Love in winter and the promise of snow
Sunset snow
This past week it has been snowing in Vancouver, which brings some joy and others frustration. I’m in the first camp. My dear colleague has escaped the harsh and unusual cold by escaping to Mexico; meanwhile I have no desire but to stay here and enjoy it! (I did not inherit my grandmother’s snowbird tendencies.) The wind chill is expected to be, well, bone-chilling and when the wind and cold sweep through and suck away all the warmth it is difficult to get it back. So, anyone want to go Christmas shopping with a (*dreadful gulp*) vehicle? I need some warm clothing! Vancouverites aren’t prepared for this!
Curled over the eaves, it melted and froze…
…in funny shapes.
This morning I awoke to the ever-stunning white glow on my ceiling from the snow-covered yard. This is the best weather—if it has to not be snowing, let it be sunny so as we may enjoy it more. And it is, gloriously. To my utter surprise I discovered the most amazing icicles hanging pure and clean outside the solarium, and weathered the 8 C in there to take photos.
Like a prism it captures the sunlight and bends all that you see through it.
Mt. Baker is virtually invisible but the Coast mountains are fantastic. Recently I had the opportunity to stare at them at length outside on a relatively clear night. In the Cove the dusted trees in the distance stood out stronger the longer I stared at them to let my eyes adjust, and I couldn’t believe the sight. It’s amazing what the snow makes visible in the night, but here it’s never purely dark as the city lights glow in the distance. The cold made the snow underfoot crunch delightfully in the quiet night.
Nature’s ephemeral sculptures
There’s something magical about winter, and I’d stretch to say it’s the most romantic season. The cold brings people together, indoors and outdoors, and the lighting of our houses and trees casts that warm, lovely glow straight out of romance films. Nature impresses me year-round, but I think it’s the rarity of snow that makes its breathtaking beauty a thing of love and passion. The bare trees with every branch draped; white mountain faces that stand out against the pale blue sky so brightly it feels like another place entirely; mysterious paw prints in the snow; a lone snowman in a park in the city’s most downtrodden neighbourhood—a sign of hope; the call of birds still here, and nature’s display of art from snowflakes to the Lions. Christmas in my family and whatever brings yours together.
Happy Holidays everyone!
