Sunday, December 31, 2017

The magic crispness of cold and ice

     Many family members and acquaintances loudly and continually disparaged the climate we grew up in and moan and complain about the s word- snow. How can you live there? Why would you want to put up with it? It is so much better in _____ (warm climate). Ok, I don't love grey slush and sleet or the last dregs of winter, but I can't throw it all away. I am miserable in heat and humidity and hate big bugs. I like to visit, but I love my part of the world. It is not perfect, sometimes trying, but then sometimes downright magical.
      For a couple of days between Christmas and New Years, my husband and I go away to recharge at Niagara-on-the-Lake, a quaint historical town, (that is moving a bit too upscale due to its proximity to Toronto), where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario. For 20 years we have visited this time of year and it is always different. We love to walk the streets and gaze at the cozy houses and yards. More megamansions lately, but the beautiful architecture is still there. There is a little downtown strip of shops and restaurants. This year, it was very cold temps and lots of lake effect snow showers. Lake effect is a phenomenon where the arctic winds pick up moisture from the warmer water (most the Great Lakes) and deposit it on shore. In the summer, it is lake effect rain. It travels in bands- sometimes narrow or wide, and can stall leaving big amounts behind. That is what happened in Erie, PA on Christmas. 
     Across the river is Fort Niagara, a United States historical site. I am not a professional photographer by any stretch, but I was able to capture the icy briskness and the crystal clear magic of a winter day. I did not edit or crop the photos, just took them in wonder. Enjoy.

Gazebo at the Park
Lake effect coming in from the right


Lake Effect wall of clouds forming over Lake Ontario







Ice chunks off the shore




6 comments:

Exuberantcolor/Wanda S Hanson said...

I think our northern winters are beautiful too. I don't like heat and humidity either and can tolerate the few really cold days we get each winter. You captured a lot of beauty in the photos.

Quiltdivajulie said...

Having grown up in the North, there is a special majesty to winter's beauty that we do not experience here in the South. Yes, it is cold but then it is horribly hot and sticky here during the summer months. No where is perfect year round - it is up to us to see the good in where we are and take time to appreciate it. Your photos are WONDERFUL! Happy New Year.

diane said...

I am so with you on winter. Crispness of cold and ice is just that "magic". Love walking to the mailbox in these colder days we're having just to hear my boots crunch away with crispness. It sounds so loud that I feel like the whole neighborhood can hear me. If it's a real windy day then not so much fun.

I have lived here in Minnesota for 70 years and mostly I love living here for the things we DON'T have.

Happy New Year to you all!

Jan said...

What fabulous photos! What a great time. So happy you had it.

Laurie said...

I'm with you, Linda. I don't like slush season or hot, humid weather; I do love snow. and cold. (just keep adding on the layers!) one of my favorite days last winter was during a (Finger Lakes) blizzard. I bundled up, put on my snowshoes, and went out to embrace it! great fun! you captured well the lakeshore storm.

The Joyful Quilter said...

Oh, wow! You captured some really great photos!!