It’s March and Mid Wales has finally got some snow! Luckily, I was able to work from home on Thursday and yesterday was my day off, so I didn’t have to venture too far.
We haven’t had much snow this winter, or for the past few winters, really, so the snow was a joy to see. There’s just something I love about watching big, fat snowflakes falling from the sky.
So, yesterday morning I dug out my snow boots (which hadn’t seen daylight for a few years!), put on an extra pair of socks, my thickest hoodie, my big coat, hat & gloves and ventured out into the snow with my camera.
One or two people were clearing their paths (somebody had kindly cleared the path in front of the old people’s bungalows), children were sledging down the hills (oh, to do that again without the worry of aching for days or breaking something!) and the roads were quiet. Thankfully, the snow wasn’t too deep, so it was nice to walk in.
As I reached the churchyard, there wasn’t a single sign of the snowdrops which had adorned the ground on my last visit. The path to the church had been cleared, I suspect in anticipation of a funeral being held that afternoon.
A couple of weeks ago I came across an old newspaper article mentioning an interesting memorial inscription on a gravestone in the village churchyard. I sought out the gravestone in the churchyard and it reads:
In Memory of
Stephen Morris Smith & Farrier
who died January 29th : 1795
aged 72 years.
A skilful Farrier successful in his undertakings and greatly esteem’d for his honesty
“My sledge and anvil lies reclin’d,
My bellows too have lost their wind,
My fire’s extinct; my forge decay’d,
And in the dust my vice is laid,
My coal and iron also gone;
My nails are drove my work is done;
My body from it’s labours rest,
But shall be rais’d a sprightly guest,
With sinful crowds soaring to Heav’n,
Trusting thro’ Christ to be forgiven.”
Also of James, son of Stephen Morris,
Who died Jan. 16th, 1838 Aged 77 Years.
According to the newspaper article: “There is a second version of them, evidently a plagiarism, on the last resting place of another of the craft in Llanllwchaiarn churchyard”.
Burial records show Stephen Morris was buried on 2nd February 1795. I wonder if snow lay on the ground that day.
Would you like to hear about other gravestones in the churchyard?
41 Comments
tomthebackroadstraveller
…Nikki, you have a beautiful winter wonderland when blue skies. Today we have a beautiful winter wonderland with overcast skies!!!
Kris P
Spectacular scenery, Nikki! Would you believe that I’ve only seen snow falling in person once in my life? Our local mountains are currently buried in snow but, sadly, the images aren’t as pleasant as many people there have been literally trapped in their homes for weeks now, with the snow is still falling there. Meanwhile, we’ve just had rain – and one very brief episode of hail – in my own area along the coast.
Eunice Ratcliffe
You got some gorgeous photos here Nikki and I love the poignant poem on the gravestone. My local area hasn’t had much snow yet, just some wet sleety stuff on Thursday which didn’t last then some overnight which had gone by 9am yesterday.
Nikki
Thank you. Most of the snow has gone now, apart from some still left on the tops of hills. We’re due a bit more on Monday night though, apparently.
somewhereinireland
A beautiful winter wonderful with lovely blue skies. We had rain today. 🙂 I’ve always enjoyed walking through graveyards and reading people’s headstones. There are some interesting ones to see and read. Have a nice rest of the weekend.
Carol
There is something about fresh clean snow that makes everything beautiful. You live in a gorgeous area which is even prettier with a layer of snow.
Suzanne
Beautiful images, and I could easily wander through there even with snow. Weirdly, even on a warmish autumn day, we have here. Very poetic.
Lorrie Orr
How beautiful the snow is against the deep blue sky. The church looks wonderful. I’m always interested in old gravestones and their stories.
Kelly
I love seeing the snow! We rarely get any, so I enjoy seeing what others get. What a detailed inscription on the gravestone!
Heads up, I finally put a card in the mail to you this past Monday.
Wendy
Wow! These photos are so pretty!! I’m glad you didn’t have to drive to work in it.
Jodie
I love your photos! Is this late in the year for Wales to get snow? We’ve had more snow than usual this year (some years we don’t get any) in Vancouver Canada.
Nikki
It’s later than usual, yes, although we have had it later than this.
lisl
All that pristine snow for you to delight in, Nikki. It brings out the child in most of us when it first falls
lisl
And yes – please share some of the other memorials on the other headstones
Vix
I’m fascinated by gravestones, thanks for sharing that one. x
Sophie
These landscapes are absolutely dreamy! And that gravestone…
Eastside Cats Blog
Would enjoy reading more memorials, thanks.
Our Winter has been mild, with much less snowfall that average.
The ice storms are what most are talking about.
Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter
Not a big fan of snow, but it does look beautiful as you have shown. Always a big fan of graveyards so, yes, more please!
Ann
Stunning snowscapes, Nikki! We haven’t had any proper snow yet, and indeed it has been a few years since we had a decent layer. Lovely to walk in, but a hazard if you need to commute! Loving that memorial inscription! xxx
Laurie Graves
Beautiful photos! A treat for you to get some snow. And for the kids too.
Johanna Bradley
They were long-lived for the times, weren’t they, Nikki? There is a wonder to it when, as you say, it floats down in those big soft flakes and the crisp, white world that follows. It brings back memories…
Ginnie Hart
Even at my age (78 in June), Nikki, I am still a glutton for snow like this and truly miss it if we don’t have at least one such showing a winter. Good for you to deck yourself out to go take those lovely photos!
Alegria
Snow makes everything so pretty. We too, here in Southern Ontario, Canada, hadn’t had much all winter, and then it came beginning at the end of Feb.
What an interesting gravestone. Interesting to read those inscriptions from so long ago. Reminds me of an old cemetery I came across once. I must write about it.
Lovely post. I discovered it thanks to Jo.
Anca
It looks gorgeous!! You had snow for a while. In Liverpool by mid-day was all gone.
I love all the pictures.
Nikki
It snowed on and off all day on Wednesday, but it only really stuck on the hills. Then it was white over on Thursday, Friday and most of Saturday. It was gone by Sunday. We’re apparently due some more tonight/tomorrow. It’s currently very windy and wet!
Friko
I expect your snow has gone for the time being, like here in Shropshire. More tomorrow?
I love old churchyards, old churches too, and they reveal some fascinating bits of history.
Glorious pictures of Mid Wales.
Nikki
Yes, it’s very windy and wet here at the moment! Possibly more snow tonight/tomorrow.
Her Digital Coffee
I’m glad you were able to enjoy the snow this year. It looks like a wonderful stroll. Thank you for sharing such beautiful photos!
Sharon
That snow looks like proper snow. We had enough for one snow day off work ( yay! ) though it had all melted by lunch time. Love the poem on the gravestone. Gravestones can be quite interesting. I don’t look round them often but one March I did come across a grave of a lady actually called Easter! That was at a small church in Yorkshire.
Beverley
Beautiful Winter wonderland pictures. Thank you for sharing {-)
Yvonne (@Fiction_Books)
Apparently, some of the pundits are forecasting snow in the UK for Easter this year, although you and I both know how unreliable their glimpses into the future can be!! 🙂
As we author trails across Somerset, Wiltshire and parts of Hampshire, you can imagine how many quaint little churches and quirky headstone inscriptions we have managed to include (all of which have to have had at least 75 years elapse before we guide trailers to them). So sharing some of your finds would be lovely! 🙂
Great pictures, as ever 🙂
Lauren
The photos you have shared are so beautiful. Snow can be so pretty. Thank you for sharing.
Lauren – bournemouthgirl
DeniseinVA
Hi Nikki, your snow photos are magic! Really beautiful! I was very interested in your story of Stephen Morris, and thank you for sharing that beautiful verse on his tombstone. A lot of history in these old tombstones. We have had very little snow this year, I wished for some but we are retired and don’t have to drive to work in such weather. I remember driving with a sudden squall overtaking us and it was/is not a nice memory of the havoc it caused, but oh my goodness, I do love snow 🙂 Thanks again for such a super post and wishing you a great weekend.
Jo
Wonderful photos. I love to see the snow, I just don’t enjoy having to go anywhere in it. We got quite a bit on the Friday which hung around for a couple of days but the temperature is back to double figures again now, positively balmy, haha.
sustainablemum
Your photos are gorgeous, the light is so wonderful in the snow if the sun shines too.
CherryPie
It looks so pretty 🙂 Our snow didn’t stick around long enough for photo opportunities.
Denise Bush
Wonderful post and photos … I enjoyed seeing where you live! We’ve had nothing but now since early November here in Colorado!
tomthebackroadstraveller
…finally our snow is gone and we have snow drop, spring has sprung.
Wandering Canadians
The snowy scenery looks lovely. What better way to enjoy the snow than by spending time outdoors. Your pictures turned out nicely.
Latitude Adjustment: A Tale of Two Wanderers
Great photography!
Awakening Wonders
Oh, so calm and peaceful!!