For some reason, this image just breaks my heart. The harshness of Winter.
I have been here in the past. It was before the snow fell, before the cold really settled in. If you missed the first visit you can find it here. I’m fascinated by the figurative nature of these wrapped trees and how they can be interpreted in different ways. The way they relate to each other. The changes taking place through the seasons. The conversations.
All images © Karen McRae
As difficult as it can be when Mother Nature throws abhorrent weather at us there is usually an up-side. A magical beauty that can’t be achieved in any other way. If you take the time to look around carefully you might be surprised. And if you put on your woolies and come wading through the crunchy topped snow , bruising your shins as you break through and bending your body to the crust you might see something like this. And you will be charmed. The spell will be broken only by the numbness creeping through your limbs.
All images © Karen McRae
A Flock of Snow Buntings
All images © Karen McRae
This morning was very cold. The last few days have been in fact and yesterday when we went for a long ski it was so chilly (-15° c) I didn’t bother taking my camera. But I completely regretted it because the Escarpment was a wonderland like never before. The higher part of the park was completely frosted. There were places where every branch of every tree was sparkling with ice and snow. And the sun was shining. Breathtaking.
Something like these frosted branches below which I took pictures of this morning. Complete cheater pictures. There is only one small tree in my yard that looks like this and it’s frosted because the furnace is pumping out toxic steam onto it. Sorry. It was still kind of pretty in the morning light. Lesson learned…
All images © Karen McRae
We have been blanketed in arctic air for the last couple of days so I’m posting these icy cold pictures to give you an idea of what it feels like. I love the subtle blues and yellows trapped in the ice. Currently I am busy turning up the heat, drinking hot tea and eating cheesecake. (Could someone please come over and finish the rest of the sweets in my house?!, it would have to be soon though…)
Stay warm!
Taken in Almonte, Ontario 2010
All images © Karen McRae
I confess that these images are from the archives but it is very much what it looks like out there right now. I will venture out later but as we woke up to -20° Celsius I’m waiting for the mercury to rise a little. Enjoy the last few days of 2011!
All images © Karen McRae
draw and shoot 