It happens every year around this time. I awaken and go through the usual motions, preparing coffee and toast, dressing warmly, checking the batteries in the camera and ensuring that light meter, additional lenses, lens hood and spare memory cards are tucked in my pockets for a long snowy walk. I don my heavy parka, boots, hat and gloves, and Cassie and I ready ourselves for a long long potter through field and gorge.Then a plaintive voice speaks up and states unequivocally that it doesn't want to go anywhere, that it is weary of photo ops consisting entirely of ice, icicles, snowdrifts and frozen trees, that it loathes winter and is longing for light and warmth. At such times, there is restlessness in the air and mutiny in my thoughts. Why do I live in a part of the world that is so harsh at times, in a climate where summer vanishes in the blinking of an eye and winter seems to go on forever and ever?
The gorge above Dalhousie Lake with its guardian cliffs and icy rushing river is a magical place and a good one to go to at such times, and it has always provided my winter weary spirit with contentment and food for thought in January.
Here we are (or rather were) dancing about in the deep cold to keep warm and trying to stay out of the wind, but there too was the river, flowing on its ebullient way out into the lake as always and making a fine roaring music as it went along. There was light aplenty in every little waterfall making its way down the cliffs and over the rocks, and the sun through the trees was glorious.
In spite of that peevish whining voice, I know why I live here. What a silly old hen I am at times.
13 comments:
Wonderful light effect with the mist above the water. And thanks for the reminder that beauty remains and rises above triteness, now matter how inattentive we are.
Your photos of winter are poetically beautiful...even those of us who live in the desert get tired of winter...thank you for sharing the beauty of your landscape.
Oh, Cate, this photo looks so real I feel I could reach through it and let the icy water run over my fingers. It's magical and lovely.
As always, the vision you show of nature and your words, nourish my spirit.
Thank you.
Gorgeous photo! Hope the winter blues stay away.
A warm silly old hen, I hope.
What a magical spot that is. I would never want to leave it.
Each place on the earth holds magic for me...but sometimes the magic is hidden and only reveals itself after you have been there for a while and can see with native eyes. I am a citizen of the world...so my roots are shallow and can be easily planted most places.
Tabor
That does look like a place to lift the spirits - and waterfalls do that ionizing thing, too, don't they?
This is soooooooo beautiful. We are blessed to enjoy this beauty without enduring the cold because you do it for us....thank you:)
Thank you yet again, Cate:)
Marvellous photograph - I do know what you mean about longing for the light. At least you have the beauty of a snowy landscape, here it is just day after day of grey skies and everlasting rain. Spring seems very far away at the moment and yet really there are small signs all around.
Your world seems so very magical to me.
Although it is summer here we have had no visit from the sun. But the rain has its own beauty.
You have definitely captured the magical quality of this place. Well done.
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