I wrote this during the recent cold spell and found it lurking in my drafts 🙄😂
I don’t mind the cold, as long as it’s sunny and dry. We’ve been going through a freezing cold period, but at least we’d had some sunshine. This particular day was forecast to be the same.
The forecast was for cloud in the afternoon, so I decided on 2 morning walks. I must have been faffing about as, by the time I looked at my watch, I’d missed the sunrise 🙄 but not by much, and the clouds were still peppered with pink as I looked out of my window
The sky had gentle wisps of clouds floating across this morning. Nothing dramatic, just a calm gentleness
I headed up the snicket, the land to my right just having sold. It’s a lovely old house that faces the Main Street , but run down with lots of outbuildings – I so hope they don’t knock it down, but renovate it to its former glory
Just after the church and the sun was rising up between the trees
The clouds, still in their gentle mode…
I decided to head through the gallops. It’s been far too muddy even to attempt for weeks on end, but now the ground was frozen, the mud solid beneath my feet
It was all about the sky this morning. It’s gentleness making me feel calm as wisps of clouds floated above my head..
Out of the gate and up the lane towards Halfpennt cottage, the sun now just peeping above the far hedge
Up the slope heading towards the last farm, the sun joining the calm skies with its winter wateryness. No heat of course, but a joy to have as my companion.
I reached the big tree and before turning, I caught the sun sparkling between the branches
As I turned to head back home, my shadow was already ahead of me, leading the way
Along the long lane, my face icy cold, my fingers numb at the tips, I turned back for one last click
…before putting my camera under my arm and heading home for the warm welcome of a hot cuppa….
I was randomly flicking through my photos and came across one of the ducks and suddenly realised their pond was probably frozen over 😳 I’d take them some food…….after a second cuppa…..
As the pond came into view, there was such a sorry sight. All the ducks were at the near end, where at least, the little waterfall provided some running water, but the rest each side was frozen solid. The water frozen in time just where it fell…
They sat looking very sorry for themselves.
Once they’d seen me, they began to perk up, this one having a long stretch
A wood pigeon looked on hopefully from the shrubbery at the back
No way were Madge and Mabel going to get their feet cold, as they perched on their log at the back
The rest of the pond was deserted….frozen solid
The Pochard. all hunched up trying to keep in the warmth
I could have sat and had the birds come to me by the shelter, but I knew if I threw the food into the water, their movement and stirrings may break up more of the ice for them…..so I threw some seed on the edges of where they were standing. Suddenly Madge and Mabel took flight towards me
….and the rest eagerly grouped together, the ice dispersing around them
When Madge and Mabel had had enough of being hand fed, instead of with the rabble beneath, they stood on the fence beside me telling me they’d had enough, thank you
…..watching the frenzied activity below that no way would they be part of 🤣
As I pulled my gloves out of my pocket once more and turned to go, they instantly flew back to their log and the rest continued to search for any left over grains…..but at least now, they’d have full tummies, more water to swim in even though it would freeze over again in the night…..but I’ll come back again tomorrow and hopefully get the same welcome…….