Snow Falling on Cypruses

This morning we were feeling lazy so had a lie in, especially after all our heavy work polishing off a bottle of mulled wine yesterday and eating like kings and queens. Wouter let Cassy out about 7.30am and said it was gloomy outside - that after a week of brilliant weather - we thought, never mind, it's cosy here and we have heaps of inside work to do. When I got out of bed I said, "I see snow falling". Wouter leapt out of bed and after a quick breakfast we took Cassy for a walk straight away to check out the snow.

It's funny because we both found/find it really interesting and funny that we've both experienced snow before, in different circumstances, and realise that for a European living in NZ or Australia this is one thing which can be missed at Christmas time - snow in winter. It's now a strange feeling to come back to this after years of humid weather in December and hot Christmas days.

The weather forecast was right - Aude district was the only one predicted to get snow today and we are getting it all right as the pictures show!
Xmas day

Boxing Day
Xmas day
Boxing Day
The weather system has picked up a stream of cold air from Siberia.

The temperature doesn't feel any colder than it has done all week. There is an eerie sense that everything happens in slow motion as you can see the flakes falling from the sky - but because they fall more slowly than rain it feels different. Also there is less noise as the snow seems to dampen any outside noises (although I think we are just about the only ones to go out as the French know better and stay indoors!)
Xmas day
Boxing Day
Wouter called this pic "little red riding hood and the big bad wolf":
I said to Wouter that the snow tastes salty - so as we were walking back home Wouter was walking along with his mouth open and sticking out his tongue to try and catch a snowflake to taste how salty it is - I had to laugh as anyone looking out of their window would see us and wonder what on earth we are doing.... In fact, he reminded me of the guy from KISS (Gene Simmonds?) who would stick out his tongue and wiggle it around.
Xmas day
Boxing Day
Xmas day
Boxing Day
For Cassy this was yet another new experience which he took in his stride. After a little while we think he was really enjoying himself - except when Wouter threw a fake ball (snowball) and it disappeared into thin air. A few tries and he threw a more substantial "ball" which Cassy caught only to spit out in disgust!

We compared ourselves to young children who have never seen rain before and run outside to get wet.... We are lucky to have experienced this. As I type it's still snowing, but melting at a faster rate than it is snowing, so by tonight it will be gone. But to finish, some more snowy pics to complete the festive season: