Winter has officially ended when the spring equinox arrived on the 20th. And yet, winter is still hanging around and bringing more snow to add a thick layer over the snowbanks and mounds that had started to shrink. And then again, the mild warmth of the spring sun melts the freshly fallen snow. Some nights we get snow dusting as revealed by the appearance of the trees and the ground in the morning.
Spring's sun shows up almost everyday with a burst of intense brightness. Although I liked those winter days when the sun rolled just above the trees across the horizon, I equally like seeing the sun rolling upward to the zenith, making the daylight much longer.
Spring is here, yes, but the awakening of the vegetation that has lain dormant throughout winter is yet to come. Before that happens, and before winter totally vanishes, I want to store a few of the thousand pictures that I took while taking notice and appreciating the things around me, the great and the small.
This is one of my favorite mid-winter scenes, when the low-lying sun at midday is reflected by the mist wafting over the frozen river. Can you see that little solitary white-throated dipper bird hunting for food on the semi-frozen edge of the river?
I love the days when the trees are coated with hoarfrosts.
The sight of these snow-laden trees somehow elevates my spirits!
I love watching the snowy trees through our kitchen window!
Winter nights are my friends. Camera ISO and long exposure settings show the colorful, scintillating beauty of the night. All these photos were obviously taken from our balcony.
Spring's sun shows up almost everyday with a burst of intense brightness. Although I liked those winter days when the sun rolled just above the trees across the horizon, I equally like seeing the sun rolling upward to the zenith, making the daylight much longer.
sundog/parhelion
Spring is here, yes, but the awakening of the vegetation that has lain dormant throughout winter is yet to come. Before that happens, and before winter totally vanishes, I want to store a few of the thousand pictures that I took while taking notice and appreciating the things around me, the great and the small.
This is one of my favorite mid-winter scenes, when the low-lying sun at midday is reflected by the mist wafting over the frozen river. Can you see that little solitary white-throated dipper bird hunting for food on the semi-frozen edge of the river?
I love the days when the trees are coated with hoarfrosts.
The sight of these snow-laden trees somehow elevates my spirits!
And I take pleasure in capturing the bluish long shadows on the snow.
When hubby and I, and at times with a friend, would go wild birding but we could not find the ones we were searching, we'd just shift our focus to the hibernal beauty around us and take a lot of shots.
Frosty mornings amaze me, especially when I see these tiny frost sticking on our window panes and glistening in the morning sun. Note: they're so small that one can't quite make out the designs and patterns unless they are magnified or macro-shot, such as what I did with these images.
Other icy things that fascinate me are these lacy edges of the snowy river banks, icicles dripping from the roofs and sparkling with rainbow colors, chunks of ice strewn over the frozen sea that glitter like spilled diamonds.
Ahh...some critters also play in winter even as they are digging for food buried in the snow!
This is my lengthened shadow as I stood on a frozen river, joyfully taking pictures of the frosts that formed on this section of the river, the footprints of some critter, the bare trees in the background, the blue sky on this super cold afternoon.
Snow, snow everywhere....and I love every bit of it!
Here are other two white-throated dippers solitarily hunting for food in two different rivers.
The moon is shining brightly in the daytime.
The midday sun by the river is glowing in the mist and behind the clouds.
The snow is falling as the sun rises.
I love watching the snowy trees through our kitchen window!
These are the trees beside our garage.
Winter nights are my friends. Camera ISO and long exposure settings show the colorful, scintillating beauty of the night. All these photos were obviously taken from our balcony.
And these indoor potted crocuses proclaimed the coming of spring!
Winter has left, but not altogether, and spring has come. But as I'm writing this, the snow is falling, and I feel euphoric!
Winter comes and winter goes. Our life keeps flowing with the passing seasons. We get old but the inner child remains within. Our life moves forward no matter the changing seasons. It goes on and on until it reaches the end. And the end is not really the end because this life is not all there is. Our Creator promised us:
"And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away. And the One seated on the throne said, 'Look! I am making all things new.' Also he says, 'Write, for these words are faithful and true.'" (Revelation 21:4,5)
When winter fades, we eagerly look forward to spring. Do we likewise look forward to the promised spring of life that will never fade away?
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