… for the very, very beginning of spring?
Fingers crossed! And although I know that February can be temperamental, I take encouragement from the fact that temperatures are up, the wind is down, and the ice encrustments?
Those are starting to melt.
To everyone who lately experienced those huge snowfalls and wicked temperatures, I wish you very prompt blue skies and controlled – because of all that snow – meltings.
Happy Sunday.
The pond that the ducks have been inhabiting all winter is shrinking and shrinking.
If it wasn’t for the fountain, it would be completely closed and the ducks would be hunting for a place to swim and forage as there’s now a lot of ice around the lake edges.
But there’s relief coming since if all goes as predicted, we are supposed to be climbing well above freezing over the next few days. It won’t be long now, duckies!
Happy Saturday.
Today is the feast day of Saint Valentine, an early Christian martyr who was executed on this day (or July 6 or 30, depending on whichever branch of Christianity) in circa 269. Well, we aren’t sure what year, and that’s because there are a number of early Christian martyrs named Valentine who are all recognised as saints by the Roman Catholic Church.
But if there’s one thing historians agree on, it’s that the stories around Valentine are probably apocryphal since there are so many of them, all different. Nevertheless and whatever you believe, one commonality is that Valentine is said to have performed the miracle of restoring sight to the daughter of his Roman jailer and that just before he was executed, he wrote her a letter and signed it “your Valentine.”
Another commonality and the one that more closely lead to him becoming the patron saint of lovers is that before he was imprisoned for his religious beliefs he supposedly married a number of Christian Roman soldiers who otherwise would not have been able to tie the knot.
But as so often happens throughout history, centuries passed and the identity and religious purpose of Saint Valentine’s Day became almost completely obscured. By the 14th century his popularity was revived but only because of the notions of courtly love invented by the English writer Geoffrey Chaucer and a bit further on, also by William Shakespeare. 500 years later he appeared again because the Victorians liked the concept of ideal romantic love and set about establishing many of the traditions – such as the giving of cards – that we are familiar with today.
Whether you celebrate – either from a religious or secular perspective – Saint Valentine’s Day or not, it is a good time to recognise the importance of unselfish love and all it can accomplish. 🩷
The wind has finally calmed, taking with it the clear but chilly high pressure system that we’ve experienced over the last few days.
As the wind dissipated, a low moved in bringing somewhat warmer temperatures – the windless conditions definitely contributed to that, too – and lots more cloud again. But the lake has calmed, the ducks and Canada geese are much happier now, and it’s a lot easier to keep your feet if you’re taking a lakeside walk!
Of course, with this low there’s going to be precipitation; we’ll see whether it’s wet snow or rain. This is quite different from February, 2024, when the sun was shining and we were definitely headed toward spring conditions; I’m starting to think that spring 2025 might be much later.
Happy pre-Valentine’s.
In anticipation of the warmer months and because so much of the country is presently – and quite literally – struggling through massive snow banks and/or mentally just trying to fight off the icicles and snow flakes, here are a few summer pictures.
After taking a look through my collection of flower pictures, I definitely feel a lot brighter!
Happy Wednesday.
Fast unglaublich ist es, als über den dicken Nebelschwaden die Sterne sichtbar werden. Besonders hell scheint aber die Venus durch das diffuse Weiß …
Märchenstunde mit Venus
Beautifully dramatic and ethereal pictures from Lutz at Radelnder uHu. The post title translates as “Story Time with Venus.” Please click the link to see more of his stunning photography.
Clear and sunny but as blue-cold as the depths of a glacier …
… the wind whipping down this long, narrow lake, pushing before it ice birthed in the shallows …
… coagulating on the beaches and shores …
… a far cry from the warmth and beauty of the summer sun …
… can’t wait.
Happy Tuesday.
Once more, here is a “looking back” post containing pictures from years ago; photos that aren’t necessarily great but that are important to me.
I spent the month of January preparing for my new job which was due to start in February in Northwest Territories. As spring began to arrive in Penticton, I was about to enter into a much different weather world!
When I left Penticton, the temperature was 2C (35.6F) but I arrived in Yellowknife, the capital of Northwest Territories, to a frigid -41C (-48.1F). Luckily there was no wind. A 43 degree temperature difference meant that some careful packing was required but after many years of travel, army life and search and rescue challenges, I knew what to expect.
Within weeks of my arrival, an Inuit seamstress agreed to make a traditional parka for me, one that was longer than most and was roomy enough for several layers underneath. I was so thankful for it during my entire time there!
My northern adventure was just beginning.
Happy Monday.
The Coming Paradise
A beautiful photo of roses – the coming paradise – from Jonathan Chua at Helluva Times. Please click the link to see more of Jonathan’s beautiful pictures.
The wind-whipped lake generated enough spray to produce these icy sheaths at the bases of these old pier supports.
Although the wind has died off now and the temperature is turning around – our high today was 0C (32F) – these icy housings give me chills. Burr!
I think I’ve had enough of this now and would really like to start seeing some springy signs. How about you?
Happy Sunday.
In the Net! - Pictures and Stories of Life 