Sunday, December 20, 2009

Ice Art

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Enough of The Weather Channel. The storm stomped up the east coast with lots of fury, three days before Winter Solstice, and I do believe this winter will provide a story of weather events.

There will be a White Christmas in my home town. Deeper than knee-deep in snow, I know friends and family are whining but I smile anyway. It’s a back-breaking mess, I agree with that! Blizzards rank high in memorable lifetime events along with other natural disasters that aren't so darn pretty. My memories of blizzards could easily be the subject of another blog post. Power will be restored to homes, the mess will be a memory in a few days, then there will be a White Christmas! Here, we’ll have a warm, sunny day and I’ll be swatting flies out of the kitchen and cussin.

We saw snowflakes, sleet, and rain on Friday. Sleet tapped on the windows all evening long, and I’ll admit I love that sound and the mood struck me – that childlike, magical feeling when wishing for a snow day… Ice art formed while we slept.

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The rising sun danced on ice. It needs to be admired at once!

It all disappears in about two hours.


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A twenty-foot wax crepe myrtle gave in to the weight.

The whole scene reminded me of Ralphie raising his bedroom window on Christmas morning to the magical, winter wonderland scene before his eyes. You know, the morning he almost shot his eye out with his Red Ryder Cowboy Carbine rifle.


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In comparison to Ralphie's view, my view was terribly boring.

However,

I crunched around the yard for a while.


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Crunch.


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Noticed the fence.

Crunch.


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Gasped!

Crunch.

The crunch under foot was so audible and shocking the birds fled the scene


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except for a sparrow who tolerated me for a moment.

I was wishing for a dozen Cardinals against the ice but they didn’t come.

Crunched to the pond and saw butterfly bush well preserved.


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Right now I'm wishing for a special friend to have peace, love, and contentment.

And, I'm wishing everyone a merry little Christmas!

22 comments:

A New England Life said...

I'm wishing you a Merry Christmas too, Mary!

We had a terrible ice storm one year ago so your photo's look very familiar. Hope I don't see that kind of ice again for a while. Hopefully you didn't loose your power!

How the heck can you remember that about Ralphie? I mean seriously!

I hope the Crape Myrtle survives! Wish I were swatting flies too! LOL!!!

Robin's Nesting Place said...

I love your icy images! Ice is so destructive but very beautiful!

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Merry Christmas Mary. I hope your heart is light.

Jayne said...

We just got all the rain with that front. It literally rained windshield-wipers-on-high sheets all the way to Savannah on Friday... misery driving.

Your frozen landscape is beautiful Mary.

KGMom said...

While I wait for my computer to stop gasping, loading all those gorgeous shots, I will offer my brief comment.
I think one of the reasons people are somewhat blase about global climate changing warming things up is their (mistaken) belief it will mean less snow.
Around here--Pennsylvania--where we should expect snow, people go into an absolute panic. Running around, chicken-like--yelping IT'S A BLIZZARD. Pifff--it's not a blizzard unless we are snowed in. And we are not. We can still walk!

Rose said...

These are beautiful photos, Mary! I don't like ice storms, and I don't like having to drive on ice, but I must admit everything looks beautiful coated in ice. And yes, it definitely is a crunchy world for awhile. I can't believe you're having a white Christmas, and we've still had a dusting of snow at best. Mother Nature must be teasing us and saving her "best" for the Midwest later:)

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas, too, Mary!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful pictures Mary. Have a wonder filled Merry Christmas!

Susan Ellis said...

Lovely shots of the ice! Could have been taken right here as well. Careful on the road though, even here where winter is a given, we hate freezing rain...
Have a wonderful Christmas Mary.

Anonymous said...

We had none of that. Amazing what a difference a few miles can make.

Your ice pictures are lovely. Have you ever wanted to stay in one of those ice hotels? I had a friend who did--and loved it. (I think it was the icy vodka that gave it *****!)

Merry Christmas to you, hubby, and the girls.

NatureWoman said...

Merry Christmas to you, too, Mary! Your ice photos are beautiful!!

jalynn01 said...

Hi Mary,
Your ice picts are wonderful. We are sinking in about 8-18 inches of snow..depending exactly where you are in PA. But, it is beautiful.. Thank you for your words...and I know .. you know.. We have both been there. The joy of Christmas is helping.. I hope it helps you too. Have a blessed Merry one!!

jason said...

How marvelous! What a beautiful day to wake up to (and like you, down here we have to enjoy it quickly lest it all melt and disappear before we've had the chance).

I was tickled by the crunching. It certainly looks like that would have been the sound of every step.

Do enjoy the holidays, Mary! Be safe, be warm, be happy. And stop cussin' at the flies!

Heather said...

Wow, we didn't get the ice here in SE Ohio, just a little snow, which has managed to stick around. What are we expecting on Christmas Day? Rain! I would much prefer snow. Oh well. Happy Holidays to you and yours, Mary!!!

dugfresh said...

omg! i did the same thing! while everyone was toasty warm in their homes in front of the fireplace or with the thermostat cranked up to 80, i was standing outside with my camera waiting for the sun. and the birds. and was rewarded with both. i will post soon, but i must say, your shots of the ice-covered branches make mine look like they were taken with a pinhole camera. i love your photos! your eye for composing a shot is impeccable. and the bokeh on images #4 and #6 is awesome. the water droplets turned into little bullseye targets! what magical shots...all of them.

and that's funny...i was waiting for the cardinals to make an appearance, too. i'm dying to capture all of that brilliant red against a backdrop of brilliant, sparkling white.

i'm always rewarded when i visit your blog. don't ever stop.

merry Christmas to you!

Naturegirl said...

Mary! Your ice art is magical! Here we have NOT had cold enough temperatures for freezing but I'm sure it's coming!
I wish you a Merry Christmas and may you delight in the season of JOY!
love and light aNNa xo

Anonymous said...

I found my way over to your blog from Margaret's blog (Bellathenas Blog).

Your photos are BEAUTIFUL!

Merry Christmas!

Anonymous said...

Thanks Mary. I hope your myrtle recovers. We had a NASTY ice storm a year ago. It is beautiful though. Merry Christmas.

jeanmac said...

Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Lori Heyd said...

Love the "ice" pics! Make me shiver but so beautiful. Have a blessed Christmas!

Vicki said...

Merry, merry Christmas, Mary!

RuthieJ said...

The ice is so pretty, but I'm sure you're glad it didn't stay around too long!

Jessie said...

The trees and leaves are preserve by the ice. Such a great ice.

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