The Frozen North

Oh Janey I do feel sorry for you but your photos are beautiful as always :-))))

just beautiful, i can breathe that clean, cold air.

So can I! I went out to clear a path today and it was freezing my throat! Take care Janey...lovely pics. btw, my camera arrived and I asked Scott to put it away somewhere for Christmas for me!

Oh I am sorry I can't agree :o( I see no beauty in it at all :o(
At the moment we have pouring rain - much better !
But I'm sure many would not agree with that lol

Anyway I'm glad you all think it's 'pretty' - It probably makes it easier to cope with.

Beautiful pics Janey. Thanks so much for posting them. I love the pale pastel colours in the sky. I'm sorry you are having so much snow and cold temps. Keep warm and cuddle up to Lottie. :o)

Thanks girls, I've often fancied having a holiday in Norway...don't think I need to go now, this must be what it's like! We just need the Northern Lights.....wow, I'd love to see them...I know you wouldn't Hywel! I think we're quite enjoying this really, I'm not one for December rain Hywel....everything looks dark grey then....we'll here it does....:o(
Ooh, you'll love it Karen, I wouldn't be able to wait till Xmas, you're very good!....:o))
Thanks Gilli....I'm just a bit worried about the garden, but there's nothing we can do is there.....you must be so used to this, as usual the UK has ground to a halt, but we like moaning here don't we.....Lottie sends a high pitched "Woof" to Rosie....:o)

Amazing pictures! Here we only had enough to paint my lawn white.

what i stunning collection of pics Janey...hope it doesnt hang around tooo long...

Yes, we're used to the snow alright Janey but I still worry about my plants too. We don't have an awful lot of snow right now but it's cold. The 'powers that be' say that January and February are going to be very snowy for us this year. It's something to do with the air movement that comes up from the South Pacific. I think it's all a guessing game myself!! LOL

simply beautiful........... janey love the tunnel of trees , that's my fav . looks lovely there hard to cope with tho. not that bad here thank god as i have to drive round to my clients ...

Wonderful pics Janey.The scenery looks stunning.the cold has taken our breaths away today too,so only went to see my neighbour next door.That was far enough...and it has just started snowing again..8.30pm...so,on top of the black ice,its going to dangerous again tomorrow...Strangely enough,I haven't seen one bird on the feeders today..hope
they haven't succumbed to these abnormally low temperatures..that will be sad...

Wonderful photos Janey , I liked the tree tunnel best as well .. Sandra I've been putting fresh food out for the birds all day as soon as I put the dishes out the birds crowd round and it disappears one blackbird flew right down beside my hand when I put the dish down .....

stunning pictures janey but awfull for you hope it starts to thaw soon, poor birds must be starved and no water either, its very cold here but at least we dont have this, just a thin layer of sleet today but nothing really, lottie has the right idea i think. keep warm janey :o)

It's nice to see the pristine whiteness of the snow but I like to see it from this side of the windows! LOL! As far as I'm concerned it should stay up in the mountains & at the poles, it's "proper" place! LOL!

Down here our centimetre or two is hanging around still. The sun manages to melt a little but it's not out long enough nor does it have sufficient strength to do much. Jack Frost comes out by 4pm & hangs around almost 20 hours! Should be cautioned by the police for "loitering"! LOL!

The black ice can be seen glinting in the light of the street lamps & the headlights of cars. Hardly set a foot out of the house this whole week!

A lovely set of photos and it is very similar here in East Yorkshire too.

Stunning photos, love Narnia and the tunnel of trees, such pretty scenes. Take care now.

Wonderful photo`s Janey, I` m with the others, the tunnel pic is amazing, a real winter wonderland........

Another great blog Janey and I admire the way you take it all in your stride. The snow does look beautiful in it's way but like Christmas food, you soon tire of it. I look forward to 'salad' weather.

Lovely pictures Janey, haven't had it as bad as you, but bad enough.

Stunning photos Jane but feel so sorry for you with all that lot so pleased we've had none.

I'm pleased that today most of the snow has gone & we have had some rain.

My wife & I were able to go down into town for a couple of hours this morning. It's been the last day of my wife's holidays & she has been stuck at home for 7 days without putting foot outside the door since she returned home from work last Saturday just after 6pm!

Such amazing pics Janey....you could put them in a calender, everyone a masterpiece, would loved to have gone on that walk with you, I do miss the countryside......ours has gone now we have horrid rain here, give me snow any time (well a couple of days of it lol)

Thanks Coz....welcome to GoY!

And Sandra and Cristina, pleased that's its not too bad for you, walking through the tunnel of snow was amazing, deathly silent...could have been Santas grotto!

In some ways Gilli....I suppose it has to be, I suppose they can't guarantee which direction the air will be coming from....:o( Had a look at my new Choisya...it doesn't like it!!

Take care Bloomer, ours is like that today...it thawed a bit yesterday, then the freezing night came! There's only starlings here....they do have to feed too though......

Thanks Amy.....the birds are desperate aren't they...its difficult to reach the feeders though...hope Marmies keeping warm.

Pleased you like them San,...thawing again now...but we're supposed to get it tomorrow again....keep warm!

I know what you mean Balc.....were you're winters in Spain like this? Tell your wife, its like walking inside one of Tesco's big freezers...Lol! I don't know whether to say I hope she can get back to work or not....:o))

Yes Sbg and Lincslass, the same for you too...the Humber Bridge has been closed hasn't it? Bet there would have been some good photos from there... The tunnel pic is my fave too....good old camera...:o)

Thanks Grandmage and Heron...that did make me laugh..like Xmas food.....just about had enough now, but hate the thawing most, with all the black slush...:o((

Hope it's better today for you Littlelegs, take care.

I don't mind it too much Carol, just the garden....can't imagine what the plants will be like later....nicely pruned no doubt!

It does Homebird....what I like about it, is the way everyone around is more friendly...normally you would be at work and wouldn't see each other.

Aw thanks Dd...that's a shame...here they won't allow the developers to build on the outskirts of the village any more....thing is though they're taking up all the spaces within it...why I don't understand as nothing is selling!
Like you I hate winter rain...:o(

Practically no snow left around here any longer! :-)) It's good to be able to get out without feeling your life, or at least your limbs, are in mortal danger if you slip up!

Lovely sunny afternoon though with a cold, northerly wind, fortunately not very strong.

Lucky you Balc...lots here and it's freezing....my poor garden...:o((

This morning at 5am we woke up to freezing fog & hard frost! :-( When we left home at 6:15 the fog had lifted a great deal & everything was covered in ice crystals! Much better than snow! :-)) Now at 9:30 the sun is trying, without much success, to break through the clouds.

And there, in your pictures, is the gift - snow is a pain in the proverbial, its freezing, you can't travel or \zip about easily, nor lead a normal life - but it is achingly beautiful. Wonderful pics, Janey.

Thanks for such a kind comment Bamboo, sometimes we have to stop the pace, for

What is life if full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare

Smashing poem by William Davies....:o))

Beautiful pictures Janey even though its freez\ing you have just got to enjoy the wonderful pictures the frost and snow have given us. We still have snow here too but hopefully they have forecast warmer temps for tomorrow so Im hoping for a thaw so I can get out once again;0)

Thanks Carole.....did you try your bread? Me too Carole...I want to go Xmas shopping! Mind you I've done most of it on the net....might even do the food shopping on it....saves a lot of hassle...:o)

Hear hear for the internet - I've been Christmas shopping today, and done it all in my pyjamas in front of the pc, fantastic...

Lol Bamboo.....stress free Xmas....luverly! Now if we can all just email each other on the net and not have to cook....that'd be perfect....Lol!!

Stunning photos, Janey, absolutely beautiful.

Beautiful walk. I do love those peaceful scenes in the snow, and I must say I would love those 'warmer' temps. Stay safe inside and enjoy coca and the scene from behind glass.....lol. I know its not a good situation for you over there. I hope it ends and clears up, at worst leaving just a bit for a white Christmas. Keep warm Janey. Thanks for sharing your lovely winter walk. Really crisp colors.

Pleased you enjoyed them Gee....you will have had your fair share in Kent I bet. Another freezing but sunny day.....can't believe how cold the air is to breathe!

Thanks Gt....this must look quite tame compared to what you are used to in Alaska.....a shock for us though and as usual not prepared, so everything grinds to a halt! The government is saying we can't afford the "just in case" preparations....though millions of £s are lost through people not being able to get to work....its amazing, a small island like ours, it takes the sand lorry all it's time to throw 2 shovels of sand on the road instead of 1....so much for paying our community charge, which is sky high. They are freeing up the motorways etc, but leaving inner towns and village roads impassable.....what a farce...... It's a wonder we haven't defrosted everything with the hot steam thats coming out of everyones ears....Lol! Time for another walk to cool down....:o))

I hear a suggestion on the radio today, by the government, to councils, that some provision of grit/salt should be available in streets for ordinary people to spread about on the side roads which don't get treated, so we can do it for ourselves, but I guess that's only useful in towns, not out in the country, where there must be miles of untreated lanes and roads.

It would be useful in a village like mine, Bamboo, the nearest grit bin is several miles outside the village along the main road. A bin in the village would enable some of us to help ourselves and others too. Strange to say the most dangerous place in the village during the snowy spell was the surgery car park!!

beautiful photos Janey. like you I love taking pictures of the winter landscape but I haven't been as adventurous as you and have just taken them from the house lol

Your surgery is probably deliberately not clearing the car park - people believe they'll be sued if you slip on an area they've cleared, whereas if you slip on an uncleared area, they're not responsible. The government had something to say about that 4 weeks ago as well - that you're very unlikely to be sued if someone slipped on a patch you'd cleared. 'Very unlikely' doesn't sound definite enough to me, so I'm not surprised that supermarkets, etc., are ignoring it.

Saw something about that on TV this morning too. It is sad that we have reached that state, isn't it?

Yes I heard that Bamboo, Gee.....our nearest grit/sand bin is about 20 metres away in the church yard entrance! Last year, teenagers were using it to slide down the hill our house is on......in the end I went and bought salt tubs from the local shop and used it on the road, much to the consternation of the youngsters. I just don't know what this country is coming to, surely people's safety is paramount, the elderly and school children, isn't this more important than who is likely to be prosecuted....we seem to live in a society of claimants. What's happened to kindness consideration and compassion? It would seem even these have a price. I emailed our local council about the state of walkways and roads in our locality. To give them their due, they sent a digger to the co-op down the road and must have used half a dozen shovels full of sand now....:o))

Pleased you liked the pics Helen..., hope things are getting better where you are.

its not bad today but was bad other day .. my biggest worry is my horse getting exercised its arfull and we are both ill as well urgg

Salt, yes - been out twice with my Tesco's own cooking salt bags, of which I now have only 2 left, in order to clear the ice around the garages. I seem to be the only one who does anything like that in our flats. I've actually heard a couple of other residents wondering why there's a track of ice free space from the clear area outside my garage all the way down to the end... I get through a lot of salt to achieve that, and everyone benefits from the track.

A few days ago in our local Tesco, I saw they had bags of salt in the entrance! Not table salt but 5kg bags of salt for exterior use. The bags were alongside some things for the car in winter weather, like de-icer, scrapers, anti-freeze, etc.

I've not seen those, Balcony, they only had 1.5 kilo bags in mine, would have been much easier to get a couple of 5kg bags.

I think they were 5kg bags but I didn't go up close to have a look. Just noticed them together with things for cars in winter. I may have been mistaken. I only noticed the bags of slat because it surprised me to see them in the entrance. I don't have a car so car related items hold no interest for me. LOL!

I used to use it years ago, before I learned to drive, on our victorian tiled front path - talk about slippery in the ice, nightmare, and it had a slight incline, so you risked life and limb just walking to the gate on it without the salt.

i agree with amy etc snow is the only lovley LOOKING break in what is normaly a drab wet horrible winter. love the photos there great .

Hi Np! Great to see you here....:o) Yes that's about the only good thing about it, and that's when its fresh and new. Hope you are busy with your sculpting and painting and have plenty of commissions....pleased you like me pics....:o))

From Thursday onwards we will have to change the title of your blog for the Frozen UK! LOL! :-D

lol balcony
im not doing a lot this time of year janey not even a drawing at the moment im afraid .
i loved your pictures not just liked them lol . your right when its just settled its stunning . take care bye for now xx .

Yes Balc....here it comes again! I had a look at the garden today, and dug what I thought was snow from some shrubs....it was frozen ice stuck to the heathers etc, but underneath they had begun to flower...

Winter is a good time to recharge your batteries isn't it Np,
low light and short days aren't too helpful when you're creative are they.....I do like your avatar...the sun and moon, is it a carving or sculpture?

no id like to hybernate to be quite honest janey lol . people are buying for xmas and if that isnt a sculpture or a picture then i dont get much . i cant think of anything to draw to be quite honest . i did 4 quite quick for me and im all out of inspiration just now .people dont look at there gardens generaly this time of year so sculpting is out .
as for the avitar its a piece of pottery i made . the sun was copied from a tattoo and the moon i made up i think.

I know what you mean Np....to close down end of October and restart May would just do me too. Its a pity you can't have a winter holiday somewhere warm, to give you a boost....you may find some inspiration then...:o) They're great faces on your sun and moon, you've such a talent Np, maybe this is just time to tick over and reflect....:o)

i cant fly either janey and i got 4 dogs and i wouldnt put them in kennels . i just wouldnt .i am so not inspired and feal quite useles realy . i hate this time of year .BA HUMBUG lol . thats half my trouble that i think to much anyway lol . i have these bouts of not fealing like drawing at all ie now .dont worry thow ill be back as arny sais .astalavista baby lol x . ps i hate traveling very far to lols . a coach is ok thow.i do get homesick well to be quite honest i so miss the dogs , the fish indoors and out .i think thats why my garden has so much in it i like i think as i spend a lot of time sitting next to me pond and feeding the fish .

Lol Np.....I think if most folks are honest, they feel this way around Xmas.....another week and it's the shortest day, then the light will be on its way again...:o)) This last year we haven't been away together so haven't had to leave the pets or garden....even the garden is a worry if you go away isn't it? I feel devastated now though with the extreme cold.....I bet over half of my stuff will have died...I hope your fish are okay.
Take heart, a fresh year will soon be here.....xx

i hope so janey lol .i rap a couple of plants up but most of my plants ar pretty hardy .my fish are fine . the trout look beautiful and the sterlet . the ponds clear as a bell .i cant weight for the summer lol . hurry up new year lol x x

Good to know your fish are fine Np...I bet they are a sight to see....:o) Think I've lost my 2 big Cordylines....they came through okay early in the year, but this last lot has taken it's toll.....they were quite old I think, one being about 20ft tall and the other half that....:o(( Next year I'm definitely hibernating and taking my trees with me!.....xx

if you find a good place to hybernate and theres room for 5 more ie me and my doggies please dont be shy lol . take care bye for now xx .

I'm still looking Np...I shall be dragging my Eucalyptus tree along too now....you'll be more than welcome when I find the right place....Lol, roll on Spring! XX

Oh Janey. Only just seen your lovely blog. You've had so much snow! You keep safe. Loved your comment about Lottie staying indoors dreaming about bonios lol.

Thanks Dawn....:o)) Deep frost here now! Your garden trees look amazing though, it does have some "up" sides to it. Lotties not by the fire now, she's at the bottom of my bed! You take care too, happy holidays...XX

dont forget me janey xx lol .

I think Lottie has a heavenly home. You have a good Christmas too and Merry Christmas to you too NP.
Ps. Woken up to snow. :-(

me to dawn have a good one to xx .

A little snow fell here during the night but melted away by mid-morning. About 2pm it started to snow again. Lasted about 1/2 hour then stopped. Will probably freeze again tonight.

Oh, I haven't forgotten you Np!....:o)
What a lovely comment Dawn.....you have a good time too...more snow here....:o(
Yes, here too Balc.....take care and enjoy your Xmas......

The temps have been a little above zero today so the snow has melted away. We only had about 1cm anyway. Cold wind all day though. More frost forecast for tonight. No snow forecast here for tomorrow.

Similar here Balc....supposed to be better after Boxing Day, so things are looking up....

im glad you havnt forgotten me janey . can i have my porche in a dark grey please lol x x

Lol Np....I think you misspelled there.....I can paint your porch dark grey.....you get the paint in and brushes....sounds like a good New Years Eve do....Not!

Here's to 2011 Np......If I win the Lottery...you shall have a dark grey Porsche....I always wanted a midnight blue one with cream leather interior, so shall be planning on that too....:o)) XX

then i can race you to lol xx

:o)) X

Fabulous pictures Janey and what a beautiful sky. Still, i'm glad it's all gone from here now. If you have time, could you put a comment on to mark the end of Somerset blog?? Oh...it has to be in verse as it's pantomime season lol, only about 14-15 comments needed before computers explode:-))) Happy New Year x

Me too Ba.....till the next lot...Lol! It was a stunning day, the beginning of the snow......Happy New Year Ba....see you sidetracked in Stourhead!!

Indeedy Janey:-)

Only just seen this, Janey . . . you are an artist with the camera! Really gorgeous pics!!

very true sheila very nice photography . definatly got an eye for it . theres a lot of good photographers on here as it goes like amy for instance . her close up flower pictures are brilliant . i think maybe it goes with the territory .