just a few days back i rode to school through an ice fog. hovering in the air as thick as porridge, the fog shut down visibility to about twenty metres until it slowly lifted away, leaving behind a wonderworld of crystalline beauty. the little structures were about half an inch to three quarters of an inch long (for my canadian readers - 1 to 1.5 cm.) and grew on anything that stayed still long enough.
the trees were stunning in their fragile robes.
down closer to the ground, the fenceline on the edge of the schoolyard was truly pretty and i stopped as many of the kids as i could to show them the free magic that had appeared overnight.
21 comments:
Truly beautiful - a kingdom of ice crystals sparkling like precious diamonds.
You've still got ice?! What a long winter you've had! Lovely pics.
Free magic, a perfect term for inspiring kids, and me.
Once I rode to the airport in Medford, Oregon through a fairyland like this that had magically appeared overnight at 7,000 feet. At the airport they had to send a little plane up with dry ice to make it snow and clear the fog.
We were supposed to get 2-4 inches of snow last night. So far, no precipitation.
radcliffe - if i had had my very good camera with me, te shots would be even more amazing. a magic kingdom for sure. steven
hi alaine - we had snow all yesterday. my wife ran a half-marathon through thirty km/h winds with the odd white-out from blowing snow. yep. it's not over yet!!! this morning i'll ride through a wintry landscape on my bicycle on my way to school. steven
hi ruth - there's so much "free magic" around it's incredible!!! as i said to alaine (from australia), we have snow on the ground right now. steven
Is this what we call a hoar frost in the UK Steven? It is very beautiful and I am glad to hear that you drew the attention of the childred to it.
Spring is certainly stubborn up yonder!Winter still doing it's best to WOW you!
Magic indeed.
Wow, the fence-icing is so very awesome!
We had some sleet over the weekend, though the daffodils are blooming....
At this very moment, I'm impressed by your photos and impressed by your words, but what moves me most is knowing that you can still appreciate the "free magic" after having it for so long in front of you this winter.
Bravo!
Glorious iciness. I've actually enjoyed this long, cold spring. But you knew that.
yes weaver it's hoar frost! this is the second time in my twenty years teaching at my school that i've seen it form like this on the fence line. it's so beautiful and fragile. steven
linda sue - there are all sorts of pinky promises and wishes on stars going on but the bottom line is it's still up in the air and down on the ground in terms of what season it is. steven
aguja - as pure and as unimaginable as can be imagined. steven
valerianna the dance between flowers and ice hasn't become as pronounced as in your neck of the woods - yet! i rode through snow this monring but the only flowers were in the flower shop i pass on my way to school! steven
hey jo thanks. yeah i really mean that. thanks! that's what this work is all about really isn't it. living in this place and letting our most loved people fly away and carrying on and letting winter go and when it blows right back into your face and hurts you, you see the beauty. steven
tess - this morning as i rode through the snow i smelt woodsmoke for the first time in a while. i told the class about it as part of the start of a beautiful morning. it really was so good! steven
That fence looks like a work of art...a frosted fence!
Then again, it reminds me of a toy we had as kids. A little flat board with a drawing of a guy, named Willie? Sandwiched between his face in a piece of plastic were metal shavings. And if you had much patience, you could use the "magic wand" (a.k.a. a magnet) to pull the shavings and give him hair, a beard, etc. The fence reminded me of just that!
Have a good week.
Beautiful. But Steven: It's time for this winter stuff to leave us! It's April. I'm tired of the dark. Of indoors. I'm a tropical/sub--tropical boy. A fair weather child. You know...."here comes the sun, little darlin'..."
And here I am. And here we are. Yes, we also had snow across the lake yesterday, and for about an hour this afternoon. But the grass is glorious green and just wouldn't allow it to stick.
WARMTH Please!! :)
Rick
steven, what incredible beauty, these pictures and your description. Magical and dreamy.
oa.s
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