It's Cold Outside...

[endlessrarities]

There was an earthquake in Cumbria last night.  I hope the Ancestors haven't taken offence because I didn't risk life and limb trying to visit them...

Today, the fog has cleared,  The temperature inside the porch has been oscillating between -5 and -8 over the last couple of days: I think I can safely assume that all the half-hardy annuals I'd carefully curated over the last month or so are now well and truly dead.  Next year we'll have to invest in a greenhouse heater...

Here are some pictures, taken just outside the house:-

 

And a view of some hoar frost on the Japanese maple:-

 

And yes, in case you're wondering, it feels just as cold as it looks!  We had eight blackbirds and two thrushes in the garden yesterday, the densest concentration of these birds I've ever seen, with lots of scuffles ensuing.  The fieldfare is, however, conspicuous by its absence...

Today I'll be decorating the tree, and I'm horse-riding at 2.30.  After that, I'll be declaring an official hibernation period until Christmas.  We have our usual rituals to observe: Nightmare Before Christmas on Christmas Eve, Christmas with the Joker from Batman: The Animated Series on Christmas Morning, plus an entire showing of the Lord of the Rings films over the holiday period.  We'll have to fit Wagner's Ring Cycle in amongst that lot, too - somehow...

I like holidays.  If only we could work 28 days a year and have holidays the rest of the time, for exactly the same wages...

 

Comments

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Oh the early morning light on the frosty trees! So ethereal!

Hoar frost is magnificent--the photos are lovely.

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

It is, but I'd rather not go out in it when it's as cold as this.

Problem is - we're short of christmas cake & brandy butter, so we might have to be doing the Good King Wenceslas thing tomorrow...

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

Wow, beautiful pictures! I think winter tries to compensate for being miserable by being lovely.

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

The journey to and from the riding stables tonight was utterly glorious. The trees look like ice sculptures, and with the pink/grey/peach/lilac light.. Oh...

I'd have taken photographs, but I was driving:-(

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

In the future, we'll have cameras hooked up to our eyes. Or something. ;)

[xjenavivex.livejournal.com]

I love the tree pictures. I would like to run through the LOTR series again.

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

Christmas is the only time of year when it's feasible. We usually do it one disk per night over 6 nights. Phew!!!

[xjenavivex.livejournal.com]

You really have made me want to do this. I don't know about the timing for us. Those gathered at the house might enjoy it though. I just won't be home enough.

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

Yeah, come to think of it, I want to do it too.

Caught up with Belleville Rendezvous a few nights back - it's a weird, off-beat animation about the Tour de France. It was great seeing it again....

[xjenavivex.livejournal.com]

It's nice to see old friends.

We watched Hot Fuzz this weekend. It's a comdey break for us. THE GREATER GOOD

[red-trillium.livejournal.com]

Beautiful shots! I don't see much snow/ice so appreciate your photos!