Sunday Song: Under Ice

Dunno about where you’re at, but Seattle’s pushing spring already. We never did get a proper winter. Still, there are days when the wind blows sharp and cold, and one is reminded that spring ain’t properly here yet. Which is good, because I have six billion winter songs and about a trillion pretty pictures of frost and ice to show you. We’d best get to it before the end o’ winter, then, eh?

I find this Kate Bush song interesting: slightly harsh, yet beautiful, rather like winter itself can be.

Speaking of under ice, there was that one stretch of very cold days we had where everything ended up under ice crystals.  The leaves, particularly. I love seeing leaves dusted with white crystals.

Under Ice I
Under Ice I

The thing about frost is, it’s delicate and vanishes quickly in the sun. The thing about several days of freezing cold is, it creates frost that the sun has a harder time melting.

 

Under Ice II
Under Ice II

There’s all sorts of different types of frost, and I’m sure this stuff has a name, but I’m not sure what it is. I’d say hoar frost, but I’m not sure. This stuff formed over a few bitter cold, clear, calm days and freezing night fogs. Perhaps some of you are expert enough to give us a wee dissertation on it.

Under Ice III
Under Ice III

Any bits with liquid water froze solid. I have a whole post’s worth of water droplets frozen at the ends of drip tips. Extraordinary. For a few days, we were living in a bit of an ice age.

I like the way frost picks out plants. It outlines and enhances, and makes a jumble of dead, dying, and low-lying leaves look lovely.

Under Ice IV
Under Ice IV

There are a few times a year when blackberry brambles look beautiful. This is one.

Under Ice V
Under Ice V

And they draped paths so coated in frost they looked like snowy tracks.

Under Ice VI
Under Ice VI

During my searches for songs to go with ye olde lovely winter photos, I came upon about ten thousand versions of “Winter Song.” Here is one quite gentle and lovely one.

Strikes the right note, that, a touch melancholy, just like the long winter. One thing I like about Seattle winters, though, is that no matter how long the Gray stays or how endless it seems, there’s always signs it will end. New life pops up year-round. You can see it here, with the pale brilliant green new leaves.

Under Ice VII
Under Ice VII

Banks of ivy can get rather monotonous, but the frost gives them undeniable charm.

Under Ice VIII
Under Ice VIII

And there’s this absolutely delightful combo of a plant with small red berries and the ivy, which looks like something which should be on a greeting card.

Under Ice IX
Under Ice IX

And what else can we do but follow up a photo like that with a song that suits that holiday season, eh?

Some of the plants round here put on quite the show.

Under Ice X
Under Ice X

I’m sure they’d look even more holiday-cardy against snow, but we didn’t get any to speak of this year. Ah, well. The ice on the berries is pretty enough.

Under Ice XI
Under Ice XI

And a burst of color, dusted with white, is quite welcome in a cold gray season.

Under Ice XII
Under Ice XII

I find myself torn. Part of me wants summer, with its warmth and flowers and adventures. Part of me wishes to cling to winter a while longer, not least because ’tis the season when the cat’s cold enough to cuddle. There are compensations for the cold and dark. What do you find your favorite bits to be?

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Sunday Song: Under Ice
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4 thoughts on “Sunday Song: Under Ice

  1. 1

    I love crisp frosty mornings and cool late autumn and early winter days, they’re the time I feel most alive. Summer murders me, and spring is too much the season for sneezin.

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