Sunday, April 06, 2008

Chill


I'd just got my head round bits of green appearing on dead looking sticks when, literally, out of the blue comes snow; more than we have had all winter. Not unheard of I know but worth a mention.

I took the opportunity to make a few graphic marks for the files - who knows when an ice cold heart will come in handy?

I snapped a chilled and serene landscape before the warmth of the April sun melted the whiteness away.Beneath this cloak of diamante snow there lies a brilliant and a burgeoning force - I notice the larches that fringe Badnage Wood are already a haze of green and that little phallic snouts of asparagus poke above the soil too. These things and more - there will be no stopping them now. Up on the hill, beyond the little triangular field across the lane, a curlew cries into the blue forever sky. A lonely sound, the sound of wide open spaces and a sound which sends a shiver - which is nothing to do with the weather - rolling down my spine.

15 comments:

Pam said...

I love your blog but you make me miss Britain so much. And there's nothing so gorgeous as song birds.
Enjoy the snow - I hope those lambs are okay?

Catherine said...

What lovely pictures and glad you are appreciating this final blast of winter. It was beautiful yesterday. We took a walk in the driving blizzard to justify spending the rest of the day by the fire, roasting a leg of lamb and reading the papers. Blliss.

Claire said...

Yes wasn't it a surprise, this morning too. I don't hear curlews
here but because my house
is high I am eye to eye with the buzzards and hear there mewling cry which hasnt got the same haunting sound.

mountainear said...

Hmm, I might argue about how evocative the buzzard's cry is...a wonderful noise. We have them in the wood beyond us. I do prefer them to the ravens which make a strange 'gronk' - our pointer, Chester thinks they are flying dogs.

Zoƫ said...

agreed about Buzzards, I cycle some days trying to follow them as they surf thermals across the fields, mewing; where I will end up is anyone's guess. I held one last summer that had been trained to fly and return by a rescue centre, it was one of the most wonderful experiences I have had, a full grown Buzzard perched on my arm.

Loved your snowy images,we don't get snow often, once a decade if we are lucky, it has almost all disappeared now :-(

LITTLE BROWN DOG said...

Very strange weather we're having at the moment. A dusting of snow this morning, but by lunchtime it was warm enough in the sun to go out walking without a coat. I can't keep up.

Beautiful pictures.

Norma Murray said...

Larches and curlews. you lucky woman. (I'll let you keep the snow though)

bodran... said...

a lovely blog and isnt it exciting all these sgns of spring..
I couldnt do that letter thing yesterday Derr but i'll fit in with you all xx

Claire said...

I relate the call of the curlew to great walks on the Moors which is why I like it so much -it is association.

Westerwitch/Headmistress said...

Do you find that you get huge differences in what is coming out and what isn't between higher up and lower down?

Such massive variations between where we live and just a few miles further south and even East.

Pondside said...

Curlews (can only use my imagination here, as we don't have these) and asparagus and larches fringing a wood - this was a magical blog. The snowy heart is a lovely image and brings to mind a line from an old C&W song "Why can't I ease your doubtful mind and melt your cold, cold heart?"

Nikki - Notes of Life said...

Yesterday morning I caught the train down to Cardiff and as we got to Ludlow the sight of a snow covered Clee Hill was beautiful. I only wish I could have stopped the train to take some photos!

muddyboots said...

no curlews or buzzards but oyster catches whilst the sand martins have just arrived

joco said...

These larches in Bad(i)nage Wood, are they having frivolous and flirtatious conversations ;-)

I am not fond of snow, but it does hide such a multitude of sins in the garden: everything suddenly looks tidy and organized.

Anonymous said...

Hope you don't mind -

but after being tagged for a meme by Fiona @ Cottage Smallholder have in turn tagged you, putting you on my list of 'must-read' Blogs - hope you'll join in!

See my post 'Playing Tag' dated 07 April 08, love your musings & pictures.

Cheers aye,

Jo + menagerie.