Monday 11 December 2017

Let it snow.

This wintry weather - as always - has caught us all by surprise.   In my case the worst thing is how I am missing the warmth of my Aga - a warmth which heats the whole fabric of the house.   My central heating (gas) is very efficient but it is not the same.

We have been lucky in that we have missed all the snow here in North Yorkshire.  The nights have been bitterly cold and the days have been wall to wall bright sunshine and blue sky.   According to the weather forecast at teatime today the snow is disappearing and tomorrow (after a bitterly cold night) will be marginally warmer - even up to four degrees in some places.

Imagine my surprise then when I opened the door at the ring of the bell to find my little friend Liam on the doorstep and to see that he was covered in snow which was falling in large flakes around him.   Hopefully the snow looks like wet snow and may be the start of the slight thaw - I do hope so as on Wednesday friend W and I are set to meet our friends at the Creamery in Hawes - high up in Wensleydale - for a Christmas lunch.

Today Tess and I went back to the farm, had a short walk in the paddock (the ground was too hard for a long walk) and then called in at the farmhouse.   As we went towards the door, Blackie - the black farm cat - came rushing up to greet us and to rub around Tess in ecstasy.   It was lovely to see him again. 

21 comments:

Gwil W said...

That's a lovely scene you paint at the farm. I hope the weather improves. Here it's blowing a gale and the old house is banging its various ancient bits and pieces.

Rachel Phillips said...

Nice to see Blackie.

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

That had to be so lovely to see Blackie and to have such a warm greeting. That cold air and snow you have been having has blown west across the ocean and we are getting an earlier winter than expected.

Ruth said...

Reading between the lines, and imagining what my feelings would be, that was a bittersweet visit to the farm. I hope with all my heart that it did you good - as good as it did for Tess. So many changes. I can see how you're missing the Aga. When my husband could no longer handle the chores of cutting and splitting wood and removed the wood stoves, I've never been warm enough since. Wishing you all the best - good health and warmth - and a good Christmas, too. How I admire your pluck!!! I wonder if you know what an inspiration you are to so many others.

Simon Douglas Thompson said...

Stay safe on the ice. Worries the hell out of me on my bike

Joanne Noragon said...

I always enjoyed my dog/cat bonds. One standard collie drew cats up against his chest and lowered his head over them. Keep warm.

Tom Stephenson said...

Nice to hear of the cat greeting Tess. If you go to Wensleydale, I can recommend the cheese.

the veg artist said...

My husband does not understand my longing for an Aga - he's never lived in a house with that sort of heat. Nothing else is the same! My house is on a north-facing hill, and the last few days have been really cold, but no snow here (South West Wales). I'm glad you've been able to go back to the farm for a visit, and glad that you've kept Tess with you.

angryparsnip said...

I am so happy Blackie was there to greet you and Tess.

cheers, parsnip and mandibles.

Anonymous said...

we are venturing up your way next Sunday so hope the weather improves. Lovely that you can go back to the farm - hope it was not too sad for you. Take care outside - a man at my mum's apartments slipped on the icy snow and broke his arm for Christmas today.

Alphie Soup said...

A lovely story about Blackie and the enthusiastic greeting upon seeing you and Tess.

Alphie

Cro Magnon said...

Nice that you went back to your farm. I presume it is still unoccupied?

I'm sorry about the trolls comments after your observation of my page. Some people pretend to misunderstand on purpose. There is little one can do about such people other than delete their venom; which I don't do unless they are overly insulting.

Librarian said...

What a lovely mental image I now have thanks to your description of Blackie greeting you and Tess at the farm!
Until I was 18, I lived in a house with a woodburning stove for bath and shower water. It was the best heat ever, and since the bathroom was a normal sized room (not meant as a bath when the house was first built), my sister and I often spent hours in there, reading or chatting, and playing with our cats who had their sleeping places there (where else!).
A Christmas lunch at the creamery in Hawes - now that makes me sigh with longing!

Sue said...

Our centrally heated flat is nice and warm in winter but I miss the cosy feel that we get from the log burner in France.

Maria said...

How lovely is that, of the farm cat coming to greet you and Tess.
Greetings Maria x

Derek Faulkner said...

While you may be Aga-less,I believe that you are in the best place now and it seems that you are also beginning to enjoy that fact. Well done.

Cro Magnon said...

p.s. When I was small we always had cats; no dogs. All our black cats were called Blackie, and all others Tiddles. I imagine it was my sister and I who named them!

Heather said...

I lived in a house with an Aga for a couple of years and left it behind with much regret. I hope you adjust to your new form of heating.
What a lovely greeting from Blackie, and I hope the weather allows you to get to your Christmas lunch and home again safely.

Minigranny said...

Lovely to meet with Blackie again. I do hope the weather stays fine for your trip to Hawes for your lunch!! I have fond memories of Hawes.

Theresa Y said...

Are you allowed to bring Blackie with you or is he an outdoor cat? I bet he really misses you and Tess.

Billie said...

So happy to see you out and about. Tess looks to be a sweetheart of a companion. You are an inspiration to your readers.