These are the days of long shadows. As we get closer to the winter solstice the sun is lower in the sky as the earth tilts. In Minnesota and Wisconsin we are north of the 45th parallel so “our tilt” seems more noticeable. This photo was taken at noon, but my shadow is nowhere close to being right beneath me as it is in the summer. Instead the sun is only 123 degrees above the horizon, elongating my shadow.
This is our winter — longer shadows, shorter days, colder temperatures.
Dawn broke early with a fresh white snowfall. The sun traveled upwards but the dark clouds to the east were moving in. They seemed to curtain off the sunlight and it streamed onto the snow-covered lake. With a sudden gust, the wind blew the resting snow off the tree branches and it cascaded to the ground, backlit by the sun. It was momentary and it was breath taking – all in a split second.
After a week or more with below freezing temperatures, we reveled in a day of 40 degrees and sunshine. I took advantage of our “heat wave” and went for a long walk that took me through Como Park. As I went past the lake it was wonderful to see the snow and ice patterns. The dark areas in the photograph are clear ice, interrupted by the white snow that had been blown across the lake. There were lots of big cracks going through the surface too. Once we get back to our cold temperatures, the ice will continue to form….all a part of winter in Minnesota.
This past week there was a full moonrise – the strawberry moon, as it’s called. Although I can’t attest to seeing a strawberry tint where I was, the moonrise was beautiful. The sun had set, the wind had stilled, and the night air held the warmth and humidity of the day. Slowly the moon rose above the trees on the opposite shore, clearing them and throwing its reflection into the lake below. If you listened for awhile you could hear the cry of a loon. And in the grasses by the side of the lake, the fireflies started to blink. It was a beautiful night — just the kind we dream of during the bitter cold of winter.
The cusps of seasons and days can often hold tension and beauty. We woke to the sound of thunder as a storm was starting to roll through, yet the eastern horizon held a hint of color. As the rain started to come down, I could see the droplets hitting the open water. Further out on the lake was the edge of the black ice that was starting to go out, and on the opposite shore was the white ice and snow that hadn’t thinned yet. It was a wonderful experience – both visual and auditory. The loons are back in the area, and the geese, ducks, and swans were all contributing to the soundtrack.
In my own life there is a change too, as I retired from my corporate job and am transitioning to the adventures I’ve been looking forward to all these years. I began this blog in January of 2009 with the purpose of sharing the beauty of my world and to give me the incentive to photograph each week. And what an amazing journey it has been — so many sights, so many surprises, and so much to see! My plan is to continue this blog however my posts may not be quite as consistent in timing. I hope you will continue along with me and share in my upcoming adventures.
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