THE RAMBLINGS OF A STRUGGLING ARTIST ON LIFE WITH TWO TERRIERS, A PONY WITH ISSUES AND OTHER WILDLIFE AND BIRDS THAT CROSS OUR PATH

4 March 2014

MIRACULOUS ICE SHEETS


Where is a time lapse camera when you need it? It really hasn't been a cold winter but on Sunday morning, a phenomena that occurs often in deep winter was apparent here, but on a less heavy scale. What happens is a crust of ice develops across the top of a dip or puddle but nowhere near the water below. On this occasion, because it wasn't that cold, the ice was wafer thin, allowing me to look into the bowls below. Sometimes the ice creeps along and out from something like grass, as above, but in other cases, as below, there is seemingly no means of supporting the span. At the top right of the sheet, you can see the spiky ice fingers gently touching the peat at the edge of the bowl allowing it to rest there:


Jack broke the ice on this one and you can see how deep the bowl is and how far from the puddle below:


Beautiful patterns in this one:


I thought I'd try and lift the whole ice sheet off this one. It was reluctant to move, its edges meshed with surrounding fine roots but........


............underneath, it was as bone dry as any thing can be here at the moment. I would just love to watch how that formed. 


A more grass related one:




This one was absolutely enormous; at least 3 feet wide and absolutely beautiful:


Just a few more beautiful ones; like the finest sugar work:





Sunday was just awful - it rained heavily all day and on Monday morning, the wild ponies had perms:



Whilst out walking yesterday, I was looking very closely at some Crottle on a rock and noticed it seemed to be quite aggressive as lichens go. Given how slowly they grow, this will have been an extremely slow invasion, but look how the white Crottle has grown over the other more leafy lichen and, in the second picture, the surrounding moss. Amazing stuff.



More beautiful lichens:



It was threatening to snow but we got away with it. 




You really don't want to know why Jack is licking his lips:



Gorse is flowering of course:


OB can now solve the Rubik's cube in one minute fifty two seconds and has found a use for the Polo's previously redundant cup holder - genius:


Mum to Waitrose and MRI tomorrow, a meeting with the paediatrician on Thursday WITHOUT OB thank goodness and parents' evening that night, so a busy couple of days ahead. Hope your week is going well so far and welcome to a couple more followers. So until next time, here are the dogs enjoying themselves yesterday. 




63 comments:

  1. I can't get over how much fun your beautiful dogs have with all that large expanse of moors to run through. And I love that gorse. It's not the most elegant flower but it does remind me of home -- East Yorkshire.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yorkshire is so beautiful Chris. I haven't been there since I was 20! Iloved it in the same way as here so I know exactly what you mean.

      Delete
  2. What an amazing pictorial post - I love it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Tom. I used to work at the Hulton picture library who held the Picture Post collection, so your comment gave a little tug at my heart strings. Its the only think I miss about living here, even twelve years on.

      Delete
  3. As always the picture journaling here is fascinating and fun to see.
    The then ice really is amazing isn't it.
    The ponies after the rain look like the Bashir Curly breed of horse !
    I posted about the thoroughbred I was speaking of the other day if you want to peek at him , he is a beautiful boy .

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've found a picture of one.....amazing. I'd never heard of them but they look exactly like them!

      Delete
  4. We don't have gorse here, it always reminds me of childhood.
    The pony's coat reminds me why I have very short hair!
    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
  5. I hope that the paediatrician etc goes well for you. Amazing to see the ice patches, so many and all so different! It is amazing what nature gets up to. xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Isn't it? I've got everything crossed for tomorrow. xx

      Delete
  6. Those poor ponies.
    Good luck with the MRI x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was quite nice actually. I was in the tube for over half an hour listening to the radio and I nearly fell asleep! x

      Delete
  7. Beautiful photos and I feel so sorry for the ponies !

    cheers, parsnip

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They seem to be okay with it - never seen one shivering!

      Delete
  8. Good luck with the MRI and the meeting with OB's paediatrician. I take my hat off to him being able to solve the Rubic's cube so quickly. He has an AMAZING brain. Lovely icy photos and the wet ponies remind me of me laying awake nights, worrying about our cobs out in torrential rain (though if it was forecast, they usually came in. Fahly was always stabled on winter nights).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Trigger doesn't do stables and seems happy in nothing heavier than a medium weight rug. I take my hat off to him too!

      Delete
  9. I hope your week goes well Em and that you get a chance to really talk to the paediatrician,

    I wonder if the ice is formed by water that has evaporated off the puddle and got caught by cold air? Not sure really, but it does look beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've thought the same but does evaporation really take place in sub zero temperatures? I just don't get it. i-spot might be the way to go.

      Delete
  10. Clever OB- is that tied in with the tourettes? x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. More likely Aspergers; he is an obsessive! x

      Delete
  11. Loved your close observation of the ice. I remember something like that in England and sometimes on Long Island. Not much hope for it in Manhattan!
    Always love seeing your dogs having such fun in the open.
    The Ukranian diner seems remarkably cheerful - not much comment on recent events -oddly.
    Good luck with all your various errands.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My mouth is still watering at the thought of the Ukrainian diner Elizabeth. You might not have frozen puddle phenomena but you do have that. x

      Delete
  12. Nature never fails to amaze me.
    Wonderful ice photos. Lichen is fascinating in its growing patterns.
    Those poor ponies with such wet bodies.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've been treading about lichen and it's amazing how little is actually known about them. I'll do a proper post one day....

      Delete
  13. Never ever been able to do the rubrik cube, brilliant OB. Lovely photos as usual, particularly the lichen. Has the stone row got a name?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No it hasn't. I'm pretty sure that's just one of the many reeves in the area. I've just checked Jeremy Butler's 'Dartmoor Atlas of Antiquities' and he doesn't mark it as anything important. Do pop in on your way to Cornwall next time and you can come out with me!

      Delete
  14. You ask for a photo of rigs and furrows Em. I will post one when I find the right sort of day. The sun needs to be low for it to catch them correctly - they are easy enough to see with the naked eye but not always easy to see in a photograph. There are masses of them round here, and also there are plenty of lynchets.

    ReplyDelete
  15. HI EM Wonderful studies in ice and I love the Lichen shots as well. I hope the weather warms up for you. I adore the new perms the wild horses have.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Always feel badly for the wildlife in the heavy rains.

    Congratulations to OB on the Rubik's Cube!

    Orthopedic said he couldn't do anything for me as the problems were too wide-spread and is sending me to a neurologist. Less than thrilled.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Don't you hate it when they pass you on? I fear I may be going the same way. So sorry you'ree in so much pain Gail. x

      Delete
  17. The ice sheets look so magical and the ponies so wet! I hope the next few days aren't to taxing for you. Sarah x

    ReplyDelete
  18. The ice sheets are interesting, like little pockets of winter over the moor. I love all the icy patterns, too. Those ponies looks really soaked through, hope they've had some warm, sunny weather since. OB's doing brilliantly with the rubik's cube.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Today was lovely and I could see them lying down in the distance, basking in the sunshine. Best to make the most of it while they can!

      Delete
  19. My boys are fascinated by ice when we walk the dogs if we see any. Your pictures, as ever are absolutely beautiful. My nephew has just been diagnosed with Aspergers, he too is amazing at Rubiks cube. Hope the appointments over the next couple of days go OK x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There's something about the hard wiring of the brain that seems to make them able to do it. He can't remember to hand his homework in without being reminded three times IN the classroom, but he can do the Rubik's cube in....new record.....1m 35secs.

      Delete
  20. Splendid photos Em, and a busy week for you. Hope it all goes smoothly. OB is so clever figuring out this Rubiks Cube. Those ice planks are fascinating, as are the lichens. Loved the pictures of your dogs too and those Dartmoor ponies.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Denise. Glad the MRI is done. I found it extremely relaxing lying there listening to the radio for half an hour!

      Delete
  21. Great beauty in those ice planks. I loved them as a child and so wanted to preserve them. And yes, the mystery of the air gap under them....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was hoping for an answer from you Margarethe!

      Delete
  22. If there was, or had been, a substantial volume of ice, I'd say it has to do with water expanding when it freezes. If it then melts and shrinks again, but not at the surface, the ice layer on top will stay suspended if it's held up by its connections to the surrounding vegetation - a thought....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. But how does it cross that immense span I wonder? Three feet, completely unsupported. It's true magic.

      Delete
  23. Just catching up on reading after losing connections for 2 days. Brilliant photos. Love the ponys perms! and those ice sheets are weird.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I always learn something new when I visit here....
    I have never seen anything like those ice patches.....awesome!
    I'm likin'your lichen!
    Enjoy your weekend...
    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've just been looking at a US lichen site which is fascinating. Many more of them have been given colloquial names than ours but there are lots that are exactly the same as ours here.

      Delete
  25. Those ice sheets are just amazing - great photos. As always love the lichens :) Hope your medical appointments this week go well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm angling for a new lichen book for my birthday!

      Delete
  26. What a wonderful photo shoot Em. I am especially fond of the 'perm ponies'. I have never seen equines with that hair style before. Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Their fur is ridiculously long...have a great weekend too Mark.

      Delete
  27. Just catching up Em. Those ice sheets are amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  28. What an interesting looking wintry phenomena, I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like it. It almost looks like slug slime trails at first glance !!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hadn't thought about that but you're right David. Love your new little Goldfinch icon by the way.

      Delete
  29. I love those lichens, spectacular! Hope all goes well for you this week.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Em, you have an eye for the tiniest and most wonderful of details... I so love your photos! Hope you're having a good week :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. Em, I remember the same thing happening on a puddle in the gravel driveway of my childhood. The ice would cover the top, but when we stepped on it, no water under it!
    I would love to use one of your photos in a blog post I'm writing about exploring ice with young children, www.nsta.org/earlyyears
    I would list you as the photographer, of course, and link to your blog if you'd like.
    Peggy Ashbrook

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for leaving a comment. It's great to read them and I will always try to reply.