Someone provided a splash of color in the form of lumpy gourds abandoned on a log. Is this what people do with their autumn decorations when the season turns -- sacrifice them to the critters of the Heath?
Olga was momentarily distracted by a magpie on this fallen tree. See how thick the frost is? It's almost like a thin layer of snow.
We've been to this particular spot many times, but rarely when the pond is iced over.
Talk about winter wonderlands! Doesn't it look otherworldly?
Anyway, we had a good walk, and I spent pretty much the rest of the day on the couch reading "French Braid" by Anne Tyler, archiving photos and doing some other online errands. And then, in the evening, as Dave and I turned off the TV to go to bed, I was stunned to look out the window and see REAL snow. About two inches of it had fallen silently and we hadn't even noticed. Snow is sneaky!
We rushed out and covered the banana, but it may be too little too late. Honestly, if that banana dies it wouldn't be the worst thing. It's taken over the patio.
I'll get some snow photos this morning.
My fortune cookie from our Chinese takeaway was seasonally appropriate!
27 comments:
Your photos capture the dismal greyness very well. So you must have been below zero for ice to form on the pond.
So why not just let the banana die?
It does look very cold there, but Olga doesn't seem to mind too much. Was she shivering?
That's a good fortune cookie.
Looks like you are having a proper Winter!!
Great fortune.
The photos are gloriously mystical. Hollywood goes to great expense to produce those kinds of special effects.
I hope you visited the uncles, too.
"A single kind word will keep one warm for years"... Is that what the Chinese authorities said to the dissidents of Hong Kong and the Uyghur people? Perhaps the real meaning of a "Chinese takeaway" is when they take away your human rights and slam you in jail..
That center tree in the top photo makes the woodworker in me salivate a bit. All those burls and knots would make for beautiful furniture.
I love these otherworldly photos! Everything is hauntingly beautiful.
I envy your snow.
These photos are incredible. The one with Olga and the fallen tree is truly amazing.
I think there's a name for that freezing fog. Now I have to look up that Anne Tyler title. I haven't read that one. Wonderful pictures.
That fallen tree shot is gorgeous.
Does the cold bother Olga now that she is getting older? Wonderful pictures.
Those trees are very Ent-ish. And the fallen tree looks like some kind of other worldly antler fallen off a huge beast.
Beautiful photos Steve. I especially like that top photo. I miss getting out to take photos but appreciate you sharing yours.
Dramatic photos, Steve! Makes me cold just looking at them. I think we will be getting some snow later this week...
Beautiful frosty photos. It really does surprise me that it gets that cold there. It's a very chilly 29 degrees here as I type this and lots of frost in our garden. I should go out and photograph it, but it's cold and still dark. Brrrr...
Gorgeous atmospheric photos! And of course Olga fits right in!
P.S. you are under no obligation at all to comment on my blog, but since you usually do I was afraid that something is up with blogger (recently I've had many years old comments suddenly show up in the spam folder). If you haven't been commenting that's fine too!
Cold snaps can be cruel as many plants are not suited to survive a quick cold drop in temp.
I love the moody and atmospheric photos today. However, it does look very cold to be out walking. But I forget, you are used to it. The frost and the fog make things look very (as you say) otherworldly.
"the kindest word in the world is the unkind word unsaid"- so says google.
The heath looks amazing this time of year- inspiring! Those trees are thrilling! I love that tree beside Olga with the bird on top- looks like magnificent antlers.
A very nice group of photos and a walk with the pooch, queen of pooches!
Does Olga need a sweater? There is a Whippet in the neighborhood that goes out wearing two coats when it's really cold. Beautiful photos on the ice and the fog. We're back in the fog again today.
That walk looks SO cold! Not surprising that you got snow but I still find it weird that it's so quick and silent to fall. What are you thinking of "French Braid?" I liked it better than most of my Book Club did.
I always enjoy your photos, but these are some of the best ever! I'm glad the cold seems to agree with Olga. We use to have an old girlie that always pepped up in colder weather, despite having bad hips.
Those are wonderfully spooky pictures!
That first photo is truly awesome , truly x
I think that Tolkien had something when he wrote about Ents....
Andrew: It has been below freezing at night, though it warms to just above freezing during the days.
River: Well, that's a good question. I guess I feel guilty about just killing it outright. Olga has a good fat layer so she's not bothered by cold.
GZ: It is very wintry!
Mitchell: The ents don't care about the uncles. :)
YP: You must have just been reading the news!
Ed: It's been lying out there for as long as we've lived here. I imagine the wood is past using by now!
Jennifer: Snow is nice when it's fresh but it quickly becomes an urban hazard.
Ms Moon: My favorite thing about that picture is that she's watching the bird!
Boud: I liked this one more than some of her other recent books.
Bob: Thanks! Usually there are kids climbing all over it.
Debby: She's never seemed very bothered by cold. She has a good layer of fat under her skin so I think she's pretty well insulated.
Ellen: I love the antler image! I wish I'd thought of that.
Pixie: I find that it does me a world of good to get out and take photos.
Ellen D: Wait till you see the ones in the next post!
Robin: It sounds like you and I have very similar climates.
Bug: I think I've just been missing your posts because of the way I track blogs. Sorry about that!
Red: Well, it's a way of purging the garden and starting fresh the next year!
Sharon: It's not too bad if you bundle up!
Linda Sue: As usual, Google has something valuable to teach us!
Allison: Apparently whippets have almost no body fat and are very prone to getting a chill. I think greyhounds are the same way. But bull terriers have quite a bit of insulating fat and Olga never seems troubled.
Margaret: I liked it a lot. If I have any criticism it's that the book just seems to randomly and suddenly end. But I get that part of her point is that family life doesn't end -- it just keeps winding on.
Kelly: Yeah, Olga likes the cold and she loves snow. She nibbles on it!
Colette: Too bad I didn't have them available for Halloween!
John: Trees have personalities, don't they?!
GZ: Absolutely! I feel like I'm surrounded by ents every time I go to the Heath.
You could tell stories from these photos. That one of Olga with the fallen tree and the magpie is so evocative, it just captures me.
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