My fear of living through a dark snowless winter evanesced when at last, the sky opened up and spilled upon us its pristine fluffy treasures that eventually blanketed our whole city in delightful whiteness. Last year was not my ideal winter, with a snowless December and not much snow that came thereafter. This year's winter was threatened by the successive rain showers that felt colder than the snow. I just kept wishing that snow would replace the rain soon. And my wish was granted.
Here are some excerpts from my other cyber journal about the development of the season within the month of December.
Dec. 5
Yesterday afternoon at the city river. Another awe-inspiring sky show!
The all-white Umeå Culture building was painted gold by the sinking sun.
More "gems" from yesterday; all in just a day: the golden sunset, my friend Josie's's ufo by the river, the silver moon, and the emerald aurora at midnight, which concluded the 4th of December. What an awesome day! More glory to our generous Creator!
Dec. 10
A photo from yesterday. It was frosty, chilly, yet sunny. A pleasantly cold day for me. Today is completely different: dark, rainy, windy, chillier. The worst weather I have ever been through since I came here. It feels like the rainy days in Baguio except that here is 2 degrees C. Would have been better and warmer with snow. I'm not complaining though. I like the cold better than the heat. Sounds like channelling Elsa (Frozen)...hehehe...
December 12
The day started dark and rainy. At past 10:00 a.m. after my first 2-hour job, big clusters of snow began to fall, replacing the rain. As snow came more and more, I felt going up, up, up....euphoria!!! I think I'm forever in love with the snow! Finally, the storehouse of snow broke open. And the winter darkness turned to white.
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December 17
A fine frosty day in the city. "It is the life of the crystal, the architect of the flake, the fire of the frost, the soul of the sunbeam. This crisp winter air is full of it." ( from Winter Sunshine by John Burroughs)
December 19
Yes! Winter wonderland is in the making! Let the snowfall go on. "Have you entered the storehouses of the snow?" (Job 38:22a) Well, their gates are apparently open now.
Let my soul bask in the whiteness of the landscapes!
December 20
snowfall last night
this morning after the snowfall
more finds this morning outside our backdoor
December 21
It's been another day filled with sunshine that kissed the snowy landscape.
December 22
Today is the exact date of winter solstice in Umeå (universal is Dec. 21), which marks the shortest day and longest night of the year in northern hemisphere. This official start of winter came murky and a bit snowy here, but beautiful nevertheless with the immaculate whiteness all over.
December 23
Today I finished my last job for this week. I snapped a shot of this scenery close to my work place as I headed to the bus stop. Time to relax for some days.
I was shooting this scene when a cyclist dashed past the trees. And the photo became more alive.
December 25
A lovely morning to wake up to, a promise of a fine relaxing day.
Do I still love winter? I'll say 100%! No matter how long I have lived with winter, I could never find in my heart the expressions "It's too much!", "I'm tired of it" or "I loathe it" such as some keep saying year after year. I always feel that same novel feeling like it's my first time to see the snow and all the whiteness all over. I just love it, and that's the long and short of it.
More pictures can be viewed here: Scenes from December, Part 1
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