A touch of frost

[Maggi Young]

In english , schadenfreude means something like  taking pleasure in another's distress.
An example would be when a Scot (me) tells an Englishman (Anthony) that I am really sorry about the pathetic performance of the english cricket team but I have a nasty smile on my face while I say it !

[Lesley Cox]

Ah, thank you Maggi. The word would then explain nicely, the nasty smile on my face right now when I tell Anthony that I'm really sorry about the pathetic performance of the English cricket team last night in Adelaide.

[Maggi Young]

Exactly, Lesley, though since the poor man must be getting very accustomed to such commiserations he will become inured to the pain and so our schadenfruede will thus be diminished.... won't stop us, though, will it??!!

[Lesley Cox]

Certainly not Maggi though I'm not so sure about becoming inured to that particular pain. Heaven knows, I've had plenty of experience to find out and yes, it still hurts.

[johngennard]

We had a touch of frost here last night(-2)the first since mid Dec.However it was followed by a lovely sunny but cold day and I took the opportunity to show our friends down-under that we are not completely devoid of colour in our Winter gardens.I took all of these pictures in the garden this morning and more besides.

    Winter 2007 002.jpg
    Hamamelis mollis.jpg
    Galanthus Magnet.jpg
    Cyclamen coum at foot of rocks.jpg

[johngennard]

and more
    Cyclamen coum amongst deciduouos azaleas.jpg
    Winter 2007 004.jpg
    Winter 2007 006.jpg
    Winter 2007 029.jpg

[Maggi Young]

Goodness me,  John, spring has really arrived with you as with our friends in Ireland and parts of the continent... even David and Carol Shaw, some sixty or so miles north of us have got Iris Katharine Hodgkin open... we are SO far behind here in Aberdeen ... perhaps with the nasty weather we're having, snow and cold, and may still have, that will prove a good thing in the long run?

[Lesley Cox]

Thank you John, plenty colour indeed. I guess those are Cornus stems? and the lovely red witch hazel looks like the one John Forrest showed a couple of days ago. I hope it reaches NZ at some stage soon.

[Olga Bondareva]

Thomas
It's my baby. 

johngennard
Is it winter? It is like end of April here.
_________________

Middle of January:

[Thomas Huber]

Now, that we have frost, I've changed my avatar to
one with Lesley's Merino-Possum-cap.
I hope Ladies, you will be satisfied now!

Lesley, I've tried to make a photo of Celine with your
slippers, but she was not really thrilled. The result
shows, that she's really MY girl 

[Maggi Young]

Thomas, your new hat suits you well. Now we do not have to worry that you might catch cold when out making lovely photographs !

It seems that Celine is not too happy about getting her photo taken, but her slippers are really cute and I am sure very cosy!
Very bright day here today, the snow is mostly gone but still very cold.I think our flowers may be right to be hiding!

[Joakim B]

I thought the hat would be Davy Crocket style
This seems normal and nice a good winter hat
Joakim

[Thomas Huber]

In every case it's keeping my head warm - many thanks, Lesley!!!!

[annew]

I thought it might have ears and a pouch.

[johngennard]

Olga,

Super photos,I love the fungii.The lonicera prompted me to go out and take a photo of one that is grown a lot over here and at first glance I thought it was the same.However,as soon as one bothers to look closely they are chalk and cheese.I  prefer yours with the contrasting purple stamens and staining.I wish I could post the scent,it is heavenly.I imagine that yours is too.
As for the weather;what a difference a day makes.We woke up to 25mm of snow this morning.