It’s back again. February. Every year it turns up around the same time. It’s peering at me through the window like a miserable grey demon.
It’s the middle of the day but it’s more like dusk. I can see the sea from here. It’s grey. Rising from the distant horizon the sky is grey, even the seagulls squawking overhead are grey. There’s a blanket of snow. Blankets are meant to keep you warm. Not this one. The only bit of colour I see is a lone daffodil bravely standing there to remind me that spring is waiting just around the corner.
Thanks once again to Rochelle for hosting, and to Dale Rogerson for this week’s photo.
Dear Keith
Daffodils are easily confused, aren’t they? Lovely piece as the winter stretches and spring peeks over horizon.
Shalom,
Rochelle
They are Rochelle, some of mine are in flower and others not even in bud yet!
A nice ray of hope. Good one, Keith.
That’s kind of you Varad.
My daffodils are buried deep down under about two feet of snow. Have I mentioned that I hate winter?
erm… yes, once or twice! Cheers, Denise.
I rather like February, but I know I’m pretty much on my own with this. Nice story.
I am also somewhat confused by the doom and gloom here, it’s just weather!
I challenge you to go outside my door today CE! Never mind, I’ll be in Dubai next week. Yea!
Probably Claire! I hate Tuesdays, and February is like 28 of them in a row, even worse in leap years!
A lovely post full of hope.
I was hoping it would come over that way! Cheers YS
The neighbour has a whole field of daffs. We have four…
I have just one! Lot’s of buds though. Thanks Jane
Four buds. One lonely little daff. They’re all wild though so I can’t really complain.
A bright yellow hope in all that grey bleakness. Nice.
They are a welcome sight this time of year.Thanks so much.
A reflective piece Keith, that managed to catch my mood perfectly on another freezing cold day!
Tell me about it! Not too long till spring though. Keep warm Iain
I like the yellow beacon of hope you give us. Thank you, Keith!
That’s kind of you Penny. Thank you.
This made me laugh long before I got to the daffodil.
It’s winter, get over it!
Haha! I bet you wouldn’t be laughing if you still lived in Scotland! Cheers mate.!
There is some truth in that, Keith, I don’t live here for the hot summers, but for the mild winters. Have a good trip.
Says the one living in the beautiful south of France…
I get enough gloom about the weather from my OH, thank you! And I saw primroses in the verges at the weekend as well as daffodils.
I’m only kidding, winter is wonderful (ahem!) I adore primroses, snowdrops too. Thanks Liz
I love the persistence of grey throughout the story and the sudden brightness of the daffodil. Wonderful!
I’m delighted you liked it Edith, thank you.
That’s what daffodils are for!
Absolutely! Thanks Sarah.
Such wonderful woe – I love it! Even the font of the title is irksome and grey! I love it ‘…peering through the window like a miserable grey demon’. A very accurate observation of February, although I find it a vast improvement on January!
March soon – yipee! Cheers Anna.
I love it when the daffodils start appearing. Don’t let February get you down 😉
No, I won’t! Bring on the daffodils I say! Thanks so much.
February does seem like the longest month, doesn’t it? We’ve been… ahhh… “blessed” with mounds of snow this year. Ain’t gonna see no daffodil for MONTHS!
It certainly does! I’m sure your daffodils are waiting just beneath the surface. I’m heading off to warmer climes next week and when I come back February will be but a memory!
Sometimes February is the longest short month on the calendar. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Well put! Thanks for your greeting – my only one this year!
I am always cheered by the first dash of yellow. It means hope of warmer weather is just around the corner. Well done
Me too, and despite the lone daf in my piece, they have come out everywhere very early this year, and right now the sun is shining!
75 at my house but 40’s tomorrow. It’s like playing pong with the weather
A nice reminder that spring is on its way. Very poetic piece! 🙂
Not long now! Cheers Brenda
The daffodil is a ray of hope, lovely one Keith. Liked your elaborate descriptions
Isn’t it just? I’m pleased you liked it Akshata
Winter? It’s a hot summer right now. Oh wait it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere. At this moment snow sounds pretty good. A nice and reflective piece.
It’s definitely winter time here although we haven’t actually had snow down here on the coast for many a year! Thanks Subroto
We finished with our two week quota of winters (mild summer for you) ages ago.
Thanks for reminding me, Anurag! Never mind. I’m flying south next week!
Ha ha ha. Have fun, and lots of sun 🙂
That lone Daffodil is to stop thoughts of gloom. A glimmer of hope. Please bring some sunshine back from Dubai!
Indeed it is Vivian! I’m taking an extra big bag with me so I can bring plenty back!
Oooh, I’m so jealous! My daughter just got back from there. Have fun!
I can’t wait Vivian – international tennis, a night at the opera and a Duran Duran concert to look forward to!
Being in Australia, I could shovel some of that snow and throw it into my car when I pick the kids up from school. It would be instant puddles. It’s been so hot.
I love the image of this lone daffodil rising out of the snow. Do daffodils flower in the snow like this? No snow around my way. Only blue skies and a fuming sun.
Best wishes,
Rowena
Early flowering ones do Rowena. Right now all I see from my window is blue sky, but although the sun is smiling at me, it can’t be described as fuming!
Do you have blue sky with snow outside? I love that. I’ve experienced that out skiing and it’s just glorious.
At least the days are getting longer. Unlike November, which is my un-favourite.
So true. There is so much to look forward to this time of year.
What a lovely ode to long, grey winters … and hope lifting with just the hint of sunshine that a daffodil can bring. Very atmospheric writing
Thanks so much for your generous words Lynn.
My pleasure Keith
Daffodils are such happy sunny flowers. Loved your interpretation here, Keith.
Click to read: https://normashilpi.wordpress.com/2018/02/11/a-story-to-tell/
Thanks,
Norma.
Norma, thanks so much for your kind words. Daffodils are very special, aren’t they?
That’s the tail end of Winter for you. Cold, and gray with just the bare promise of an ending.
Soon be gone! Can’t wait for Spring to spring forth!
So true!
That one daffodil always keeps me hanging on. There are only 34 days to go until it’s officially over
33 days from tomorrow! Bring it on!
Lovely! I can actually see that spot of yellow against the grey. Nicely done, Keith.
Well ‘spotted’ Alicia! Thanks so much for dropping by.
very nice. it’s something to keep the grey… er, blues away.
Thank you plaridel
Gray, gray, gray and then . . . that lovely yellow. It’s one of the things I miss most about no snow in Dallas–seeing the spring bulbs pop up. And so, I enjoyed your story very much!
They are just beginning to appear, so spring must be just around the corner! Thanks so much Jan
I love the brave little daffodil, standing tall with its promise of warmer days to come 🙂
Me too! Cheers Draliman
Beautifully poetic!
My short acquaintance with Daffodils is confined to the famous Wordsworth poem. Really like your image of the lone Daffodil and how it is symbolic of bright hope.
My little daf is not exactly a host, but I’m sure others will join it soon! Thanks, moon.
Enjoyed your little “ray of hope” daffodil, Keith. At -25C we have to contend with cats attracted to the door by the sun in windows, then coming to a dead stop on the thresh-hold and wanting to stand there in the open door to see if the weather warms up any. ☹
I can imagine the scene, Christine! Fortunately, I can’t feel the temperature! Thank You.
Shortest month, feels like the longest. Poor old February. But yes there are a few of those daffodils and if those don’t work there might be some left-over Valentine’s chocolates half-price at Tesco Express. I enjoyed your exaggerated gloom – very cheering!
PS It has been comment mayhem in WordPress World this week. Did you leave me a comment by any chance? I approved a comment which went off into the ether, never to be seen again even by the Akismet Techies.
When I went to Tescos yesterday there were a few leftover chocolates and lots of wilting red roses! I did leave a comment and it disappeared. I’ve just tried again!
Weirdly I lost the comment I left here too – then it reappeared. All’s well that etc etc
I’m reading this while the sun burns brightly outside in 30 degree summer. I’m looking for a little cool weather! 🙂 Really good writing here, Keith. Blankets of snow didn’t keep your MC warm, was a nice touch. Lovely ray of hope at the end too.
My daf is a sign of warmer days to come! Not just yet, but soon. Thanks, Fatima.
My sentiments exactly when experiencing mid-winter!
I was beginning to think it was just me after reading some of the comments! Cheers Colline
Pretty interesting …the narrative and the metaphor to the grey demon. Love it! A great read as always 🙂 Looking forward to your next!
That’s very kind of you Tina.I’ll be absent from the next 2 FriFics as I am jetting off to the sunshine for some R&R!
Art imitating life here. Last night we had a few inches of snow, the temps rose and it’s gone now by afternoon. Just now someone posted a picture of a daffodil. Hope springs eternal.
That is in fact what normally happens here – never the way it looks in that photo! Cheers Dawn
Beautifully done – the cold blanket effect, and feelings of claustrophobia. The splash of daffodil yellow is indeed a welcome and warming sight.
Isn’t it just? Thanks so much Sarah.
Interesting take Keith! And surely yellow stands out in grey blanket.