ICE, SNOW AND A SLIVER OF MOON

It might be cold but this is my favourite kind of weather; Snippet's too. The moon has been stunning in the early morning, in this case with a little vapour trail underlining it. This next one was taken the next morning when the rising sun was catching two more vapour trails. 

Here you can see how hard the frost was; almost like snow. The light was breathtaking; real "sky-blue-pink" as my Grandfather used to say to describe any colour he couldn't put his finger on. I haven't heard that phrase for years.

After lunch, Snippet and I struck out over the rock hard ground. Such a relief to come home with clothes not covered in muddy splashes. The frost was unchanged, despite the winter sun.

The detail on the ice puddles had changed again into finer, more intricate patterns.

  

I love the way the frost remains within the shadow lines here.....

....and the marsh is solid. I have disturbed three Snipe this week and, as usual, failed miserably to even get a blurry picture. One day.....

We have had coal on the fire for the last few days. The first time this year. It had been our intention to be as carbon neutral as possible with our heating but unless we are in all day, it's just impossible to use wood when it gets this cold. There is something wrong with our stove as if you shut it down with wood, it just goes out instead of ticking over. Most days, thanks to our super-efficient french foil roof insulation that we put on all the walls, we don't have to light the fire until 7.00pm. That gives us hot water for the next day, and the heat is retained enough in the house to keep us warm....ish till the following night. This picture is of yesterday's frost and the next of today's snow at the same site:

Not a huge difference really. It wasn't a huge fall and had more impact on the road than the grass, other than our garden, which is still covered! These pictures are from this morning.

Coming down the drive

Sitting on a cairn. That dog has no respect.

Sunrise

Looking particularly handsome

View from Trigger's field

Betty nibbling at tiny new gorse shoots

I think this is the pony I did the sketch of but, with all that fur, it's difficult to tell

Rain is forecast for the South West so all this will soon be gone. Unfortunately, given the temperatures, we will probably be attempting to drive to school on a glacier tomorrow morning as a result. It's the Christmas play so we MUST get in.  Until next time....I hope the rest of your week goes well and here is a wet bearded Snippet.