Saturday, February 8, 2014

A Million Little Suns

The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?
~ J. B. Priestley

As what seems to be the norm for me lately, I can't swear that these photos are all from the same day. We've had so many snowy days that they all seem to blend together.

Still, snow out here in the country doesn't get old as quickly as snow in the city used to. It stays white. It stays fresh. It stays. Well that last part is a bit much.

I'm told that this winter is the worst the locals have seen in a very long time. That's encouraging because for a first winter, I'm not finding it all that awful. The cold is unpleasant but the worst of that is mostly overnight. And of course, we have our beautiful deer come visit us daily. Winter in the city was never like that. Bundle up and join me while we wander about on this snowy day.

snow across the bay
The lake is frozen solid in the bay, with thigh-high snow piled upon it. Snowmobiles have created many paths through the weeks, as have the deer as they make their way to and from neighbours. Those two blobs over on the left of the dock frame are all that you can see of a couple of wood chairs. The sky is beginning to show some blue but snow continues to whirl and swirl with the wind.





snowy day
A slightly different angle allows you a peek at our barbecue. It's doing a heroic job of holding up all that snow.





front deck table
Outside the kitchen window, a small cafe table and chair are also doing their best with their snowy burden.




chickadee dee dee
The Chickadees don't mind the snow, as long as we put out the usual Birdie Buffet. This one is eyeing the freshly scattered seed.





snowy day3
This was certainly an earlier time in the winter. Our snowbanks are ridiculously high now.





snowy day5
These neighbours only live here through the warmer seasons. No need to plough their driveway in winter.





snowy owl - not really
This first time I saw this owl from a distance, I briefly thought it was the real thing. I suppose if I had seen it with that snow on its head I might have known better.





winter afternoon
I like the rustic look of this garage down the road from our place.





snowy birch
A single birch shows off its own winter white.





clothesline icicle
A large dollop of snow melts and refreezes on the clothesline.





deer hello
And no winter post could be complete without one of our sweeties who come to visit daily. Hello, deer!

Join me again soon for some more photos.

The snow is sparkling like a million little suns. ~ Lama Willa Miller

63 comments:

Pallavi said...

This is like a winter wonderland! The landscape looks beautiful, surreal and almost magical. The dear who visited you is precious :) Hope you have a lovely weekend Hillary and thanks for such an amazing wintery tour .

ADRIAN said...

Stunning images. I feel very jealous.

Laura~Pretty Pix said...

Wonderful series! Love all that beautiful snow.. which we're getting lots of right now, here in the Pacific Northwest.
Stay warm!

Kamana said...

for someone who lives on the equator, the snow is so romantic and exciting. i know though, how biting the cold can be and how unpleasant it can be to be stuck with it all the time. still, i love the thought of snowfalls.

Jinksy said...

That's about as close as I like to get to snow - i.e. looking at your beautiful photographs! Stunnins, as ever, thank you. ♥

Andy said...

Who needs cable TV when you live in a place as spectacular as this one.

Gary's third pottery blog said...

I always try to remember that winter has tremendous beauty along with the challenges :)

Rob-bear said...

Such wonderful images! I recall life in central Ontario, with all that snow, when my parents lived there. So much more fun than living in a city.

And I love the "livestock" you have at your place,

Blessing and Bear hugs!

DJan said...

Love these pictures, but especially that chickadee one!

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

The snow is wonderful, but I expect I would tire quickly of days and days of it. Your little deer visitor is so cute.

Brian Miller said...

ha. that snow covered owl is cool....i would love to get a decent snow...one where we could go sledding....its supposed to do a dusting today.

Indrani said...

Like a lovely story book with lovely pictures. I am in love with the cute little deer!

Anonymous said...

Love your little woodland friends. I had to look at the owl a little while for the snow to sink in. And I was looking close up:-)

Leah J. Utas said...

Good for you for finding the beauty of winter.

Anvilcloud said...

You have a beautiful spot there, and those visits are deer indeed.

Do you do your main shopping in Bancroft?

Lisa Gordon said...

You have some really beautiful views, Hilary.
I just love the photograph of the deer.
Have a great weekend!

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

It's beautiful, that's for sure; and your images show the beauty beautifully. I absolutely love the photo of the chickadee on the snow-covered branch. And the lighting is perfect in the photo of the rustic garage. The owl reminds me of the time we saw one on our travels and I made Doug turn around and go back so I could get a picture of it, thinking it was real. Ours was up high on a pole, though, so maybe we can be forgiven.

joeh said...

People love to complain about the snow, but if you are able to enjoy it and not forced to endure it, snow is wonderful as your pictures show.

I think most people secretly love the snow and are just afraid to admit it...I love snow.

Sandi McBride said...

I love these photos...especially the Chickadee and the Deer, they are so awe inspiring...I love snow and miss the Jersey snows we once enjoyed...we had 4 inches of snow last week and its gone now. Hopefully some more next week...don't tell anyone I said that
hugs
Sandi

Red said...

I always like your photos from walks even if they are from different days. You caught all the beauty of snow. The chickadee photo is a winner.

TexWisGirl said...

such a sweet deer and chickadee, too. it is beautiful but so thick. brought back some memories of wisconsin for me. glad you are not minding it there.

CiCi said...

You make the cold and wet look inviting, but I for one am not anxious to go out there right now. Even when I bundle up in layers it is difficult to make myself go out there. But there are beautiful sights such as what you captured on your camera.

Pat - Arkansas said...

I enjoyed your snowy pics (love the chickadee and deer.) We got 2"- 3" of snow last night, but that's just a dusting compared to your thigh-high covering.

OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirts said...

we have snow here but it never stays and we almost never see this much unless we go into the mountains. I would love to live somewhere like you do and watch the wildlife and beauty. Stay warm and dry. Oma Linda

Frank Baron said...

Fine stuff.

It's almost like I was there....

Kerri Farley said...

Awesome shots! We haven't had much accumulating snow but have had a LOT of cold weather. I'm ready for Spring!

Mage said...

I who live at the beach am awestruck. Glad I don't live there tho. I remember snow from when I was in my 20's. Light snow. Simply beautiful, thank you.

Out on the prairie said...

Getting more snow today, so it is starting to look like this. I would have that grill cleaned off, making some brats for lunch on mine.

Rosaria Williams said...

I'm still thinking of a lake frozen over! Hope you and yours can still get out and visit neighbors, pick up mail, drive to work, the grocery store...

Birdie said...

These pictures are beautiful. The "snowy owl- not really" is my favourite. It almost makes me wish for snow but as I sit here wrapped up in a blanket it is only 0 C. outside and I think that I would not do well if it was any colder!

messymimi said...

There's no way i could live there, but i'm glad i get to visit through your photographs!

Ruth Hiebert said...

Your pictures show the true beauty of winter and there is lots of beauty if only we look.Thanks for sharing these.

Bob Bushell said...

Glorious settings, in the snow, and the Deer.

Rita said...

Lovely! I especially like the snowy branches. It is so windy up here that we seldom see I sight like that or not for long. You get such amazing shots--the chickadee and the visiting deer--ahhh! :)

Gayle said...

Have looked twice and will come back again. Gorgeous! Oh, the sweet chickadee….my fave birdie.
and the birch…..winter white……and after Labor Day, too! Such noive!

Your photos are perfection!!

CIN&BUD said...

It looks bitter cold but just beautiful photos!

Anonymous said...

Your photos look so much like mine ... full of snow, snow, snow. I love the one where you captured the chickadee. I've been digging paths to get to the bird feeders so I can refill them.
It is lovely to have a storm free weekend.

Jackie said...

I love the lengthy shadows on the pristine snow. Beautiful capture.
All of your photos here are absolutely breathtaking.
I don't see snow here where I live.
You live in a winter wonderland, my friend. Absolutely.

yaya said...

As cold as it looks in these shots it warms my heart to see all the beauty! I love the first shot where the snow is blowing around the trees in the distance...and I also love that clear pic of the deer! I have many that come through our yard but I never seem to be able to capture them with my camera! I don't leave food for them either..not wanting to really encourage them to visit in the summer near my garden!

Anonymous said...

It's so pretty! I think I would tire of it after awhile, but I do wish we could get one good snow a year.

Maggie May said...

What lovely photos. The ones that particularly caught my imagination...... snow on the fir trees....... snow melting...... owl statue with snow and of course the lovely fawn!
Maggie x

Nuts in May

June said...

Your lyrical third paragraph reminds me of this:
http://funny2.com/snow.htm

Anonymous said...

I definitely did a double take look at the owl. How funny!

Gail Dixon said...

The snow is so pristine and thick! Mercy me. I guess if you don't have to get out and commute to a job, it is a wonderful pastime to enjoy from the warmth of your home. You really do live in a beautiful area. Your photos are gorgeous, as always. :)

ellen abbott said...

that deer looks like my cat when it is cold and wet out. make it go away! beautiful shots. I like the snow piled on the birch branches. but all in all, brrrrr. glad it's not me.

Daryl said...

you definitely win the more snow contest .. here we now have piles of ice on the corners of the intersecting streets .. one walks very carefully in order not to fall ... and more snow is due this evening .. sigh .. spring is 39 days away

sharon said...

great shots!!!

Dan said...

Love the views and angles of view. I understand how some envy... albeit likely temporary in nature.

We've having snowfall daily here in the County. Mostly a result of snow squalls coming off the lake or perhaps because we a ways out into the lake. lol

SandyCarlson said...

So true about snow! Beautiful. The chickadee and the deer made my day.

Cloudia said...

Thrilling photos!



ALOHA from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral

=^..^=

Kerry said...

How beautiful. It is true that if the snow stays white and pure, one can appreciate it for so much longer. City slush is awful!

That owl is creepy.

Anonymous said...

We've only had winter for about a month - I feel cheated! Thankfully, I can enjoy your gorgeous shots.

Jenn Jilks said...

Yes, one snowy day is like another!
Muskoka's been pretty hard hit, according to my friends.
The blanket of snow of wonderful, though. Very welcome compared to 2010. Lovely photos.
(ツ) from Cottage Country Ontario , ON, Canada!

Sharon Wagner said...

Brrr...But so pretty!

Crabby McSlacker said...

Wow! You really captured the beauty of it all, which is convenient because I'm not about to travel to where I can see the white stuff and feel the cold myself!

Phyllis E said...

Reminds me of Stowe !-(

Pictures are lovely, as usual; however I no longer thrill to the call of the winter wild.

Fernando Santos (Chana) said...

Excelentes fotografias de inverno....
Cumprimentos

Tammie Lee said...

your winter looks much like ours. but it sounds as though your snow might be deeper. we do need snowshoes or skis in the woods, too deep to walk with out a struggle.

So good to have a peak of your world.

L. D. said...

These are all such beautiful shots. I like to see the shots of snow on tables and such as it truly shows how deep the snow is before it settles. The chickadee is a beautiful sleek looking bird.

Linda said...

So lovely. I enjoyed the tour and the wildlife. Chickadees are so pretty, especially on a snow-covered tree. We have our own winter wonderland, although our 8 inches is wimpy in comparison, it is quite a snow for us. Love that deer in the last pic. Take care and stay warm.

photowannabe said...

Stunning and spectacular!
What more can I say?
Amazing views from the snug and cozy warmth of your home.

Leave It To Davis said...

Truly a winter wonderland!

Karen (formerly kcinnova) said...

What a treat to peek out of your windows! Thank you, Hilary.