I must admit, the first two winters after moving up to the Northeast were tough for me.
The first winter dragged on; I was not used to such a long, isolating winter and depressed having moved so far from friends and home.
The second winter was cold but with plentiful sun and little snow - until February hit.
Blizzard after blizzard dumped record amounts of snow on us, and we spent every morning trying to clear the mountain of snow off our roof and dealing with issues such as ice dams, cracking ceilings, a leak in the roof, and water damage to the floor of our bedroom.
We honestly laughed a lot that winter. When you're up on a ladder every single morning looking absurd trying to clear snow off a roof with a rowing oar (because you've already broken your roof rake and there isn't another one to be had for miles around), laughing is really the best option.
But now it's our third winter here. And while I know there is still plenty of time for winter to whammy us, so far winter has been - dare I say it? - almost pleasant.
The first half of winter was delightfully mild, and now that the temperatures have dropped, we have gotten a wonderfully normal (knocking on lots of wood here) amount of snow.
Of course, weather must always be strange, and we got a surprisingly wet snow, the kind that clings to everything and turns the world into a quiet wonderland.
I am amazed at how snow can cling to every single branch and surface.
Young branches bowed nearly to the ground, and the tops of the flexible pines curled from the weight of the snow.
Thankfully no trees broke, though in spring we may find a good number of downed branches.
Every wire on the vegetable garden fence turned into thick white ropes,
and every branch was outlined in white.
This year I am thankful for the snow. As temperatures drop from the blast of arctic air coming down, my plants are safe and snug under the insulating layer.
And I am finding beauty in this winter wonderland.
I hope everyone is staying warm out there!
And I wish everyone a beautiful and peaceful winter.
It is very pretty when it looks like that. Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteThanks! The snow on the branches from that storm lasted only a couple of days before being blown off by wind and melting, but it was so pretty while it lasted.
DeleteYour photos are fantastic and capture the beauty of a winter snowfall so well! We haven't had much snow this year, although we had a light snowfall yesterday. Temperatures are going up later in the week, though, so everything will probably be a brown mush again.
ReplyDeleteWe are forecasted to be warm and rainy tomorrow, which is bizarre after sub-zero temperatures yesterday. We have a good amount of snow, though, so I doubt all of ours will melt just yet.
DeleteSuch beautiful photos. The thing about snow is that when it first falls it's exciting, but after a day or two, it gets boring and I want my life back. The 2nd winter after we moved to the farm was very long and snowy. Had that been the first winter, we would have moved back to our old house and the proximity of London!
ReplyDeleteThis year I am making an effort to get outside despite the winter, joining a hiking and snowshoeing group. I think that definitely helps, as once I am forced outside I do enjoy it. We'll see what I'm saying by the end of March, though, as I know winter can certainly drag on!
DeleteIndie, your snow is so pretty -- you got a lot more than we did here in the Midwest. I agree that this winter has been much better than the last couple. I don't know if it's entirely due to the better weather (it's certainly been a lot less cold this year) or whether I've been able to occupy myself better indoors. Who knows? But March is just a couple of weeks away, and March is usually much nicer than January and February. Let's hope the groundhog was right about spring coming early this year! -Beth
ReplyDeleteI hope so as well! An early spring would be nice and welcome :)
DeleteIt's nice to hear how upbeat you are and I don't blame you for feeling run down after the first two winters. What a change from the Carolinas!
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are beautiful and it's amazing to see the snow balanced on the wire like that. The bluebird is a sign of spring (I think)so maybe your optimism will take you right through this cold snap to the first days of spring. Regardless the days are starting to seem longer and as long as spring fever doesn't hit too hard in the next few weeks we should be into the home stretch!
I actually had several bluebirds overwinter here, but I wish they were a sign of spring! Soon I will be starting seeds, so I do feel like we're getting to that home stretch before spring!
DeleteIt looks very pretty, but it seems to overwhelm the birds?
ReplyDeleteVery possibly. Though snow is insulating, so maybe it was even warmer in the evergreens. There was definitely a lot of activity at my bird feeder during the storm!
DeleteWe have had less snow this winter, but this week may turn that around. This storm is promising quite a show. Your garden looks very pretty in the the snow. The trees especially.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I hope you guys don't get blasted too much by the the storm!
DeleteSo beautiful! Sounds like you are settling in and enjoying the journey. I have my doors open today so I am enjoying your winter vicariously.
ReplyDeleteThat would be nice! We actually had a couple days in January where it was so nice that we opened the windows up, and we are now getting a thaw. Such strange weather!
DeleteHello Indie!
ReplyDeleteWonderful winter weather.
Amazing photos. With me missing the winter.
Greetings.
Thank you! Winter is definitely prettiest when the snow covers the branches and everything like that.
DeleteWow, that is a whole lot of snow. Poor little birds.Your red glasshouse looks beautiful against the snow.
ReplyDeleteThere was definitely a whole lot of birds at the feeder during that storm! My neighbor has a lot of evergreens, so at least I feel the birds have a good amount of shelter nearby. I was a little worried about them during the cold snap right after, though!
DeleteStunningly beautiful images! We had very similar winters the past two years. Fortunately, I skipped out of the Midwest from mid-February to mid-March, so last year was a very easy winter for me. This winter has been relatively mild except for a couple of bitter cold snaps, although well within the realm of "normal." Winter is a beautiful season. I don't even mind it if the temps aren't below about 10F. At that point, I'd prefer to head for the tropics. ;-)
ReplyDeleteAh, lucky you! Actually, I went for a few days to Las Vegas last year in the middle of winter, and plan to this year as well, which helps break up the winter nicely. I think it's helped getting outside and enjoying it somewhat this year, too. I'm working on that 'embracing the winter' thing!
DeleteHi there! I hope you don't get my comment multiple times, for some reason blogger and wordpress comments don't seem to sync too well.. anyway, I think I said that I'm enjoying this wonderful winter that we're having too! We've had just the right amount of snow and warmth... and your photos are beautiful! one more month until spring! We can do this! xo Michele at The Salem Garden
ReplyDeleteOh that's too bad - glad it worked! Enjoying this nice winter so far, and hoping we don't get any late winter surprises! And we're in the homestretch!
DeleteI remember those long winters, living in Michigan and all the snow. It is good to embrace the season and all it has to offer. Laughing about it is good! I have to say that it looks very lovely from my computer.
ReplyDeleteMy goal this winter is to embrace it and get out in it. And as a gardener I do enjoy growing a couple things that actually need this cold and were harder to grow down South!
DeleteYour first winter there sounded like a doozie! We moved up to western PA for 3 years and while we were there PA had the worst winters in years. Ice storms, snow storms, it was wild.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're enjoying winter up there now. Your snow pictures are gorgeous.
Thank you! That's too bad the winters were so bad for you there. A sign to move further south? :)
DeleteThat next to last photo with the snow clinging to the branches was gorgeous. I wouldn't mind experiencing some snow. We just never get to see it down here. Laughed at you clearing the roof snow with oars. I wonder if you'll find your neighbors putting you on YouTube? Better lay in a supply of roof rakes for next year.
ReplyDeleteHaha! We did order a very sturdy-looking roof rake, so we are ready for the next blizzard! Now that we have one, we probably won't need it again (I hope)!
DeleteYou moved just in time for 2 of the worst winters...winter has the same effect even for those of us who have lived here our whole lives. It has been a milder winter here too...only 7 feet of snow instead of 12, and not as many cold days...those are some amazing pictures of winter you captured Indie!
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