As you may have seen in the news, we have been in the grips of the polar vortex… This has limited our time outside, especially with all the frostbite warnings, scary stuff! The wee girl in particular has been on house arrest. Of course, this means I have too, so I’m going a little stir crazy!
Thankfully, we made it to the last evening of Zoo Lights at our local zoo last Sunday evening. We had intended to go between Christmas and New Year, but the weather didn’t cooperate: the first time we tried there was a torrential downpour; then we got a foot of snow (see last weeks Country Kids post!).
But, last Sunday the weather had warmed up a little. By that I mean it was only about -5C… Positively balmy :) As it turned out, this was in advance of a day of rain, and fog so thick you couldn’t see more than about 10ft in front of you (now, that was an interesting school run!) and temperatures of 15C; yes, really, a 20 degree jump! This was clearly to lull us into a false sense of security in advance of the ridiculously, painfully cold days that followed… Oh, and then it snowed again today!
Anyway, I digress! Zoo Lights…
Our local zoo put on a wonderful festive display of twinkly lights weaving their way through part of the zoo. The zoo is full of trees and virtually every one along the trail was decked in lights. Pretty white lights lit branches while coloured lights wrapped bushes and trunks and benches.
Following the trail took us past the arctic foxes and otters, these deserving mention as they were awake! The trail finally led to a lovely display of lights, Santa’s grotto (ready for next year!), story book characters and model trains; along with a traditional carousel.
I’m so glad we managed to go, the kids had been looking forward to seeing the zoo at night and it really was very pretty. The look of wonder; especially on the wee girls face as she ran from one tree to another, from a scene of busy elves to one of the three bears, from a flamingo made of lights to a perfect Christmas tree; was just lovely.
The combination of snow and twinkly lights was magical. And, we all got some fresh air!
I’m linking up with Coombe Mill again this week. Click on the badge to see what everyone else has been up to and be inspired to get outside!
You all seem to have had such a lovely time… I was thinking just today that we have not had any snow yet here (London), and even though I would not wish for the Arctic conditions you have been having, a couple of days to make a snowman and run around crisp white snow would be lovely!
Thank you! We have had fun with the snow, although the days where it’s been too cold to go outside have been less fun :)
Wow Sara it looks like some kind of magical wonderland there. So pretty. I hope you’re all doing alright and staying warm :)
Thanks Charly :) It was lovely. We’re keeping ourselves wrapped up!
How truly magical, but I have no idea how you cope with the weather – I would have to hibernate til Spring!
Well, we did have a few days where we really couldn’t go outside for more than a few minutes at a time! But, we all have good snow gear :)
Sara that really does look so pretty, what a difference lights can make. Some beautiful photographs in there, I’m not surprised the children were captivated. Your temperatures certainly have made the news just like our floods, I do hope some normality will return for you and for us. It is making Country Kids just a little too challenging! Thank you for linking up such a sparkling post.
The weather on both sides of the Atlantic has just been awful, I hope that it calms down soon too!
The lights at the zoo were lovely, I was so pleased that we made it to see them.
Wow. That does look magical – and lucky you did make it out in the one very small window of opportunity
Thank you, it was lovely, I’m glad we went x
What wonderful scenes at the zoo! The weather over here has been quite mad – and too cold.
It really has been too cold, I’m quite happy in the cold generally, you just wrap up well, but this has been painfully cold!
hope you guys are okay in all the cold! i love that your OH looks like he is dressed for a british winter day!! magical photos x
He’s hilarious, doesn’t feel the cold at all, although, even he did comment that -20C was a bit chilly…!
I’m so glad you got to go, the pictures made it look amazing and worth a trip out in the weather. I can’t imagine how you negotiate any school run at all in that kind of snow/ice, let along thick fog too! I hope it clears a little soon-the forecasters seem to be saying it’s going to ease up a little.
Thank you, it was worth the visit. Schools runs are interesting, but the snow has now gone again, for the time being anyway!
It all looks so magical. So pleased you managed to make it there, with the weather messing up all of your plans!
Thanks Jocelyn, it would have been a shame to miss it x
The lights look so pretty, can’t wait util we get some snow! #CountryKids
I hope you get some soon :)
What an adventure. Such lovely pics. Hope ur keeping well in such horrid cold. We have had such bizarre weather here in South of England but as of yet no snow. Xx #countrykids
Thank you, the weather has been eventful :) Although I think I prefer the snow and cold to the rain and floods xx
Oh that’s beautiful! I love how the Americans go overboard with lights – I soooo want to do a Christmas in the states some time
They really do, it’s just lovely xx
The lights are so beautiful! I sympathise with the weather you’ve been having lately (minus 5, really??) but it’s brave of you to venture outside.
-5C was nothing – it’s all relative though :) It’s been very cold indeed!
What great photos, looks so magical and a great place to visit for families.
Thank you x
Wow that looks like a magical evening, and how cool to see arctic foxes and otters on the way round!
It was very cool :)
This looks absolutely amazing. Oh and that kind of snow is definitely not something to wish for! Stay safe. #CountryKids.
Thanks! Yes, I’m quite glad to see the back of the snow for awhile!
Such pretty lights, that evening looks like a real treat! stay warm xxx
It was wonderful, thank you x
Looks like an amazing place to visit, even if a little bit chilly! Glad you got to see the lights though, I can imagine it was a real treat for the kids x
The kids loved it, so glad we made it :)
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wow! how beautiful! Been reading about the cold…MAD!
Completely mad! I don’t mind the cold normally, you just wrap up, but this has been a whole new level :)
The snow looks awesome – I wish we had some here in Cambridgeshire. The lights are really pretty. The kids look like they had fun, despite the cold :)
What is the weather like there then? (I have had my head in a hole for the past few weeks)
Sonia x
The kids had a great time :)
It’s been very snowy and exceptionally cold, we had our first negative Fahrenheit days with lows of about -20C! But it’s been a lot worse further west, with temps as low as -50 I believe!
So pretty.Can we have some of your snow please?
Our zoo had a lantern walk in the run up to Christmas and that was pretty special too. Yours looks wonderful x
Walking round a zoo at night with most of the animals asleep is rally quite special. I would send you some snow if I could :)