A little winter weather

After a mild, dull and exceptionally foggy November, the weather in December has livened up a bit. Thank goodness. The first belated frosts at the beginning of the month made me suddenly realise that Christmas is coming and I’d better start getting organised!

As well as frosts, the past fortnight has brought us sheet ice, gales, mists, sleet, snow…a bit of everything, really: even cold, bright sunshine at last. (I think the sun came out only about twice in the whole of November.) I am enjoying the variety after the monotony of November fog. Here are some photos I’ve taken around the castle grounds in the last couple of weeks, to give you a taste.

 

 

 

Beyond the sheep grazing in the sunshine, mist hovers like a ribbon of gauze over the frosty shadows.

 

 

 

Fallen leaves bristling with frost in blue winter light.

 

 

 

Afternoon moonrise over icy fields.

 

 

 

Here’s an example of the strange phenomenon you see on frosty days in the woods: the moisture in a recently fallen branch is squeezed out by freezing conditions, and appears to cover the branch in a coat of icy white fur.

 

 

 

First snow on the hills.

 

 

 

 

Our resident mute swan found itself with only a puddle of clear water on the frozen lochan last week: the scuff trails show where the swan laboured to take off and land on the slippery ice.

 

 

 

Beyond the dead heads of alliums in the garden, afternoon sun catches the turret windows of the castle.

 

 

You might enjoy Frosty morning and some mid-December images from our very snowy winter of 2010, Wintry pleasures.