There's no business like 'Snow' business......

Derrymore Woods looking over toward the Mourne Mtns.

No matter where I am, whenever it snows the whole world always looks like a different place. Cleaner, fresher and a lot less harsh in some places. There is a tranquil beauty when you are looking out over a snow filled landscape, an inescapable silence expect for the crunch under foot.

Derrymore Woods near Bessbrook, Co.Down

Plodding my way across the white open fields that in summer are abound with white and yellow Daisy's, and golden from a carpet of Buttercups, my feet sink below the surface and temporarily disappear. Not even the soft breeze dislodges the crisp white flakes from the branches of the trees. It's apparent I am not the only one out though, as small tiny foot prints from rabbits and squirrels criss-cross my path, venturing further than I will on this cold winters day.
But there is work to be done for after all what else is there to do with so much snow as I stand here gazing over to the Mourne Mountains, themselves clad in a winter coat of pure white. So to task at hand, build me a snowman to sit in silence and enjoy the view.

Xmas Holly

But this is not easy work and in no time at all, I am unzipping my jacket and stopping to catch my breath, a cold frosty breath. The hat comes off, the gloves come off, the scarf is unwound, but only briefly because soon the wind starts to bit. Starting as all good things do, very small, I keep rolling my snowball in the unbroken snow, pushing through large hidden tufts of grass and over buried logs. Soon what started out as a moment of childish madness brings a huge grin to my face as the ball gets bigger and gather more snow. I am now struggling to push it along. It grows in size and weight, pushing is hampered as the snow gets deeper, but on I toil knowing the reward will be a revisit to days gone by..
Having now made one ball, the lower part of my Frankenstein snow cast creation, I start on the second part, an upper body for my speechless friend. With the same vigor I push and push, roll and roll looking for the spots of fresh snow I missed before. Mission accomplished as I start on the final piece, the head.. But just then I realise that from here the snowman will indeed be silent and invisible to the rest of the world. He needs to be seen but all that pass this way, which means rolling the already heavy body needs rolling elsewhere. No problem, for from here it's all downhill. Only problem was that when it started to roll, it gathered more snow! No matter, the bigger the better. Or so you would think...

Mr Snowman & I posing for the camera

The problem of lifting the upper body presented something of a problem but after a few struggling moments, it was done and dusted.. Once the head was planted on top all that remained was a face as sweet as my own, or close to. Not much you can really to to improve anyone's looks when all you have to work with is snow and sticks..

In the end it was worth all the effort. Standing back and posing for a few shot I left my friend to enjoy the serenity of his new home, perched atop the embankment, blended in with the tree line. He sure brought a small to my face, I only hope that passers by felt the same and enjoyed the spectacle created for mainly their viewing...
Well the snow has remained longer than anyone expected and with freezing overnight and daytime temperatures we are set to endure this cold weather for sometime yet. Bring it on I say, for after living in temperate Wellington for years, this is indeed a very welcome change and a sight to behold.

Mr Snowman.

Hooray for Winter in all it's glory!!

So white, so quiet..