Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Out looking for the sun!

January: In the blue sky there is not a cloud, and if it’s cold and numbing inside the house, I can imagine how it must feel outside, in that white world beyond my window.

From the comfort of my cozy nook behind the window, I think I see something moving towards the far end of the garden... a bird? A fairy maybe? Perhaps, it is the spirit of the garden what I see, because with the movement also comes a whisper... like tiny voices, a whisper like snow dust falling from the sky. The voice I hear is like the singing of the birds in spring-time, and the murmuring of a forest brook, and the weeping of a lonely woman at a graveside, all strangely blended. I know it is the voice of Nature... it is January’s voice—melodious like all voices in Nature, yet within itself carrying all the melancholy of winter.

“Look in my eyes and see what I have to give”—said the voice; and so I go out to look...

Trees are leafless and bare, and great white icicles hung from their branches. The little garden is silent and noiseless. I admire the manicured aesthetic of snow and how the garden seems almost perfect under such purity... Several inches of fresh snow had fallen, the clouds had gone, still, all this whiteness, so pure, so calm, embraces me with cold so fierce I can barely resist. My watery eyes, transfixed by this whiteness, search the garden seeking to uncover the secrets hidden in the ice.

I walk the white puffy snow covered paths identifying the deciduous bushes, daylilies, purple snapdragons and old rose bushes sleeping under the snow. It’s amazing how the world can suddenly change before your very eyes when it snows... everything you once knew is gone. Another world emerges, changing the panorama you once knew. Even the tall pine and the dark evergreens that grow beside the fence are bent beneath their load.

The silent white snow stretch as far as the eye can reach...

...only down the little garden path there are my footprints in it.... and footprints of something else! I wonder if these footprints are those of the abominable Barbegazi, a fairy creature known to hibernate during the warmer months of the season. They come out of their burrows once the frigid waters have returned. These creature are rarely seen and usually only before a blizzard, which they enjoy very much. During the winter months nobody comes out after dark--or nobody nearly. The women who wash with water don't come, nor the men who drink, nor the children who play from morning to night during the warmer seasons. Not even the dogs of the village will creep out, because they know... Ah, the Troll, the very reason why fairies dislike winter so much... I'm almost certain, however, that those deformed footprints do not belong to the terrible Barbegazi, but to a dog named Conan the Barbarian, who decided to have some fun and follow me around.


“I have such beautiful dreams beneath you”—I talk to the snow. How white, how white and dazzling! True winter lovers worship this, and with cheery eyes they cherish the memory and the time they had with the snow, but my dreams are different.... I dream of warm sunny days and green leaves and soft buds emerging from under the brown bark, I dream of uneven meadows of black-eyed Susan and Marigold, and little singing brooks, whispering to the long grasses and white forest flowers, and among knotted swollen roots the bright-backed beetles and busy ants... 

Have I mentioned before how much fairies dislike winter, or how they cannot tolerate cold or cloudy days? Oh yes, maybe here, and here, and even here. It has nothing to do with ungratefulness, or disdain, or obliviousness towards all the beauty contained in the snow as some might think... is something deeper, something that cannot be explained with mere words to be understood. And so, as snow keep falling, and frigid air keeps singing, like little children singing a round as the shadows get long, I am off to sit in the sun for a while... There is a mist in the valley in moonlight tonight, but after tomorrow the sun will rise and burn that mist away for me...

See you soon!


24 comments:

  1. Looks dreamy Cielo...and I love your photos! I am with you and the fairies for the summer air and light breezes, but I have to admit I found some of my inner snow loving energy this past Christmas...I was sad to leave the snow this year! I wanted to watch the flakes fall from inside our cozy house with a blanket!

    BG

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  2. I'm jealous of all that snow you have. I love snow. But, I'm also looking forward to spring so that I can see more of that enchanting garden of yours!

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  3. It is beautiful...

    When we stop, to look...

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  4. Ah yes, I too prefer the burgeoning life in springtime. The little buds forming and the magical breaking up of the earth when plants decide it is time for their seasonal nap to end.
    Brenda

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  5. Love your pictures and the new music. The pics remind me of Nardia.

    We have snow here too and more to come.

    Willow

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  6. Happy New Year Cielo,
    Just Beautiful and very creative!. I have been away recovering from surgery and I have missed so many of your wonderful posts.
    Enjoy your day finding the warmth of the Sun.
    Elizabeth-Home is Where the Heart is

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  7. Great shots of a winter wonderland!

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  8. Beautiful pictures. I love looking at your garden covered in the fresh snow. So pretty....

    ((Hugs))
    Laura

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  9. Nice winter post - you almost have as much snow as us in Ontario.
    I tried to copy & paste the picture for cottage monday but it is disabled. Any way you can send it to me or post it again?
    Judith

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  10. I love how you captured the falling snow flakes. I admire your talent for making the moment speak. Thank you for sharing.

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  11. Hola Cielo, una vez màs me has transportado al "cielo"... eres realmente una poetiza y leerte es como caminar contigo en tu jardìn escuchando las voces de la naturaleza... gracias.
    Muchos cariños,
    Maria Cecilia

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  12. What a dream of winter are these photos, Cielo! We have about 30 inches of snow right now, and it's about 1 degree F... bbbrrr... so cold! But so much beauty in the snow... Happy Weekend, my friend :o) ((HUGS))

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  13. Very nice blog, let me tell you.
    It´s freezing out here.

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  14. cielo, I sent you an email on Wednesday re your blog on Headboards... there apparently is a spammer... would suggest reading my email or changing your comments. FWIW

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  15. What lovely photos...great job.

    I have my post ready for Show your Cottage Monday...will come back later to link...
    xo bj

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  16. Came back this morning. Guess I will see ya later, alligator !
    xo bj

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  17. Cielo- hope all is okay with you- Noticed the cottage meme is not on and I do so love to visit this party!!

    blessings
    mary

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  18. I love fresh, new, pure, white snow. Beautifull.
    We have a dog that looks just like the one in your photos --his name is Elvis.

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  19. Hola Cielo!!!
    Cuanta nieve en tu jardin,por aqui estamos en pleno verano disfrutando de las vacaciones.
    Te dejo un beso enorme.

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  20. Cielo a beautiful expression of how you feel about your magical winter garden filled with delight
    and mystical peace!

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  21. Hi Cielo,
    Just stopping by to say hello, and I just love the mood of this beautiful post. The music, the lovely photographs and your words of an enchanting winter's garden.
    Karen

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  22. Hello Cielo! Dropped by to see how your are doing. Your post is truly magical and breath taking! The snow creates such beauty and imagination...just lovely! Hugs!

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  23. Hola querida Cielo, ¿qué tal el nuevo año?
    bienvenida de nuevo.
    Qué bonito tu jardín cubierto de nieve, parece un bosque,jamás adivinaría que esas huellaas fueran de un hermoso perrito.
    Un beso

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