Just in case you hadn’t noticed… Winter is here. It has settled into the landscape, sunk its claws into the earth and won’t be leaving any time soon. Its presence means more clothing, more work shoveling and scraping off the vehicle, higher home heating costs and more dangerous driving conditions.
By this first day of winter, wild animals have either already migrated south or found a place in which to live out the worst of winter’s fury. Hopefully, the geese above didn’t encounter any stormy weather in their flight south on Saturday.
Yesterday, Nova Scotia was beset by a winter storm that left many of us with the work of digging ourselves out this morning. Many folks feel that our Nova Scotia winters are not as bad as they used to be, and that nowadays, plans are too quickly cancelled due to inclement weather. I’m sure our perspective on the situation is likely affected by the length of our driveway and the cost of the home energy bill.
Though it’s often said that every cloud has a silver lining, sometimes golden linings are also waiting to be discovered in the harshest of situations. Winter is not without its charm, especially during the Christmas season. In Canada, the presence of snow at this time of year is expected, like icing on a birthday cake. I see it as a visual reminder to slow down a bit during these dark days and to take extra care to stay warm and cozy.
It’s no doubt the cold and darkness at this time of year that originally inspired folks in Denmark to practice hygge, the art of creating coziness and warmth through the use of placement, lighting, and special foods and drinks enjoyed with loved ones.
One kind word can warm three winter months.
~ Japanese proverb
It wouldn’t hurt for us to all be kinder to ourselves and one another at this time of year, if only to ease the effect of the cold.
Amen! 🙂
Hygge, eh? Sort of Nordic feng shui? Clever Danes.
That first photo looks very like the beach on the bayshore here. I like the patterns and the light. I don’t like creeping along over ice. Ah well. Can’t have everything.
It seems to me, too, that winters were deeper in my childhood, and in memory we closed school only twice. But I was even shorter then, so who knows?
Be warm, be safe . . . be here! For I would miss our little chats.
Gorgeous proverb!
Thank you for sharing and encouraging.
Golden linings and hygge–great ideas, both!
Merry Christmas Amy-Lynn.
Thank you for the gift of this wonderful Blog.
Sybil
Lovely winter photos.
Merry Christmas.
Cindy Lou, Gerry, Dawn, Yousei, Pamela, Sybil and sartenada, thank you all for your kind words. I already feel warmer 🙂 I think we could all use more hygge in our lives, especially at this dark time of year. Merry Christmas to you all!
Yes, I am still here Gerry – not all there at times, but definitely here 🙂 If I manage to discover if there’s any truth to the rumor of snowfall amounts being less nowadays, I’ll definitely post the info so that we can continue our little chat 🙂
Here in the UK we’ve just come to the end (for now at least!) of about 3 weeks of almost constant snow – if not actually constantly snowING, there has been a consistent covering of the white stuff. And it has been pretty cold. Probably nothing compared to Nova Scotia, but by UK standards it has been positively Arctic!
It has been visually beautiful… but people have died, got stuck on motorways for 15 or so hours, etc. There have been tragedies, at worst, inconveniences at worst, but I maintain an agreement with your comment that we should “slow down a bit during these dark days”…
It is Modern Life’s insistence on speed, strict time schedules and the obsessive pursuance of profit that… not to beat around the snowy bush… KILLS. If our society allowed slowing down, staying inside, staying warm and looking after ourselves, our neighbours and our loved ones, particularly during advsere weather conditions, we would be in a much better position to enjoy the beauty of winter and all it brings…
Your pics remind us of this beauty, Flan! 🙂
Pepsoid, I’ve heard that the UK is having an absolutely terrible winter. We are so much more prepared for snow and cold here in Canada where it’s pretty much expected. You’re right, it can be deadly if communities are not prepared. I think people who live in hard climates tend to allow for the flexibility that’s required in order to deal sanely with mad weather.
I was, for practical reasons, glad when the snow went, but then I was sad that I was glad!