Yesterday morning, when I opened the curtains, I was greeted with the following view:
Fortunately, I hadn’t planned to do any work today because we were off on a day trip to Addingham for spinning supplies and a meal at The Swan by their log fire.
Before we set off, I noted that the nasturtiums were still standing. It had after all been a warm three degrees.
The same cannot be said for the temperature today. I have managed to get the lid of the Green Johanna off just now but the pond has a thick layer of ice on its surface.
Whilst taking a break from grating horseradish (my! I remember the days when onions used to make the eyes smart like this), I looked out of the kitchen window and saw a mummy blackbird doing her best to find water. Or perhaps she’d seen something under the ice.
In any event, she couldn’t access whatever it is that she wanted, in spite of her best efforts. It was challenging enough for her to stay upright. Her partner joined her, though it seemed that he was encouraging her to give up the futile foraging expedition, as they soon flew off.
After this, I boiled up some water and then put it in a bowl which I placed on the ice over the pond. I’d read that it is best to avoid cracking the ice, since this can frighten any creatures living under it. I doubt we have any but the bowl did the trick and now I hope the birds will be back.
Growing out of chaos 
Wow! Snow and ice in November…is that uncommon in your area, Helen? It’s lovely of you to put out the water onto of the ice, looking out for creatures above and below. We’re having strange warm weather here, and it’s dry as a bone. The garden is showing signs of winter, but the temperatures are not.
Hello Alys, it’s not uncommon to have snow and ice in November. It won’t last as temperatures are supposed to be increasing this morning but it is a delight to wake up to the whiteness.
I hope your weather settles down to more of a seasonal norm. How interesting that the plants recognise it is winter in spite of the warmth.
I found it strange to see trees almost in full leaf (deciduous, that is) covered in snow. Especially when the leaves are still green!
That would be disorienting.
Probably disorientating for the trees, that’s for sure!
We have had a few frosts and there was ice on one puddle this morning but no snow. The winds on Friday and Saturday involved squally showers of hail but it didn’t settle. Having said that my early rhubarb is growing! A very long Autumn and some confused plants.