Winter solstice is almost here... 8 hours and 56 minutes of daylight in our area, 6 hours and 14 minutes in Churchill Manitoba. In Nunavut there is no daylight at all in December.
December 21st will mark the first day of winter for some, but it is midwinter for others in the northern hemisphere where the season is already well established.
The noonday sun hangs low in the sky, blinding the eyes as its rays reflect light on the snow covered ground. Our days will start to lengthen after the solstice and winter becomes brighter but colder in January and February. These are famine months for man and creatures who cannot store adequate provisions, those who go forth to seek food each new cold day.
Afternoon shadows spread their long dark fingers over an unharvested corn field as the glow of the setting sun paints the landscape a deceptively warm colour. Clear days like this are often accompanied by bitter north winds.
It is time to gather around the fire, to create warmth with light and good cheer as we look forward to the promise of spring and new life.
Follow this link for more SkyWatch posts from around the world.
Lovely pictures,but did you have to remind me that January and February are the coldest months.LOL I do know this but always hope that this year will be different.Keep warm by that toasty fire.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,Ruth
You have a nice and creative way of posting about these events. I would just say it's the winter solstice and then clue-out. :)
ReplyDeleteWe are looking forward to our solstice celebration this weekend (if the snow doesn't prevent peoples trips!) I think celebrating the sun's return serves to rekindle hope in the heart of winter.
ReplyDeleteOh, I long for longer days ... I'm such a daylight motivated/driven person. Darkness to me ... hibernation. Work? Later!
ReplyDeletegreat photos and commentary......I am so over winter and it is only middle of December...LOL
ReplyDeleteGill in Southern Ontario
Very nice shots esspscially from the fire:)
ReplyDeleteMerry CHRISTMAS!! , visit my blog:
www.joannwalraven.blogspot.com
JoAnn/Holland
As your days lengthen, ours will get shorter. I do enjoy the long daylight hours as I am a creature responding to the promise of dawn, let alone the arrival of light.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos. With those clear skies it must be rather cool where you are.
I love the Canadian colours against the bare branches in the first! You could almost make me *like* winter with these shots LOL. We're very north too, and it's dark, dark, dark.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful series of photos! I love your bright flag - as well as the bright fire.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous shots!
ReplyDeleteSuch lovely images you have this week. You have had the luxury of some sunny spells too it seems. Also you seem to have the luxury of having some snow on the gound and even two hours more daylight than we have here in southern Finland. It was nice to read about how youre climate develops over the winter. It goes just the same way here. Apart from the fact that we seem to have been transported to a warmer zone and hardly get any snow these days.
ReplyDeleteLovely photographs!
ReplyDeleteGreat shots, perfect for skywatch Friday.
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Regina In Pictures
YAY! Three more days of the nights getting longer and then...the days start to take over again!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures. I particularly love the first one. The flag stands out literally and figuratively in that image.
ReplyDeleteAh, I LOVE this post and I adore the Canadian Flag fluttering so perfectly in that first shot.... wonderful words!
ReplyDeleteI hope your day is going well.
~Michele~
Mountain Retreat- Canada
I'm saying lovely, too. I have been excitedly looking forward to the days starting to get longer rather than shorter.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great combination of words and pictures.
ReplyDeleteIn the Netherlands we haven't had a real cold winter for many years. I hope change is gonna come. :-)
loved your post, so informative and your pictures are lovely. thank you for sharing with us.
ReplyDeletehave a great weekend.
Nicely done combination of warmth and cold. We rarely get snow here, too coastal so I adore snowy scenes.
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures even if it is cold.
ReplyDeleteAt least there is a fire to warm up to.
i appreciate ur work rather than appreciating anything...
ReplyDeleteu r really a fantastic author..
may god bless you !
Nice post. I certainly look forward to longer days. Nice captures.
ReplyDeleteWonderful wonderful photos for today's sky watch!
ReplyDeleteThe second and your description is right on for those of us that experience the glow of the sun's reflection on snow! I love the glistening effect it gives the snow!
Have yourself a Merry Christmas!
I'll be late posting my SWF image.
Such beautiful photos! I especially like the first one.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos. I need some of your sun here. I so enjoyed your post. Happy winter solstice to you.
ReplyDeleteHave a great sky watch week.
Grammy.
Mid Missouri, USA
Your text is an excellent accompaniment to these beautiful photos..I'd forgotten about the Solstice but at least the days start growing longer again.
ReplyDeleteYes, no matter how technologically advanced we become, we are still tied to the seasons, and the light. Beautiful post. :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful words and pictures, Ruth. Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I love how you told the story with your words and the pictures. I too am looking forward to more sun light.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the solstice marks the beginning of our winter, to me it has always been the turning point to take us nearer to spring, yea for the return of longer days! Lovely northern skies!
ReplyDeleteAs I write this, the winter storm that they have been talking about for days has yet to appear. The next few months our lives will depend on what the weather man says. I may be crazy, I do like winter storms, but only what it leaves behind. The fresh fallen snow on the ground and trees sometimes are a breathing taking sight.
ReplyDeleteWOW! lovely shots!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures and prose. :)
ReplyDeleteI always look forward to the winter solstice and the lengthening of the days. Even though we still have lots of winter ahead of us, it's nice to watch the days slowly grow longer.
Ruth: I loved your story and the neat look at your country. Winter has come early but things may settle down. Thanks for sharing for SWF.
ReplyDeleteGreat post and I really enjoyed the pictures. :-)
ReplyDeletewow! great shots, esp. the fire :D
ReplyDeleteLovely photos...The next two months are loooong and cold here...but at least it will slowly be getting longer periods of daylight...Brrr..
ReplyDeleteThanks to all who commented. For those who are enduring harsh winter weather this day and weekend, keep warm! Happy SWF to the other watchers from around the world. I hope I have made it to all of your posts.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures, and excellent captions. Can't imagine living where days are that short. I struggle with lack of light where we are - but it's light at least 9 hours of the day (depending on the weather). Lovely SWF post - have a good one!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous Sky Watch photos - especially with the Canadian Flag blowing in the wind!
ReplyDelete