So anyway, I said to the weather gods, “You’re not having me on again this time, are you? It’s absolutely definitely going to snow in Oxfordshire on Tuesday night?” And they said – through the medium of their high priests the weather forecasters – “Yup, you better believe it, Twisted.” And I said, “Because you know, I haven’t glimpsed snow in two long years and I’m getting twitchy.” And they said, “Well you will tonight. Heaps of the stuff. Enough for a really joyful, photo-heavy blog post.” So I said, in a voice laden with bitterness and pain, “Yeah, but we’ve been here before, haven’t we? All. My. Life. You promise snow overnight. This time I really believe you. I wake up the next morning, crazy with excitement, fling open the curtains and see… grey drizzle falling on green grass. Y’know, I’m not sure I can take that level of disappointment again.” At this, the weather gods mumbled something incomprehensible and looked shifty.
But you’ve got to give people and minor deities the benefit of the doubt, haven’t you?
So I went to bed, secure in the knowledge that this time, there really, really, really would be snow. I even told the Toddler Twinnage and got them all excited. And yesterday morning, I crawled, shivering leapt from my bed, flung open the curtains, and saw…
I think you can probably guess what I saw.
I am no longer on speaking terms with the weather gods.
So that was it. I was done with winter and I was done with snow. Time to head out and look for signs that spring is somewhere round the corner. The poor Toddler Twinnage were bundled out of the door and off for a walk, grizzling all the way because what they really wanted was to stay home and throw Lego bricks at my head. But no, I insisted, We Are Going For A Walk. I think my children know when I am Speaking In Capital Letters, and their grizzles become resigned rather than outraged.
Walking is slow when two thirds of your party have to stop every couple of metres to dig little holes in the ground with a stick (and the other third is furiously sulking with the weather gods and muttering to herself). We strolled through the woods:-
And glimpsed the merest hints of spring-like bulb-related activity:-
And tiny buds hinting imminent growth amidst last autumn’s berries:-
There were catkins, too! Catkins are the sort of thing that primary school children draw pictures of for their projects and write uneven sentences about, and I think I still, at the age of 42, have a tiny bit of catkin-love left to give:-
We also met some chaps. First, there was this chap:-
…And then there was that chap:-
And thus, we reached the important conclusions that:-
(i) Spring might be just around the corner. You heard it here at the ‘Yarn first, folks. Always first for news and seasonal grumbling.
And (ii) Mummmmmeeeeeeeeeee, I’m hungreeeeeeeeee and I wanna go hoooooooooommmmmmmmme nowwwwwww.
Hmmm, I think this is the least knitting/crochet-related post I’ve ever written. I hope you don’t mind, just this once?
Still no snow? We’ve had some more. Not a great deal, but a sprinkling. Masses forecast for us next week apparently. If we get a decent amount I’ll post some photos for you to look at in lieu of the real thing 😛
I’ll post some photos of it for you. I would rather have signs of spring, which is still 4 months away here…
I too have been subjecting my littlest Pickle to Long Walks. Fortunately for him, he still gets to be carried on said walks. Fortunately for me, I have a beautiful new sling to make the Long Walks even more enjoyable. The signs of spring certainly help too.
You clearly need to make a trek over to Canada. We haven’t got much snow here in Ontario, but it’s more than England. And it’s sparkly.
That said, I’m longing for Spring.
I am so relieved that we have not had snow here in North Wales because I live at the top of a very steep and twisting hill. Having in past snowy days, done the two man bob- sleigh down our hill in my car with both hand and footbrakes full on, (and at times my eyes shut), and survived, I am too scared to repeat it. Instead I sit by my cosy fire and do my knitting and crochet, ………….. so much safer. xx
At least there wasn’t any snow to destroy the plant bulbs just beginning to sprout though, right? Right? …Maybe?
I didn’t dare mention the ‘S’ word to The Boys which was just as well as the Weather Gods spoke untruths to us also. The embroidered jeans are looking good:)
I’d gladly pass up a snow day if I could take a walk in your woods!
It is so well known that Northern Gods have a “big” sense of humour….
Here in Texas, we’ve had COLD but no snow. However, today is sunny and almost 50°. My daffodils poked through some three weeks ago, but they have just been sitting there, reminding me that spring will come eventually. Still, I’d like to see a little snow before winter’s gone.
Oh, I’m soooo disappointed for you. We never get snow where I am Down Under so I always greet snow pics on blogs with great glee…..so I’m disappointed too!! It is only halfway through your Winter through…….holding that thought…….
Here in Pennsylvania, USA, we have had cold snow for weeks. I would gladly give you some!! :o)
And here I thought I was no longer on speaking terms with winter because it makes you think 29 degrees is warm and the snow is still on the ground, with more to come soon, I’m certain. I have an entire backyard of snow in Michigan for you and the toddler twinnage;-).
I’m so envious of your bulb activity, it will be a couple of months before I see any green poking through. We’ve had about 100 inches of snow so far this season, and I know there is still lots to come. I see you have another follower from the frozen state of Michigan [dragontearsoflove] so if you want snow we have plenty, and some nice big piles where the snow-plow put it in my back yard. Come on over!! I have good tea [PG Tips] and the kettle can go on in a jiffy.
At least you got a lovely walk in! You sound like you live near me. I have learned one thing very well. If the forecasters are giving warnings of impending major snow, with gusting winds, drifts, etc.–don’t worry about it because it will bypass us completely. It’s when they say things like “dusting” or “flurries only” you have to be ready to start shoveling. One storm about 15 years ago is still talked about. The forecaster emphatically said “dusting” and “no accumulation.” The dusting lasted for 3 days and dumped at least that many feet on us.
The old jeans are looking very super stylish paired with those rainbow wellies despite there being no white snow to make them glimmer and sparkle. When I lived in the UK there was one winter when I experienced for the first time in my teaching career the mass arrival of parents into a lesson to whisk away their little ones before they became ‘stranded at school’. Completely naive I had no idea what they were on about and thought to myself – ‘Those English, such wooses!’ The following morning when I woke up and looked out my bedroom window I saw a pristine and silent white world that had buried my car completely. We were all off school for several days! 🙂 But the other winters it didn’t snow.
No snow, no knitting! Just as well you have gorgeous boots, bulbs, and chaps to make up for those omissions.
Signs of Spring already, wow. Looks so beautiful. I guess Summer is going to be stunning. Thanks for the gorgeous photos. 🙂
‘speaking in capital letters’ – I know exactly what you mean! Looked like a great place to go for a walk.
I hate snow (unless on a planned snow-based holiday)… can I come and live with you?
As a 10-year-old I begged for a sledge for Christmas, and got my wish – but it never snowed anywhere near us for the rest of my childhood. By the time it did snow again, sledging had been replaced by partying and I just wanted it to thaw so I could go out on the town.
Love the rainbow wellies and colourful crochet jeans!
My husband, originally from the UK, used to love the “idea” of snow. Then we moved to Canada and bought a house on a huge corner lot. Ahem……his feelings have changed. Shovelling the stuff all the time for up to eight months a year took all the glamour out of snow for him. Enjoy the signs of spring, winter is overated.
I want snow just to hide the lawn that Merlin Moss the 10 month terror (rather large puppy) has torn up so it resembles a rugby pitch that has then had a tractor tear across it. I had the most beautiful lawn you know but I was sucker punched by HH into a new pup, promised faithfully said pup would be small after 2 large dogs. He’s from whippet stock you know ……… He failed to mention a healthy dose of Great Dane!!! So much for a lap dog .
Good news from Bedfordshire is the daffs are beginning to raise their heads YEEHA! Finer climes are on their way.
At least the clothes were bright, albeit the moods Ms Twisted and you certainly did your bit at halting the rain with that rainbow of colours you are wearing and your lovely swanky dacks (Aussie for pants/jeans). That catkin looks like one of my chooks feet or maybe that lovely peacocks digit? Honesty about ones children is entirely liberating and the best revenge is to share it with fellow parents/adults who commiserate with you in style. Once day you can show them the comments section as proof that they were unbearable. Social media has given us all kinds of ways to ensure that we are RIGHT at all times and we have very VERY long memories (and hard drives to prove it 😉 ). No time for crafting of any kind here…too busy bums up in the garden for that! Here’s hoping that the weathermen are spot on as I just read another “yearning for snow” post from someone who lives in a non-snow zone and she got snow so only fair that you do too.
Have to admit I am rather pleased to be avoiding snow, although I do think a good cold spell always helps to keep germs and bugs at bay.
Too true Twisted! I have seen way to many bare arms and occasionally even legs this ‘winter’. It’s just not right….
The same thing happens over here as well, again and again. Snow if promised, you better expect traffic to be disorganised and trains to be cancelled. But no, nothing! This year was even worse because they promised heaps of snow and they actually came. Only there was a gap in the snow cloud, and that gap just happened to be right over the area where I live. So I had to watch all the news items on aaaaaalll the snow everyone was having, while I had nothing 🙁
Oh dear. I’m afraid this is all my fault. You see I can’t drive on snow or ice, and I’ve told the Snow Gods that they are only allowed to release the white stuff Friday night through Sunday morning. Then they must have their entire mess cleaned up by Monday morning no later than 7am, so that I can drive to work safely. If they fail to follow my rules even once, they will face my wrath. Keep in mind, I’m redhead. My wrath is not a thing to take lightly. Obviously I’ve scared them to death, and they have gone into hiding. I’ll send them an apology at once and tell them it’s OK to release the white stuff on your side of the globe. I doubt a little snow in your neck of the woods will have any impact on my commute to work. Please convey my apologies to the toddler twinnage as well.
Oh Dear. This is not good. This is the worse kind of deception. I understand why you are upset. Promises of snow which are realized as drizzley rain on grass. Ugggh! That’s tough. My sincere sympathies….
LoL … your mid-January snow is a no-show, while ours keeps snowing-up until May! Crazy world! 😉 ♥ <3