Sorry!

Oh dear, it's all my fault! Looking back on my blog for something I wrote before Christmas, I also noticed what I'd written on 15th December here.

So you see, this awful weather is all my fault! If only I hadn't opened my big mouth . . . fancy actually wishing to get 'snowed in' can you imagine anything so foolhardy?

I'm very sorry everyone. I've been doing my penance . . . I've cleared the drive of snow 4 times this week already!

Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening . . .

'Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening' . . . One of those poems that you learn at school and are stuck in your mind for ever . It felt just like that going for a walk this afternoon.

The poor old birds on our local pond were struggling find a bit of unfrozen water.

Lovely Christmas card shots for next year!

The entrance to our road on the way home. I don't think I'll be driving to work tomorrow, somehow.

No, dear reader, you're quite right . . . my hibernation didn't last long after all. I suppose we humans are not really cut out for it. It sounded like a good idea but I couldn't resist wrapping up and going out for a walk in all that beautiful unspoilt snow I could see from the window.

I'm sure it won't be so much fun tomorrow when the reality of not being able to get from A to B really sinks in.

I expect everyone is writing 'snow posts' today but the scenery is so beautiful it demands it.

'Snow on snow' . . .

The view from our front door this morning . . . Very pretty but a very hazardous journey to the main road which luckily was clear. When you get to the 'slopey bit' at the end of our road before it joins another quiet un-gritted road, the power of prayer really comes into its own!

When I got back from work this afternoon, I found the Pater Familias up a ladder putting up the outside lights, aided and abetted by Number One Son and the tree had been brought inside from the back garden where it had been resting for a few days. With a CD of carols playing in the background, I'm finally feeling a little bit more 'Ho! Ho! Ho!' and less 'Bah, humbug!'

Number Two son is expected home tomorrow and hopefully we'll be able to decorate the tree together and put up a few decorations around the house here and there.

More importantly the crib has been unpacked and is now in situ (minus the infant Jesus of course and the Kings). All ready to blessed in the next few days, I hope.

Not really about the snow ...

Just a footnote ... I've got loads of time today as I'm 'snowed in' (what a fantastic expression).

Looking out of the window, I can see neighbours and their children out playing in the snow (funny how a bit of snow brings out the child in most of us) and chatting to those who have ventured out saying, 'everybody's out, buying milk and bread etc. what a lovely sense of community .'

I'm itching to get my wellies on and do the same.

Even more snow ..

I know I've already posted pictures of the snow last night but how can you not take more photos when it's so beautiful outside?

The view from my window told me straight away that I wouldn't be going to work today.

Having spent an anxious evening worrying about whether or not my husband would make it home last night, I was relieved to hear that he was within half an hour of home at about midnight, having left Manchester soon after 7 pm.

Half an hour in ordinary driving conditions, that is ... however, a later phone call at about 1am told me that he couldn't get any further and he had made it as far as the office and was going to try and get a few hours' sleep there (home from home anyway!) I was happy to hear he was in the warm and dry at least.

It really is just like a scene from a Christmas card here.

And finally, this shot taken at about 8am shows just how much snow has actually fallen. It looks a bit surreal, almost as if a snowman is slumped in the chair.

I'll try not to mention the snow again for a while!

A little bit of snow ....

As a friend commented on my Facebook, it looks just like icing on a cake.

Quite magical! View from our bedroom window at 10pm.

View from our front door - will it be possible to get to work tomorrow?

Surprise!

Strange how we're always surprised to wake up to find snow on the ground, even in January.

I didn't have time to take any photos before I left this morning but managed to take a few shots of the church when I arrived. Not too many made it for Mass, understandably. The car park was quite treacherous but luckily there was some rock salt to use on the worst areas which quickly melted the snow.

The main roads are all clear this evening but it's beginning to freeze again so dangerous conditions for driving. Our road, like most cul-de-sacs, is like an ice rink as it doesn't get gritted by the council and doesn't have the volume of traffic to melt the snow.

We're off to the theatre tomorrow evening so hope the weather improves before then.

Snow in Autumn

What a surprise to wake up to snow on the ground this morning! It was very cold though when we walked back from the Grumpy Mole last night after a delicious celebratory dinner. The garden looked so pretty I just had to get out there with my camera and take a few photos.

These polyanthus are doing a grand job despite the snow.

And just look at this little cyclamen - the word indefatigable comes to mind!

And yet, despite the wintry covering, our large beech tree still looks magnificent with lots of beautiful Autumn leaves left.