Winter Sunsets

I was just complaining about winter and bam suddenly despite a snowstorm the other night Spring seems to have sprung...things are dripping, the crows are cawing & the chipmunks have woken up.

I want winter to be over for our wild hare Iris...I want it for the rabbits who are so so bored inside.

But I like the quiet winter brings, the lesser chores outside...the gorgeous finger chilling sunsets!

Come On Spring

Winter is feeling very long all of the sudden, long and extra cold!...

I am getting as anxious as the buns to start to see things melting!

Snowy & Cold But Snuggy

I always wonder about where you, my readers and visitors are visiting me from specifically...

I don't know about your Winters but around here it's been such a cold and snowy winter.

We had over two weeks with Siberian temperatures & winds with

some days seeing us in the -30's and a few times we even dipped into the -40's.

I don't mind it so much myself, in fact I enjoy it because it makes inside all that much more cozier

and my honey works from his home office much of the week too (plus autostart on the Jeep helps!)

but it's a long season for the 7 buns, especially the snow buns like Yuuji and Leisel,

so for their sake I hope it warms up so that we can get out there for some snow play & fort building!

Beloved Body Of Beautiful Water

This was a few weeks back...

Spring had arrived at our beloved lake just a few minutes walk from our little home...

 This body of water is such a part of my life...

see more shots not shown here over at my Flickr stream

Still Some Snowy Spring Shots

Still a couple of snowy/spring posts...

Taking our niece to eat lunch at another of our favorite spots.

Spendor and Beauty

A day playing around in the snow a few weeks back was followed up by this...

...one of the most spectacular sunsets ever and in our own sleepy little city...amazingly beautiful.

Music On The Lake

Our niece plays the bass clarinet so we three thought it would be super cool

to have a little concert al fresco, out on the beautiful frozen lake.

(A few weeks after this she went on a big band trip to Orlando Florida to play at Disney/Universal)

The day reminded me of how abundant natural beauty is around here & how luckily near to it we are.

We took loads of pictures, we recorded some of the music with the camcorder.

The concert was followed up by hot chocolate at our favorite cafe...

She just loved the day...we loved it...and it'll be a fond memory for all of us to remember.

Sun & Snow

My niece, honey and I ventured out on the ice again just a few weeks ago...

we love exploring quiet, uncrowded nature-scapes and it was such a beautiful Spring day.

It's always so amazing to be walking across a vast snow and ice covered landscape...

only to know that in a few short months we'll be back here paddling in our trusty kayaks.  I love it.

Vast Blue Ice

I think we have ventured out onto the frozen lakes

surrounding our little city this season more than ever before...

I know part of the reason was us seeking solitude from sore hearts and other stresses.

 

I don't know what about it exactly was healing...

The coldness...the quiet...the companionship...the water...whatever it's been

I thank this vast blue-soaked landscape, for it's muffled peaceful healing and incredible beauty.

Snowstorm Blue

Sometimes you just have to jump in your Jeep
and explore the delicious blue hour of a Spring snowstorm.

When everyone else is tucked away at home,
the quietness of the storm beckons you out to play like a secret playmate...

And sometimes when your out there playing about in the blue hour,
you find yourself venturing out onto a beautiful frozen river for a stroll,
you find yourself stumbling across and smiling right back at a shining marvelous metal sun.
And than perhaps you meet a wise mage and you find yourself whispering to him
a secret thank-you for granting your wish of more magical blue snow!

Wind Be Gone

We've been loving our leisurely time out on the frozen lakes

with all the shining blinding white snow and the constantly dynamic changing skies, it's delicious...

This day was cold and the skies mostly dark but the expanse of the lake was still so soothing.

So this happened as I read & as snow being packed, flew all around me, sparkling in the air...

A snow wall which took shape quickly to brilliantly block us from the bulk of the bitter wind.

 We had our handy folding chairs, a thermos of tea, bananas and watermelon!

Because the wall worked so well, we were toasty snug & ended up staying for about 4 hours.

It's by far one of my favorite days of winter this past season.

I loved everything about this day and that my guy worked so sweetly to keep his girl warm...

It's the little things and the big things and the icy cold sweet as pie things, ahhhhh XO.