Monday 6 February 2012

Snowy memories...



Seeing all the snowy pictures all over blogs and facebook this weekend has made me want to do a snowy post too! We didn't actually get much here in Somerset though, a little dusting really, though the local children were out in force building snowmen and making snow angels on the ground. So I am cheating a little bit with today's pictures, they are all from a few years ago, at my parents old house in North Yorkshire. 

For much of my childhood, we lived in an isolated house out on the moortop between Reeth and Richmond. We used to get a LOT of snow each Winter, and would often get days off school as the school bus couldn't make it up the hill. It brought a lot of excitement to us as children and we had a lot of fun in the snow, me and my brother Laurence and then later, with our sister Harriet too. We owned a large field at the back of the house, and used to sledge down it with dad - I even remember him skiing down it one year! Unfortunately I haven't got any of these really old pictures to show you, though there are lots in albums at mum and dad's.

These photos are actually from a couple of different occasions, 2005 and 2010 I think, when I had gone back to visit them over Christmas.


As I've grown older, the magic of snow has worn off a little... mainly because everything seems to grind to a halt even when there is only a couple of inches on the ground and I just find it so frustrating... I still find it breathtakingly beautiful though, especially when it is as crisp and clear as this day was.

 Believe it or not there is actually a dry stone wall under all this snow!

 Can you see the moon still out? (I think it was only about 8.30 in the morning when I took these)

 Sunrise...


...and this is one of my all time favourite pictures, in fact I still use it as the background on my computer. Dad took when he was out on his daily walk one year. It is looking back at their house over the fields - if you look just to the right of the centre of the picture just below where the hill meets the sky, that little dark patch is their old house and garden. I love the crispness of the snow with the blue sky and the patch of mist in the valley. 

They actually moved away from the area the year before last though and I do miss going back to visit. At times when I was growing up, it seemed like a bit of a pain because of the isolation and it was really easy to take the stunning views for granted, but it really was a beautiful place to live. I don't know whether I will ever live anywhere like it again, but looking back, I definitely feel lucky to have lived in such an amazing setting for so many years.


Don't get me wrong, there were some very bleak, horrible weather days up there too, as it was just so exposed and open to the elements. In fact, the day I took these pictures, me and dad had gone for a little walk just to get out of the house and oh my goodness, it was the most windy day I have ever experienced in my life. Once you got down the hill where these are taken it was fine, but out on the top road, I felt like I couldn't even breath, it was really awful actually. Every time I took a breath, the wind whipped it away before I could get it down!! I had to walk backwards, with my scarf over my mouth and still could hardly get enough air to breath... not a nice feeling at all!


Anyway I'll leave you for today with this photo which always makes me smile. I think it's from the same Christmas... Me and Harriet built a snowman in the garden, then she built a teeny weeny baby one next to it! Just look at it's little scarf and hat... it does make me smile every time I look at it! Anyway, hope you are managing to stay wrapped up cosy and warm - have got all my thermals in use here and my hot water bottle is never far away either! Back soon xxx

14 comments:

greenrabbitdesigns said...

We didn't even get a dusting of snow, it was rainy and 8 degrees, not that I mind as I'm not that fond of it!
I really love your photograph of the sheep, really beautiful. :)
Keep warm,
Vivienne x

Helen Philipps said...

Oooh I loved seeing these snowy pictures, Jenny! Like you, I find snowy images stunning visually, though like most people, of course, am not keen on the disruption it causes to daily life. You must miss the amazing bleak but beautiful countryside of your childhood, but appreciate living somewhere softer. I loved the big and tiny snowmen built by you and your sister...such happy memories to have!
Thank you for a lovely post. Keep cosy!
Helen x

Pipany said...

Wow, those are stunning pics Jenny! We haven't had even a flake of snow yet and so I want sun instead. So tired of the dark and wet days. Hey ho, spring can't be long. x

Pomona said...

What a beautiful place to live - the pictures really are wonderful. I dream about that sort of isolation! You just can't find it in my part of the world.

Pomona x

♥ Mary Janes TEAROOM said...

Such beautiful photographs Jenny!....You must have such wonderful memories of living on the moortop....I love your snowman pic with the big and little snowmen built by you and your sister...Thank you for sharing some of your special memories,
Keep warm Jenny,
Susan x

Poppy said...

Beautiful pictures! I would love to have some snow, it has been trying to snow for the last few hours....fingers crossed.

Lou xxx

Country Rabbit said...

wonderful winter wonderland images! must be great memories for you too...i so remember such deep and bitter snow falls where i grew up- even the sea shore had blocks of ice. we dont get snow like that here in devon....but i say that just as the weather man is saying snow in the west country? so who knows we might be in for some after all...x

p.s ive been catching up on your lovely makes x

fee @ chipper nelly said...

hello lovely - beautiful pictures (there's nothing like sun on snow!)
Nice to hear from you earlier - I have become obsessed with those Topsy and Tim books. My fav was when they went to the zoo! Defo on my list to make ore of. You know it's going to lead to trouble though!!!
Happy weekend
fee x

Em said...

Really gorgeous snow photos! I just came across your lovely blog via twitter... going to be having a good read now! x

Jacqueline said...

What beautiful photos and a lovely description, I really enjoyed it, thanks for sharing with us Jenny xxx

Petrus said...

These are beautiful,we'd like to have some...great decorated...

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Redy said...

Beautiful pictures, I love read this post. thank you for sharing

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