Nothing quite like a Frosty New England Morning. I remember as a child, wandering the Rhode Island woods behind our home the morning after a freshly fallen snow. Eerily silent, save the sound of the snow crunch underfoot.
All is fresh and clean and new. Each tiny branch dressed as a bride in white.
These photos were taken in my back yard a few weeks ago as the sun rose, sending dappled rays through snow covered branches. It was breathtaking.
I thought you might enjoy these winter wonderland pictures if you love a fresh snowfall too. Especially if you grew up with snow, but live in a warmer climate now. (My extended California family, who appreciate a good VT snow, come to mind.)
I hoped to catch a bright bird at the feeder to share with you. There were blue jays, cardinals and a male house finch with a vibrant scarlet head. But they were skittish, uncooperative and refused to pose for me. Kudos to this sweet junco who was more obliging.
As a child, I stood statuesque for long minutes, under the gnarly old plum tree with the hanging feeder and birdhouse. My mittened hand outstretched, overflowing with seed. And the birds, they came! If you feed them, they will come. It was fascinating – the tiny claws perching. That little darting beak. And all too soon, gone.
Can you find the flag? (As in, where’s Waldo…)
In my mind, snow is the perfect excuse for cozying up in a comfy chair by the fire. A good book in one hand, a steaming mug of chai in the other.
Snow brings to mind Robert Frost’s Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening. Frost was born in San Francisco but spent most of his life in Massachusetts and here in New Hampshire. I was fascinated reading about his difficult life story here. Amazed at the literary beauty he produced in spite of it. (Because of it?)
Carol says
You have brought back such wonderful memories to me this morning! See, this just goes hand in hand with your article about favourite things! I have not been outdoors in the still of the morning long enough to appreciate too much of it lately. I grew up on the other side of Canada, in Alberta and our winters are generally colder, but without the biting wind we get in Eastern Canada , so I don’t stay outside here too long, but I used to enjoy it alot. OMG, you get Juncos too! They are such cute birds and I have had them make nests on our patio-right inside big planters, both hanging and standing. They are precious and I love them so much, but we mostly see them here in summer(I guess this wind here frightens them, too). So, once again thankyou for a beautiful article. It has started my day off just perfectly!
Allie says
Hi Carol – so good to hear from you and I loved knowing that my words brought back good memories. There is something magical about that first walk through a fresh snow. If it’s powdery, it almost squeaks under your feet. This afternoon I saw a male/female couple of cardinals at the feeder. So pretty. I didn’t catch them with the camera, I didn’t even try. I just watched them and it was beautiful. It has been rainy here all weekend and the temps have been a little milder so we lost a lot of the snow we got last week. Hope you had a super weekend and a good week to come.
Kathy says
LOVE the gorgeous snow photos, poem, and quote!!! What a way to start my morning…Thanks, Allie! 🙂
Allie says
Hi Kathy – always a pleasure to hear from you – so glad you enjoyed this post. Thanks so much for dropping by, friend! xo
Julia Wooters says
Thanks for sharing these beautiful pics. They remind me of the snows I saw earlier in my life, and are a lovely diversion on a rainy Tennessee morning.
Allie says
Hi Julia – Thank you, so nice to hear from you! I was so glad I could catch the sun coming through the trees that morning. And I wasn’t even planning to do a post with them. I just looked out the kitchen window and it was a winter wonderland and I just had to try to capture it. It rained here a lot this weekend too, so we lost most of the snow we got last week. Still some white out there, but nothing like these pics. Have a great week!
Louise says
Great pictures!
Allie says
Thanks Aunt Pinkie! Love you much! Happy Valentines Day. (almost) XOXO
Maria Elsa Guimarães says
Dear Allie, thank you for the great snow photos. i live in Portugal, South of Europe and the snow have covered the mountains last weeks along. I live quite near the Atlantic ocean, so the snow never gets my town. However, we get frozen witn 1ºC outside the doors. Have a nice pleasant weekend. Xoxo
Allie says
Hi Maria Elsa – so nice to hear from you this weekend and love knowing you are in Portugal. Seems the world gets smaller every day. It’s so fun to connect and make friends with people the world over. We got a lot of rain yesterday which washed away most of the beautiful snow here, hopefully we’ll get a little more before the season is over. I know not everyone (especially the shovelers!) share my hope. I’m lucky to have four boys and one husband — and they don’t ask me to shovel. I do things like pop the popcorn and make homemade hot chocolate. Which is also important! 🙂 Have a wonderful week! xo
Susie Mandel says
What gorgeous pictures! Thanks so much for sharing these and for quoting Robert Frost. I am going to come back and go to the link you posted and read about him. Have a wonderfully cozy Saturday! <3
Allie says
Thank you Susie! Being from New England, I felt I should have known more about Robert Frost’s history, but I didn’t. It was sad to hear he lost several children, one to cholera and one to suicide. His poetry is amazing and borne out of tremendous suffering. Hope your weekend has been good, we got a lot of rain here which washed away most of the white stuff. (I’m sure there’s more where that came from!) xo
Leslie Edwards says
If I show these to Dan we will be moving up there!! How beautiful!!
Allie says
Thanks Leslie. Perhaps a winter scouting trip is in order??? 🙂 We have a guest room now, so keep that in mind.
Linda Nee says
Beautiful! I love the photos, Aliie! I can’t believe I never noticed that bridge in your backyard… We will need to get together for a Hot Chi soon 🙂
Linda
Allie says
Thanks so much Linda, great to hear from you. I hope you and all your boys are doing well. We moved last July, still in Manchester, but up in Currier Hill off Wellington. That’s why you don’t remember the bridge. I’d LOVE to have you here for a cup of chai. Do you get to Manchester much? Let’s do it soon. xo
Eva says
J’adore tes photos Allie! J’aimerais visite cet région, me promené par se foret enchanté et prendre après un bon chocolat chaud. Ta phrase du jour est magnifique! xoxo
Allie says
Eva – merci! Je sais que vous apprécieriez une visite au New Hampshire. Je vais vous faire du chocolat chaud maison, ET …. J’ai une chambre d’amis. Rappelez-vous que si vous venez jamais aux États à visiter. J’adorerais te voir! xo
Linda Jenkins says
Allie, the pictures are lovely. There really is something special about a fresh snow before feet have trampled on it and destroyed its sweet serenity. I have always loved this Frost poem. I remember reciting it to my oldest child over and over again to my oldest boy (now 45). He picked up the words and the rhythm quickly, and then he would recite it for me. One of my favorite memories. He was only 5 then…..time flies by so quickly.
Allie says
Hi Linda – loved hearing from you – thank you. Always loved this Frost poem too. What I also hear in my head is my dad’s voice. He always superimposed something else besides “house”. As in, whose car this is I think I know. Or whose cake this is I think I know…. Funny. I bet your son has great memories of this poem with you too. I’m sure your grandsons will love it too. Have a beautiful week my friend. xo
Barbara Child says
Such a lovely glimpse of the beauty of living in New Hampshire! Thanks for bringing it us here and those in warmer climes!
Allie says
Thank you Barbara – so thankful to have some beautiful woods out back to enjoy! New Hampshire is a beautiful place to live, we are so blessed.
Aunt Margie says
Yes, your pictures and thoughtful observations make me homesick for YOU! I loved reading the snippets about Robert Frost and his colorful life. Out of tragedy was forged unusual depth and feeling expressed in his appealing rhythms and rhymes. I recognized your lovely backyard, having seen it in the fall, and now in the SNOWfall! Lovely. Having spoken to our friend at Joe’s Pond, I understand they have had some significant snowfalls too. I’m afraid I’ll have to experience all the magical snowdrifts vicariously. That time comes unbidden!
Allie says
Aunt Margie, I miss you too. Very much. It was so nice to hear from you, thank you. We’ve had three weeks of non-stop illness here with Hudson, just coming up for air. He had the flu and then complications from a medication he was on – and then he got a bad stomach flu. He’s well right now and saying a prayer he can stay that way. We got a lot of rain this weekend which washed away a lot of the snow we got in the storm this past Wednesday, but I have no doubt we’ll get more of the white stuff soon. Winter is not over in NH. Love to all. xoxo
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop says
Beautiful pictures! There is something so amazing about a fresh dusting of snow. It brings beauty to everything it touches – even if only for a moment.
Allie says
Thank you Kathy – most of our snow is gone now, and we are starting to hope for spring! A little premature. It was actually 74 degrees last week and I left my sunroof open by accident. And then it snowed unexpectedly about 5″ the next day. I found my suburban front seats and console full of snow. Looking forward to spring!
puja says
Oh my Gosh…what a lovely pictures. I never had a chance of enjoying the snow. Your pictures making me think of planning some trip to the snowy mountain.
Allie says
Hi Puja – I hope you get to enjoy the snow someday. It’s so beautiful.
Shashi at SavorySpin says
Allie, I am usually not a fan of snow – but your pictures are making me think otherwise! These are gorgeous, soulful captures! By the way, when it comes to birds, I couldn’t agree more, “If you feed them, they will come” -when we moved to this little condo, I really missed being surrounded by birds like I was in my house – I put a few bird feeders out on our little balcony and boyoboy I’ve spent many a morning just staring at them! Also – love that quote by C.S. Lewis – I cannot say I haven’t been guilty of doing so…but am a work in progress… Happy Tuesday, my sweet friend!
XOXO
hinh anh dep says
Dear Allie. Thank you for the great photos of white snow. Especially in the early days of this new year 2020.