I don't care what anyone says...

... we just love the snow!

I know it causes travel trouble, but look outside! It's just so PRETTY!

I am tired of everyone moaning about being fed up with the snow. It's great! Yes, it's cold.

But guys... it's winter! It's supposed to be cold! Just think about all the bugs it's killing off with this freeze. I remember one winter recently when it was so warm that the caterpillars were still munching on my plants in January! Now THAT'S not right!

And this cold weather has been such a bonus for us garden-bird watchers. We've had loads in our garden eating all our food, and a lucky friend has even had bullfinches in hers!

This morning's feeding frenzy after I had refilled the feeders.
A chaffinch being its gorgeous self.

A group of shy-er ground feeders nibbling on crushed fatballs under the hebe bushes.
The bossiest and most charming of all our garden birds. Just look at how he's giving me the eye while I snap this shot! Cheeky!

A breath of fresh air

Christmas Day has come and gone again. And it was a 'white' Christmas, although snow didn't fall on the day there was snow on the ground. And it has fallen since, but not in such quantities as that last fall I talked about. But it was lovely, full of family, food and presents (oh, the presents!).

Spikey got up close and personal with his Great Grandma and explained the intricacies of Pingu, Wall-E and Monsters vs Aliens. Here he is demonstrating being an alien using some of his new Kid K'nex...
Today we decided we had been cooped up long enough and went out to the beach at Saltburn. GardenBoy took his Grandma for a drive while I took the three little monsters (or is that aliens?) out for a run on the beach. There had been a light covering of snow overnight so it was quite scenic. We wrapped up warm in waterproofs, wellies, fleeces, gloves, scarves, hats and coats and headed out to make sandcastles!

Pip took his turn with the camera and snapped this one of me with the snowy cliffs in the background. Not bad for his first try at photography, don't you think?

Then we decided to do our favourite Saltburn beach activity. We filled our buckets with stones and walked to the end of the pier to throw them at the waves (carefully missing the crazy surfers below). It had started to snow gently by then.

A nice man snapped a family portrait... by which time it was starting to snow more seriously.

This was the scene when we finally turned back to meet our GardenBoy and GardenGrandma in our nice warm car. The snow was pretty serious by then and sticking to the roads which were getting slippery already, so we decided to forgo the pub-lunch at the scenic pub in the moors and head for home. Has it snowed here? Not more than about 10 flakes... we were hoping for an afternoon sledding, but it isn't to be. Still, we had a nice lunch at a pub much closer to home.

And we are dry, warm and safe, and feeling like we actually DID something today.

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you are all as warm, full and contented as I am.

Winter Wonderland

It snowed again last night, so after dinner we went out in it to play. (Snow is such a rare and precious treat for us that all normal routines are gone with the wind/blizzard.) This time it was the perfect snow for snowmen... We rolled a HUGE snowball, until it was too heavy to turn over again, and then rolled one nearly as big for the middle and then the head - which was nearly too high for us to lift it up. But we did it. We were very pleased with ourselves, and so in fine old tradition we began to pelt each other with snowballs... I am not a very good shot - almost as good as the kids, in fact, and so I got very cold down my back... ug!

By the time we brought everyone in for a bath we were freezing again, and they were whiny! Cold, tired and whiny! Great combo. Warm bath, warm pjs, hair dryer and bed...

And then I got the camera out again...

I had to get one of the eucalyptus covered in snow. I could title this What Nature Never Intended, I think.

And I was at it again, early morning... or, not so early because sunrise is pretty late mid-winter, but in time for the dawn colours.The birds were out eating again, and I got these shots of ground-feeders having a go at the crushed fat-balls and sunflower seeds I put out for them.

Funniest was the magpies which were stuffing their beaks with fat and then stashing it in holes in the snow... squirrels of the bird world! They were intimidating everyone who flew away from the saucer when they showed up. Until, that is, a collared dove came and started intimidating them. This is a picture of two magpies pretending that they don't want anything to do with that saucer and they would much rather have peanuts than fat, thank you.

Here is the snowman that we built last night, in the sunshine of this afternoon. It's as tall as I am.

And the setting sun (at 2:30) across a snowy field.

Icicles hanging from the church.

Our hedge and bin covered with snow. That's the depth of snow that fell last night. 3 inches or so.

And finally, our Christmas tree. Potted, so we can (hopefully) use it again next year.

Woohoooo.....

Hey, guess what? It actually snowed! A whole 2 inches or so... more in London and on the hills, I think, but here is where it counts.

So today, the last day of school, the boys went in wearing their wellies and have no doubt spent most of the day playing out in the snow - when they weren't in their classrooms playing games. What a way to end the term.

Spike has his nursery Christmas party this afternoon, complete with magician and a visit from You-Know-Who! He went in his wellies too.

This morning though we took a trip to Tesco to get more milk, and this was our mode of transport:

and we had some lovely visitors...

Real Snow Day?

There has been a 'Severe Weather Warning' for our part of England...

Heavy Snow, Thurs 17 Dec

There is a moderate risk of severe weather affecting Eastern parts of England. Rain showers will turn increasingly to snow, especially during the late afternoon and evening. Accumulations of up to 5cm are likely with perhaps 10cm over hills.

Now, those of you reading in places where it really does snow a lot can just stop laughing now. Remember, we don't often get snow. This is cause for dismay/excitement depending on your age.

My family and I are in the 'eeeeeeeeeeeeeee................' camp! We know where our snow suits and sled are and we are ready! (And will be really disappointed if it just rains.)

What makes it all the more exciting is that Friday is the last day of school here, and it is traditionally a 'toy day'. They spend the day playing games they have brought and enjoying themselves... that is after such a hard week of Christmas parties, Christmas worksheets, finishing off Christmas gifts and cards, singing Christmas songs and going to the school Christingle. So a snow day at the end of the week will be just the most exciting thing and a wonderful way to start the Christmas holidays.

And here's a picture from our last snow, back in February. Just to get us all in the mood.

So, how's the forecast where you are?

Snowy Garden

Here is my vegetable patch. Can you tell it's a vegetable patch? I can't.

And here are my onions and garlic. Note the footprints. Obviously the kids can't tell it's a veg patch either.

Frosty...

King of the Snowball...

Enjoying the sled.

At least we have been having a 'proper' winter. But hopefully it will soon turn into a 'proper' spring. The snow is fine for now. It's a novelty. But novelty wears off, and I could do with the novelty of spring flowers. I know, all in good time... but I never said I was patient, did I?

And repeat...

It all disappeared... except for in the hills. Must have been the fact that we bought a sled (finally).

But it's back! Started about 10:30, and has continued. The boys will be thrilled when they get home. Get the sled out again.

And I got them some Warm Wellies the other day, so they won't have frozen tootsies. Again, like with the sled, glad I did it, even though it seemed a bit belated at the time.

HOORAY!!

Snow on Snow!

It kind of flurried yesterday in a very haphazard and not very impressive way. In a very English snow sort of way.

But we woke up this morning to a good inch-and-a-half, which, although still not very impressive compared to, say the sort of snow they get out at the Big Green Barn, but still, for England, very impressive. Well, we were impressed.

The boys were dressed and out in it like a shot. (Note the abandonded wheelbarrow. Not been in much use recently. Oops.)

They are off at school now (hooray) and it has continued to snow lots. In fact when I opened the window to take this shot there was snow blowing in, like you would imagine on Little House on the Prairie.

It is very pretty out there, and we are having a nice warm day watching the snow, and watching the birds who are cold and hungry. We have even had dedicated groundfeeders like robins and blackbirds feeding off the fatballs in the tree. Now that means they are very hungry! Here are three very pretty goldfinches. I love their gaudy YELLOW feathers, and RED heads.

And here's my Rosemary covered in snow.