A Winter's Day
Back in August, when my friends and I were debating on taking a hike in the Lake District, despite the fact that it was raining, I said, "If we let the weather hold us back in this country, we may never get to do anything." Today, I did let the weather hold me back a bit. The difference in the snow in Alabama and the snow here, is that it seems to stay put. On Friday, when it started snowing full force, there was still snow on the ground from the snow that came last Sunday night. Since the high today was -2 C and the sun didn't really show its face, the snow hasn't budged, and the few flurries that came through today only added to it. While the main roads appear fine, I'm not really sure I could get out of the car park without slipping and sliding!
Some friends and I were supposed to go to Warner Brother Studios, where Harry Potter was filmed today, but we ended up rescheduling. I was very excited about going, but this Alabama girl has no clue how to drive in the snow, and getting stranded coming home in the dark seemed like a pretty viable threat, so, I did let the weather hold me back. But that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy that very same weather that held me back! Instead, I suited up and went out, on foot, to enjoy it!
I started with a walk to the little pond at the back of the estate where I live. I've walked by there several times, but never really stopped. When my parents were here, they stopped by the pond and discovered something I had been really been missing out on. So, when I set out on my walk, I didn't leave empty handed, I took several slices of bread with me and soon realized I came very unprepared...
The pond was nearly frozen solid; only a small patch remained, no doubt because the ducks had kept paddling and kept the water from freezing. They were all in their one little patch, but when the saw me come up to the edge and stop, they came running! There must have been about fifty ducks, a dozen sea gulls and a swan, who, thankfully, kept his distance.
I've raised ducks and geese pretty much my whole life. Some of my earliest memories are of the baby geese following me around the house or stomping through mud puddles with me. The ducks I've raised are usually domestic which means they are very friendly, even though, perhaps, they are not the brightest crayons in the box.
Often times when people are depressed they do things they don't normally do: eat a lot of ice cream, drive for hours on end, endlessly lie on the couch, or even go on a shopping spree. Two springs ago, depressed that I had not received this opportunity of traveling abroad, I, too, went on a shopping spree, carefully picking out exactly what I wanted online, each one unique. I bought a dozen and a few weeks later, the local post office called me and asked to come pick up the chirping box. Yep, when I was down, I ordered baby ducks! I know, it is a bizarre purchase, but they was a great joy to me. That summer, I had hoped to be preparing to leave the country for a year, so I hadn't really made any plans. Instead, raising those ducks became my plan. I spent endless hours with them in my little bitty suburban backyard, watching them grow and discover new things. They were incredibly affectionate - George especially who would sit on my should and nibble on anything he could: my hair, my ear, my freckles. Those little feathered friends brought huge joy to my life, keeping me occupied and my mind on what really mattered. They grew up, as we all do, and moved out to my parents' farm where they continued to be affectionate and like attention... although I'm not sure my dad always appreciated their company in his workshop.... Thankfully though, he has been patient with them and kept them fed, which can both be tricky.
I didn't know what the ducks would do today, but I was obviously not the first one to have fed them. The mallards, typically more shy, stayed on the frozen pond and pounced on any piece of bread that came close, while the domestic ducks, some runners that even looked a little like George, marched right up to me without a care in the world. They ate from my hands, almost taking my finger with them a few times, and when I tried to take their picture, some of them even pecked at my camera lens. Simple things like feeding ducks may seem silly to other people, but I can't tell you how much fun I had with those feathered friends. I'll go back to see them tomorrow, but I'll take the rest of the loaf this time.
As I was leaving, heading out on a walk through the woods, I passed a mother pulling two young girls on a sled who were carrying a loaf of bread. I know where they were headed, and I was glad, since I'm pretty sure my new friends were still very hungry.
I went into a new part of the woods today on my walk. I have no idea what it normally looks like because today, it was completely white, and it was gorgeous! So incredibly peaceful and quiet. Besides the few dogs I met along the way (and their owners), there were no sounds. The wind was still, the birds were quiet, and no cars could be heard from the woods. What a treasure!
And on my way out of the woods, I could see a hillside across the way and hear the squeals of children as they sled down the snow-covered field. I plan on taking another walk tomorrow, because, no doubt, there will still be snow covering this beautiful white world that I'm living in.
I may have let the weather stop my plans today, but I certainly didn't let it ruin the day! This southern girl always takes advantage of a true, rare, winter's day!
Some friends and I were supposed to go to Warner Brother Studios, where Harry Potter was filmed today, but we ended up rescheduling. I was very excited about going, but this Alabama girl has no clue how to drive in the snow, and getting stranded coming home in the dark seemed like a pretty viable threat, so, I did let the weather hold me back. But that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy that very same weather that held me back! Instead, I suited up and went out, on foot, to enjoy it!
I started with a walk to the little pond at the back of the estate where I live. I've walked by there several times, but never really stopped. When my parents were here, they stopped by the pond and discovered something I had been really been missing out on. So, when I set out on my walk, I didn't leave empty handed, I took several slices of bread with me and soon realized I came very unprepared...
The pond was nearly frozen solid; only a small patch remained, no doubt because the ducks had kept paddling and kept the water from freezing. They were all in their one little patch, but when the saw me come up to the edge and stop, they came running! There must have been about fifty ducks, a dozen sea gulls and a swan, who, thankfully, kept his distance.
I've raised ducks and geese pretty much my whole life. Some of my earliest memories are of the baby geese following me around the house or stomping through mud puddles with me. The ducks I've raised are usually domestic which means they are very friendly, even though, perhaps, they are not the brightest crayons in the box.
Often times when people are depressed they do things they don't normally do: eat a lot of ice cream, drive for hours on end, endlessly lie on the couch, or even go on a shopping spree. Two springs ago, depressed that I had not received this opportunity of traveling abroad, I, too, went on a shopping spree, carefully picking out exactly what I wanted online, each one unique. I bought a dozen and a few weeks later, the local post office called me and asked to come pick up the chirping box. Yep, when I was down, I ordered baby ducks! I know, it is a bizarre purchase, but they was a great joy to me. That summer, I had hoped to be preparing to leave the country for a year, so I hadn't really made any plans. Instead, raising those ducks became my plan. I spent endless hours with them in my little bitty suburban backyard, watching them grow and discover new things. They were incredibly affectionate - George especially who would sit on my should and nibble on anything he could: my hair, my ear, my freckles. Those little feathered friends brought huge joy to my life, keeping me occupied and my mind on what really mattered. They grew up, as we all do, and moved out to my parents' farm where they continued to be affectionate and like attention... although I'm not sure my dad always appreciated their company in his workshop.... Thankfully though, he has been patient with them and kept them fed, which can both be tricky.
I didn't know what the ducks would do today, but I was obviously not the first one to have fed them. The mallards, typically more shy, stayed on the frozen pond and pounced on any piece of bread that came close, while the domestic ducks, some runners that even looked a little like George, marched right up to me without a care in the world. They ate from my hands, almost taking my finger with them a few times, and when I tried to take their picture, some of them even pecked at my camera lens. Simple things like feeding ducks may seem silly to other people, but I can't tell you how much fun I had with those feathered friends. I'll go back to see them tomorrow, but I'll take the rest of the loaf this time.
 |
| As the ducks flew back to the little bit of pond, they almost flew into the swan! |
As I was leaving, heading out on a walk through the woods, I passed a mother pulling two young girls on a sled who were carrying a loaf of bread. I know where they were headed, and I was glad, since I'm pretty sure my new friends were still very hungry.
I went into a new part of the woods today on my walk. I have no idea what it normally looks like because today, it was completely white, and it was gorgeous! So incredibly peaceful and quiet. Besides the few dogs I met along the way (and their owners), there were no sounds. The wind was still, the birds were quiet, and no cars could be heard from the woods. What a treasure! |
| Sleepy little town of Woburn Sands |
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| Brussel Sprouts! |
And on my way out of the woods, I could see a hillside across the way and hear the squeals of children as they sled down the snow-covered field. I plan on taking another walk tomorrow, because, no doubt, there will still be snow covering this beautiful white world that I'm living in.
I may have let the weather stop my plans today, but I certainly didn't let it ruin the day! This southern girl always takes advantage of a true, rare, winter's day!
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