Demise of the snow

Yes, our snow is slowly melting. It looks so sad out there - dull, grey, muddy and wet. By the time the snow stopped falling we had the best part of 20 inches. It was amazing - just incase you hadn't discovered how excited I was about it. So to cheer myself up I am posting a few more photos of the snow before I get back to the creative stuff.

Glorious!

We had the most spectacular sunset this evening. It seems that sunsets are always at their most magnificent here when there has been snow. I don't know if there is any reason for that though. The snow depth is currently nine and a half inches. Amazing! We are now in our thirds week of having snow lying on the ground with snowfalls nearly every day. That hasn't ever happened in my lifetime - as far as I know. Usually, if we get five days of snow lying that can be considered out winter. Now the count is on to see how much longer it will stay around.

Five and a half inches!

Yes, five and a half inches of snow fell between 6 and 9.30 this morning. It is amazing! This winter has been the most winterly I have seen since I was a child. Usually we get a day or two of snow that melts very quickly. This year has been very special though. It started to snow on the Saturday before Christmas and it has stayed around, snowing on and off over that period. I love snow (in case you hadn't noticed) so this is making me feel like a kid. At the moment we have thick fog but more snow is forecast for later. I usually hate New Year but this one is turning out to be more fun than most.

These two photos are of the road that runs in front of the house.

I've got Bramblings!

No, it's not a horrible disease. Bramblings are little birds from the finch family. They come from Russia and Norway and visit Britain during the winter months and I have never seen any before. Usually they are very shy but I read today that they will venture into gardens to feed during very severe winters. Considering we have had more snow that I have seen in years I think February could definitely be considered part of a severe winter. These birds are so attractive with their yellowish chests and mottled heads and tummies. The female is one of the prettiest female garden birds I have seen yet. Usually female birds get to be dull greys and browns. I'm very glad they came to visit. I'm afraid the photos are not great because I took them through the kitchen window which was splashed with rain drops.

Last week I managed to capture a brilliant image by pure chance. I just happened to press the shutter button on my camera as the action happened. A poor old blackbird fell off a snowy branch and splatted in the snow. I couldn't have taken that photo even if I tried. He didn't fall far - just a couple of inches - and he got up and ran off after another male blackbird that was trying to eat his food.

Snow time for fun?

It snowed yesterday. And snowed and snowed and snowed. To top it all of it snowed a little more. I haven't seen this much snow in years. Compared to some places I could mention it is just a drop in the ocean but Britain has been lacking in snow for a few years now. Everyone was blaming global warming, of course, so councils were totally unprepared for the situation this time. Now the media are complaining about all the school that shut and people who could not get into work. I find that sad. People up and down the country have been out in the snow having a great deal of fun. These days, when people are loosing their homes and jobs due to the credit crisis it is nice to see something joyful happening. I, myself, went for a walk in the snow yesterday and today shoveled snow to clear the path to my door. I had fun. I even built a little snowman out of the snow I cleared away.

Not to be outdone I created a few sparkling snowflakes of my own to hang inside too. Some die cut snowflake punched out of hand painted papers were liberally glittered using a new glitter I bought. It is made up of strands rather than tiny dots and gives a different effect. It also spreads for a mile when you spill it on the work surface.

Snowy art

It snowed for the first time yesterday so I was inspired to do some snowy papercraft. The picture does not do them justice (once again! - maybe I should find out how to photograph my work properly?). The papers are painted with metallic paints and the bird one has gold leaf. I also made some lovely decorated washers and glass mosaic tiles but they don't photograph well. I will keep trying though.

Snow time like the present.

Yeah! We have snow. Just a smattering, and all on the hills, but snow all the same. Pity I've had flu this week. It means I can't go out and breath in that deeply snowy air.

I really must put some new art on here. It's all words and no play at the mo. How about some Oriental ATCs? I made them for my first swap this week.