Do you know that sharp gravel that you can buy by the truck load? For the drive. The lane. The track. Men buy it because the bashed up rock wants to snap back together and form a pointy barbed stony mat. Women would rather buy the soft rounded stones that are gentle on bare summer feet. Anyway you know those sharp nasty stones well, yesterday they were falling out of the sky in the form of little rain icicles, on and off all day.
And they pack down just the same, forming a mat of ice. very unsettling. I found myself shuffling with flat feet, skidding, with tiny infant-class skating movements. 
And then it rained. And then ice fell. Then it rained then more ice. Rinse and repeat. 
The temperature stood at the cusp of freezing – allowing the rain, then freezing it as it fell. Rain. Ice. Rain. Ice.
Of course my little cooking oil car (that cannot run on cooking oil in the winter as it will go quite solid in the tank) is not allowed out on icy days. In fact it would not even get out of the garage it was so slick out there. So I was marooned on my unsteady feet.
With this lot. Have you ever seen such a naughty cat.
They are getting wilder. I am afraid for the upholstery.
I would throw them both outside but Our John has decreed that Marmalade should be an Inside Cat. Tell that to the cat, I said, as he ambushed the opening door. Of course once Our John has left for work we all do whatever we want!
We don’t have a Christmas tree this year. We have a Christmas OWL. I will show him to you tomorrow… remind me. You know who he is.
My view through the window yesterday. All ice.
Are you awake? Are you awake, yet? Are you awake, now? Boo has an extraordinary ability for sleep.
I hope you have a lovely day.
Your friend
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
66 responses to “Frozen rain falls like sharp stones”
Celia has the right idea ~ I was going to offer some of our summer [again grown too hot and far too dry 😦 ! ] but the idea of using the ether to send a ‘naughty’ cocktail or two is very appealing! Meanwhile whilst you are fighting rain and ice, I can’t keep my garden wet enough: agapanthus, crepe myrtles, gardenias, rosebushes, flowering grasses and endless petunias all burst open at the same time ~ as you say your time will come . . .
It sounds like Marmalade has won John’s heart. Though the photos are stills, I can feel the energy of the ornery kitty. Big Dog looks snuggly, I think he has the right idea for your wintry weather. Please be extra careful on that ice.
I just laughed out loud reading about Marmalade! He is just fantastic! Love the 1st pic where he appears to be staring at Ton, thinking “who are you and who let you come in the house?????” I’m with Our John….Marmy should be your indoor companion cause he’s just way too cute to be anything else..LOL! 🙂 Stay safe and warm! I’m south of you guys and we also got ice, rain, ice…..tonight I had to “skate” to pull my trash collector out to the street for the pickup guys tomorrow morn…Schoooosh!
“Tell that to the cat, I said, as he ambushed the opening door.” Wonderful!
Hi Celi, we have a pair of YakTrax each. They are so useful. We have a care package in our truck. Two sleeping bags, snacks, dry socks ,extra dog food ( if we have our Aussie MIschief with use) will have it and so much more. YakTrax, coats, matches, etc. The parking lot in town is full of cars, all with icicles hanging down. We have been blessed never to have had to use our care pkg. Stay warm. NIce to see all the animals snug and warm.
It was 60 here yesterday, so all the rain fell as RAIN, not ice…so odd. Back into the deep freeze for Christmas day, though. The only good thing about ice is that it makes for some beautiful photos 🙂
Did John get the garlic planted in all that misery?
Marmalade is looking very big 🙂
Am I the first to wish you happy Christmas – all of you’s…only three more hours to the Big Day. Hope you all keep warm, and revel in joyous feasting – we;’re expecting a rainy Christmas day, but it’s hard to believe because the day and the sunset have been so beautiful, much love from New Zealand
That kitten is a puppy! 😉
Why yes, I have seen such a naughty cat – he lives here & is called the Terrorist Cat.