so cold has it been this week that small ponds and streams have begun to ice up. i was surprised to find the edges of this quick moving river showing ice. yet isolated spots in wetlands are covered in a glassy grey sheet of ice from edge to edge and larger lakes are ringed in white shoreline. it seems this all happened rather quickly, but it's mid december, and it's time.
13 comments:
We Dutch people would be testing whatever ice there was for skating conditions and try it out as soon as possible at the risk of falling in. That's because every winter we are bit by the skating madness bug. We can't wait for there to be a few centimeters of ice to skate on, even if it is dangerous.
Nora: every time i see ice like that - all glossy and smooth, not yet touched by snow - i am reminded of the frozen creek behind my childhood home and how i loved to skate there. i have to fight the urge to go and try it out!
A place of beauty.
Immediately came to mind the lovely Early American portrait, "The Skater," by Stuart, now at the National Gallery, WADC: http://www.nga.gov/cgi-bin/pinfo?Object=39456+0+none, and at least two Bruegel paintings with skaters: http://cordovero.blogspot.com/2007/11/invierno-inverno.html, cut-and-paste the addresses into your browser, or just use the Google image search, enjoy!
A beautiful photograph of the iced stream Chris.
Have a great Sunday.
Costas
Each moment of the day is special to me as I follow my higher instincts and listen to my heart. I am at peace with my world and affairs.
Star:i have seen Gilbert Stuart's The Skater many times and i love it. it's so grey and calm and peaceful-looking. to my recollection, i have never seen the Bruegel skaters, although, and really enjoyed them both, especially Winter Landscape with a Bird Trap. what amazing detail in this work! thanks for leading me there!
I agree - it's time. I was surprised to find some icy patches this week too, until I realized how very cold it's been!
Hopefully you're cozy on this cold and rainy day!
I grew up with a park (dense forest) down the street from our home. Akron has beautiful and wild city parks. There is a pond we anxiously awaited to freeze so we could skate. I skated and sledded my whole childhood in that wooded land and miss it. This photo of yours reminds me of my childhood place.
So glad you enjoyed the leads to the paintings with skating. I have to enjoy it, vicariously. Growing up in a warm climate, ice skating wasn't an option, but my parents did spring for one lesson at the rink, when I was little: we learned to fall down properly!
In Mid-Norway we have had snow and very cold weather since October. Little children bring their cross country skis to the kindergarten and play all day. Childhood memories in the making, I suppose...
i'm glad to see snow, although the news says it's a problem, we here in the tropics are thrilled to hear of news about the winter. and watch too.
Hi, Chris!
Just wanted to let you know I linked this post in my Friday Five this week over at Kate's Library.
Enjoy the weekend - stay warm!
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