It poured rain today. Sheets of wet came down as the rain bands from a big storm moved up the coast. I went back and forth to the boat, with all foul weather gear on and stayed dry. The sailing team at the college was having a race today so there were kids from various schools competing. They were having a great time since the rain didn't matter much to those in the boats.
What was just liquid here became frozen further north. I checked the radar and saw that my home town in Virginia is snowed in. I felt a bit home sick, thinking back to waking up on those mornings when the world outside was white and so quiet. I had an impulse to get in the car and drive north to that whiteness. Instead, I enjoyed the fantasy of a fire inside a warm house, knocking the chill off after having been out for a walk around the fields of the old home place. One of those memories that comes back like it was yesterday.
It has been a mild winter in these parts. And now the daffodils and hyacinths are starting to bloom. The spring peepers will start their chorus as soon as there are enough warm days in a row to beckon them to come out of hibernation. Their sound also brings up memories, but ones of a different sort.
For now, I am content with these last few days of winter. Soon enough, we will be into March when the force of spring comes in. These gray days of winter aren't depressing to me because they are infrequent in this part of the South. They provide an opportunity for a lazy day of reading and napping. Just for a few hours though, it would be nice to have the raindrops that are hitting the roof turn into soft flakes of snow. I can dream.
Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home. ~Edith Sitwell
Sorry Syd - I'm enjoying a relatively snow free winter. There was enough to strand me in WV while returning from SC last month. I also feel that you just jinxed me by saying it's the last few days of winter. I remember quite a few massive February and March snow blizzards.
ReplyDeleteWe used to get some of the worst storms in early March. Even down here, there can be ice storms that hit. But generally by the end of March, the first truly warm days come, the peepers start their calling, and the azaleas start blooming.
ReplyDeleteI had a lazy day of reading and napping. It's not that cold here, but a bit grey. Less rainy than usual. I'm finding February is going by much quicker this year, probably because we are staying entertained. I'm looking forward to spring.
ReplyDeletethis is our first snow this year...and it seems this time of year and into march is when we get it worse in recent memory...i will play in it a bit for you tomorrow...smiles...spring will be here soon enough...
ReplyDeletethose snowy pictures are so so beautiful. winter has a special place in my heart, i love the closeness and warmth it brings to those in the midst of it... and would you believe, we're going into out 2nd day of steady drizzle rain today.
ReplyDeleteI noticed that too, "these last few days of winter." It's a month more of winter officially, even though the daffodils are blooming and the buds are thickening on the fruit trees. Nature has a way of withstanding the freezing nights here even when She has begun her spring work.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're enjoying yourself. I spent a leisurely day pruning back winter's dead stuff and revealing all the budded things. I'll be glad to kiss winter goodbye.
There is something so beautiful about a snow covered tree, house . . . landscape. All white and silver. I love just staring up into the sky when it's falling thick and slow.
ReplyDeleteI did dream of snow last night so maybe we'll get just one more load . . . I hope.
nice post Syd :)
ReplyDeleteMemories. Cool.
ReplyDeleteI love that top picture.
When it's gray outside, I don't know what else to do but nap.
ReplyDeleteWe are having a very mild winter here in Michigan, at least so far. It has often continued well into March. I do enjoy the fire and the coziness of being warm inside.
ReplyDeleteIn Colorado, we have had the winter everyone else is missing. It is snowing right now. Being in the midst of it, I can say there is very little sitting at the fireplace, and mostly shoveling it and dealing with driving in it. And there will be at least one more month of it. A mild winter sounds awesome to me.
ReplyDeleteAs you know, we had the rain here too. Beautiful! And it's cooler this morning and gorgeous and I know that summer will be bearing down on us soon so it makes these relatively cooler days even more precious.
ReplyDeleteI woke to snow laced trees and bushes and white in the empty fields. It's all gone now. I don't miss snow.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful photos from the winter. And you are right, Spring is right around the corner now!
ReplyDeleteMy heart aches for a good snowed in storm. Mother Nature seems to have hijacked winter here in NY. Hardly any snow at all, seems strange to me and unnatural. (Hugs)Indigo
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post. It made me smile to read your description of the flowers.
ReplyDeletewe've had an amazingly mild winter here, like most folks... while i dont like to wish my life away, I do look forward to the coming of spring!
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