Sunday, February 17, 2013

An Icy Walk

Last Sunday, it rained all day. I can walk happily in falling snow, and even in sleet or freezing rain. But regular rain dropping on snowy ground makes for a miserably sloshy experience, so I stayed in and crocheted and watched the makings of a giant ice rink form in the driveway. (At this time of year, when the ground is frozen, rain simply pools and turns to ice once the temperatures drop at night.)

A few almost-spring-like days followed, with pale-blue skies and racing clouds and a hint of seasonal change. Then the temperature dropped back into February (it was zero when we got up this morning).

Today the sun is shining on our icy world. The snow is compacted and crunchy; the air is a bitter 20º. (How is it that 20º feels positively balmy some days, and other days very uncomfortable? Must be something to do with humidity levels.)

On the way to the railroad grade trail, the fenceline is paralleled by snowmobile tracks:


A few hundred yards down, a group of maples is covered with samaras that shiver and susurrate in the wintry wind.


(Susurration - such a lovely word, and so difficult to work into everyday conversation. But in a blog post one can say anything.) :)

To my right can be seen many shades of the season: icy pale blue of frozen water, rich champagne of dried grasses, bright rose of red-twig dogwood, softest brown of leafless trees, eternal dark green of pine (or spruce)...


...all framed by bare black branches. It's a gorgeous day.

Wires hug a post at the corner where two fences meet:


Pines in silhouette against a sinking sun:


At my feet are tiny dried flowers (knapweed, I think):


Oak leaves have sunk into the snow's crust. I carefully peel one out to reveal a leafy little snow angel:


Now here's a most unwelcome sight:


End of the line for Mrs. M, who would love to disregard the signs and keep right on, but whose conscience will not allow it. (Why doesn't she feel this law-abiding when it comes to speed limits?)

On my way home now, with the sun behind me. The north-eastern sky is palest pink at the horizon and turning these larches to priceless lace:


(At least I think they're larches.)

Tiny black specks dot the snow at my feet. I look up to see where they might have come from, and find these:


Overhanging the path is a tall bush, covered with clusters of what look like miniature pine cones. (Some kind of berry?)

The sun is getting very low indeed. Just one more shot of a sloping fence on a snowy field with a beauteous tree outlined against the drowsy sky...


...then home, where soup ingredients sit shivering in fridge and freezer, simply longing for a pot and a hot stove.

Wishing you all a lovely week filled with sunshine and warmth.

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P.S. Following Anne's example over at andamento, I have widened my blog a bit so as to have room for larger photos. Does it fit your computer screen, or do you have to scroll sideways to see the sidebar? Your feedback will be appreciated. :)

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40 comments:

  1. Beautiful snow shots and winter atmosphere, Sue.
    Your widened blog fits my computer screen perfectly.

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  2. Lovely pictures - I especially like the little leafy snow angel! It looks like you must have been out for hours - I bet that soup was most welcome x Jane

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  3. It still fits my screen. I, too, like the leaf angel.

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    1. How nice to hear from you! And thanks for the feedback, T-a. :)

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  4. Hi, Mrs. Micawber!As usual - lovely photos of your walk. I know how it is after the rain when you can actually slide on the snow :)Missing this too...
    The larger pictures fit very well into my laptop screen.
    I liked that leafy angel very much, it's so cute.
    Have a nice week too!
    Hugs,
    Anna.

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    1. Thank you, Anna! I would send you some snow if I could. :)

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  5. Lovely pictures, as usual! Your new format fits my computer screen with no problem.

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    1. Thanks so much for the feedback (and the compliment). :)

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  6. It fits beautifully. The photos are gorgeous. My sister tells me to make my pictures bigger, but they don't fit into the space in my blog, I'd have to change everything and I am not that computer savvy.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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    1. Nor am I - but it was actually pretty simple. In Blogger, click Template, Customize, Adjust Widths. Two slider bars will come up at the top of the screen - one for the entire blog, the other for the sidebar (if you have one). You can preview it by scrolling by looking at the bottom of the page (scrolling down if necessary), then make adjustments if you like. When have a size you like, click on the orange "Apply to Blog" button. Just don't go too wide, or it may not fully fit on some people's screens.

      My current settings are 1000 px for the entire blog, and 230 for the sidebar. This is just large enough to let me post "Extra Wide" photos.

      :)

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  7. Hello! The pictures fit fine on my screen. I wasn't sure about the XL pictures on my blog at first as I'd got so used to the way it usually looked, but now I'm starting to like them.
    I love your leafy snow angel too.

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  8. Made one part of your blog wider, to allow for larger pics!!!! OH I LOVE IT!

    I must visit with the gal who convinced you to do this!!!!! A kindred spirit! Where it comes to showing out pics, in as large a size as possible!!! Hooray!

    And a beautiful walk, but too cold for me.

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    1. Thanks, Auntie. Your photos are always beautifully large and clear. :)

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  9. It fits my screen. The pictures are beautiful. I don't know how you walk in the cold. I took the dog for a walk yesterday before work and I was freezing.
    And the arthritis in my foot was screaming. (I am a wimp).
    Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Arthritis should be listened to, especially when it screams. Hope it settles down soon!

      And how to walk in the cold? Put on a TON of layers. That's a workout in itself. :)

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  10. I suspect that the wind and sun could have something to do with how cold a temperature actually feels. When I lived in Germany in the early 80s my son would play outside in shorts even when snow was on the ground because the reflecting sun made it so warm.

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    1. The sun definitely plays a part. And wind chill too. But did you ever notice that the air sometimes has a sort of ironlike quality? That's the part I can't figure out.

      Thanks for commenting! :)

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  11. What a beautiful walk and a wonderful ending with warming soup. Everything fits fine on my screen as well. I love following behind you on your walks. Thanks!

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  12. I can see it all PERFECTly. And what a feast for my eyes. I love your WIndow to the world. I love larches...

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    1. I do too ... they're so lovely in spring and autumn. I never paid attention to their winter shapes before - they're beautiful at this time of year too.

      Thanks Kathy! :)

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  13. Everything fits perfectly and I really like the bigger photos. The leaf angel was lovely. Thanks for taking me along on your walk.

    Hugs,
    Sharon

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    1. You're welcome, Sharon! Thanks for the feedback. :)

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  14. Susurrate. Susurrate. SUSURRATE!!! I like it! No one around here susurrates. Especially that stupid Alpine.

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    1. Isn't it a nice word? One of those onomatopoeic words (ha! I spelled it correctly without having to look it up!) that sound just like what they describe. Kind of rustling and whispery.

      Let us hope that Ella never starts her own blog. I shudder to think what she might say about YOU.

      :)

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  15. Stunning pics once again Sue......loving the Larch lace and the splash of colour from the Dogwood in the 3rd pic.
    I'm sure that a bowl of warming soup would be most welcome after your walk.

    It was a warm 38 deg. here yesterday, I will be pleased when the seasons change the and the temps drop.

    Have a wonderful week.......

    Claire x

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    1. That's right, rub it in that it's SUMMER where you are. With fresh tomatoes too. :)

      Thanks Claire!

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  16. What wonderful pictures. I love those wintery scenes.
    Spring is appearing early here and it has been quite warm and sunny for the last few days. Great for getting back into the garden and getting some work done.
    Rosie

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    1. How nice to be able to garden already! Around here people spend January and February looking longingly at seed catalogues and dreaming of spring to come. :)

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  17. Protip: Most browsers will zoom, so if a page is bigger than your browser window, hold Ctrl and type - until the browser has zoomed out enough to show the entire page. Ctrl and + will zoom in, and Ctrl and 0 will restore the original zoom level. Once you have changed the zoom level on a site, most browsers will also remember that level for future visits to that site.

    And now I'm going back down to the barn to listen to Marigold susurrate some more...

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    1. Thanks very much, Quinn! Give Marigold a Peanut for me, will you?

      And take one for yourself. :)

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  18. Blue sky is a beautiful sight. Unfortunately very rare. ;-) Thanks for taking me on a ride. Regula

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  19. Oh dear. Are you having a cloudy February? We seem to have a good mixture - days of grey followed by one or two of blue.

    :)

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  20. Wouldn't you just love yarn in the shades of your third photo? Your tree silhouettes look like lace against the sky.

    Rolled my eyes at your makeshift skating rink. We dropped a water bottle while heading into the house the other night, and I had to bring out the blow dryer to melt and move the water so we wouldn't be accidentally skating to the car the next morning. On our faces!

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    1. Ooh, I like that yarn idea. Especially the ice blue and rose red shades.

      Gotta love living where things freeze in winter.... My walk to work would be dangerous without traction soles on my boots. :)

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  21. I am able to see all your pictures just fine, but I do have an extra wide screen. Enjoyed reading your Valentine post. Congrats to you and your husband for so many years of loving together! That is beautiful. Happy day to you, my friend!

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