It is probably no secret that I like the snow and this current fall is lovely.

Yesterday it was the most beautiful snow - light, fluffy, dry and full of air covering everything in a sumptuous blanket.  It was the sort of snow you would order if you could and best of all it compacted down brilliantly to make really great snowballs.    The whole world sounded slightly muffled in it and it started in the night when I woke up to that deadened silence that means you just KNOW it has snowed without having to look out of the window.

During the day it, very slightly melted, not much, more of a softening which then refroze over night.  Today it is a more crystalline substance and does not make such great snowballs much to the disgust of Ozzie who is endlessly entertained by chasing snowballs and being permanently surprised when they disappear.  A very easily entertained German Shepherd indeed.

This morning I saw our robin - well the cheeky one that hangs around the house - sitting on the pyracantha outside the office window.  This bush is gorgeous this winter and groaning under the weight of brilliant golden yellow berries.  The added weight of the snow has actually pulled some of it off the wall so that will be a job to pick up when the weather changes.  But the robin and the bush were beautifully colour co-ordinated and I wish I had had a camera in my hand at the time.  Then, to make me wish I had the camera again, he flew off with one of the jewel bright berries held in his beak and settled on some dark green foliage.  It was absolutely stunning.

The other garden related thing I would like to mention is that, despite the snow, we still have blossom on the sweet peas.  The second year in a row when they have still been flowering in November.  They are really great value for money and quite robust for something so pretty.

I know that the weather in difficult for the elderly and anyone who has to be out and about but I intend to carry on enjoying it because the minute it melts and we end up with very muddy horses and slush everywhere life will be much harder and a good deal less pretty.

Slush or snow there is always a warm welcome at Elmfield House and with the added benefit of being able to order an evening meal it is a great chance to get away and cosy up.  Mulled wine will be on the go soon.