I'm south of you on Whidbey Island! We had a great showing of the northern lights this last summer...first time here. While our temps are not as cold, it is damp here, and that's a whole new level of cold. The kind of cold that begs for a crackling fire. But nature is the best and your writing brought to mind my childhood memories of living in upstate NY. It's cold there! What I remembered is how when we had frightening thunder/lighting storms we would all go out and sit on the big front porch to watch. The whole neighborhood did this. I loved hearing all the screams and oohs and ahhs. That was a fine time of community and family sharing. Happy New Year!
Always so lovely to read your words, Kelsey. I love the thought of angels having sheets… and cartoon clouds. And I love that tree at Butchart’s too. In fact, I think I actually paused there this year to point it out to Chris.
Oooh… it’s the squeak of cold, and the numbing pain of toes rewarming that I remember best of cold winters in Ottawa. And I pause here to consider that a group of us would go camping in our little tents, skiing or snowshoeing into some place, the dark landing swiftly and us huddled around a fire, bundled in our winter parkas and feeling ALIVE! God, not sure I have it in me to do that anymore 😂. The creeping relentless chilly damp invades my every waking moment, and I wish I still had the courage to embrace weather.
Memories of my Yukon years, sparkling snow, forty below, aurora laying on snow banks to gaze upward in awe - the lying down part usually happened when we had just come out of the pub!! Getting a small child all dressed up in his snow suit only to have him declare 'Mummy I have to pee' just as I thought we were all ready to go out. Yes the many joys of snow and those nose nipping temperatures, frozen parka fur and nostrils, squeeky boots on hard pack, beauty at every turn. When I lived up North everyone had a warm place - times have changed in a way that saddens me - let us all hold intention that all will be warm and housed and fed in this very privileged country we live in. Blessings for whatever is around the corner and thanks for your lovely posts.
I grew up in Victoria, but in my twenties I spent two years in Québec City and six years in Montréal. I loved the snowy winters. There's nothing more magical than the first snow, for one thing. But also yes, there's something about the bundling up to protect yourself from the weather that feels bracing and elemental. And sun on snow. And snow at night. All of it.
I'm south of you on Whidbey Island! We had a great showing of the northern lights this last summer...first time here. While our temps are not as cold, it is damp here, and that's a whole new level of cold. The kind of cold that begs for a crackling fire. But nature is the best and your writing brought to mind my childhood memories of living in upstate NY. It's cold there! What I remembered is how when we had frightening thunder/lighting storms we would all go out and sit on the big front porch to watch. The whole neighborhood did this. I loved hearing all the screams and oohs and ahhs. That was a fine time of community and family sharing. Happy New Year!
I love the image of you and your neighbours mooning and screaming at the storm. Lovely! And happy new year!
Always so lovely to read your words, Kelsey. I love the thought of angels having sheets… and cartoon clouds. And I love that tree at Butchart’s too. In fact, I think I actually paused there this year to point it out to Chris.
Thanks Nicole! I’m so glad to share my tree with you. 😉
Oooh… it’s the squeak of cold, and the numbing pain of toes rewarming that I remember best of cold winters in Ottawa. And I pause here to consider that a group of us would go camping in our little tents, skiing or snowshoeing into some place, the dark landing swiftly and us huddled around a fire, bundled in our winter parkas and feeling ALIVE! God, not sure I have it in me to do that anymore 😂. The creeping relentless chilly damp invades my every waking moment, and I wish I still had the courage to embrace weather.
I know what you mean! It’s a wet cold here, that’s what people with minus forty temperatures don’t understand lol.
Exactly.
Memories of my Yukon years, sparkling snow, forty below, aurora laying on snow banks to gaze upward in awe - the lying down part usually happened when we had just come out of the pub!! Getting a small child all dressed up in his snow suit only to have him declare 'Mummy I have to pee' just as I thought we were all ready to go out. Yes the many joys of snow and those nose nipping temperatures, frozen parka fur and nostrils, squeeky boots on hard pack, beauty at every turn. When I lived up North everyone had a warm place - times have changed in a way that saddens me - let us all hold intention that all will be warm and housed and fed in this very privileged country we live in. Blessings for whatever is around the corner and thanks for your lovely posts.
These are lovely memories! Thank you!
I grew up in Victoria, but in my twenties I spent two years in Québec City and six years in Montréal. I loved the snowy winters. There's nothing more magical than the first snow, for one thing. But also yes, there's something about the bundling up to protect yourself from the weather that feels bracing and elemental. And sun on snow. And snow at night. All of it.
Elemental. That’s the word!