Sunday, February 14, 2021

Snow Days

 

Snow has fallen for two days, at times lightly, at times heavily, with fat flakes that splat against the window. I don't know the official accumulation, but in our garden there is at least 12 inches. Children (including our grands) are ecstatic: snowmen and snow-forts appear on many front lawns. Hills, even slight ones, bear evidence of gleeful sliding and trudging back up to do it all again. On my walk today everyone I met had a big smile and commented on the gorgeous snow. I know there are those who detest snowy days, but I believe they are huddled in their homes and not out enjoying it. It is treacherous to be driving - with so few snow days each winter, our area is not equipped with sufficient plows and removal equipment. People stay off the streets as much as possible. 

I find the snow incredibly beautiful. I love the way it transforms the landscape into something magical, blurring hard lines and reducing colour to contrasts of black, grey, and white. There's great conviviality as everyone clears off sidewalks and driveways, and takes time to lean on a shovel and converse with the neighbours. It's a jolly time. 

I'll leave you to enjoy these snowy scenes from walks taken in the past two days, and a few from my garden, accompanied by some favourite snowy day quotations.


A snow day, literally and figuratively,
falls from the sky
unbidden,
and seems like a thing of wonder.
Susan Orlean


Winter came down to our home one night
Quietly pirouetting in
on silver-toed slippers of snow
And we, we were children once again.
Bill Morgan, Jr.


Out of the bosom of the air,
out of the cloud-folds of her garment shaken,
Over the woodlands brown and bare
Over the harvest-fields forsaken
Silent, and soft, and slow
Descends the snow.
Longfellow


But now she loved winter. Winter was beautiful "up back" - almost intolerably beautiful. Days of clear brilliance. Evenings that were like cups of glamour - the purest vintage of winter's wine. Nights with their fire of stars. Cold, exquisite winter sunrises.
L.M. Montgomery


Snow was falling, so much like stars
filling the dark trees, that
one could easily imagine
its reason for being was
nothing more than prettiness
Mary Oliver



And since it's Valentine's Day, what's better than coming home to a cup of tea and a pretty cupcake (created by a daughter) to savour in front of the fire. 


30 comments:

  1. I love those pretty snowy scenes. I am waiting for the time when we will get a good snowfall.those are the kind of winter days I enjoy.This cold, not so much.

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  2. Beautiful verses and photos that coordinate perfectly -- I enjoyed your own prose that ties it all together, about how much better it is to get out there and BE in the snow. When I have had the proper clothing I feel the same way. And the same way you do about driving in it!

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  3. Absolutely gorgeous photos, and I so agree with you. Snow makes everything look beautiful. I have only been in a part of the world under snow about five times in my life, and I have wonderful memories of every moment. Talented daughter, what a pretty cupcake. Happy Valentine's!

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  4. Your daughter made the cupcake? It looks completely professional. Lucky you. More than the cupcake I envy your snow (though I could go for the cupcake as well, if needed). It is gorgeous. Our winters are quite mild, we don't get any snow, and it seems wonderful to me and very exotic. The photos are gorgeous.
    Amalia
    xo

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  5. I love snowy days, but we get very few in Cornwall. The carpet of white, before anyone has walked on it, is magical. 'Cups of glamour', how perfect!

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  6. Dear Lorrie,
    I love the snow. We count on it in this area. It is needed for watering the fields come summer. I agree with you. Stay off the streets, don't drive but go for lots of walks. Encourage children to go out and play in the snow.

    My favorite snow poem is Ralph Waldo Emerson's
    "Snow the Artificer' describes a snow storm perfectly.

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  7. Lovely scenes. Snow has a way of taking us away...
    We were snowless all weekend and now the snow is falling.
    Happy Family day to you and yours!

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  8. You have a lovely view of snow!

    I love to see it, and feel the "cozy at home and warm and homey feeling." Not so much, getting out in it though. But then, we are in our 80's. -smile-

    Also love your snow quotes. I am actually using one, as my Sig. Line, today.

    "It sifts from Leaden Sieves --
    It powders all the Wood.
    It fills with Alabaster Wool
    The wrinkles of the Road."
    ~Emily Dickinson

    ☃ ❄ ❅ ❆ ⛄

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  9. Lovely photos and quotes. We have snow today and hubby has been out to blow. I never get tired of it. Enjoy! Kit

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  10. I like the quotations/verses and lovely pictures!
    You got a lot more snow than we did. Even here in town from one area to another the amount varied. I'm glad it's a holiday so no one HAS to drive in it ( because you know not everyone has snow tires or experience driving in snowy conditions).

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  11. The snow is very pretty! Love the verses.

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  12. Anonymous2:22 PM

    The timing of the snow was perfect - our Family Day long weekend!

    L

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  13. How pretty to see the snowfall through your lens and verses, Lorrie. I can imagine how exciting that is for your grandchildren. The tea a cupcake look like the perfect ending to a snowy day.

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  14. If we must have winter, we may as well embrace it and enjoy whenever we can. You make it magical.

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  15. I love snow as long as I don't have to drive in it, or shovel it!

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  16. Great snow day quotes.
    I do love walking in snow. We had one day and then the ice came.
    Whew! Glad it is warming up today and the ice is going away.
    Sweet cupcake!

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  17. Lovely photos as always, Lorrie!

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  18. Beautiful snow scenes and quotes to accompany! Lovely Valentine's Day treat too.

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  19. Loved seeing your snowy scenes. The world always seems to be a different place under snowfall. People seem to be more caring too :) B x

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  20. Snow makes the world look magical, even from my cozy living room (because I am one of those "enjoy the snow from inside" kind of people). Your photos are beautiful! And I do love that last photo of the lovely tea cup and treat!

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  21. Hello, Lorrie. I agree with you about the snow. I dearly love it and honestly, winter is never quite long enough for me. I so enjoyed all your quotes, beautiful words send me to the moon. I have loved them since I was a young girl. Your photos are gorgeous also and I was happy to read the young ones are out enjoying the snow. It is snowing here and we have about 4 inches, more to come between today and Friday. Happy winter days, enjoy yourself.

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  22. Such wonderful snowy pictures.
    My Grandchildren would love to see some snow and build a snowman!

    Such a beautiful cup and cake, hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day.

    All the best Jan

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  23. It is lovely to see the snow when it first arrives and everything is pristine, but I admit that unlike children I am not a great snow lover as I get older.
    We had a very cold blast which came in from Siberia which covered the east of the country in snow, but it didn't reach us here in the west. Now, rather strangely, we have a warm front that has blown in from Africa.
    Love the photo of the lichen.

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  24. Winter is indeed beautiful..and so is MO:)

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  25. We certainly are having snowy days, too! Your quotes by the poets and authors are so apropos for wintertime. I’ve been sipping lots of tea, too, but I’d sure love one of those cupcakes creations from your daughter!

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  26. Beautiful photographs and delightful quotations. I do understand the pleasure you find in freshly fallen snow and the joy children experience but (sorry about the but) in the UK the snow turns to dark and muddy slush very quickly. Nobody clears sidewalks and roads become salt laden skating rinks.
    I do wish I could experience the snow of mainland Europe once more.

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  27. Lorrie - I'm with you - I can never get enough of snow. Of course, it helps that I have the right kind of car with the right sort of tires, and I don't HAVE to go anywhere if the roads are that bad. Your photos are breathtaking and the quotes capture the sentiment so well!

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  28. Beautiful snowy pictures!

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  29. My daughter when she was 15 lived three months on Vancouver island, it was an exchange with Canadian girl.
    She was very pleased with her stay.
    Catherine

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  30. Your snow pictures are beautiful and I’m right there with you, enjoying the snow days we get! I love how it transforms everything and brings out the child in us.

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