We wake this morning to the kind of quietness that is only made by falling snow. I’m instantly thrilled – aware of the mood shift. Yesterday I felt like vestige-of-road-kill. Now I am fizzing like a firework. How did that happen?
At 8 am the landscape looks like a scene from a post nuclear winter, and as I tell Jo, when I take the header photo, I do not need the monochrome setting.
But by 10 am the sun is out, and the field at the back of the house is all of a sparkle.
I’ve not yet had breakfast, but I have to go out there. I wrap up in many layers, jump into my wellies. He who is sitting on the sofa reading The Guardian on his laptop, and still wearing his dressing gown, thinks I am nuts. I promise him toast on my return, dash out of the house and head for the Linden Field.
But even as I cross the playing field to the Linden Walk I know I’ve missed the moment –at least as far as the light is concerned.
As I pick my way up Windmill Hill, the blizzard begins, although I am briefly distracted from the change in the weather by three woolly dogs – large and small. They too are thrilled by the snow and have to tell me so. Icy muzzles push into my hands. Brrrr. Thanks a lot, dogs.
They bound away after their people and are soon lost from sight. It is then that I notice the weather is closing in fast. The wind is vicious. Much too cold to linger. 
I retreat from the hill the long way round – this to avoid an unseemly slithering, bottom-first. By now it is hard to see where I’m going. Not only that, I’m turning into the Abominable Snow-Woman. Even the Linden Walk, when I reach it, offers precious little shelter. Goodness! This is the most exciting weather we’ve had in ages.
But still, enough mucking about in the elements. There’s toast and Greek honey and good hot coffee to be had at home. Besides, any further inclinations to snap snow scenes may be catered for from the comfort of my desk and the window next to it.
Also I’ve remembered that I told Jo the snow wouldn’t last. My mistake. We’ve had several inches in the past few hours. But the best thing is that there is far less traffic out on Sheinton Street, and what there is, is moving so slowly that it is wonderfully quiet. Reminds me that it’s time to put in another request to the Council for a 20 mph speed limit. It’s interesting how a spell of disruptive weather can remind one of what really matters re life and well being.
Tish Farrell 
I love the first snow. Thank you very much, Tish for sharing these beautiful images.
My pleasure, Paula.
Great images, Tish. I’m not far away, about 5 miles outside of Knighton and there seems a lot of snow here today
I can feel your excitement through my computer. Oh how I love the utter quietness of snow…there is nothing quite like it….and the first snow is always pure magic. Enjoy the warmth of your home and the lovely views from your window. Nothing in London yet. Janet 🙂
We are indeed lucky to have a warm home to shelter in. Now the light is going, it’s looking a bit bleak outside.
Ah, yes, there is nothing like the stillness and quiet that a snowfall brings. I remember when we had a heavy snowfall in Surrey (where it never snows) back in 2010 and going out to take snow photos! Freezing fingers finally sent us back indoors, but I was very excited. Winters oop north were always snowy 🙂
Love all your photos Tish, snow on trees is particularly beautiful.
Yes, snowy trees are especially wonderful aren’t they. Out in the garden our smoke bush has become a snow bush.
😀
Us too here in the South USA.
Gorgeous images, Tish. So glad you and the dogs brave the icy weather, although I do think hubby was quite wise to stay home and dry. Your photos were well worth the effort. 🙂
Thank you, Sylvia 🙂
Utterly beautiful. Here we’re still raking. And raking and raking
Many thanks, Mr. P. But you’re still raking? You really do need a big leaf-sucker-up-blower-thingy. Amazon has them 🙂
We’ve got an electric one, but I haven’t taken to it. There’s the plugging it in, the giant extension cord, the small bag attached to it- and it doesn’t do well with big wet leaves 😦
That does sound a faff. I hate extension cords. The thing is though, you could be making wonderful leaf mould from it all, which some of your plants would love – in about 2 years time. And then of course you need somewhere to store the leaves while they rot down. Raking up is good exercise of course 🙂
I’m jiggling up and down with glee! What is about these men that they can remain so stoic in the face of so much pure excitement? I love everything about this, from that first half crazed header all the way down. 🙂 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing your wonderland with me. It still hasn’t come my way… maybe tomorrow. Clear and crystal bright this afternoon, for which I am grateful. I was at the funeral of a good friend’s sister- the second she’s lost in 3 months so glee would have been out of place. Thank you for dispelling the gloom.
Glad to be a gloom-dispeller, Jo. On thinking about it, that would be a good profession to take up. Shall ponder on’t. Besides which, it’s lovely to share my snow world with you. It’s now falling thick and fast.
Claps hands! I’m off to play with Paddington 🙂
Oh fun and more fun!
Enjoyed that, the walk and your excitement – it’s all very well, but… and those photos! Nos 3 and 6 – wonderful!
Glad you could come along to my neck of the woods, Mike. I know it’s all very well my prancing about in the snow, but of course too many people have to drive in it, which is not good. Also glad we don’t need to go anywhere pressing. The car is presently getting very buried.
It looks like Canada! Although we have currently been having very mild temperatures. I think you have captured the wind and snow beautifully. Almost needed to put on a jacket at the sight of it all. My favourite though is ‘vestige-of-road-kill’. Hilarious!
Was rather pleased with that description myself, Sue – despite feeling to be in the state that brought it to mind in the first place. Just shows – good side to everything 😉
enjoy!
Cheers, Beth!
These photos and commentary are wonderful. Like nothing I have ever experienced
Hello, Suzanne. Glad you enjoyed this post. It has been an amazing day here.
Seems like only yesterday you were posting photos of summer flowers!
And I still have some on the kitchen table! I don’t think they’ll be flowering after a foot of snow though.
Wow!
Utterly enjoyable snow post Tish – the moment by moment narrative took me every step of the way from the warmth of my seat! Beautifully illustrated and memorable line that: ” Yesterday I felt like vestige-of-road-kill”
Ps London just has the odd snowflake – and it’s not me!
happy weekend, Laura – with or without snow 🙂
I felt the same way the other day when I opened the garage door to an unexpected dusting of snow. It was wonderful, even though it blew away after a bit. If we’re going to have cold and winter, we should have snow!
janet
Yes, a shot of good clean coldness definitely gives one a boost.
It is supposed to start snowing here tomorrow, but I think it’s lovelier where you are. We also have a couple of hundred miles to drive home and need to get there before the weather closes in. I’ll be happier about it when we are home again. Meanwhile, it looks absolutely beautiful. You look like the ultimate Christmas card.
We feel like a Christmas Card! Wishing you a safe journey home.
Oh, Tish. Thank you so much for venturing out. I didn’t think anything would make me homesick for Warsaw in winter, but this has. Magic shots taken by a woman in a state of palpable excitement.
Ah. So sorry to raise some pangs, Meg. There may be more photos today.
I love the photos, Tish, and equally your narrative.
Going out to capture these beautiful moments, despite of the weather, shows your passion for photography. Brava!
Many thanks, Lucile. Today we have snow and sunshine so more excitement afoot 🙂
Hopefully the snow is gone there and here. We had enough to enjoy it!
What a marvelous post. Good for you for braving the elements. Pete sounded just as excited as you, but only took a single pic of a tree from his study window! Chicken! 🙂
Haven’t seen snow like this since we flew back to the UK for our honeymoon, and that was a week or two ago!
Just waded up to the allotment. And I can tell you it was v. hard going in a foot of snow. And then when I got there it was a case of hide and seek with the parsnips and leeks. Tracked ’em down in the end though. I think we’re promised more snow tomorrow/Monday. The light today has been magic with a blue, blue sky to boot.
I can feel your excitement radiating through this post and your photos. It takes me back, in memory, to my 5 year old self and building snowmen and throwing snowballs. But my 75 year old self says the photos are lovely but after 56 years of living without a snowflake in site I think I would like to hibernate with “he who was reading the Guardian”, no doubt in front of a roaring fire, and roast chestnuts on a shovel.
Other half does like his comforts – though they do not run to roasted chestnuts despite the fact we do have a chestnut roasting shovel thingy. I must buy some so he can get roasting. Thanks for the notion, Pauline.
It was one of my favourite Christmassy things to do when I was a child and watching for the ones that popped and jumped off the shovel….
I’m delighted to see yours Tish and that’s as close as I want to get!
We’ve more snow today (Sunday), but it’s grey and blizzardy 😦
Breathtaking🙂 I love the snow! Warm coffee and toast is a good way to treat yourself after being in the freezing cold
The world has suddenly become a gigantic snow globe Tish and you have presented it dramatically. Thank you for sharing.
Happy New Year. Thank you for following my old blog “Your Nibbled News”. I have a new blog for the new year entitled “The Main Aisle” located @ http://www.themainaisle.com. The older site has been deleted. I hope you will visit the new site. 🙂
I love that snow globe image, GC. Thanks also for the link to the new site. I will be there.
Looking forward to seeing you there. Enjoy the day. 🙂
I love walking in the snow when the only sound is your own footsteps
Yes – something magical about that.
Here’s my poem from my Haiku Calendar for December last year
drifting snow
shattering the silence
a wren sings
Written early in the morning with only the occasional snowflake falling – the snow banked into drifts either side of our lane.
Well captured!
Thank you! One of the first haiku I wrote – I was chuffed when it was published in the Wales Haiku Journal Summer 2019
One always is chuffed to get something published. Well done, you.