Sunday, February 01, 2009

Sunday Stroll - Winter Light


The world outside our windows is full of motion and light today. Fat drops of water are falling steadily from the icicles on the eaves. Wind is pushing walls of snow across the landscape. Birds are stretching their wings in the almost-forgotten joy of brilliant sunshine that pours like water through the bare branches and down across the hillsides. I couldn't put my boots on fast enough this morning. I had to get out into the glory of the morning!

I followed the snow-mobile trail down the hill into the vegetable garden. The deer had been foraging the snow-covered compost pile again. Limerick keeps sprinkling it with dried corn. How will he feel in July when the deer return again and again to the garden, looking for a remembered treat? *grin*




I headed over to the marshy lowland in the northeast corner. Sun was spilling through the birches and all around me sunshine and shadow painted the surface of the snow. I made a snow angel and lay for a while contemplating the blue sky beyond the willow branches.

I found these tiny tracks and could not determine their origin. Perhaps the viburnum were writing poetry in the snow.

I found the butterfly garden still sleeping deeply. There was no January Thaw this year to disturb the long winter slumber. The beauty of the garden is subtle in February. One finds it in the shadows that spill over trails hidden by snow, and in the evergreens, and in the sweet color of the sky that arches above.




The tiny blue spruce that I planted last fall is alive and well, but mostly buried in snow, even on a hillside where the wind sweeps most of the snow away.


When I got back in the house, I warmed my hands with a steaming mug of tea, but my focus was still outside... on the dripping icicles at the eves, the wind tugging the window screens, and the bright, bright sunshine spilling into the house through the window glass. Good morning, February!


all photos by Aisling, February 1, 2009
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8 comments:

Everydaywoman said...

LOVE your snowy stroll and your gorgeous shots! How nice that Limerick is looking out for the deer as they forage for goodies in this blanket of white!

Marcie said...

Ruth, Thank you. It is a nice day for taking photographs!

Phill said...

Wow - gorgeous stroll this weekend! The sun combined with the snow is just perfect. So bright and beautiful!

Marcie said...

Thank you, City Mouse. That's just the way it felt - so bright and beautiful.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Aisling, thank you for your kind comment to me. I think I have rejoined the living. Your pictures are beautiful.

Marcie said...

Ernestine,

I'm so glad to hear from you! I hope you are feeling better every day! And thanks for the nice comment on my photos. :)

Mandie said...

Good morning February indeed!! I loved the snow pictures, very pretty. I just love days like that. I find myself acting like a kid and knocking the iscicles off with my fingers and beating the ice on the side of the chicken coop to knock it loose. I just can't help myself, hehe

Marcie said...

Mandie,

Considering that I made a snow angel, it must make me feel like a kid too! Thank you for your nice comments on my photos! :)