Monday, January 4, 2010

January White

Holiday has once again receded into boxes and bags hidden away until next December. January is upon us with forecasts of snow for the next four days, cold biting temperatures, and earthy monotones softened with white. Yes, I’m going with a theme for this month…white. Simple, elegant, white. I’ll search photo files for white flowers and find inspiration in any snow and ice that comes this way. Nature creates beauty in every season. While grumbling and growling as snow is shoveled from walks and whisked off cars, take a moment to smile at the beauty of snow glistening or fat flakes drifting lazy from gray clouds. While walking the dog on a frosty night, stop to notice the outline of bare branched limbs against the streetlights.

Hop out of bed on a frigid morning and check the windows for feathered icy elegance on the glass...

















Or the lighted trails left behind by an unseen winter sculptor...


    Search for diamonds in the snow, winking with a sparkle under a January sun. 


“When the snow is still blowing against the window-pane in January and February and the wild winds are howling without, what pleasure it is to plan for summer that is to be.”


                                                                              ~Celia Thaxter

26 comments:

  1. Oh, I love the first picture of the frost. It is amazing the patterns that can be found in it.

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  2. Gorgeous gorgeous post!! Wonderful magical photos! Yay! Loved it!

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  3. Lona,

    I loved your frosted windows photos, too! I've been fascinated by the etchings ice makes on windows for years. I'm amazed at how varied they are. Thanks for visiting!

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  4. Thanks, Kiki! Your enthusiasm always makes me smile and giggle.

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  5. Your white windows are just beautiful. The patterns are so intricate.

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  6. Luckily we havent had enough ice or frost to have windows like yours but they do look fabulous

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  7. My favorite photo is the first one - love the swirls and jagged edges too.

    Thanks also for the quotation. I'm always looking for good garden quotations for our company newsletter, and winter ones are especially hard to find. Kudos!

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  8. Noelle...the patterns are lovely and I never get tired of searching for them in my windows on blustery cold nights.

    patientgardener...Lucky you! It would be so lovely to be in a warm place, for a week or two, when the wind howls and the snow flies.

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  9. Melissa,

    Thank you for visiting the Cottage on the Corner. Sometimes the etchings create soft curves and feathery fingers, other times it's geometric patterns with sharp edges. Oh the wonder of nature.

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  10. Looks like we are in for some cold weather. Are you sure I'm not back in Michigan where I used to live? I brag to them that it's a bit warmer here, but I'm not sure they believe me! Okay, so it's only about 4 to 5 degrees warmer each day, but every little bit helps.

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  11. Hi Teresa, I love white, and Celia Thaxter's prose, and your lovely magical icy photos! And a big ten congrats to the Buckeyes. I guess that showed 'em. So did PSU. We get no respect from the SEC down here in TN. HA :-)
    Frances

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  12. I'm mesmerized by the icy "feathers" in your first photograph! Our windows never ice up that way. Late this afternoon, it started snowing again . . . I just went outside to get some bay leaves (for meatball stew) and there is already a nice thick layer of white stuff. The funny thing about England, though, is that the grass stays green all year long. It feels like winter, but it doesn't always look it!

    What Yeats' poems have you been reading?

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  13. T, I've left a comment on your gingerbread post, too. (I wasn't sure if you would see it.) Thanks so much for the kind mention a few posts back.

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  14. oh these are just lovely, snowy photos.
    : )

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  15. Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!

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  16. Robin, I live near the borders of Indiana and Michigan and boy am I glad that I live that far south! LOL It sounds like we're in for more snow tomorrow. I don't mind, except for the difficulty driving it causes. Luckily, my work commute is from the kitchen to the office.

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  17. Frances,

    Thank you for your kind comments. I don't envy schools in SEC nation. Give me the Big Ten any old day!

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  18. Bee,

    I'm wondering why only certain windows in the house ice up like that. Others never have a bit of frost in the corners. Mmm..meatball soup sounds fascinating. Will you be posting that recipe on one of your blogs?

    You're more than welcome when it comes to comments and kudos, you have a wonderful blog.

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  19. Thank you Christina! I'm glad you enjoyed my icy photos.

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  20. Well thanks Anonymous! I've been taking a write from the heart attitude lately rather than the technical freelance style I use for most of my writing. I'm glad you approve.

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  21. I love the beauty of winter, not to be out in it, just to look out at it.
    Love your pictures.

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  22. Yayyyy.... you finally made it! Thanks for the comment, MJ!

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  23. I have a new appreciation for snow and ice - which is not easy as it's been making me cranky! Thanks for shining a glorious light on the beauty of winter!

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  24. Thank you for visiting Marion. The east coast has gotten it's fair share of nasty winter weather, but here in nw Ohio we've been fortunate enough to miss some of the storms until today.

    I so enjoyed your Favorite Things post and look forward to reading your blog another day.

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  25. Hi there..these are absoulutly lovey and your words framed them well-

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  26. Teresa, I love these and I love all the wonderful comments. I agree, your writing and your photography is better and better with each entry. Love ya, Bev

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