Pale sun..pastel snow and sky

beautiful but makes be want a hot coffee.

almost a reflection! makes me glad I live somewhere soft!

Looks pretty much like here, although we don't have as much snow.

Was that taken with the sun at its highest point? Lovely and wintry We have -2C overnight at the moment and not above freezing during the day but with the sun out it is just glorious right now.
Very Breughelesque!

Thanks ladies! it seemed so atmospheric to me...love the oblique winter sun trying to burn it's way through the early morning cloud, and the halo contrasting the trees. We're getting close to the equinox! Soon old Sol will be rising high~!
I'm always reminded how similar to Scotland our area is, Karen. Rugged country. It's the same in the "upstate", right Bathgate?
We become hot drink experts. I love milky chai, but my fav this winter has been a combo of raspberry leaf tea and chai. It's sweetish all by itself so no need for sugar. sigh...
I would love to experience a British winter, Fran. It would be such a change.
LOL...love it, M. Breughel! ...all and sundry doing their winter tasks in brisk necessity. The burghers sitting by the fire lifting their pelisses to catch the warmth. More folk per square mile than exists here, I'm afraid...and rather more underwear worn here! We love our winter woollies.

Amazing pic Lori...I do so enjoy winter. Cosy evenings with the fire...x

If one has a fire! lol not so picturesque assembling round the radiator ...

I sometimes wish that we had a coastline to moderate our desperately deep cold. The prevailing westerlies sweep across the interior of the province bringing most of our weather from the west, but when it switches to the east things really get nasty!
I'm glad you get a bit of a break, Sandra. You work hard all year long so a sit down by a fire is the icing on the Christmas cake. I wish I could have one of your winters ...for a little change..... just a little one.
When we lived in the city I missed a fire so much that I made a fake fireplace, Fran. It didn't quite do it, but I fancied the room was homey.

We should house swap houses for a year....everybody else's gardens are always more interesting..I love the water running through your place and the way it changes through the year.

I have no doubt I'd be getting the better half of that deal! The water is a nice feature...but too much is a problem I don't enjoy. I sure could use some help with all the rocks around here...I want to build a rock wall/solar energy storage on the south west wall of our house! There are so many rocks I just can't see not using them. Also a bridge is needed over the stream so we aren't marooned by the runoff each spring. Both of my sons are on notice and I have a couple of neighbours who have said that they will help me, so, now I have to figure out a time-line and marshall some equipment... could be a bit of job just doing the planning!

I lust after your rocks Lori...lol....my ground is very stoney but it's very soft sandstone so I only ever dig up small bits but I have grown to love it and am now collecting it all up to make a feature.
I have a plan for another greenhouse in the spring and will be trying to coordinate my boys to get the job done too...we will have lots of planning time in the new year...:-)

The rock here is some of the oldest on the planet, so I'm told. The Ottawa River Valley is the border of two plates which have been stable over the millennia but eons ago it was volcanic, (I think it's called a subduction zone) and the rock is either black basalt (very ancient) or red granite (more ancient) volcanic vents on parts of the original plates that formed as the planet cooled a few billion years ago. It is just amazing. There is lots of mica and I have covered a tea box with it. I found a large slab of it when I was digging my garden and it comes apart in sheets which are transparent and irridescent. when applied, stained and glazed it is a very interesting effect.

Any pics of your tea box? It sounds interesting
Lori.

will post a pic for you Sandra.

I will look forward to it Lori :-)