The sky changed from a snow-laden grey …
… to bluish-cloudy dispersal …
… to yet more scattering and diffusion …
… and finally to the lovely pink glow of sunset.
Happy Thursday.
Changing Sky
February Views
We had a bit of a storm blow through …
… and it’s supposed to be colder over the next couple of days …
… but warmer by Friday or Saturday.
That’s February for you.
Happy Wednesday.
More Grey … with a Side of Snow
It started raining and then turned to a very thick, watery snow that began to settle in some places. Here at the valley bottom, it was our first snowfall of the season.
The rainy snow was so dense that the visibility across the lake was quite low.
Since our temperatures have been around 4C (39F), it won’t last, though.
The ducks certainly didn’t mind; their favourite little pond was ice-free!
As I continued my ramble, the snowy rain became more rain-like; it had been a bit of an incongruity since some of the trees are beginning to bud as you can in the picture above.
By the time I arrived back at home, it was back to just plain rain.
Happy Tuesday.
Grey
We had a sun break but now it’s a return to the grey although the feature photo shows the effect of evening’s blue hour on the overcast. The daytime photo from below shows how very grey it actually was.
We have snow at the 700 metre (2396 ft) level but none here at the valley bottom.
It’s Monday. It’s grey. But I hope you have a good day anyway.
Hellebores
I was delighted to find these hellbores (helleborus) getting ready to bloom.
Often referred to as winter roses or lenten roses, they are in fact not closely related to the rose family. No matter what they are called however, it’s wonderful to see them.
Happy Sunday.
A Red, Red Rose
O my Luve’s like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June;
O my Luve’s like the melodie
That’s sweetly play’d in tune.
As fair art thou, my bonie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a’ the seas gang dry.
Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi’ the sun;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o’ life shall run.
A Red Red Rose was based on traditional sources and complied by Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759-1796) in 1794 originally as a song. Robert Burns is considered to be Scotland’s national poet and is also responsible for compiling Auld Lang Syne.
Happy Valentine’s Day.
Springy
It’s beginning to be a little springy …
… with green fronds pushing through the dry leaves from last year …
… and the cherry tree buds making themselves known …
… including a close-up …
… while the sun begins to warm the earth.
Happy Friday 13th. 🍀
February Sun
A lovely February day …
… not to be missed …
… from morning until evening.
Happy Thursday.
Duck Pairs
The mallard ducks have all paired off …
… and are busily eating as much as they can in preparation for the spring arrival of their hatchlings.
The male mallards help with the nesting but once the young ones arrive, they go off by themselves to suffer through their moulting period. The moulting makes them feel terrible (and look rather terrible, too); I have seen lots of male mallards looking very listless and ill.
Did you know that mallards are the progenitors of nearly all domesticated duck species except the Muscovy ducks? And did you also know that despite the name, Muscovy ducks are native to the Americas and not at all to Russia?
Happy Wednesday.
Blue Sky
I enjoyed immensely these blue skies; such a lovely sight after weeks of winter grey.
These photos are completely unedited; that way you can really see how pretty these clear skies were.
Happy Tuesday; I hope you have a blue sky day.
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