Monday, February 18, 2008

WARNING: Longjohns Recommended for Optimal Viewing

First of all. thanks to everyone for the kind words over the weekend. You all are the best.

Did you all put on your thermal undies? Ok, feel free to proceed to the pictures. If you didn't heed my warning and the images send a shiver up your spine don't blame me. I warned you. We had an ice storm last week and though I am not fond of how they can tend to lead to power failures when trees weighted with ice pull down power lines I do think they make for some gorgeous scenery. Now imagine the poor, infirm Lime with her crickety back donning parka and boots and carrying her beloved camera in the dripping slop as she trudges through a heavy layer of snow, ice, and slush in her back yard. Ever the suffering artist, I did it all for you. It's how much I love you all. Ok, ok, so I was trying to heighten the drama of the pictures and I would have taken them all for myself anyway because, as my kids tell me, I have a weird fixation on photographing flowers and sticks and blades of grass. But I AM sharing and my mother said I should always share...except for my germs, and some of my harsher opinions, and hats because we don't want headlice...Anyway, onto the pictures.


For those of you who live in warm climates and have never seen this kind of ice encased landscape, it really does weigh down a tree limb when the whole thing is covered in a thick layer of ice.

Poor frozen rhododendron or azalea (I forget which). Makes ya want to knit a tiny sweater for it doesn't it?

My washline. Remember when it was filled with tie dyed sheets and towels over the summer?


Frozen bridal wreath. I want to carry this poor thing to a heater instead of down the aisle.


Sing it with me now...I have a pussy willow. It's frozen on a stick...Ok, so that's not how the song goes but I like this shot because you can really see the crackled surface of the ice.


I bet those of you who didn't take my warning seriously are wishing you had right about now. This is still my backyard. It's a heavily wooded acre. I love the way an ice storm makes it all look so lacy.


Next we shall sing "The Holly in the Ice Cube."


Hope you enjoyed the tour. Now go fix yourselves some cocoa and warm up.

29 comments:

Charley "Apple" Grabowski said...

I remember the ice storm you had there last year. I hope this year's ice melts quickly and that the PA highway dept has discovered salt! It is beautiful but I'd rather deal with snow.

furiousBall said...

beautiful, i want some more cold weather, i just ordered and stacked another cord of firewood on Friday

G-Man said...

That Mother Nature can be a real bitch!!
Stay inside...
Go Nowhere!!!!!!
xox

Cheesy said...

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[it's a Rhodie!]

We have finaly melted ... I see spring heading your way in 3 days!

Liquid said...

Beautiful!
Hope your toes are warm today!

:)

Mother Theresa said...

Those pictures are absolutely beautiful, but I'm glad I'm not there. Hope your back is feeling better. Don't slip on that ice. :)

Jeni said...

I definitely have to agree with you on the unique beauty freezing rain, ice storms, can create. A nice fresh snowfall also is so lovely -to look at anyway. I sure don't like it when either of those two create power problems with downed trees and wires and such. No power means no heat, no tv, no computer, no cooking either. Oh wait, that last one might not be such a bad thing is it?
Loved your photos here though - especially the holly leaf which I thought was a really cool touch!

Bsoholic said...

Cool pics! Literally... hehehe

It's actually been pretty warm here the last few days, but its supposed to snow tonight. The weather here is very bi-polar.

Casdok said...

I am glad you do share, they are wonderful photos.

Gledwood said...

Those are some amazing sub-zero pictures... it seems to be recordly-cold winters all over the place... aparently in China and central Asia it is the worst & hardest winter for over 100 yrs...

many thanks for the info I shall get in touch with my dr without delay!

:-<...

Gledwood said...

(maybe it's not cellulitis though)... oh who bloody knows

i wish i could just get antibiotics through the drug service they always tell me to go via my gp/family dr which is so inconvenient... last time i got this massive lecture from an ignorant nigerian woman

EmBee said...

Really Beautiful... Don't you just love this see-saw weather? It's a balmy 70 degrees today in Maryland and supposed to go back to icy tommorrow? WTF?

Anonymous said...

I liked the 1st and 6th one best. Cool pics.

I posted my recipe. Looking forward to seeing yours later on this week.

Anonymous said...

I have to say that I don't miss THAT at all! ('scuse me while I go check the thermometer.................. .................. ......... ) 'k, now I feel better 'cause it's 64 degrees and full blown sunshine!!! *tosses clothes aside and kicks off sandals* Yep! I don't miss the ice at all! ;)

Moosekahl said...

WOW! But like you said, it's completely beautiful no matter how inconvenient it is. Thank you for risking life and limb to share your neck of the woods with us.

Love ya

SignGurl said...

I have my long john's on and I'm still freezing after looking at your beautiful pictures.

You have a fantastic eye for the beauty that is nature.

barman said...

I love the pictures. I have always likes the ice to look at but nothing more. Well drinks maybe.

I can not say I have ever seen the ice on flowers before. That was truly amazing looking. Very wonderful pictures Lime. Thank you so much for sharing.

Breazy said...

Oh I wish I were there with you Lime. I love weather like that. Here we get nothing most winters and I am so ready for some of the white stuff, ice would be okay too! The pictures are very pretty.

It has been unusually warm here lately but today the wind has been blowing and it has been cool. Tonight we are expecting snow flurries which is really no big deal but it is a huge temp change.

I hope you are feeling better and I wanted to let you know that if you ever need an ear just email me or search on Yahoo.

Many hugs to ya!

S said...

Wowee so thats what winter is all about.
Really really beautiful photos, Lime. Your backyard seems like a fun place to explore.

(M)ary said...

pretty pictures! apparently weather is inversely proportional so that the more beautiful the scene the more of a pain in the ass it is to deal with....

Take care!

Anonymous said...

Winter isnt the same without some sparkle and shine. I am glad your world is pretty enough. We are having a similar winter in Northern Europe though. A lot of ice and little snonw. But I have my long johns on, as well as my wool sweaters and wool mittens and I am ready for whatever you offer us!!

robkroese said...

Wow, those are cool. As always, I'm glad to be looking at the pictures from my nice warm house in California. :)

Cooper said...

Yep. Looks like PA as I remember it. Didn't need the long johns today, however. Near 70 around here...can spring be far away???

Unknown said...

I don't need no thermal undies! I'm already layered in heaps of clothing because it's so cold here. Ugh.

jillie said...

HOLY CRAP! You weren't kidding! Brrrrrrr....it looks really really cold. Pretty though. I think I need a fresh HOT cup of coffee now ;o)

Keyser Soze said...

Nice pitchers!!! Pitchas?
Anyway BRRRR!!!!!
Wot kinda camera you gotz?

Anonymous said...

great piccies Lime...now that's a 'proper' winter...!!! ;) xxx

Mona said...

Gosh! Those are some pretty rare pictures for sure!

For a moment I thought that one of them was a frozen snake!

Unknown said...

Stunning photos, just perfect.