Busy Night

[poliphilo]

I woke in the night and there seemed to be more light than usual coming in through the window, so I looked out and we had snow- a complete covering of snow. Isn't it magical how it can fall for hours and you don't hear a thing? I went back to bed and found myself trying to remember the words of "O Little Town of Bethlehem"- a hymn which doesn't actually mention snow but seems to imply it.   "Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by." That's a snowscape surely!  "How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given." Can't you just see it drifting down?

Later I was woken by Sameena next door shouting at the baby. He cries a lot and she was reproaching him for keeping her awake.  "That won't work" I thought, but apparently it did, because we didn't hear another sound.

Well, not from him- but the rabbits have been moving furniture all night long and are still at it this morning. I tidied their room yesterday and they've been getting it back the way they want it. 

The snow's still falling by fits and starts. Maybe I'll go out later with the camera and shoot some Christmassy views.

Comments

[huskyteer.livejournal.com]

The gerbs do that. They spend all week arranging the cage to their liking, so I can hardly blame them for working on it all night when I mess it up for them by cleaning it out.

I envy your snow, but it is beautifully clear and bright here.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

It's amazing how much noise two, little fluffy things can make.

If the forecasts are right the snow is headed your way.

[saare-snowqueen.livejournal.com]

Funny you should make that connection. As a child I always had the same mind-picture when we sang Oh Little Town of Bethlehem. I suspect that Philips Brooks who was an Episcopalian minister (that's C of E to you) and was brought up in Boston near where I grew up had much the same image in his mind when he wrote it. I remember walking home from church on Christmas Eve my boots crunching in the snow and the sky full of stars. We used to have proper winters in those days.

I'd love to see your snow photos. Here we are having a mini-hurricane - violent winds and slashing rain.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I don't remember when we last had a white Christmas. They've been very rare in my lifetime. Maybe things were different in the 19th century.

Do you still have them?

[saare-snowqueen.livejournal.com]

We haven't had a white Christmas here on Saaremaa for 3 -4 years now. We do get snow but usually not until later in January. This year we are not - yet - even getting that.

[margaretarts.livejournal.com]

My family and I happened to have our family reunion in London in 2000, and it snowed that Christmas Day. It was lovely crunching around in the park, with the children half-theatrically calling up to all the buildings that morning, "Happy Christmas, everyone!"

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

That's how it should be!

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

According to one report about solar activity, we may have some white Christmases pretty soon if the trend continues. I posted a link in my LJ.

Meant to add a non sequitur. I'm wondering whether Ailz had success in starting a jade plant from that leaf I sent. I'm tracking the jade diaspora in a desultory fashion.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yes, I saw that report. So does it mean we're going to get a mini-ice age after all?

Ah the jade plant. Sorry, I've been meaning to answer your post- but I had to ask Ailz first because I never know which plant is which. She says the jade plant is flourishing and that it flowered just before Christmas.

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

I'm going to send you back to Ailz for a clarification here! I sent her three or perhaps four Christmas cactus leaves, and those are what I'd expect her to say flowered just before Christmas.

The jade plant leaf (very fleshy, no lobes) was an afterthought.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I went back.

"Oh, you mean the jade plant" she said. And pointed it out.

It's doing fine. I'll post a picture....

[veronica-milvus.livejournal.com]

Oh poo. I WANT SNOW!!! None here yet. I love to get the old walking boots on and go trudging through the nature reserve. Last time I really went walking in snow was about 5 years ago when we rented a cottage near Bakewell at New Year. It was magical.

I love the snow when I don't have to drive anywhere.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I believe it's heading south.

I don't quite know what's happening here. We had a period of thaw, but it's still very cold and I think it may well snow again.

[suemars.livejournal.com]

i love that snow makes everything pretty. i wish we would get a big snow storm. here they call them alberta clippers.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Alberta clipper- what a great name- a storm blowing in on wide, white sails....

[suemars.livejournal.com]

that sounds so pretty...

[mummm.livejournal.com]

The rabbits rearrange the furniture! That's so funny and cute!

I wish I could send you some of the snow from here so you would have a goodly amount! ;^)

http://www.groundhog.org/

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid there's nothing to send. It thawed within hours...

Groundhog Day- loved that movie!

[bob924.livejournal.com]

Not only the "O Little Town of Bethlehem" still and silent descriptors, but the wintry landscape artwork which accompanied this carol in my Christmas songbooks always made my mind soar with snowy images. Take plenty of pictures! [It will be around 60 (F.) today in Richmond, VA.]

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Sadly the snow thawed before I could get out with my camera.

There'll be other chances....

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

People who live with constant snow in winter complain about the problems it causes but I miss it so much having grown up in Michigan and getting all the lake effect snow. "O Little Town..." has ALWAYS meant snow and white Christmases to me ever since I was very small.

Way down here in southern Spain I see snow in my dreams sometimes.

Your bunnies really move the furniture around?

[mamarose.livejournal.com]

I grew up in Michigan, too. They don't get the snow they used to, back in the 80s or even into the 90s.

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

I'm from Grand Rapids but have probably spent more time in East Lansing. You?

The snowfalls of my childhood were REALLY snowfalls.
:)

[mamarose.livejournal.com]

I grew up in Ann Arbor, but went to MSU for a few years. I have family in GR, and scattered throughout the state to Detroit and north into the UP.

GR and the west coast still get lake effect snows, but they don't stay like they used to. I remember a time about 12 or 14 years ago when I was in GR for Christmas as we got over 3 feet of snow in one evening. I don't think even the lake effect snow is like that anymore.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I exaggerate slightly- but they do have very definite ideas about where things should be.

They have a big cardboard box in there that serves as their burrow. What they were doing last night was knawing themselves a new entrance/exit.

[mamarose.livejournal.com]

We got a lot of snow overnight as well, and it is still falling.

Rabbits move furniture? Somehow this freightens me...

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

What they were really doing was gnawing themselves a new hole in the big cardboard box that serves as their burrow- but it certainly sounded as though they were moving furniture.

[mamarose.livejournal.com]

I am oddly relieved to hear this. I imagined them nudging chairs or something, at least, on the realistic side of things. In my imagination I wanted them to be interior designers with flare for feng shui *grin*.