It's seven degrees here in Central Ohio as we speak. The manor's old heat pipes are knocking and the radiators hot. Jack Frost was here. I remember being fascinated with frost on the kitchen windows of my grandparents' house in rural Indiana, and my grandmother telling me the lovely artwork was evidence that Jack had visited in the night.
In English folklore, Jack Frost appears as an elfish creature who personifies crisp, cold, winter weather, a variant of Father Winter, also known as "Old Man Winter". Some believe this representation originated in Germanic folklore specifically in the Anglo-Saxon and Norse winter customs. Tradition holds Jack Frost responsible for leaving frosty crystal patterns on windows on cold mornings, also known as window frost or fern frost.
Apparently Jack was trying to tell me something with his big letter 'e'. He also left a beautiful image of a Christmas tree, as well has some of the most elegant fern frost. I love this little poem by Janet Frame, from her collection of poems The Pocket Mirror, 1967. I wish I had written it.
Cold Snap
It was the timed wave the toffee-wave
breaking where the cold-water cup
was a cliff of clean tooth
tasting the syrup of decay.
It is the secret frost feeding the night
the ripe as winter sweet set
like ice (when cold cut in squares)
of havoc for the summer's tooth.
Janet Frame
it is beautiful. not nearly so cold here and I'm thankful for that.
ReplyDeleteStunning, but oh, so, so dangerous too for most activities. Stay safe and warm.
ReplyDeleteHappy holidays.
Your windows are full of nature's artwork. Jack was busy designing a lovely view for you last night. And the "E" is for your lovely daughter, of course. She must be thinking of you : )
ReplyDeleteLovely, lovely, lovely!
ReplyDeleteI do so enjoy the little things that catch your eye..and soul.
I love backlighting of the sunrise in these photos. Absolutely beautiful! The Letter E looks like embroidery, as if Jack Frost carried a needle as well as a paintbrush.
ReplyDeleteCindy (AKA wildeve)
Beautiful pictures, Tess. I had similar artwork delivered to my window overnight. In Sweden we talk of "King Bore" as a personification of cold and winter. He is responsible for snow and frost but also cold winds from the north. This can be derived from his name which stems from the Latin word "borealis", meaning northern, but also the Greek word "boréas", meaning northern winds, specifically.
ReplyDeletei love your photos. i also watched a movie about janet frame earlier this year. it was called An Angel at My Table. perhaps you have seen it too?
ReplyDeleteNo frosted windows, but the temp was 14 degrees when I woke up this morning. I'd welcome some of those pretty window dressings to go with our frosty temperatures.
ReplyDeleteJack Frost is certainly visiting us. I was about to write that, although you're only a bit north of me, you're much colder than I am in Louisville. Then I checked the weather and found it to be much colder outside my window than I had thought: 11 F. (BURRRRRRRRRRR).
ReplyDeleteTess -- Your icy frosting is the beauty of nature's icy artwork. Lots of it on window galleries this morning. -- barbara
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos; ain't nature clever!
ReplyDeleteI think the E stands for 'ELP!!!'
Oh my ..glorious
ReplyDeleteI grew up with frosted windows
kind of miss them now
such artwork
you made me smile this morning Tess
Beautiful, frosty tracery. Our windows had something more akin to Hart's tongue fern patterns or acanthus leaves!
ReplyDeleteYour photos are stunning! I am in love! Thanks so much for the post.
ReplyDeleteObviously here in Phoenix I don't have these frost paintings on my windows, saw lots of people out in shorts yesterday (I had on a sweater). I love the "E" and all the Christmas trees, I've never seen anyting like it before. I often see or read things and wish I had made or written it, often it's your poetry.
ReplyDeleteYour frost photos are striking, m'dear. Hopefully you will decipher Mr. Frost's message. Please let us know when you do.
ReplyDeleteWell now I need to pay better attention to the frost on OUR windows! This morning when I left for work it was -2. Brrr!
ReplyDeleteHow I long to see frost like this if not just to grab my camera. You have quite an eye for beauty and exquisite composition. My kids miss the building of snowmen, iceskating and sledding. It started to lightly sprinkle snow Sunday evening and my kids were hoping for a snow day... Didn't happen here in NC. We might have to take a trip to the mountains over Christmas and surprise them! (We still have our snow shoes from MI)
ReplyDeleteDaigu, fascinating! I'd never heard of King Bore. I would love to see the aurora boralis someday.
ReplyDeleteVicki, yes, the Jane Campion film is what originally got me hooked on Janet Frame. A wonderful film about an amazing woman.
ReplyDelete'Elp! Cro, I love it. You're the best.
ReplyDeleteCindy, the 'e' does look like it's been embroidered on the screen! That Jack is one talented guy.
ReplyDeleteJack Frost has left you an abundance of lovely figures. The tree is amazing as is the fern frost. Great photographs!
ReplyDeletesimply gorgeous -- what an eye you have! And I didn't realize that Janet Frame wrote poetry -- thank you for posting that!
ReplyDeleteYou need a big furry dog to enjoy this with you!!
ReplyDeletePamela and Edward, my dear Ralphy used to love playing in the snow, God rest his doggy soul.
ReplyDeletewow! Jack is the man!
ReplyDeleteTruly amazing the art that nature can produce. The first photo is like a whole forest. Beautiful photography, enjoyed the poem as well--and very glad its not that cold here.
ReplyDeletei always wondered about 'ol jack frost... i never knew the legend. 'the secret frost feeding the night,' what a beautiful line.
ReplyDeletei do adore the intricate lace-like work of 'jack frost...'
Beautiful photos.... really "Mr. Frost" is quite the Artiste! I love snow.... yes - even 7 degrees!
ReplyDelete(Mind you, I need those wooly socks, heavy sweaters...and a cup of hot chocolate..) But it's fun to be in - except when you are driving!
Stay warm...the manor looks gorgeous!
Love,
♥ Robin ♥
Brilliant shots! Very cold here in Ontario as well.
ReplyDeleteSuch intricate, beautiful patterns nature creates. I think the "E" is for "Enjoy," and I hope you will. Love the poem, too, Tess.
ReplyDeleteAs a few of my windows frost over, I've worried about the inefficiency of heating my house. Your stunning photos have allowed me to "chill" and observe surroundings with beauty in mind...
ReplyDeleteRick
Such beautiful photos, I have never seen anything like this ...but Janet Frame would have experienced this in her beloved Central Otago which does harsh winters that we don't get here up north.
ReplyDeleteYour blog is always a nice poetic break in my boring work day. The temps where I live started out about -8 F. I think it may be up to a balmy 3 above now.
ReplyDeleteYour photos and post inspire us to just sit and reflect on the many icy images we have gazed at through the years ... an exercise that doesn't require sweating, huffing or puffing..
ReplyDeleteThose photos are some incredibly
ReplyDeletestunning frost images. Even though
we have have had cold snaps here,
never has the frost imp decorated
any of our windows with the ice
art that he did for you. Wow, now
we can add King Bore to our lore;
fodder for future poetics, enit?
"E" could stand for earth mother,
which of course you are,
or excitement, which it generates,
or Erasmus, who must have written
something about frost,
or ice elephants who are hiding in
the ice forest if you look hard,
or existentialism, which is promulgated
even there in Ohio, and shows up
regularly on the Willow blog,
or exactly, which is what you were
talking about, or eddy, which this
morning over on the Scioto must
be iced over big time.
Campion is one of my favorite directors,
loved THE PIANO. Has she put anything
out recently?
Tess,
ReplyDeleteYour photos are EQUISITE and that is what the E stands for! I am so confused by that poem and want very much to talk to you about it. Janet Frame was a remarkable woman not just for her words but all she endured (another E word) as a human being. That poem is haunting to me with the line "...cliff of clean tooth tasting the syrup of decay." Do you think she meant that somewhat literal? Kristen
Dear Willow, No, not an E at all.....a W if one stand's on one's head! Jack Frost certainly knew which house he was calling at!!
ReplyDeleteAnd, yes, I too wish that I had written the poem.
I remember ice like this on my bedroom window, when I was a boy. Imagine how it was for our forebears. My Grandfather told of how his chamber pot used to freeze over, when he was a child. Brrrr!
ReplyDeleteused to hold my fingers against the window to burn holes thru the frost and make little ice avalanches...ah, memories
ReplyDeleteYes, Glenn, Campion's latest is "Bright Star" which I put off watching because I was so sure I wasn't going to like it. Wrong. I loved it. Here's my little review:
ReplyDeletehttp://willowmanor.blogspot.com/2010/04/forgive-me-jane-campion.html
Kristen, it's known that Janet Frame had problem with her teeth, so I'm sure it was the impetus for this piece. My take on one of the layers is frost being the decay of summer, like toffee and sweets decay the teeth.
ReplyDeleteEdith! You're right. I suspect is was a 'w' all along!
ReplyDeleteOh, Willow - these are wonderful! They look like wonderful Steuben glass etched on your windows. I wonder if your ghost's name started with E?
ReplyDeleteThank you for finding the beauty in the cold.
Hoping you and yours are safe and warm!
Your images and Janet Frames poem are very beautiful, thank you! :-)
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of you and how you were coping with that terrible cold in your area.
Those pictures are amazing! We don't get that kind of frost-work . . . I wonder why?
ReplyDeleteYou can almost feel that poem in your teeth.
Those photographs are absolutely EXQUISITE. Thank you for sharing them with us!
ReplyDelete==lennie==
Tess,
ReplyDeleteThank you, yes I think your analysis is dead on. I knew that her teeth were a serious problem for her.
I just read another post about Bright Star. I have it in my queue but have put it off because I want to savor it. I just have not had the time (uninterrupted)but plan to watch on one of those really cold and miserable stay in bed today days. Now I am curious but afraid to read your post. I don't want to spoil my surprise. I will read your post after I watch. I think. Kristen
Kristen, there's no spoilers in my little review of Bright Star. In fact, I really don't say that much, expect that I like it. ;^)
ReplyDeletetess - such fragile simple beauty. stories that are told in the tiniest of frozen water molecules aligned so much like our hopes and wishes. steven
ReplyDeleteDearest Willow, I embrace you!! My hungry heart has been longing for real 'ice flowers' the way I remember them from my childhood and you my dear have given them to me in full measure. Three winters have I been trawling nordic blogs and finally I find them in central Ohio! An absolute feast for my hungry eyes.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Beautiful frost etchings!
ReplyDeleteJack Frost gets around, doesn't he?
ReplyDeleteLove your photos. Is the photo on your sidebar you with veil over face and hat on head? Nice photo.
Such a delight!
ReplyDeleteIncredibly beautiful... it gave me a chill.
ReplyDeleteAnd Janet Frame has a special place in my heart.
Did you see the film "An Angel at my table"?
Have a good evening
Kristin, yes, I mentioned to Vicki earlier that Jane Campion's film originally sparked my interest in Janet Frame. She was an extraordinary woman. Her poetry is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteArija, Ohio! Who knew? I'm thrilled to be the bringer of the frost, my friend!
ReplyDeleteWhen i was a child, the frost would form on the inside of the windows. Brrr! Those were cold mornings to get up for school! I am very grateful for double paned glass, now.
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfectly beautiful site you have created. Here at the Manor, there's a resident with the name of Jack Frost. He's the new residents' association president. No other frost for us. Thanks for sharing yours.
ReplyDeleteCold here tonight but no frost on my windows...a few years ago we reluctantly replaced our old wavy glass windows with new double paned heat saving windows. I love how much more snug and warm our house is...but I actually miss the frost on the windows on a cold morning... Gorgeous photos Tess!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy your review of Jack Frost's stature in folklore. I can't imagine living through a winter without central heating, thermal windows, and cozy insulation. Life must have been hard, and natural wonders brought special joy.
ReplyDeleteThese are amazing! Living pieces of art. Wow.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if you will see this, Tess, but your post inspired me to do some research on "window frost." Apparently there has to be a great temperature difference between the cold air outside and the warm, humid air inside. A couple of theories why we don't get window frost: we have double-glazed windows AND it's not cold enough outside AND it's not warm enough inside. (Husband is very stingy with the central heating. I am permanently SWATHED in layers of warm clothing.)
ReplyDeleteReminds me of Masaru Emoto's book "Messages from Water" - you know, the book on the effect of emotions on deveolping ice crystals or snow flakes.
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of camera/lens did you use to get these Jack Frost photos?
Isn't Mother Nature beautiful?
Beautiful! The patterns couldn't be more exquisite. You live with such beauty and style Tess.
ReplyDeleteD
Jack's graphics are great Tess, I join him in wishing you much warmer greetings from Corfu, and to thank you personally for your never ending positive and joyful contributions to all our lives. Χρονια Πολλα, Bob
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing quite like frosty weather for Mother Nature to produce beautiful desins in frost on windowpanes. Lovely shots, Willow.
ReplyDelete