Winter Thoughts

by

Do you remember waiting for the first snow as a child? In Germany and Scandinavia, where we lived at that time, the first snowflakes fell in November. To make it snow, we sang enthusiastically the song
Little snowflake white skirted
When comes you along?
You live in the clouds
your way is so long.
(You find the English translation of the whole song here)

Erinnert ihr euch noch, wie ihr als Kinder auf den ersten Schnee gewartet habt? In Deutschland und Skandinavien, wo wir damals lebten, fielen im November die ersten Schneeflocken. Wir haben sie begeistert mit dem Lied herbeigesungen
Schneeflöckchen, Weißröckchen
Wann kommst du geschneit?
Du kommst aus den Wolken
Dein Weg ist so weit

Selma’s fairy-iPhone snap before we entered the icy bridge in the Cairngorms.

When it started to snow, we constantly ran to the window to see if the snow would stay, which was often not the case with the first snow. But in January and February, we had the finest snow, which didn’t disappear so quickly and lured us outside in the mornings with sledges and skis, where we had snowball fights, built snowmen and dug snow caves. We were outside all day with red noses and cheeks. We had even snow holidays at school.

Wenn es zu schneien begann, liefen wir ständig zum Fenster, um zu sehen, ob der Schnee liegen blieb, was beim ersten Schnee oft nicht der Fall war. Dafür gab es im Januar und Februar den feinsten Schnee, der nicht so schnell wieder verschwand und uns schon morgens mit Schlitten und Skiern nach draußen lockte, wo wir Schneeballschlachten machten, Schneemänner bauten und Schneehöhlen gruben. Mit roten Nasen und Wangen waren wir den ganzen Tag draußen. Sogar in der Schule gab es Schneefrei.

Kb and Siri hiking all alone in the silent landscape. Selma and Dina are chasing the mountain hare.

Here in England, we’ve had an unbelievable experience: snow and winter are viewed negatively, you can’t find a friendly word for it. This surprised us all the more as there is no real winter here, at most a wee winter, as Siri says. In contrast to Miss Smilla, the English simply haven’t been able to develop a feeling for snow, she explains. ‘They can’t see that the unique snowflakes are dreams of the water,’ she remarks, shaking her head.

Hier in England haben wir eine für uns unglaubliche Erfahrung gemacht: Schnee und Winter werden negativ betrachtet, man findet kein freundliches Wort dafür. Das hat uns umso mehr verwundert, als es hier keinen richtigen Winter gibt, höchstens ein kleines Winterchen, wie Siri sagt. Im Gegensatz zu Fräulein Smilla habe man hier einfach kein Gefühl für Schnee entwickeln können, ist ihre Erklärung. ‘Man sieht nicht, dass die einzigartigen Schneeflocken Träume des Wassers sind‘, bemerkt sie kopfschüttelnd.

This year, we travelled to the Cairngorms, the British Arctic, in search of snow. To our great disappointment, the weather there was rather spring-like and sunny for the first week, so we were able to drive the Snowroad as relaxed as if we were on a summer holiday in the Alps. But then Siri’s and Selma’s magic and the singing of the snowflake song worked their magic. After the big storm the snow arrived.

In diesem Jahr sind wir auf der Suche nach Schnee in die britische Arktis in die Cairngorms gefahren. Zu unserer großen Enttäuschung war das Wetter dort in der ersten Woche eher frühlingshaft und sonnig, so dass wir die Schneestraße ganz entspannt wie im Sommerurlaub in den Alpen befahren konnten. Doch dann wirkten Siris und Selmas Zauber und das Anstimmen des Schneeflöckchenliedes. Nach dem großen Sturm kam der Schnee.

Mountain hare in the snow, Cairngorms.

Immediately after berries and granola for breakfast, and on some days even at dawn, Dina followed by Selma, rushed out to photograph white snow hares in snowfields, red squirrels and herds of red deer. Kb trudged happily through the deep snow with Siri. They enjoyed the minimalist landscape beyond the tree line, the silence created by the snow and the glistening snow crystals in the low winter sun.

Gleich nach Beeren und Granola zum Frühstück und an einigen Tagen bereits beim Morgengrauen stürmte Dina, gefolgt von Selma, hinaus, um weiße Schneehasen in Schneefeldern, rote Eichhörnchen und Hirschrudel zu fotografieren. Kb stapfte freudig mit Siri durch den Tiefschnee. Sie genossen die minimalistische Landschaft jenseits der Baumgrenze, die Stille, die der Schnee schafft und das Glitzern der Schneekristalle in der tief stehenden Wintersonne.

Red Deer on a mountain ridge.

Now we’re back. Kb is nursing a broken toe, lying on the sofa with the view of the garden under a grey sky listening to ‘Joseph and his Brothers’ (novel by Thomas Mann); German at its best, as he agrees with Siri. Dina is busy holding the fort, feeding the log-fire, answering emails and skimming all her photos, and Selma is writing her top-secret fairy diary.

Jetzt sind wir zurück, Kb pflegt seinen gebrochenen Zeh, liegt auf dem Sofa mit Blick in den Garten unter grauem Himmel und hört ‚Joseph und seine Brüder‘; Deutsch vom Feinsten, wie er mit Siri einig ist. Dina hält das Kaminfeuer am Leben, bearbeitet ihre Ferienfotos, beantwortet eifrig Mails und hält alles im Gang hier. Selma schreibt ihr hochgeheimes Feentagebuch.

Best regards from all of us
Mit herzlichen Grüßen von uns

The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂



© text and illustrations, Hanne Siebers & Klausbernd Vollmar, Cley next the Sea, 2025

174 thoughts

  1. That’s an interesting observation–about attitudes toward snow. I might agree with the Brits, but I’m a woos. BTW, I know where your Artic cold went (that you didn’t find on your trip). It dropped in on large swaths of the US. It has been freezing here!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Hi Jacqui

      We were lucky; after the first week of warm sunshine, it became just so cold that it was snowing for days. We loved it 🙂

      Siri and Selma will send you some warm weather from here

      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • At a small local gathering today, I asked our neighbours if they enjoy winter in Britain.

      Nope. Absolutely hate winter in the UK. Cold, wet, dark, windy and miserable. The odd beautifully crisp day is fine, but they are so few and far between. If I could hibernate between October and March, I would!

      Hate it. Wet and cold and windy.

      Love winter until Christmas, then it feels a long haul especially as March can be a bit grim too.

      January & February are easily the worst time of year. October is nice because crunchy leaves, November & December are tolerable because you have stuff to look forward to. January is just a miserable god awful funeral dirge of enveloping darkness.

      Everyone loves it when you wake up and there is a fresh covering of snow or a bright but frosty morning but for people who actually have to spend some of the day outside it’s fucking miserable, because all you have is mud.

      Love winter, putting on many layers, snuggling up in front of the log fire.

      😊❄️🤔☃️😊

      Liked by 3 people

    • Dear Dina
      That’s one way of seeing the English winter; we don’t like it either.
      We suppose that Kb is influenced by the times he lived in Scandinavia, in Canada and travelled in Greenland. He idealises winter.
      Love 💙💜💫🌟✨🌟💫💙💜
      👭
      Siri & Selma

      Liked by 2 people

    • Herzlichen Dank, liebe Conny. Da heißt es einfach Geduld haben für mich. Allerdings ist solch ein Sofaleben nicht zu verachten.

      Mit lieben Grüßen nach Nord-Norddeutschland
      Klausbernd
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  4. Gebrochener Zeh? Ich wusste gar nicht, dass Schnee so hart sein kann! 🤣 Du kennst ja den alten Spruch, “Wer den Schaden hat, spottet jeder Beschreibung”. Aber jetzt im Ernst: ich wuensche Dir schnelle und gute Heilung des Zehs.

    Wunderbare Fotos mal wieder von der lieben Dina. Im Schnee herumgestapft sind wir auf einer Exkursion von Kirkenes aus an die Grenze zu Russland. War ein schoenes Erlebnis, und – wie bei Euch – eine Erinnerung an die Kindheit, als wir noch teils wochenlang durch knietiefen Schnee stapfen konnten. Und als noch Eisschollen auf dem Rhein trieben.

    Und Schnee erinnert mich auch noch daran, dass in Bonn der Strassenverkehr zusammenbrach, wenn nur eine einzige Schneeflocke in Sicht war.

    Mal sehen, wie es hier in Fredericksburg wird. Ich glaube, es gab hier (etwas) Schnee als wir unterwegs in Norwegen waren. Letzte Nach hatten wir leichten Frost, aber keine Niederschlaege. In ein paar Tagen wird es wieder richtig kalt, aber auch dann wird es wohl keinen Schnee geben.

    Liebe Gruesse ins kleine Dorf am grossen Meer,

    Pit

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Vielen Dank 🙏🙏 , lieber Pit.

      An Eisschollen auf dem Rhein kann ich mich auch noch erinnern. Wir waren in Remscheid fast jedes Jahr einige Tage mehr oder weniger eingeschneit, ich kannte das auch von der idyllischen Ansiedlung in Schweden, wo ich einige Zeit wohnte. Das empfand ich immer als gemütlich als Kind.

      Ich brach meinen dicken Zeh hier bei uns im Haus. Zum Trost sage ich mir, dass viele Polarexplorer gar ihre Zehen verloren haben und ganz normal gehen konnten. Bei mir heißt es jetzt, einfach nur Geduld zu haben. Etwas behindert fühle ich mich schon.

      Hier ist es auch so: Eine Schneeflocke am Himmel und die Leute meinen, man könnte nicht Autofahren. Als ich in Finnland lebte, lernte ich auf zugefrorenen Seen, wie man auf Schnee und Eis fährt. Wir machten uns einen Spaß daraus, die Seen zu kleinen Autorennen zu nutzen.

      Liebe Grüße von uns allen
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  5. As a kid, snow in the south of England was a real treat and something to look forward to.. We would don our boots, coats and scarves, and delight ourselves with snowmen and snowball fights! But then came the thawing of hands once inside again. Painful but worth it! Here in Lima, our nearest snow is on the Andes continental divide, a mountain pass at 16,000 feet. If snow is reported, best to wait, as the snow often causes accidents on the many hairpin bends creating blockages and long queues of cars, buses and lorries. With the snow, low temperatures and low levels of oxygen due the altitude…. better wait for snow to clear.

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    Reply

    • Wow, 16.000 ft is quite high. We can imagine that you have lots of snow there. We only experienced high altitudes where the oxygen levels are low in the Alps and Himalayas – and that was in summer.
      Yes, this horrible feeling when your cold hands are getting warm again.

      Thanks for commenting
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Hi Terry

      We loved the Canadian winter, and now, Dina and Kb being retired, we are going North in the winter on the search for snow. Well, people are different. We don’t downhill ski anymore but cross-country skiing.

      Thanks and cheers
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Your photos and writing make it look and sound wonderful. (From afar) But I am no fan of snow, as England is never prepared for it so it just makes life difficult, dangerous, and frustrating. No snow in Beetley so far this year, and I am happy about that.

    Love from Beetley, Pete. X

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Dear Pete

      We go up north every year to enjoy winter. Here in Cley we hardly have any snow, actually no real winter at all. We miss it.

      It’s fun to drive with Kb on snow and ice, he learned that in Finland on frozen lakes. We love the winter wonderland. We think everything looks nicer and it is so silent. Anyway everyone is different. So you live at the right place for you in winter.

      Thanks and keep warm
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Nein Danke, nichts für uns! In Frankfurt ist es matschig und nasskalt. Die Fotos sind wunderschön und wir freuen uns über die Wintereindrücke aus der Ferne. Gute Besserung für dein Zeh, Kb! Ist das in Schottland passiert?
    LG
    U+H

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    Reply

    • Nee, liebe Uschi, das ist im Haus hier geschehen gleich nachdem wir zurück kamen. Da heißt es mit Geduld die Sofakultur zu genießen.
      Toll, dass die die Fotos gefallen.

      Schnee in der Großstadt ist meistens nervig, da geben wir die recht. Allerdings fanden wir die Jahre, die wir in. Montreal wohnten, den Schnee dort toll. Besonders faszinierten uns die Schneestürme und wenn man danach mit Langlaufski einkaufen ging. Kb haben auch stets die verrückten religiösen Fanatiker fasziniert, die bei drohendem Schneesturm herauskamen und vorm Weltuntergang warnten.

      Herzlichen Dank für deine Besserungswünsche
      Klausbernd und
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  15. Dear friends,
    What happened, der Klausbernd, I’m so sorry to read you have a broken toe!!
    I’m sure Dina-Hanne, Siri and Selma are looking after you in the best possible way. Do you need a care parcel with the latest literature from Sweden? If there’s anything I can tempt you with, let me know.

    There is so much more to winter than just the frosty weather and short days, there’s a certain warmth that only a Swedish winter can offer. There’s something incredibly invigorating about embracing the outdoors, even in the chill, that makes winter here so special. I personally feel that winter activities in Stockholm are so much more abundant than most cities given that we are so surrounded by nature which can make you feel like you are in a true natural winter wonderland.

    Your photos are stunning. The road to the Feshiebridge looks like pure ice! Did you have spikes?

    Enjoy the rest of winter and get well soon.
    Kram
    Annalena xx

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Good morning, dear Annalena

      Thank you soooo much for your kind comment. Kb broke his big toe in our house when we came back. Our dear patient needs patience, but he doesn’t mind reading books on the sofa in front of the fire. Thanks a lot for your kind offer. He would be VERY happy about getting the newest literature from Sweden.

      We always loved our winters in Stockholm. It meant for us cross country skiing and skating. What added to the joy of winter were the Swedish people, most of them enjoyed winter like we did.

      No, we don’t have tires with spikes, but a four-wheel-drive and, of course, a Volvo, a car perfectly equipped for winter driving. Kb learned winter driving when living in Finland. He exchanged German lessons with driving lessons on frozen lakes. He loves driving on snow and ice. We have a safe feeling when we are driven by him in wintry conditions.

      How are you? We very much hope you are well. This is your last term teaching at the uni in Stockholm and then retirement. Are you looking forward to it? Hanne-Dina and Kb love it – but like all the pensioners, they are as busy as they were when working. We hope that you find some time to visit us then. You are VERY welcome.

      We just saw that Stockholm Uni offers a free measuring of your love relationship for Valentine’s day (https://valentinskalan.se/eng/)

      With lots of love
      KRAM
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Dear Stella

      enjoy your winter ❄️❄️❄︎❄︎❄️❄️

      Here at the coast of North Norfolk, the winter is a normal non-winter, grey and non-freezing temperatures.

      Thanks for commenting
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Fab Four of Cley ___
    I am so happy to see a new post from you all – and one about snow and winter travels. Thank you, you brought back many glorious memories!
    Sorry to hear about Klausbernd’s toe. I know that can be really painful!
    May you all stay happy and healthy till we meet again..
    GP

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Dear GP

      Thank you very much for your kind words and wishes 🙏 🙏
      All the very best to you as well. Stay happy and healthy

      With warm greetings from the cold sea
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Hi Steve

      You are absolutely right; phonetically ‘white’ and ‘weit’ are the same. And indeed, as you write, both would work semantically in this poem/song.

      Thanks for making us aware of it
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  19. My first memories of snow was when I was 6! Living on the Equator for my first years, I have no idea what snow would be like. I recall asking my mother what it was like to be cold all the time. What a joy it was to make my first snow angel. Thank you for a lovely walk through the snow. Sending much love and many hugs to my dear friends, The Fab Four of Cley!!!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Good morning, our dear friend Rebecca

      We always thought you lived in the cold area of subarctic Canada with lots of snow before moving to Vancouver.

      It must be quite an experience to experience your first snow.

      With lots of love 💙💙💜💜 and hugs 🤗 🤗 🤗 🤗 from the grey coast of Norfolk today
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Dear Rebecca

      I can well remember when I learned to ski at about 3.5 years – I know that from a dated photograph. I am amazed at how clearly I can remember it. Whereas I can’t remember films I saw just one or two years ago. I suppose it’s typical that my memory can take me back 70 years ago but has problems taking me back two years. Well, that’s age, isn’t it?

      With love
      Klausbernd 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  22. Your winter memories transported me straight back to childhood—watching the first snowflakes fall, hoping they’d settle, and spending whole days outside with red noses and mittened hands.

    Wishing Kb a speedy recovery from that broken toe. Looking forward to more of your wonderful travel tales.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Hi

      It seems that we had similar winter experiences when we were kids. Winter was our favourite season.

      Thanks for commenting and for your kind wishes. Well, the toe needs time to be okay again, and the patient needs patience.

      All the best
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  24. You are soooo lucky to see the mountain hare. Snow never bothered me, and growing up in Yorkshire we had a fair amount in winter. Even when I was working in Sheffield in the 90s there was lots of snow. Now though winters are wetter and warmer and grey and that I hate.

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    Reply

  26. Ihr Lieben in Cley, ich danke für eure Winterlandschaft und den Gedanken zum Schnee. Wir waren im Dezember wieder einmal im Kanton Appenzell Innerrhoden und haben uns des traumhaft schönen Winterwetters mit Bergen erfreut! Da wir aber alt geworden sind, ist für uns das Klima im Tessin einfacher. Habt’s gut und cari saluti.

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    Reply

  29. “January is just a miserable god awful funeral dirge of enveloping darkness.” 🤣🤣 This! I am SO fed up of concrete skies and gloom. I do love proper snow though and grew up in Yorkshire where back then we had proper snow for a couple of months in winter, now we’re lucky to get one day of it. Great photos by Hanné.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Our childhood-winter has moved further north. Unfortunately, it left us.
      We don’t mind the grey weather. It’s the time sitting in our rocking chair reading in front of the fire. It’s time to enjoy our cosy home. We can stay inside in good conscience.

      Keep warm and happy

      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  30. How wonderful that your magic made the snow fall. Dina’s photos are magical too – especially of the hare. 🩷 Hope Klausbernd’s toe mends soon. I like winter if it snows and afterwards the sun shines and the sky is blue, but we have had neither snow, sun or blue sky in any decent measure this winter… it is only mid February though so there is still hope!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Hi Cathy

      You live in Bavaria now. We thought a real winter would be visiting you there regularly. We go up North to experience a real winter nowadays.

      Thank you for liking Dina’s pictures.

      We keep our fingers crossed that you’ll get some beautiful winter days soon
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  33. I think this winter has ruined me for snow. And ice. And cold. We’ve had more in Central Illinois than our fair share and would gladly send it along to anybody who wants it. Of course, I was raised by two transplanted Southerners and lived many years in the South myself, so I tend to gravitate to warmer weather (like those Brits!). Nevertheless, I do enjoy your snowy photos — especially that poor, freezing hare, which I’d love to wrap in a warm blanket! Take it easy and mend well.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Hi, dear Debbie

      We are Scandinavians and need a real winter. Kb took part in an arctic expedition where the temperatures were around – 30 C degrees (- 25 Fahrenheit) most days. He liked this clarity of air, the optical illusions and parts of rainbows everywhere.

      Where we were born, the temperatures between October and March were nearly always freezing. We loved it and were sad when the snow had gone and temperatures were rising.

      Thanks and happy weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Das mit dem gebrochenen Zeh ist voll blöd, aber ‘shit happens‘ wie Charly Brown zu sagen pflegt.
      Prima, dass dir unsere Schneebilder gut gefallen. Verschneite Landschaft hat ihre unwiderstehliche Magie. Freiburg im Schnee ist bestimmt romantisch.

      Mit lieben Grüßen vom heute ruhigem Meer
      Klausbernd 🙂

      Like

  36. Beautiful tale of winter and how we all approach this season of snow, ice, and cold. The song you introduced at the beginning will be rolling around in my mind all weekend 😊! The photo that Selma took as you entered “…the icy bridge in the Cairngorms” is perfect, these are the days worth melting into (even if it is freezing cold 🥶). The feeling of snow & ice we had as a kid was something to marvel about at that age, nothing but exploration, fun, and awe at the power of Mother Nature ~ and contrasts so sharply with the feeling as adults of shoveling and driving in such weather. This post helps capture the youthfulness that still lies in our hearts!

    The photography of winter scenes are also something to marvel over… Dina’s Mountain hare in the snow, Cairngorms is the reason to step out and brave the cold to see what beauty can be found outside. It looks to have been a wonderful holiday ~ and it makes being safe and snuggling by a nice fire worth it. I give my best wishes to Klausbernd and his broken toe (I’ve had a few before, and it is such a nuisance). My best to the Fab Four as we enter the last month of winter! Take care!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Dear Dalo

      We agree with you, snow immediately connects us with the joys and adventures of childhood. When I was a child in the 50s, there were still real winters with lots of snow. Today, unfortunately, we have to follow the fleeing winter to the north. But be that as it may, when the first snow falls, we often turn into children, perhaps because the joys of winter are naive joys.
      The other thing that fascinates us about winter is that it minimises. The snow covers everything in a simplistic way. And then there is the magic of winter light, that cold, clear light that we associate with purity. In Greenland, we realised that the cold light of winter shortens distances. The distant becomes close to us, and even the light becomes childlike and playful, gracefully keeping us happy with its rainbow colours.
      Kb’s affinity with winter is perhaps due to the fact that he was born on a mountain about 400 metres (1320 ft) high, at its highest point. If that doesn’t characterise me, what else will?
      Now I’m going to look at your ideas for winter, but before I visit your blog, thank you so much for your lovely comment.

      With love and warm greetings from the cold sea
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  37. I was sorry to hear about your broken toe, Klausbernd. I do hope it mends soon. Glorious photographs here of a favourite part of the country, especially the wonderful mountain hare. Hanne is so talented, and also very patient – a hugely important factor for photographers. Anyway, put your feet (or, rather, foot) up and enjoy the modest gifts that these cold February days bring. Hope to see you soon. Laurence

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Good morning, dear Laurence

      I’m lying comfortably on the sofa and, you’re right, both legs are up because the other leg hurts from a pulled muscle, but it all sounds worse than it is. I read a lot, listen to audio books and blog a little. I’m currently reading a travel book that I really like, ‘Border’ by Norwegian author Erika Fatland.
      We’re in good spirits here. I’m glad you like Hanne’s photography. Yes, it takes a lot of patience especially to photograph the mountain hares. I climbed a mountain in the meantime, as you can see in the second picture. That little figure is me.
      I hope to see you soon.
      With best regards from the sea

      Klausbernd 🙂

      Like

    • Oh dear, actually, it isn’t a pulled muscle but a fissure of the Achilles tendon. Therefore, it takes its time to heal.

      Keep well and happy
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  38. It is funny that I grew up in Brazil but attended a German school. This is because my grandparents were German and my parents wanted to keep a connection with Germany. In choir, we got to sing that song about about first snow, but I only got to see snow in my late 20s!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Good morning, dear Alessandra

      We sang that song in the kindergarten in late autumn, hoping for early snow. When I lived in the north of Finland, it started to snow at the end of September. But here on the east coast of England, we have a mild maritime climate with hardly any snow. It’s a pity.

      We didn’t know that there were German schools in Brazil.

      Thanks for commenting, and wishing you a wonderful week
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  39. Well I am obviously late to the party on this one Fab Four but that did not make me love it any less. As always the images are spectacular and I loved the story. So glad you experienced the anticipated snow and that Hanne’s lens captured so many iconic scenes. A truly wonderful post. Hope the foot is feeling better!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Thank you very much, dear Tina.
      My foot is feeling much better, but I was told it needs at least six weeks to recover 100%. We’ll see. Now I enjoy lying on the sofa reading and blogging – actually, the ideal life for me.
      Thank you VERY much for liking our post.
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Dear Tina

      By the way, I just remembered one of the oldest texts we have in German literature are the Merseburger Zauberspüche, spells against problems with your feet. That’s the second spell (it was originally used against problems with the legs of a horse):

      sôse bênrenki, sôse bluotrenki,
      sôse lidirenki:
      bên zi bêna, bluot zi bluoda,
      lid zi geliden, sôse gelîmida sîn.

      Now I’ll ask Hanne to speak them over my foot and leg and we’ll see …

      Wishing you a wonderful week
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  42. We used to love the snow in Germany, yet we still had to go to school I remember. I think English people are not used to snow, hence they don’t really like it. We always had a fun time in Winter.

    I love the way of saying ‘ snowflakes are dreams of the water‘ Love it.

    Keep warm all of you and look after your toe. ♥♥♥♥

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Thank you very much, dear Ute. Obviously, we stayed very German and Scandinavian.

      Now, we have great winter weather in Cley – just a little bit of freezing and glorious sunshine, but unfortunately, no snow. I enjoy it from inside to rest my broken toe on one foot and a tendon fissure on the other. My ability to walk improves every day. I am getting great care from Hanne, Siri and Selma.

      You keep warm as well
      Klausbernd 🙂
      ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

      Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you very much 🙏 🙏

      We suddenly saw this red deer when driving a small icy road in the Findhorn valley. It’s there where it’s best in Scotland to see mountain hares. At the end of this road we took the picture of the mountain hare too.

      Keep well

      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  45. So richtig Schnee, der liegenbleibt, bei knackigen Temperaturen und glitzerndem Sonnenschein – das ist schon was Feines. Klar, es behindert das Schneller, Höher, Weiter. Vielleicht ist es deswegen mehr und mehr verpönt. Oder vielleicht sind wir nicht mehr so daran gewöhnt. Das Rumgematsche, das wir in den letzten Jahren als Winter haben/hatten, mag ich allerdings auch nicht.

    Gute Besserung für Deinen Zeh und ausreichend viel Geduld.

    Liebe Grüße, Belana Hermine

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Liebe Belana Hermine,

      ganz herzlichen Dank für deine guten Wünsche. Ich kann dir sagen, das ist eine Herausforderung für mich zehn Wochen Sofaliegen. Der gebrochene Zeh ist nämlich nicht das Schlimme, sondern dass meine Achillessehne riss. Da habe ich jetzt so einen megaschweren orthopädischen Stiefel an, den ich Tag und Nacht tragen muss und darf den Fuß kein bisschen belasten. Es ist die Zeit, Mengen von Büchern zu lesen.

      Wir lieben auch nur feinen Schnee, keinen Schneematsch. Der Schnee lässt vieles verstummen und lässt es minimalistischer aussehen. Wir lieben auch dieses besondere Winterlicht. Das finden wir eine gute Idee von dir, dass der Schnee in Verruf geriet, weil er das Schnelle, Höhere und Weiter behindert. Daran hatten wir noch gar nicht gedacht. Und für uns ist Schnee auch mit Gemütlichkeit verbunden, dem Feuer im Kamin, viele Kerzen und wohliges Aufwärmen nach winterlichen Abenteuern.

      Wir wünschen dir ein wunderschönes, gemütliches und frohes Wochenende
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  46. Guten Morgen!
    Schnee! Auch hier ein seltener Gast. Und in der Kindheit sind wir in der Gegend noch auf zugefrorenen Bachläufen Schlittschuh von Dorf zu Dorf gefahren.

    Alles Gute für den Zeh!!!
    Herzlichst aus dem frühlingshaften Trebur.
    Barbara

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Habe herzlichen Dank, liebe Barbara,

      auch ich kann mich an echte Winter vom Feinsten in Deutschland erinnern. Aber das ist leider wohl Geschichte. Selbst hier, wo ich jetzt wohne an der Nord Norfolk Küste hat es früher immer einige Tage mit Schnee jeden Winter gegeben, heute wissen die Kinder gar nicht mehr, wie Schnee aussieht.

      Ich sitze nun mit Behindertengefühl im Rollstuhl für die nächsten paar Wochen, da auch meine Achillessehne gerissen ist und ich einen megaschweren orthopädischen Stiefel tragen muss. Fuß und Bein darf ich zehn (sic !) Wochen lange nicht belasten. Naja, ich habe es mir damit eingerichtet. Es blieb mir auch nichts anderes übrig.

      Mit lieben Grüßen vom Meer
      Klausbernd 🙂

      Like

    • Thank you very much, dear Natalie

      We had a great in the Scottish Highlands. Well, and Kb’s toe and ruptured Achilles tendon, we care for him. He is an easy patient.

      Keep well
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  48. Our ancestors have their way to stop the coming rain by using a sign of fingers like a scissors, cutting in the air, saying some prayers. Especially, when dry something. I like the song for snow, and I love all the photos. Thanks for your beautiful blog, klausbernd.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  50. I’m so sorry about that broken toe! But I’m glad that Smilla smiled on you during your trip up north. The hare photo is beautiful! The song for snow is so interesting and I think the first line in German sounds wonderful (at least the way I imagine it with my very poor understanding of the language). The English are missing something! (I experienced deep, long snowfalls as a child and loved it). Cheers from over here and have a very good, getting-well kind of week!

    Liked by 2 people

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    • Good morning, dear Lynn

      The broken toe doesn’t bother me that much, but the fissure of the Achilles tendon does. Anyway, that will heal but needs its time.

      We were so happy having snow on our tour through the Cairngorms. It was like when we were children, long lasting snowfalls and crisp white snow.

      Thank you very much for your kind words
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Oh dear, dear Rebecca

      We only know one rain song

      Es regnet/ Gott segnet/ die Erde wird nass/ Mach mich nicht nass/ Mach nur die bösen Kinder nass
      (It is raining/ God blesses/ The earth gets wet/ Don’t get me wet/ Just get the naughty children wet)

      As we like more snow than rain, there much more songs about snow than rain in German – at least, we know much more snow songs.
      Thanks and Cheers
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you very much, dear Judith 🙏 🙏

      The photo of the hare is a product of a lot of patience. It was taken in the mountains at the Findhorn river.
      Thanks and cheers
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  54. I just love the photographs, the song calling the snow and your memories of playing outside in all that whiteness. Here in the rainforest, we don’t get much snow – maybe an inch – but I have wonderful memories of my childhood in snow country, building huge forts, snowshoeing through the quiet, and skating on frozen ponds. A lovely post.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Thank you very much for your commentary.

      Don’t you miss a real winter? We lived for nearly a year on a Greek island and missed frost, snow and ice very much. Compensating we dreamed of glaciers and snowfields.

      Wishing you a wonderful week
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  55. 🎵 Winter brings about delight,
    Snowflakes dance in moonbeam light!
    Shimmered hills and skies so bright,
    Let’s stretch this magic—March feels right! ⛄️

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  57. The writing and the photos are beautiful. I grew up in northern Sweden and we often got snow in October. It’s been coming a bit later in recent years. There’s been a few snow free Christmases. However, snow was important to us. I loved cross country skiing and building snow fortresses and sometimes we saw reindeer and lynx. The snow was heavy on the trees and the days were dark.

    This is the beginning of a Swedish poem about Tomten (a gnome). It sounds much better in Swedish but it is what it is

    Deep in the grip of the midwinter coldThe stars glitter and sparkle.All are asleep on this lonely farm,Deep in the winter night.The pale white moon is a wanderer,snow gleams white on pine and fir,snow gleams white on the roofs.Only tomten is awake.

    Gray, he stands by the low barn door,Gray by the drifted snow,Gazing, as many winters he’s gazed,Up at the moon’s chill glow,Then at the forest where fir and pineCircle the farm in a dusky line,Mulling relentlesslyA riddle that has no key.

    Rubs his hand through his beard and hair,Shakes his head and his cap.“No, that question is much too deep,I cannot fathom that.”Then making his mind up in a hurry,He shrugs away the annoying worry;Turns at his own command,Turns to the task at hand.

    …..long poem…..

    the riddle in question is starting to be revealed in stansa 7. It is about where people come from and where they go. Chilrden appear as babies, they grow to be adults, then grow old and dissappear again (Tomten the gnome is immortal).

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Dear Thomas

      Thank you very much for giving us a genuine feeling of the Swedish wintertime. It’s this special mixture of magic and cosiness. One only finds this in Scandinavia.

      In October we got our Tomten (puppets) out of their summer sleep and put them around our house. That’s the beginning of the cosy period of winter for us.
      We love the pictures of Carl Larsson the Swedish interpretation of the arts and craft movement.

      We wish you a wonderful weekend
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Funnily enough, I was travelling in Kashmir and the Himalaya region when I was 30 as well. But I didn’t see any white snow hares. Brown hares I had seen as child in the Black Forest.

      In Cornwall people believed that white hares are reincarnations of women who died of a broken heart.

      Thanks and cheers
      Klausbernd 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  60. The wonder of snow – yes. Beautiful story (except for your poor toe…) and photography as usual! Here in the south of Sweden we have, for the first time in my life, had NO snow at all. Some flakes falling, but no snow to walk on, sledge on or ski on. So sad. Dark and dull, and the situation in the world constantly worsening. I have started painting again, to lose myself and forget.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • We didn’t have snow this year either. In the beginning, when we moved here, we had enough snow for two weeks or longer to build snowmen and get sledges and skis out. This year it was springlike the whole winter here, sunshine and much too warm and dry.
      We noticed that we need fewer logs every winter for our open fire and fewer gas for our central heating.
      Kb broke his toe and ruptured his Achilles’ tendon when we came home. So it didn’t spoil our holiday.
      Our escapism is reading novels – but no US authors 😉
      Wishing you a happy weekend nevertheless
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

    • Good to hear…and no US authors too…Here we unfortunately discovered a hedgehog awake and walking – then it turned to 10-. I don’t know if they can go to sleep again – or maybe the little guy is lost now.
      Wishing you a great weekend!

      Liked by 1 person

    • Oh dear, poor guy.
      We drove around the countryside searching for hares and had our first delicious ice cream this year.
      Happy Sunday
      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Like

  62. “Silent Snow, Secret Snow” (1932) is Conrad Aiken’s best-known short story and something I always think of when remembering childhood snowstorms. It was also made into a short film that was shown in school when I was a kid. You could probably find it with a search.

    Awesome shots! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thank you very much, dear Denise, for introducing Conrad Aiken and his short story ‘Silent Snow, Secret Snow‘ to us. We heard about Aiken when we were in Rye, but we couldn’t connect him with any work. We’ll have a look for this film.

      The Fab Four of Cley
      🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  64. I grew up in Scandinavia, where we had snow on a regular basis. Here in London, we rarely see any snow. Which is probably a good thing, since everything seems to stop, when we get more than 1cm.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  67. I grew up in Latvia and very much loved the anticipation of the first snow as it is indeed exciting, evoking feelings of joy, nostalgia, and a sense of wonder, especially for those who enjoy winter activities or simply appreciate the beauty of a snow-covered landscape. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 AIiva xx

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  68. Wunderschön und wundersam. Eine Frage: Eichhörnchen? In Großbritannien? Gibt es die oben in Schottland noch oder sind es doch amerikanische Grauhörnchen, die das kleinere Eichhörnchen fast überall verdrängt haben, auch in Italien?
    Tatsächlich läßt auch bei uns hier der Winter nach. Doch, der letzte war im Maßstab der letzten paar Jahre sogar relativ schneereich und es gab einiges zu schaufeln (ja, der Winter hat so seine Nachteile…) aber insgesamt wird es weniger und deutlich wird es an den Wasserständen etwa der Alpenseen.

    Liked by 2 people

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    • In Schottland gibt es noch einige Gebiete, in denen die roten Eichhörnchen leben und geschützt werden. Spaziergänger werden aufgefordert, der Forstverwaltung Bescheid zu geben, wenn sie ein graues Eichhörnchen sehen. Im übrigen haben jedoch die grauen die roten Eichhörnchen verdrängt.
      Wir waren schon immer ein Trockengebiet, deswegen fällt die zunehmende Trockenheit hier nicht so auf. Wir haben ein streng maritimes, gemäßigtes Klima hier, das dem des Mittelmeers ähnelt.

      Like

    • Ich bin froh, dass es sie noch gibt. Hier bei uns gibt es eher die schwarzen (die sehr wohl Eichhörnchen sind, keine Grauhörnchen! Noch sind sie in D. selten, in Italien aber freilich ebenfalls vorherrschend). Zum Glück hat es noch recht große Wälder – da sind Eichhörnchen überlegen.

      Liked by 1 person

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