We woke, the dog and I, to a white and wintry world. A hard frost stuck the soles of my slippers to the path as I went out to retrieve the first ball of the day. I have attempted to explain, over the years, that, given both her species and her parentage… she is supposed to do the retrieving, but if the grass is cold, wet or muddy, she disagrees. She gets it half right…the setter half of her will ‘set’, freezing into the classic stance and indicating the ball’s position with every tense line of her body. It is the retrieving half she refuses to acknowledge, except for the Toller’s ‘song’ with which she is apt to communicate if I am not taking enough notice. Especially when a ball is in play.
So, in naught but dressing gown and slippers, I went out into the frozen morning to retrieve the ball. The first creeping flush of dawn suffused the horizon, lighting layers of white mist as the temperature dropped. I love this time of morning, when the world is still hushed. Behind the curtains, homes are waking, but the noise of modern living has yet to disturb the silence and it feels as if you alone are witnessing the daily miracle of the reborn sun.
Every leaf and blade of grass was outlined in crystal, gilded by the morning light, but our morning walk was brief… the bitter cold seemed to penetrate every pore, and the need to hit the road meant I had one eye on the clock. Ani curled up on the sofa, I scraped the frost from the car and headed to work, driving through a wintry wonderland, struck by the contrast between the silent, swirling mists and the steaming exhausts of the traffic.
The sun rose as I drove east, at one moment it seemed poised atop a cloud and I wished I could use the camera. These wintry, sunlit mornings are amongst the most beautiful of days. Details that pass unseen are highlighted by frost and the world has a clarity it lacks under a summer sun. Even the faltering flowers are touched with a final beauty as winter administers the coup de grâce.
It didn’t last long. Within an hour, the fog had settled in, blurring the lines of reality, softening sound and blanketing the world in grey, quite unlike the pristine mists of dawn. Not for the first time, and in spite of the occasional moan, I was glad I have to rise early. An hour’s extra sleep and I would have missed so much beauty… sometimes you just have to be in the right place, at the right time…and be awake.
Sue Vincent's Daily Echo 
The world is beautiful when covered in frost…
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It is… just a shame it has tobe quite so cold too 😉
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I know… 🙂
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I agree. I hate the cold.
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I don’t mind it, as long as I am well wrapped up.
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Isn’t it awfully early for this weather? we have had snow and the temperature is way low for this time of year. I’m willing it to go away for about a month. THEN I’ll be ready.
Our dogs — except the Duke — do not like bad foot weather. Snow is OK, but not rain or slush or mud. Not their thing.
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Odd, isn#t it? Ani hates going in the garden in anything but snow or dry… but get out the leash and she will go out walking in any weather!
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Reblogged this on anita dawes and jaye marie.
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Thank you for sharing x
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Makes getting up early very desirable…
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I do love these early mornings 🙂
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so do I, knowing you are probably the only one awake, is very special…
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Yes, it is… 🙂
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Beautiful time of the day. Makes it worth while to retrieve the ball for Princess Ani.
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I just wish she’d get the hang of this game 😉
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especially on days when your slippers freeze on the cement…🤣❤
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Exactly 😉
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Those flowers look like frosted icing. Beautiful morning. No frost here yet, but the winds is definitely getting a bite to it.
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It was bitterly cold here… just a taster though.
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Brrr, it looks cold! But oh so pretty.
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It was gorgeous… but yes, way too cold!
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Never like the start of winter 😊
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But I would rather be chilly than too hot 😉
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I love this kind of day. Beautiful with all the leaves and remaining flowers of summer ringed with silver. But only from indoors!
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Ah, I do’t get to greet the day from indoors 😉
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Beautiful photos, Sue.
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Thank you, Ken.
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Winter wonders! ❤ Lovely, Sue…
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Thanks, Bette ❤
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Yes indeed 💜
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Lovely images ❤
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Thanks, Alethea ❤
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Glorious pictures, Sue… Would that I could get my arse outta bed that early…
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I have little choice…and dawn is later this time of year 😉
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There is that. I may just have a chance 😉
As long as I don’t work until 2 in the morn…
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I do that all too often 😉
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Sigh…
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Lovely images, Sue. Frost paints the world beautifully. I love the orange rose bud.
The frigid air we’ve had of late has created 1″ frost feathers near the moist ground areas. Looking a bit like ferns or miniature fir trees, they are amazing, something we rarely get here as the conditions have to be just right for them to grow overnight.
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Tha is not something we really see here… and I would love to!
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Reblogged this on Where Genres Collide.
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Thanks for sharing, Traci 🙂
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It’s the ‘awake’ bit that I’m sadly lacking. 😀
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There are times I wish I wasn’t 😉
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I too am an early riser, Sue. I feel that I miss out on so much if I lie around in bed (until 7am or so ha ha). I have never been a late riser.
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I can’t lie around if I am awake. Even ill, I prefer the sofa! And yes, a lie-in means until about seven 😉
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You got that right Sue, it seems everything is timing, and lucky are those in the right place at the right time. 🙂 Stunning photos you’ve captured. Welcome to winter. ❤
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Yes, it is definitely winter here now… all grey and damp 😉 x
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Reblogged this on Have We Had Help? and commented:
I hate the cold!!!
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Reblogged this on Reade and Write and commented:
Today’s post is a reblog from Sue Vincent, who posts gorgeous photos of her corner of the world and accompanies them with vivid descriptions and beautiful sentiments. Enjoy!
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