Firstly, thank you so much for all the kindness in your messages from my previous post, the words you have gifted to me have been like a big warm hug.
In my journal of happy things Kit is still featuring, not daily, but every 2 or 3 days she's arrived for snacks and without a doubt she is pregnant. Twice her mate has accompanied her but he's very shy and has bolted for the bushes as soon as he's seen us. I've also jotted about the early evening sky, made beautiful by the planets Venus and Jupiter being so very bright and visible low in the sky to the west just after sunset. I am hoping that we get clear skies on March 1st when they come close together, I love a bit of star and planet gazing – search 'Venus Jupiter conjunction' if you're interested in seeing the spectacle in your part of the world.
Out on my own in the woods I've been paying attention and noticing the tiniest details that show the shift in the seasons from winter to spring. Despite the recent sharp frosts there are tree buds swelling on the branches and the first emergence of catkins, but a carpet of snowdrops in a local wood is the most emphatic sign of change. These hardy little plants are such a hopeful sight, pushing their blunt tipped leaves through frosted soil throughout January to produce such delicate bell-like flowers each February. They're beautiful en masse and when they tremble in the cold wind on a breezy day it looks like the whole woodland floor is shimmering. And drifting down from the bare branches overhead come symphonies sung by small birds – being in a snowdrop carpeted wood is one of my favourite natural pleasures.
It's been a cold winter this year, so spring will be a while yet but it's been nice to embrace the last weeks of winter by curling up in the warm to work on new patterns. The horse pattern is coming along nicely and I'm now working on a cow pattern too. I will show you some pictures when I've ironed out some of the wrinkles. I'm also putting the finishing touches to a couple of mice that I'll be giving away. I've been holding off on this because of the disarray of the international post (Royal mail has suspended international deliveries throughout January) but now it looks like the situation is resolved I'll post about the giveaway soon. See you again when they're ready.
little cotton rabbits 
Julie!! Beautiful photos that give me hope that the carpets of green will soon be with us. We (🇨🇦) have just had a taste of Fools Spring & are currently back in a frigid snow squall. Buses cancelled & road covered with blowing snow. I actually breath a sigh of relief that I might get to just stay home. Suits my sorrowful state with my Mom’s Celebration of Life scheduled for this Saturday . My energy is depleted. Thanks for a little mental holiday. 🇨🇦🌬️🥰
You are such a great photographer! ( and we’ll with words too..)
I visited the Van Gogh museum this week and your pictures remind me of his paintings. Your words have the spirit of his letters too when he wrote to his brother about the beautifull French landscape and what it did to his soul.
Thank you for this post; it made my day a bit better..
I meant well with words, not we’ll….. 😬
Lovely post! I hope you’ll be able to snap a few photos of Kit’s mate. The snowdrops are so beautiful. All is covered in a blanket of sleet, snow and ice here. A great day to stay inside and knit!
Such beautiful pictures! I am waiting for some flowers to pop up here in Norway as well but last night there was more snow! So I will enjoy your pictures while we wait!
Pictures that are as uplifting as always. And adorable mice in such sweet colours! So inspiring. xxx
Beautiful photos and a lovely blog to go with it. I just love snowdrops! I’m looking forward to seeing the horse and cow.
Another Cdn comment here. It’s –29ºC right now, and no hope for it getting better today, so thank you for holding up a promise of spring to come. (I’ve been tired of winter since Nov, so it won’t come too soon.) And little mice. How lovely, all of it!
Love to read your lovely blog and see your wonderful photos. Such beauty in nature!!
xx
Lori, so sorry to hear about your mother. My mother-in-law is heading that way. Reminds me of Millay’s Dirge without Music:
“Gently they go, the beautiful, the tender, the kind;
Quietly they go, the intelligent, the witty, the brave.
I know. But I do not approve. And I am not resigned.”
I hope you have happy memories to help when things are hard.
I have never seen such a beautiful site as the snowdrops. Thank you for sharing. I am so excited to see the new patterns.
The snowdrops are stunning! Thank you for sharing. You bring so much joy to so many. I hope you realize what a blessing you are to all of us who are lucky enough to see your posts.
Thank you for a moment of joy today. Your posts always make me smile. You live in a beautiful place and you have eyes to see it too. I loved the photos as always and the little mice are adorable: your photos are the best.
So glad Kit is now a regular visitor. I look forward to hearing more.
Thank you for sharing your joy.
Such beautiful snowdrop images Julie, they certainly do lift the spirits!
I’m so pleased to hear that little Kit is still visiting, I hope she brings her babies to see you too.
Love the little mice. 🙂
V x
Hi Julie, LOVE the snowdrops. I wish I had some in my yard. Thanks for the video. Nice extra touch. Can’t wait to see the new patterns. We are to be be pretty warm here in Maryland (US) today – near 80, but then back to the 40’s this weekend. It’s been a roller coaster here for sure. Hope spring arrives soon, for all of us. Take care.
Snowdrops en masse are lovely aren’t they. I was waiting for them here on my morning dog walks and suddenly one day, there they were. The churchyard has lots and is always beautiful. So glad Kit is a regular visitor. I hope Toby doesn’t mind sharing his cocktail sausages! The moon and the planets were beautiful tonight, it was so clear. Cold too though! CJ xx
I love your photos Julie. It brings back memories of my childhood when I lived in the UK.
Thank you for the beautiful pictures. . You have a really natural eye for a good photo. In my part of the world we are seeing the first signs of autumn but isn’t it amazing how we see the same sun moon and planets. What a thrill that Kit is back!
Magnifique ce tapis de perce-neige !! Agréable journée
Beautiful pictures!
Hi Lori
I was so sorry to read your message and hear about your mum. I hope tomorrow is an uplifting celebration of her life and that your grief finds a gentler level in the coming weeks. You must be exhausted, hopefully you’ll have some time to rest and recuperate a little as you adjust to such devastating loss,
sending love and strength for tomorrow
J xxxx
Beautiful photos and video clip. Thank you
Simply beautiful Julie ❤❤❤❤
Your photos are really uplifting – I love snow drops so much the purest of white flowers are beautiful against the green background – simply wonderful. So much hope of better days ahead.
Thank you for sharing.
Must also comment on your delightful little mice, how beautiful are they … such pretty colours they are simply the best and what we all aspire to. ♥️ ♥️
Lovely to see that blanket of snowdrops, spreading hope that Spring is just around the corner. Thank you for sharing the photos.
I so enjoy the quietness of the forest in your photos. Absolutely beautiful. And to tell the truth I fell in love with your first one the rabbit. It’s almost like it has a soul! Thank you for the beautiful patterns. Keep them coming!!
Greetings of the day, hope you are doing great! It is so pleasing to see how you observe, feel and capture these. It shows you are very close to nature and find happiness in this. Absolutely, I loved these beautiful snapshots.