This year Winter arrived early on and for the first time I experienced an ice storm. Freezing rain drizzled gently down and, because it was so cold, froze on trees, plants, and everything else it fell on.
When we stepped out in the morning, the scene before us looked beautiful. The world was icy white and the ice sparkled when the light fell on it.
The roads looked icy and slippery. Looking closer at branches and leaves, we saw that they were encased in ice.
The trees looked like the artificial Christmas trees that they were currently selling in stores for Christmas with their tips dripping with white.
Not only were the trees encased in ice, but so were the plants. The ice made the leaves heavy and they lay close to the ground. Even the bushes were wrapped in icy cold:
Benches that had been put out for people to sit on and enjoy the outside, did not look inviting at all.
Ice dripped from the benches and encased the decorative plant holders -whether they were near the benches, or placed on the side of the roads.
The ice certainly gave a new meaning to the words “winter decorations”.
Objects such as benches and iron-wrought fences were strong enough to withstand the weight of the ice:
However, many trees in our neighbourhood bowed under the icy weight. Branches broke with the added kilograms and many fell down.
As the branches fell from trees, the ice scattered looking like shards of glass. Many branches fell on power lines, cars, and in the roads.
Luckily we were not affected by these falls and we continued to have power. The only inconvenience we had was the difficulties experienced while doing Christmas shopping: some stores were closed due to power outages, and many parts of the subway were not running.
The ice from the storm has since been covered with snow. Yet it is still there, waiting to be uncovered to create a slippery surface.
Have you ever experienced an ice storm?
(This post was inspired by Jake’s prompt: Reality)
© Colline Kook-Chun, 2014
Colline's Blog 
BEAUTIFUL ICE FORMATIONS!
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
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They truly were beautiful. They show how glorious God’s creation is.
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Dear Colline
This looks like a fairytale scene from one of Hans Christian Anderson’s story books. Thank you for sharing with us. This time of the year South Africa is sweltering hot!
Blessings XX
Mia
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How I miss those sweltering days 🙂
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You have captured the essence of icy winter Colline. Very romantic takes again. I hope you are keeping warm.
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I have learnt how to keep myself warm in this bitter cold Paula. Temperatures have warmed a little and some of the snow and ice has melted. Tomorrow, though, snow and colder weather is forecast.
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You sure captured some beautiful “Ice Work”…I just wouldn’t want to drive in it♥
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Many people took the decision not to drive during this time period. I cannot say I blame them.
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Such extreme weather makes for lovely pictures Colline but I can see it is not easy to live with !
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My personal experience was not as bad as many others. It made for dangerous walking and inconveniences. Luckily my power was not disconnected and neither was the telephone.
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Your photographs are so evocative of ice storms; nature’s beauty, spectacle, menace, and power. I lived in south-east Ontario during the “Great Ice Storm of 1998.” http://phylor.wordpress.com/2011/01/31/the-great-ice-storm-of-1998-redux-2011/ describes our adventures in “iceland,” and my fear of the word “freezing rain” in the weather forecast.
Any pictures we have (should have retrieved camera and taken some?) are stored away in the many shoe boxes of photos pre-digital camera days up in the attic and in mom’s storage locker.
I’m glad you captured the beauty of ice; I do have earlier fonder memories of cut-glass/leaded crystal landscapes.
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My experience was nothing like what you experienced in 1998 Phylor. Wow!.
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That looks so cold Colline, and those roads must be very dangerous.
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Yes they are Michelle – they are very slippery. Car owners need to put on winter tires that help with traction. And one hopes that the municipalities salt the roads to help with the melting of snow and ice.
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Winter seems very cold there dear Colline, but you did a wonderful photographs, I loved them all. Take care of yourself and be in warm and in safe. Thank you, love, nia
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It does get really cold here Nia. Last week, with the wind chill, it reached down to -42c. On days like these you go to where you are going quickly; and you stay warm inside.
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We’ve had blackouts from iced over wires being downed, but as treacherous as it all is, it’s just absolutely gorgeous.
Your photos are a wickedly wonderful winter wonderland.
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I agree – the scenery is stunningly beautiful. Many experienced home-owners had backup plans in place. And many used the extreme outside weather as their freezers!
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That’s using your frozen noggin. 😉
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🙂
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Oh, yes. I was grateful that our electricity did not fail us as it did for so many others. I was also grateful that I did not have to venture out. I did gaze out my windows and enjoyed as you did, looking at the ice-encased landscape!
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I ventured out to do some shopping and when I arrived home I could not resist going out to take some pictures.The world looked like a fairytale world.
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Your photos are beautiful but I cannot imagine living in a place where it gets so cold it snows.
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There is a certain beauty in the snow. And when it is actually snowing it is not too cold. The cold usually comes in the days after when the skies are clear and blue.
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Wow …..Great Reality you have there Colline …..
Thanks for sharing my friend 🙂
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Thank you Jake. These shots came to mind as this is something I am currently experiencing.
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Oh my Colline. I can bet that this is amazing the first time you experience it. I will just leave it to you to tell me all about it. Firstly I would be on my arse ALL the time in that much ice…and as I get older I really dislike extremes.
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Slipping is something that is so easy to do in this weather. One cannot walk anywhere in a hurry. And yes, I have slipped a few times 😦
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Hope you didn’t hurt yourself Colline. My balance has never been the same since I broke my back, so being around ice would be no good for me. That said, those pictures are so amazing it would be something to see it for real.
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I was okay each time. But I really got a fright and was happy that I did not hurt myself badly.
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Such beautiful and fascinating winter pics, Colline. I Love them all, but particularly the one of the bench fringed with icicles. 🙂
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I loved the look of the bench too – took so many pictures of it. I chose the best one to show you.
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Fascinating picture Colline, hard to imagine but your pics are reality.
Here we worry about our car tyres bursting when driving, due to the heat of the roads.
Regards
Ian aka Emu
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Your reality seems to be the opposite extreme of mine Ian 🙂
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Oh wow Colline! These are truly amazing shots! Thank you for braving the cold to show us these beautiful sights! I would have loved to be there. Those icicles fascinate me! 😀
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It is amazing how those icicles freeze. I see them every winter dripping down roofs – never seen them hanging from a bench before though 🙂
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Looks beautiful, feels cold!
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It is both 🙂
Looking at the beauty helps to make up a little for the cold.
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It looks beautiful, but I’ve been in a few and they can be quite dangerous. Glad you didn’t experience any power outages and stayed safe.
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Thank you TBM. When walking outside I was very careful so I would not slip. Seems to be a habit you need in the winters here.
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I have experienced more than one ice storm. We only had one this year. I always love how beautiful everything looks. You captured that beauty in your photos. Unfortunately, ice can be dangerous and inconvenient.
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It is the danger that is more worrisome than the inconvenience 🙂
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Great photos! It’s 70-something degrees where I am and we are praying for rain. A small vicarious thrill to see such wintery scenes. Stay warm!
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I can only hope that they cooled you down a bit 🙂
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How exquisite! And your photos are fantastic!
We have just had a week of 110 degrees F, amazing that one side of the world is so hot and the other is so cold! I spashed some water on my path this morning – in 10 minutes it had vanished!
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Over here on certain days it would have frozen 🙂
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As dangerous as ice storms are, they create beauty!
Yes … we get them … and we anticipate getting one each winter.
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I have experienced very little ones – this was the first one which was prolonged and which caused so much damage.
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Fantastic photos, Colline! I especially like the pine tree leaves. 🙂 But those streets look like my worst nightmare! How would I ever keep my balance?
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When my kids were younger they would walk like penguins 🙂
Seriously, though, one does have to walk carefully and wear the correct footwear.
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I love your question at the end Colline, you know I have only just learned what an ice storm was. It is not something that we ever have here, it really doesn’t get cold enough. They look very dangerous, but also very beautiful, and for someone who might never see anything like this, thank you so much for exploring it with your camera and showing all the aspects. Great photos, great post.
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It is something that I had never experienced either before I came to live in the northern hemisphere. This is one of the reasons I can’t help but take photos as I find it so beautiful and fascinating.
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Your images and words made Winter come to life. Beautiful.
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Thank you so much.
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Your photos are indeed, beautiful but after this LONG winter I will appreciate them more in the Spring!!! Well done, the images are truly a gift.
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I agree with you wholeheartedly. I am getting a little tired of white winter scenes.
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Surreal!!! Particularly love the leaves encased in ice! Looks like Mr Frost has been working overtime 🙂 Hope the weather has thawed somewhat Colline.
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He certainly has this winter. And Old Man Winter seems to be enjoying his stay!
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Colline – as always, brilliant photographs. I can not say which one is my favourite – the bench? the branch on the ground? Ice bushes? A choice would be hard. Glad you did not get hurt slipping on ice. Take care, Carina
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Not on that day – though I did another time. It was treacherous out there this winter. I cannot wait for all the snow and ice to be gone. It is lingering this season.
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