Sunday, January 18, 2009

Sunday Stroll - Winter Hats

Everything is glistening as the sun peeks out from behind the clouds that float in a surprisingly blue sky. I say "surprisingly" because it has been so long seen I've seen so much blue in the sky. When I started out, the only tracks on the pristine new-fallen snow were from the deer, whose early morning foray led them from their resting places, tucked away in the shrubs that grow in the marshy southeast corner of our land, to the compost pile in the sleeping vegetable garden, then down to our neighbor's corn field.


It looked as if everything in the world pulled on a winter hat this morning. The dried flower heads of buddleia (butterfly bush) have on sparkly caps, and the tiny everygreen in the butterfly garden has on both a snow-cap and shawl. Every stump or overturned bucket has a snow-hat on.


The creek is still and silent today. Only the little pool where the creek leaves our neighbor-to-the-north's property and spills into ours gives a clue that water sometimes runs here.


By the end of my walk my own tracks, like that of the deers, coursed down the hill and along the indivisible garden trail.
Standing at the end of the driveway, I looked out at the horizon where a far-peninsula cradles the other side of the bay. All around, near and far, snow had fallen on snow, as Christina Rosetti wrote. But I did not find the mid-winter bleak; I found it quiet, serene and familiar.

11 comments:

Phill said...

Pattern in snow are just about the coolest thing ever - wind marks and drifts, little bird feet, patterns on trees and branches. Really neat pics/

Joyce said...

Wow, what beautiful views! You've had a lot more snow than we have, and I dare say it's been colder there, too, although it's been pretty uncomfortable here as well.

The deer tracks are interesting. I wouldn't think they would wonder around so much in the open, but be a little more purposeful and direct in their routes.

Marcie said...

City Mouse, I agree with you. I love to look out at the snow in the early morning, when no people have been out yet, and see what is written there. Thank you for your nice comment!

Joyce, These deer are just brazen, aren't they? But, I guess with this hard winter they are hungry and will take food where they can find it - however open. Thank you for visiting!

Everydaywoman said...

Aisling,
I love the way you describe the "winter hats!" The tracks through the snow are also beautiful--how serene!
Ruth

Marcie said...

Ruth, Thank you for visiting. I loved the way everything looked this morning, so it was a fun task to get out there with my camera! :)

Michele said...

Gorgeous photos, Aisling! Nothing like the view from my window...sigh..

Anonymous said...

Wow Aisling, you get a lot of snow. We hardly get any snowcover at all. I love how you called them winter hats. I strolled this week too, and I found a pansy or two.~~Dee

Marcie said...

Rapunzel,

There is just a different sort of natural beauty there!

Dee,

Wow! Pansies! Oh my goodness. That will be a while here. ;)

GreenishLady said...

I haven't been by in a while, but am so glad I had a chance to pop in today. What beautiful photos! Makes our recent snowfall look like a mere dusting!

Marcie said...

Imelda,

Thank you for coming by! I need to get over and catch up with you too. :)

Our snow has been pretty, but so much of it!

Linda said...

Lovely photos. I haven't done a Sunday stroll for a few weeks as we have had frigid weather and it has just been too cold to get out and walk.