Our New Year has been dominated by snow forecasts and snow falls and snow removal. The snowstorms have been punctuated with days of very fierce, icy air. And, like a knitting or crochet pattern, it seems as if we must just repeat until we reach the end of the row.
We have not yet reached the end of the row. The photo below was taken from my front window early this morning. It looks so much like other photos in my last post.
Snow can be beautiful, particularly when viewed from the other side of a window, the side of the window that is warm. Having a cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolate can improve the appreciation of the view.
Snow can be fun to walk in, as it begins to fall, and begins to "stick." Snow can be fun in Central Park if that snow is deep enough, and if you have free time, and a sled, and a dog or children along for the ride. It can also be a pleasure to observe with a camera at the ready.
Snow begins to wear out its charms if you don't get the opportunity to play with it. If you need to shovel, and shovel, and shovel again. If you need to deal with murky, slushy aftermath in deep pools at sidewalk intersections. It also can be less beautifully romantic if you have a hard time finding time to get to the grocery store, or do other errands.
If you all think that these listings of ifs mean that I no longer love a good snowfall, you are wrong. I am just wishing that I could have had more time to enjoy the beauty of our various snows since Boxing Day.
Ah, but it is still January, and we in New York still have at least two more months that just might deliver the deep stuff of dreams.
Meanwhile, on a recent clear and dry day, I went out to do errands and returned home with a new pair of boots. I love them. I cannot wear them in the snow. These boots are meant for dry surfaces.
How I would love to wear them tomorrow. They must wait a few days.Hoping that this still New Year is still offering you all lots of opportunities for fresh starts, and renewals of treasured patterns of life.
Best wishes to you all.
Best wishes to you all.
What a delightfully snowy picture. Looks just like home out here on the Canadian prairie.
ReplyDeleteYou, of course, have the right approach to the matter; snow is for playing. First play, then shovel. If you get that backwards, well, it's "not a good thing."
Hope you can wear your lovely new boots tomorrow, but I'm not holding my breath on that.
Those boots are both waiting for... save them for drier days. We don't have snow but everything is very muddy.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I hear about NY recently it seems that you have had yet another fall of snow! You will be so pleased to see the Spring, Frances.
ReplyDeleteI do like your boots!
A lovely post Frances, in which you encapslate what so many of us feel about snow. Here, of course, everything goes quiet when it snows but I imagine in New York that it's the same old bustle. We are almost into February now. I guess we won't be having much more snow. I hope it's the same for you and you can get an opportunity to wear your new boots and perhaps to dance among the spring flowers of Central Park. Talking of things Central would really love to see your take on Grand Central if ever your route lies in the direction of - where is it? 42nd street? And why do Americans who are the most enterprising of people just number their streets. Isn't it hard to remember whether a shop was on 35th street or 53rd street? Why aren't they named eg, after Presidents, or Mountains, or States? You could try christening your street Nighshaze. tell teh neighbours, put up little signs on sticky paper and see what happens.....Guerilla street naming. Well it could be fun and would get you into the papers!
ReplyDeleteOooh I love those boots, those are very fine boots indeed. I understand just what you mean about the snow, a lovely thing to observe, a lovely thing to enjoy at leisure but very short on charm when day to day life must be lived.
ReplyDeleteI hope those boots are hitting the drier pavements sometime soon.
Great boots, Frances!
ReplyDeletePersonally, I am a sucker for a great looking pair of footgear. I have a few pairs that I seldom (if ever, if I'm to be honest) wear, but which I've decided to consider wearable art. And who knows? Maybe next week I'll be invited to tea at the embassy and will have an excuse to wear them. As if! :0)
Fennie -- numbers may be less glamourous than names, but when you're standing on the corner of 75th street, it's a whole lot easier to figure out how to get to 35th street, than it is to figure out where Wilson Way (named after Pres. Woodrow Wilson) is located. Or in the case of St. Albans, Herts., to find "Everlasting Lane" where my husband's old school friend lives. Not nearly as romantic of course but a whole lot easier to cope with.
Have a lovely day, hugs, Canadian Chickadee
I love looking at snow too - there's something very soothing about watching it fall and having white stillness descend. Now sure I agree with Fennie about us having little or no more snow - there's plenty of time yet.
ReplyDeleteLove the boots too!
I know what you mean about the snows, picture-pretty to behold and toilsome to trudge through or remove. Short winter days limit the opportunities for outdoor fun, and hasn't it been COLD! I can appear to have lost 5 or more pounds in the spring, just by removing winter layers.
ReplyDeleteThose are charming boots, very chic. I would have bought them too.
"Those boots were made for walking...." (in the right conditions!). You'll be wearing them before you know it - where did January go?!
ReplyDeleteI like to look at - and photograph snow - that's where my affection for it begins and ends. Though in its first fall of fluffiness I like how it seems to deaden sound.
Re the numbering of NY streets. Like NY we have a grid system here in Glasgow too. I think once you get used to NY's (numbering) system it is a more logical way to get around. I think 34th on 5th is easier to figure out than Glasgow's (naming) system of Argyle Street at Union Street. Naming the street doesn't tell me how far I am away from it. I can work that out with the numbering system - if you know what I mean.
Frances, you express it so well, the ambiguity of the city dweller towards snow. And your image of the row of knitting being repeated endlessly rings so true for me at this time of year.
ReplyDeleteThe boots are gorgeous, tres chic, as is the way you photographed them tossed carelessly on the rich carpet. I hope you get to wear them really soon!
Hello Frances,
ReplyDeleteYes snow is lovely if you are viewing it from your window. A totally different matter when you need to get somewhere. Your walk in Central Park gives you the chance to see the fun side of snow, children and children at heart love the experience of playing in the snow. Then the slushy melting snow makes us just to get it over with and back to normality.
A chance to wear the knitted socks and know your feet will be warm. I bought a lovely fairisle scarf and new gloves in the sale this week, still very cold here. My first snowdrops are out in the garden.
Keep warm. millyx
I saw the photograph of the boots on the rug, and it reminded me of a painting I yearn to own (in my dreams) by William Nicholson and gifted to the Tate by Emily Lutyens
ReplyDeletehttp://www.tate.org.uk/servlet/ViewWork?cgroupid=999999961&workid=10723
Weather looks ferocious in NYC, daughter is headed your way mid April, for a stint at Parsons, and a twirl around the various galleries, and fashionista sites. Hope it's warmer by then for her. Have vivid memories of wind burned legs acquired watching the Easter Sunday Parade as snow began to fall a few year back. It can be BITTER!
Oh and I have a new blog, just in case you fancy a little pond hopping.
xoxo