, with so many fabulous photographs.
ReplyDeleteIt really is a most beautiful winter wonderland.
Lovely to see Lily thoroughly enjoying herself :)
All the best Jan
Thank you Jan. It was the perfect setting for some snowy fun. X
DeleteI'm with Lily, winter doesn't feel right without snow. I only wish we had had even half that you had. We had an embarrassment of a show, a whisper, if that. xx
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh at how dramatically she announced it, Sadie. Although, she had been keeping a watch for snow since the 21st December! The weather has become quite spring-like this last week but I'm not in any hurry to put away my Winter woollies just yet. X
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