National Geographic has released its pictures of the year, including this amazing shot of penguins getting ready to follow one of their number into the ocean from an incredibly high ice sheet.
Photo courtesy of Bertie Gregory for National Geographic. Gregory photographed a young emperor penguin leaping off a 15 metre (50 ft) cliff in Atka Bay, Antarctica.
You can see all of National Geographic’s pictures at this link:
Here in the valley we have had buckets and buckets of rain which in the mountains is coming down as snow, and as low as 800 metres above ground (2625 ft), to be exact.
On the nearby mountain tops it’s snowing … … but here in the valley it’s an almost non-stop light rain.
Our neighbourhood ski resort, Apex *(https://apexresort.com/), is opening soon but there are other undeniable signs, too.
There’s a proliferation of barberries and I’ve noticed that the ducks, geese and coots are all starting their winter huddles. Today during my walk, I could see my breath a bit too, despite the fact that it was 5° (41F).
But probably the best indicator is the snow on the mountains. That’s a pretty definite sign!
So I’m thinking that winter is surely here, and no matter how we parse it, we’ve got a good two months before there will be an inkling of a change. Happy winter Wednesday. ❄️
* For information only. This is not an advertisement nor have I been paid to mention Apex ski resort.
Cedar waxwings are native to North America and frequently seen during the summer. Many of them migrate south but quite a few will overwinter in southern British Columbia, especially on Vancouver Island.
It was lovely and unexpected to recently see this pretty bit of brightness.
I hope you enjoy these beautifully colourful photos of the Fredericton Farmers’ Market from Allan at Picture This. Please click the link above to see all of them and then maybe do a little wander around his site to see more of his fantastic pictures. Cheers.
It has been very rainy and overcast – a rather normal situation for this region as we move into winter – but there has been a lot of beauty in it, too.
There has been very little wind, the lakes have been mirror calm and the lustrous clouds have cocooned the valley in a sense of tranquility.
After a brisk walk in the 5 or 6 degree temperature (41-43F), that sense of tranquility comes home with me and I enjoy a hot chocolate and a warm blanket.
This time of year can be so unrelentingly busy and the expectations can be really high, too, so it’s important to grab moments when you can enjoy a bit of peacefulness.
We’re deep into November now and have entered the rainy season. If the weather sticks to its usual patterns, we will have a lot of rain and cloud for about the next two months.
Chittamwood trees retain their leaves quite late into autumn.
We still have a little colour around that’s breaking up the grey motif, but probably not for long. Soon we will rely on seasonal light displays and plants such as poinsettias to bring us some relief.
Rainy lace leaf maple.
The lace leaf maples are beginning to turn purple – the colour change stage they enter before dropping their leaves – and a light rain accompanies almost every step we take.
Lace leaf maple in its late autumn stage.
Lots of bushes and trees will retain a duller shade of green as they rest through the winter until they’re ready to once more provide us with their beauties.