Snow covered Birch trees on the banks of the River Spey I thought we’d shift to Black and White for a change, with another image from last January’s amazing depth of snow and deep frost. You can probably tell by now that I love the grace of the Birch! I appreciated this week’s quote as […]
Snow reflections on the banks of the River Spey, near Aviemore Taken during last January’s big freeze, with ice ‘pancakes’ drifting along on the current. I loved the rich golden sunlight and the reflections this created with the ice. One of the themes I often come back to with my quotations is the nature of […]
Snow and sun Taken shortly before the low sun dipped behind the hill of Craigellachie, I loved the golden sparkle as the sunlight came through the snow and birch branches. The air was so cold and dry that as snow fell from branches it created a cloud of shining diamonds. “A human being is a […]
Sunset tree in a field of snow, near Drymen, Loch Lomond. Unlike the south, we have had hardly any more snow since the last load, but it is very frosty. By my calculations it is the solstice on Tuesday 21st where we mark the turning of the year. It seems to have absolutely raced by […]
Early snowfall, Craigellachie birchwood. I love the contrast between the shady wood and the dazzling gold and white trees in the sunshine, with this stunning blue sky. “So the single most vital step on your journey toward enlightenment is this: learn to disidentify from your mind. Every time you create a gap in the stream […]
Wherever you go, the birch wood has been resounding to a drrrrrrrrp! of woodpeckers. The Jackdaws have been flocking around the village in huge numbers for much of the night with their chatter-jack-jack. The low-ground snow went into meltdown this week, and a few wretched-looking plants are starting so show through. I hope I have […]
“Snow feathers” – hoar frost crystals Welcome to what seems to have become the weekly snow report! This was taken on a wee local ski expedition last week. Temperatures were below freezing all week with lows of minus 16C, allowing these amazing frost crystals to build up. With no wind, and blue skies, conditions were […]
Monadhliath Pine A lonesome pine, above the main treeline, with the view of the Cairngorms from the Monadliath mountains, Strathspey. High up on the hills on my skis, on a perfect surface of hoar-frost crystals sparkling in the intense sunshine – a perfect winter’s day. “We are like islands in the sea, separate on the […]
Snow Birch, Craigellachie National Nature Reserve, Aviemore Another image from New Year, at the treeline of the birch wood on Craigellachie hill, on a day of deep frost and sparkling air. At the time I was amazed how deep the snow was, not realising how much more we would get over the next week! I […]
In the mist… Pine silhouettes Early afternoon, on skis in the Monadhliath near Aviemore. I hoped that the mist would lift, as there was almost blue sky above, but as I approached the big pines the mist closed in further, giving me time for a few shots before they faded away… “The greatest healers who […]
Birch Paths We still have a lot of snow in the woods, alternately deep, soft and cludgy, or treacherously icy. Many trees are still bent right over, cemented to the ground. Many of these have now split completely, in some parts of the woods there is total devastation. On this particular path through the woods, […]
Characterful Pine, Rothiemurchus woods, near Aviemore. One from the last fortnight when the snow was still fresh and beautiful! The slow thaw continues, but we still have some deep snow in the woods making it very difficult to walk anywhere. Footpaths are icy and treacherous, off the paths there is still deep and heavy snow. […]
