Warmth of Snow

"Cold enough to freeze your britches off." Ooh, that's cold! Wet enough to soak through your new leather boots........unless you had the forethought to waterproof them, thank goodness I did!

However, Southern snow, when we're lucky, is just a one or two day happening. Enough to close school and give the kids a chance to throw snowballs and build a snow person. Some folks get an unexpected day off work..............and lucky people, such as we were on Tuesday, were still able to take a safe road trip because once we were heading South and out of town, the roads were clear and dry.
Before leaving that morning I caught images of this rare Southern snow. My last post probably gave you chills.........this one is to warm you up a bit and show you that snow scenes around the cottage can also be warming.

Gazebo - we leave lights in it year round - lovely in the snow.

Same for the potting shed area - leave lights up to warm up the Winter garden and perhaps get a glimpse of our foxes and feral kitties who hang out in that area!

Front porch covered from the blowing snow - gave it a new look.


Recently hung out a Spring flag - guess Mother Nature didn't get the message!

Heading South!

We left town on Tuesday................ even though this is what greeted us when we looked out the door with eyes still blurry from sleep. We had to head South for a dear friend's retirement celebration. A party, a night in a nice hotel, and breakfast in the morning. We went - we had a ball. We were safe because dh is a New Englander and knows how to drive through six inches of Southern snow! Thank goodness.

Outside the front door at 6 AM

Back garden scenery at 7:30 AM

Snow still falling when we left at 10 AM

Winter wonderland at last!

January in the Garden

No, this is not me doing the laundry - it's too pretty a day for mundane chores and I've come down with cold - so instead I took a walk in the garden for an extra dose of vitamin D.

You can't even see it, but this was the five minute snow flurry one morning last week! I rushed to the front porch, the tiny flakes whirled in the wind and then were gone ~ was it really a dream, a wish.......no, it snowed just long enough to taunt and tease here in the South.

Today bright sunshine and temperatures in the 70's brings back our Carolina Blue sky making a walk through the Winter garden pleasant. This squirrel's nest high in an oak tree hangs on for dear life - they look so flimsy but will soon hold a new generation of those pesky, but cute, little devils who invade the garden year round.

The ice has melted in the fountain which has become a favorite bird bath ~ this female finch enjoyed a drink and a warm rest in the sun.

Color can be rare in the January garden.................unless you have berry bearing shrubs such as hollies and Pyracantha, at their loveliest when the sun shines, and before the hungry birds devour them.

The Jasmine keeps its green leaves and continues to climb slowly in the sunshine on the front porch.