Skywatching on New Year's Eve ~ 11:45 am
Alas (?) I have no fireworks photos from the evening. I was actually so tired that I went to bed around 9 pm! My eyes were tired, too - so I preferred to just lie in bed listening to an audio book rather than watch TV. And as the last few hours just before midnight actually tend to be rather quiet (until the general midnight hallabaloo breaks out all over town), I even managed to fall asleep before midnight. I know that, because I know I woke up about ten minutes into the new year! ;) Staggered out of bed to have a look of course, but didn't really see much from my windows just then. So I soon gave up trying to catch anything on camera, and went back to bed... And at some unknown point in time managed to go back to sleep.
Many hours later into New Year's Day - after daybreak - I woke up to find the ground covered with perhaps 5 cm of snow. No plough came round all day, but most of it gradually thawed away on its own. Myself, I did not set foot outdoors, but spent the little energy I had on making a quiche (cheese, ham and leek) for lunch (and supper as well). - "Traditionally" I used to make it for my New Year's Eve parties with a small group of friends, for around 20 years. The pandemic broke our habit of seeing the new year in together; and for various "age and health" related reasons among us, it has not been resumed since. (I miss it in a nostalgic kind of way, but this year definitely not from practical/health points of view.)
On the whole, I wasn't awake much more on New Year's Day than I was on the Eve before (and even less "active", since I did not go out at all); and I again went to bed early. But I think I only heard one single explosion all day. (Someone must have found a leftover...)
I knew there were weather warnings issued for last night and today - snow and wind - the worst of them for further up north in Sweden, but also to a lesser degree in my area here in the south-west. Still, I was surprised this morning to wake up to as much as probably around 10 cm snow on the ground, and still snowing... And it seems likely to continue all weekend!
Photos taken from my windows between c. 10-11 am today.
Today's motto: "Better snowed in than frozen out!"
Linking to Skywatch Friday
Adding a couple of photos copied from our local newspaper's app:
Love that Mackerel sky, that is what we call it here. We have had several lately, but no snow falling from it. beautiful views out your window. We had only 4 pops of noise, 2 days before New years eve. since our drought is ongoing and we are under fire danger warngins, the law kicked in and THEY have been warning It is Against the Law to set off sparklers, firecrackers, or any explosives or burn a fire of any kind. woo hoo, my first new years Eve and 3 days before and after of all that NOISE... it was wonderful. but we do need rain
ReplyDeleteSandra, good that people where you live have been listening to the fire danger warnings and taken them seriously. Here, it seems like too many people just now are not listening to the warnings about snow and traffic chaos...
DeleteYour New Year sounds very cosy, almost like an animal hibernating in its winter quarters, only getting up for something to eat.
ReplyDeleteIt has snowed here during the night, and this morning a thin layer of snow covered the street and roofs and gardens. By early afternoon, most of it was gone, but more is forecast for tonight. As long as my train journey home tomorrow is not affected, I don‘t mind.
That's about it just now, Meike - only getting up for food! Luckily I think I have enough stocked up to see me through the next few days - and then hoping to be able to order more to be delivered next week... ;)
DeletePS: Forgot to say, the sky photo is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI always remember my maternal grandmother saying "mackerel sky, mackerel sky,not long wet, not long dry". That really was a superb example.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sky! The snow looks lovely, although perhaps best from a distance or in pictures. I like your motto. Happy New Year!!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're not attempting to go outside. I think my favorite photo is the one with the little red cart in the snow. It looks a bit like a golf cart.
ReplyDeleteGinny, the red cart is a small snow plough, for sidewalks and footpaths.
DeleteWhen I was a kid I just loved snow and didn't give the problems a second thought. As grownups we hate getting stuck in the snow or some other mishap. Still if you don't have to go anywhere and have plenty food in the house, being snowed in is not so bad.
ReplyDeleteIt reads as a quiet, reflective turning of the year, where rest, snowfall, and familiar rituals gently replace fireworks, crowds, and late-night celebration.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations for being commended for your blog. You have earned it; made me happy to see you recognized!
ReplyDeleteYour snow looks delightful. It has been hot here so far but we are enjoying it. I too had a very quiet new year's eve.
ReplyDeleteA Happy New Year Monica, and congratulations on your very well-earned commendation. The photo of the sky is stunning.
ReplyDeleteLike you, I went to bed before midnight, so have no idea if there were fireworks at midnight locally. Probably not, as we are mostly of mature years and like our sleep! For years my husband and I took turns to host New Year's Eve celebrations in the UK - something that's a fond memory. The Old Town here used to put on a short spectacular display of fireworks just after midnight but I've no idea if they still do that.
No sign of snow here, but it's been the wettest, coldest and most miserable Christmas and New Year weather-wise for the past couple of decades. Hardly any sign of the sun at all.
I love the first one. A bit of snow, a few days of it, is fun and photogenic. After that, no thanks. Fortunately, that's what we usually get.
ReplyDelete