Came downstairs first this morning and found that about four inches of snow had fallen during the night. It was snowing when we went upstairs last night (lots of it, but with tiny flakes).
Put the kettle on then went outside with the camera and took photos of the garden under snow.
Above is of the small herb garden - rosemary in the centre. Ann had snipped it back in early autumn and hung bunches up to dry for the winter. It's still a big healthy plant though.
Milkman had been, so took the two pints in, back to kitchen, made tea, took Ann up a cup, then took below picture of school playing fields from back bedroom window. Spent the rest of the day in workshop - catching up on odd jobs. When I last looked out, it was raining, so, despite a silly remark on front page of Telegraph that we may be in for a 'Little Ice Age', I don't think the snowy conditions will last long. In fact, apart from the cold spell of the last few days, I say again that so far, it's been a mild winter.
14 comments:
I lost my ancient rosemary - a present from a late neighbour, and have just bought a new one so fingers crossed it survives the weather.
I'm sure you are well stocked for any possible siege.
Hello Pat. Rosemary is fairly hardy, so hope yours will survive.
I think we're quite well stocked, but I don't think it will be that bad - it's thawing already.
You know, Mike, that bottom picture has some very subtle tonality and if you had just rectified the camera tilt so the conifer trunks looked vertical it would, to my mind, have been a picture of professional artistic merit.
Thank you Crowbard. I ought to have shoved it upright I know. Ref 'subtle tonality' I just photographed what was there before me. I know we've had this conversation before, but what 'merit' there was, was nature's, not mine.
I credit you for the self-portrait nature took. Despite behaving unnaturally for decades you are still a product of nature who, recognising nature's fine appearance, captured it on a device devised by nature's gifts of intelligence, observation and skill. Such merits as nature has, we, her children, inherit and display.
id est: you dunnit bruv, accept my appreciation.
PS I also appreciate George Eastman for his natural contribution to the plot.
PPS are you still using his prototype or have you upgraded to the Brownie?
Stwongest affection,(and affectation)
Ickle Bwuv
Spherical objects to you, young Sir.
If I have caused offence, I totally apologize old thing... It's not in my nature to pick fights with tougher nuts than me, especially when they're wrong and resort to the imitation of St. Loy.
Purely to save your readers the trouble of research, I submit the following offering upon St. Loy:-
Saint Loy
Loy or Eloy is the English name for St. Eligius, c. 588-660, who became bishop of Noyon. As goldsmith to Clothaire II, Dagobert I, and Clovis II of France, he was famous for his gold chalices, for his courtesy and refinement. He incurred King Dagobert's displeasure for refusing to swear. While he was a courtier, under his fine clothes and adornments he wore a hair shirt. After embracing the religious life, he became known for his acts of mercy and concern for the poor, and he was invoked as patron saint of the poor and of poorhouses after his death. He was also adviser and confessor to several Benedictine convents. St. Godebertha, St. Gertrude, and St. Aurea were the three abbesses with whom he was especially connected (PL 87: 481-594).
Madame Eglentyne, a Benedictine abbess, swears by St. Loy, Gen Prol 120. The saint is invoked as patron saint of blacksmiths and carriers, FrT 1564. [Eglentyne]
Loy, formed by aphesis or loss of the initial unstressed syllable from OF Eloi and derived from Latin Eligius, appears in final rhyming position, Gen Prol 120; FrT 1564.
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B. Foster, "Chaucer's Seint Loy: An Anglo-Norman Pun?" N&Q 213 (1968): 244-245; A.S. Haskell, "The St. Loy Oath Reconsidered." Essays on Chaucer's Saints, 32-38; Jacobus de Voragine, LA 952-953 (no English translation in G. Ryan and H. Ripperger's translation); J.L. Lowes, "The Prioress's Oath." Romanic Review 5 (1914): 368-385; Paul Parsy, Saint Eloi (590-659).
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From CHAUCER NAME DICTIONARY
Copyright © 1988, 1996 Jacqueline de Weever
Published by Garland Publishing, Inc., New York and London.
Dear Crowbard. I was very glad to receive your last comment, clarifying your reference to St. Loy.
I had imagined the reference was to Saint Ignaceous of LOYola who founded the Jesuits, and I could not work out the connexion at all. Thank you for the clarification.
P.s. I am so glad to know that there really was a Clothears II. I assume he went on to become the patron Saint of the deaf???????
Clothaire II wasn't deaf as far as I know but he granted a few pardons maybe.
I don't think french kings qualify for sainthood Mike, not even old Cloth ears. Even the French couldn't tolerate them... and you know how revolting the french are!
When you speak of the revolting French, Crowbard, I take it you are referring to the little unpleasantness they held in 1789 ?
P.s. Although we went through much the same sort of ceremony in 1649.
Daccor Michel, c'est ca exactement. Liberte, Egalite et Madame Guillotine.
The french just can't stand us going one better (as we did at Agincourt, Crecy et Poitieres pour exemple) it took them 140 years to catch on to regicide as a political declaration, and while we sorted it all out in the 11 year interregnum, they are still searching for a way forward. I suspect William the Bastard was an Englishman in a damned good disguise!
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