The Beast from the East
Why did I mention Spring was here last week, it didn't last long! The Beast from the East Snowstorm reached here on Thursday afternoon. It was the first time Tavi had experienced snow and he was initially frightened, but with the help of a ball he soon started playing in it and got covered in snow!
It was my husband's 60th birthday on Friday, we had planned a weekend away, but we cancelled it once we heard the weather forecast. Instead we awoke to find freezing rain had covered the snow, the road was impassable and our drive had turned into a skating rink. Despite this, our milkman had walked up the road and still managed to deliver our milk, what service!
We put out extra food and water for the birds and spent most of the morning bird watching from the warmth of our home. There were many birds flying overhead and landing in the fields around us, including flocks of lapwing and golden plover.
Leaving Tavi at home, we managed to get out of the back entrance, and climbed the hill. The snow covered in a layer of ice, crunched with every step we took. Our familiar golden cliffs looked so different covered in white .The lapwings were almost hidden behind the tufts of grass.
The zoom on the camera allowing us to see them closer up.
We haven't had any snow since we moved here three years ago, and so we were curious to see this landscape looking so different.
As we stood looking at the view, a freezing wind suddenly blew up making it very unpleasant to be outside, so we headed for home just feeling grateful that we had food and a warm home to return too. Unfortunately we have heard that many birds have perished during this cold spell.
Sarah x
Happy Birthday to your husband Sarah. It was the wind chill that shocked us most - though we took a chance with time planned away and managed to dodge the snow. Hope you get another chance soon!
ReplyDeleteHow pretty everything looks in the snow. The poor birds!
ReplyDeleteYour weather made our news here in western Canada. I do love the way snow transforms a landscape. Your photos of the coast and cliffs are beautiful. So sad about the loss of birds.
ReplyDeleteSame in this corner. The cold spell has taken a toll on our wildlife. Love your coastal views. So different in the snow. Bet you are pleased to have some warmer weather now. Lovely photo of Tavi. Have a good week. B x
ReplyDeleteI did my best for the birds, even guarding their food from the wretched squirrels! But the squirrels were hungry too so in the end I gave up. I missed Through The Garden Gate, my apologies. By the time I got to it all was monochrome! Next time. I hope the birthday break is just postponed and you can do it again!
ReplyDeleteWhat stunning views Sarah. I now exactly what you mean about that wind. So sad about the birds. I hope you manage to getaway soon.
ReplyDeleteJacquie x
Those last two images certainly look as if it time for you to be making tracks back home to the warm again.
ReplyDeleteWe experienced very little snow - it was funny small dry stuff that danced frantically around. However, apparently we were on the edge of much more dramatic stuff going on - that is according to the news.
I had my bird feeders full, and do hope that all of them survived and are still with us.
You would think that it would be safe to take a break in March but apparently not. Happy belated birthday to your husband, and hopefully your cancelled trip will still happen soon.
I am amazed you hardly had any snow, I thought everywhere had been affected. Sarah x
DeleteSnow always makes a beautiful moment, and like you our's is all gone. We too sat and watched the wildlife in our garden, hubby has put fresh food out each morning, so they have unfrozen food to eat. Lovely photo's the cold walk gave you wonderful memories.
ReplyDeleteWell done that milkman! We had lots of redwings here, driven closer to buildings by the weather I think. I can well imagine that lots of the tiny birds perished. We were watching wrens, endlessly flitting about, trying not to stop moving. Thankfully spring has returned now here, so I hope the birds that are left will thrive. I was just happy to get through all the snow without anyone breaking any bones. They were all trying to toboggan standing up. Sigh. Glad all is well with you. CJ xx
ReplyDeleteDearest Sarah, our east coast just got pummeled with terrible high waves due to the "Nor'easter" storm that hit. New York was hit with a lot of snow while my former homeland of Massachusetts suffered terrible flooding. This morning, I just got a text from the school district where I work that school is canceled due to a winter storm coming our way! Oh, let spring come!
ReplyDeleteWe were very fortunate here and only got occasional snow flurries. However, the wind was bitter cold and we were wearing 4 layers of clothing even in the house!! I don't really recall snow when we lived in Weymouth x
ReplyDeleteWonderful to see your landscape dressed in snow! And the lovely Lapwings. Back to normal here now. What a brilliant milkman you have! x
ReplyDeleteThe landscape is beautiful covered in snow. Those poor birds though. I'm sure they appreciated the extra food you left for them. I think Westies are wired to love the snow, so I'm not surprised to hear Tavi was fine with it after he got over his initial fright. Fergus loves playing in the snow. Our favourite game is for me to kick the snow up in the air and he jumps up to try and catch it in his mouth. He rarely succeeds, but that doesn't seem to put him off the game.
ReplyDeleteIt was wonderful to hear from you. I have been thinking of you especially with this snowy weather, it looks so tame in comparison with what you experience! Hope all is well with you and your family. Sarah x
DeleteYou actually still have milk, in glass bottles, delivered by a milkman?? Oh that is nice. I remember that sound in the early mornings when growing up, but I don't think it's been done here for maybe 40 years???? How very pleasant!
ReplyDeleteWell, I am headed over your way later today and very glad the snow has stopped and it's a bit warmer!!
Thank you for your photos. I have been to West Bay/Eype many times over the years and love it so much. We have always visited in the summer staying at Seatown but have never been there in the winter let alone seen it in snow so really appreciate your photos. We too had a westie, how she loved our walks on the beach. Hopefully we will be visiting the area again this summer.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the photos, maybe we will come across each other this summer, walking our westies! Sarah x
DeleteFingers crossed!I live in Essex not too far from the Beth Chatto gardens you visited recently so was pleased to see your images of that also. My first visit to Seatown was as a young girl with the Girls Brigade and we camped in a field down the lane leading down to the Anchor Pub. As an adult I returned many years later with my husband to discover that the field is still set aside for that purpose though I'm not sure if that is the case. The last time I visited West Bay/Chideock was nearly 4 years ago-we detoured en route to get the ferry from Poole to go to Jersey. I so love seeing the posts that you and Lucy of Attic24 post. Regards Sharon x
DeleteWe couldnt get to the coast when it snowed as roads were impassable down here. Your pictures of the Dorset Coast are very impressive, especially the last one. Apparently many lapwings died upon arrival at Dawlish Warren.
ReplyDeleteWe spent most of the time watching the birds on the feeders.
ReplyDeleteDear Sarah,
ReplyDeleteHave been thinking of you, and how you have been with all the snow everywhere, seeing it on the news. Glad that you are back to normal again, as it must have been so cold. The photo of Tavi experiencing snow for the first time is very sweet. Happy belated birthday to your husband.
Hugs
Carolyn
Two days of snow is about right, I think. Time to enjoy it and the views and then life back to normal. We had a week of settled snow here in London, then it all melted away overnight. I have a large pineapple sage which looks to be the only plant that has really suffered; cutting it right back might shock it back into life, time will tell. Well done your milkman for getting through with the deliveries! Caro xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a contrast with your previous post. Snow is is standard for us, but it's a bit jarring to see the photos of the snow frosting on your landscape. Beautiful, though. We had milk delivered to the door when I was a child, but I didn't realize that some lucky places in the world still have that luxury--with an intrepid milkman, to boot. We are gathering wood and water for an expected huge dump of snow tomorrow, but we are used to it! I hope your flowers are peeking up with their lovely faces again.
ReplyDeleteAmazing to get snow so close to the sea.... Poor birds! I'm glad Tavi started to enjoy the snow once he had his ball. Happy birthday to your husband & hope you can fit in a nice warm celebration when the icy conditions are over. I agree with you about being glad of a nice warm house at a time like this.
ReplyDeleteWe had our own wind storm here in the mid-atlantic USA. We lost our electricity Friday morning and only got it back last evening. We lost several trees--one of which fell on the power line taking down the pole. Glad your Beast from the East did not last too long!
ReplyDeleteOur garden was for a longer time frozen, most of my Helleborus orientalis are gone, for this season. And a lot of other plants too. We on the continent have a different winter from yours, Sarah!
ReplyDeleteSigrun
Sarah - the snow covered photos are wonderful. A snow dusted Tavi - delightful. I have to say though - my favorite part was reading that you have milk delivered. I had no idea that there were places that still have that practice - it is a wonderful memory from childhood. I like it when the snow comes and makes everything magical and then melts right away. This has been a long winter. We have had snow, rain and sleet this week with more on the way. xo kim
ReplyDeleteO Sarah, what wonderful photos! I know your area fairly well, having spent lots of holidays down there (we're booked for another week in the summer and I can't wait), usually in February half term, but we've never seen snow. It looks magical.
ReplyDeleteTavi's face is priceless, covered in snow. Very cheeky.
Happy belated birthday to your husband!
We had a pretty hard Winter here in ND but I also hear that there was worse ones in years past. The hills around where you live looks beautiful covered in snow. Unfortunately wild life does suffer with Winter. Keep warm and have a great weekend Sarah.
ReplyDeleteThat sea looks so cold! It was bitterly cold and we had lots of snow here. Our cat Holly refused to go outside. It had all cleared by Monday last week and then on Thursday we woke to another deep covering of it. At times like this we are so glad we don't have to worry anymore about getting to work in the snow.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely set of photos you have posted , it all looks very beautiful when not feeling the biting wind that came with the snow! The first photo reminds me that we always thought our fox terrier white until we saw her in the snow and discovered she was actually creamy!
ReplyDeleteI must have been gone in vacation when you published this so I lost but glad to enjoy it today. I truly love your photos!! We are still covered in snow and today is April 7th.
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah,
ReplyDeleteLoved seeing your snowy photos and so pretty especially the very cute one of Tavi, so adorable.
Hugs
Carolyn