As we hunker down between Christmas and the start of the New Year here in New Zealand in the mild clutches of an unseasonably cold spell for this early summer, my thoughts drift back to when this date found us in winter while we were living in Nebraska. It was our tradition to hang strings of pine cones from the downspouts that flanked our front porch and, when the weather was right, meltwater from the roof would trickle down them and during the chill nights would freeze into icicles. There was a particularly good crop ten years ago, a section of which I caught with our big, beloved oak in the background. 
With this memory, here’s an end-of-the-year warm wish for a safe and healthy New Year.
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krikitarts 
Happy new, as Eve likes to say. Apropos of novelty, this may be the first time I’ve ever seen icicles on pine cones. If they’d curved you’d have had ice sickles.
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Surprising, and pretty neat effect! The idea of hanging strings of pine cones … did that start with the idea of having pine cones handy as fire starters? The original purpose I assume wasn’t icicle creation?
Actually, it was icicle creation. We had rain chains in the summer and CD had the idea to modify it for pine cones in winter. We made the chains from pear-shaped shower curtain hangers–perfect for the cones.
How cool!
Happy New Year to you, Gary. Hope you, CD and the rest of your family and friends remain safe and healthy into 2021.
Looking forward to seeing some more of New Zealand through your camera lens too.
Thanks, Vicki, and I hope the new year brings you considerable relief from your recent issues with entropy. We’re doing all we can to keep our health and safety as top priorities. We have hopes of making a cruise trip around Stewart Island around May. Hope it works out.
Oh I do like that. Sadly very rarely get anything cold enough to do that where I live
But each place has its special opportunities and challenges, and we make the best of them that we can.
What a neat idea. I had to look up rain chains. I’d heard the phrase, but didn’t really know how they worked. The pine cones are a fine variation. It must have been fun watching the icicles build through freeze and thaw cycles.
It was, for sure, but we had to be careful: There were times when the ice built up to stalactite proportions and we had to chip away at it before it overpowered the fastenings. Ah, but it was so beautiful when that happened.
Beautiful! A very happy New Year to you, my friend; let’s hope for better things next year! :)
Better things are always worth hoping for, and we do. I wish you many better things in your difficult situation over there.
What a great idea; looks very cool! All the very best to you and yours for the New Year; stay safe and be well.
Thanks, M, the news we hear about the new strain and the new lockdown is beyond belief. I wish you continuing health and safety.
Looks as the virus is going to affect us here way into the New Year despite the vaccines – some say until Summer, and others (including the Health sec) have said until 2021.
What a beautiful idea! We’re do for some freezing rain tomorrow I’ll have to find some pinecones on the trees and see what happens. Wishing you a Happy New Year, stay safe!
Thanks, Zanny, I do love a freezing rain–provided I don’t have to walk or drive somewhere.
I whole heartedly agree!
Attractive and unique. Best wishes for 2021!
Thanks, Belinda, may it be a great new year for you, too!
😊
That is very cool and creative. Bet everyone loved hanging the strings with care. I’ve not seen this in nature, on pine cones, but it must happen in some way.
Freezing rain is (almost) always an unexpected treat–provided, of course, that you’re able to stay at home and enjoy it.
That’s a great tradition, a take-off on rain chains. Brilliant! May your 2021 be warm in spirit, if not in its weather. :-)
It is getting warmer again, and it’s back to being comfortable in a t-shirt for most of the day, at least until the sun drops. I think it’s going to be a very good year for us, and hopefully a much better one for others who are not so fortunately-situated. Thanks, Lynn!
Beautiful :-)
Thanks 8)