Friday, December 18, 2009

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

I can say that now.  I was edgy and worried when I woke up to it this morning, though Tom had already asserted in no uncertain terms that he would drive me in to my end of term lunch party with my students, go shopping and pick me up afterwards, even before the weather became so decidedly inclement.   Once we were down off our hill it really wasn't too bad, and after a knocking back a kir made with cremant d'Alsace I was ready to relax into the party.  They all brought in wonderful food, as always, gave me an incredibly elegant box of chocolates as always, got festive and excitable after the first kir, as always.  Seraphine sang a Nina Simone song about a no good man doing her wrong ( the persona of the song, not Seraphine herself, I assume...) and Bernard got a bit tearful and said he was too sensitive and sentimental. Marguerite just about let me escape without insisting that I took the entire remains of the buffet home to eat over Christmas.  As always I felt incredibly warmly towards them and affirmed to myself that even though they pay me modestly and will never, for the most part, achieve anything but a very shaky grasp of the propositional infinitive, I could never leave them.

One or two of them took photos which they e-mailed me later which had the effect that most photos of myself do, which is to make me quite certain that I should never be seen outside the house again, or not without a burkha, and that unphotographed web presence only is probably the best way forward from now on. ( No seemingly fished-for compliments please; the best response was once from my very gallant brother-in-law, who said "Well, that's what you look like.  What do you think it's like for the rest of us having to see you all the time?")

When I came out and met up with Tom, it was wet but perfectly manageable, until we hit the high ground inland round about Quèssoy, and from then on it got more and more hazardous, far worse than in the morning, so that we nearly finished up in the ditch with rather a long way to walk home a couple of times.   We cancelled the second party of the day at the Quiet American's and B's, I cancelled my last lesson tomorrow with The Beautiful Maxime, and now we are officially snowed in.  We have plenty of wood in the shed, a full gas bottle, food in the freezer and wine in the hall, a warm and very excited dog (she loves snow even though she ends up with intractable pom-poms of it all over her legs), and it's really rather a shame it'll probably all be slush and meltwater in a couple of days.  We feel sorry we missed the party, which may have been postponed until tomorrow anyway, though in fact I was rather full of terrine and cake aux olives and bûche de Noël from lunchtime anyway, but there is really no question of getting out of our village tonight, much less getting home again safely.

So there was nothing left to do but don wellies and get out and photograph it.


(Above is Bel Air, the highest point in Cotes d'Armor, don't you know...)












Or, equally, stay inside and photgraph it through the windows,
















or even stick your face in it, because stuff smells good in it. Even though it does give you pom-poms.

20 comments:

herhimnbryn said...

SOS stop
Please send snow stop
Great images stop
'specially the red clad figures in SNOW stop

Rouchswalwe said...

Ooooh ... I want to build a snowman! And play with Molly and have pom-poms on me, too.

The Crow said...

Wonderful photos, Lucy, and I especially like the photo of dear, sweet Molly.

Snuggle in and stay warm. We have a storm coming our way later this evening, and I will be doing the same.

:)

marja-leena said...

Oh, oh, oh, I want snow! Ah, it's your turn this year, we had our big one last winter, but still. It really is even more lovely in the country and makes me miss the prairies and the north. Enjoy it while you last, with all those cozy comforts of home to warm up in! What a great way to start the holidays, may they be lovely for the three of you!

Julia said...

Dark sky and snow make gorgeous backdrops. So glad Molly is enjoying the snow and you are all set to enjoy it too!

One question I've had many times this week as I try to take pictures of our own snow - how do you keep your fingers from freezing when you're out and about with your camera?

HLiza said...

Even though you described here how harsh the weather is and how snow prevent you guys from partying..I still hope one day I can experience all that myself..Maybe I'll be wiggling like Mol when that time comes..Pom-pom sounds nice..

Dave said...

We're due for a big winter storm on the U.S. east coast tomorrow, too, which will interfere with a potluck supper we'd planned on going to. I love snow, but...

Great pictures! My favorites were the ones with the red child and the drops in the window.

Zhoen said...

Lovely party, lovely snow, lovely dog.

I got over my hatred of myself photographed through my self photography. When I took control of it, I minded my looks less, got used to it, got better at being the subject even when others were behind the camera. Even as the years settle on me.

Unknown said...

I share Molly's feeling about snow. I want to rush outside with or without wellies and savour its spendours. Your photographs go a long way to explaining why. The two figures wearing red - one has a red jacket and one a red scarf - made me wonder whether you had dressed them up and sent them out to trek past the lens of your camera. "Put that hood up please! And throw the scarf round your neck this way round. Thank you. That's perfect".

Dick said...

Beautiful pics, as ever. They've nearly restored my love for all-embracing snow. But I've still got to dig the car out again and I think that the snow's freezing in our cul-de-sac. Back to the photos.

Crafty Green Poet said...

what lovely snowy photos! We've got snow here too and we're just off to see how deep it is along the river....

PurestGreen said...

I wish I could feel comfortable getting my photo taken but I just don't. My face always looks like a pie. Your winter photos are beautiful. i especially love the one on the road.

Jen said...

Love the pics of people in the snow, they remind me of Lowry paintings?

I can't think of anything more wonderful then elegant chocolates in winter. I love your life.

Lucy said...

Thanks all. It's been sunnier today, though more snow fell this morning.

Molly stands out well against it doesn't she? I was lucky with the figures, but then again people do actually get out and walk more when it snows, most days you'd go out there and hardly see a soul outside of a car or tractor.

I shall photograph the chocolates in due course, they came from the latest trendy chocolate boutique in town.

I'd try the self-photography, to get past this horror I have of seeing myself ('face like a pie' really made me laugh!). It would be easier perhaps with a camera on the computer. Perhaps I have to get to know the timer on the camera...

Rosie said...

I didnt go to Rennes...thank god...or I would probably still be there

Roderick Robinson said...

In the top pic you've managed to transform Brittany in the Massif Central. You really are quite gifted, Lucy.

I see Rosie "didn't go to Rennes". Nobody should ever go to Rennes. They should concentrate all their efforts on learning the sinuosities of the world's most dangerous and non-intuitive bypass and then... bypass it.

The Crow said...

Came back to revel in your photos again, and find I am mesmerized by the images within the images of the melted snow drops on your window pane. Worlds within worlds.

:)

Reluctant Blogger said...

I love snow and I love snowy photos. I suppose it is because I love monochrome.

We have had such fun in the snow over the past few days - skiing and sledging and going for walks and doing daft things.

I love it. Snow is proper weather in the same way that storms are and the blazing heat of Australia. I love it all.

Julia said...

The Crow is right! I love the inner world of the snow drops and had not noticed until she pointed them out. Beautiful.

Bee said...

Snow is wonderful . . . as long as you don't have to drive around in it. Horror stories from last night, with people being stranded in their cars all night. We were snug and warm; although I may have to walk into town (and it's a long walk) to collect my turkey tomorrow. I'm so glad that you got to attend the lunch at least. The description of it (and your fondness for your students) was really lovely.

These are absolutely beautiful photographs, Lucy. And don't you love it when people oblige the photographer by wearing red?