Thursday, February 28, 2008

afternoon shadows and light........

I've stayed close to home this week fighting and succumbing to the aches and hacks of a flu. I'm on the mend, but still have little energy. I think I've been off my street twice since Monday.....weird........ Thank God I have a vista view of the Saint John river to keep cabin fever at bay. Ive had no energy to read much..........it seems like all i can do is cuddle up on the couch and try to find that ever elusive sleep while looking out the window at a blanket of white. This afternoon, the sun was brilliantly shining, throwing shadows on the white landscape. As a test to see if my energy had returned I bundled up and went to meet my son as he came off the school bus at the end of our street. AMAZING how the amount of snow completely dwarfs my house!! It looks like a dollhouse! Believe me, we all fit in there. :)

The wind channelled down the street, picking up powdery filaments of the snow, swirling it around in the air........it was bloody cold walking just that short distance, even with big boots, ear warmers, mitts and a parka. The cold air hit my lungs and it felt good. But more importantly, I was warmed by the site of my son walking all by himself down a lonely looking road which has 6 foot high drifts making it into a tunnel.............and watching our dog take off to meet him.
It seems like the only time I get to meet my kids at the end of the day of school is when I'm home not feeling well...... it would be so wonderful to be home when they got home.

Alas.......it ain't gonna happen..........




Along the way home (about 4 houses........) I stopped to take some photos of the undulating banks and drifts and they beautiful late afternoon shadows........ as much as I am completely ready for this stuff to melt away, I can see the beauty of it too.



Believe it or not, the above photo? I climbed halfway up the side of the bank to take this shot and it still was over my head. This was taken on my neighbour's front lawn. Below, is a picture of the shadows of poplar trees which line my other neighbour's long driveway. His yard is full of beautiful birch and apple trees, interspersed with lovely gardens in the summer. It doesn't look like there's an angle, but the lot is hilly enough for my son and his friends to sled on.......down past the trees shown.....


ok, I couldn't resist....... ......a little RED to fire things up. I took this photo at the local greenhouse a couple of weeks ago............. ..........she's a sexy lady, n'est pas??



shadows and light.......always interesting, always a bit mysterious...... Today, they just make me want to get back on the couch under the blankets. I'm chilled again.... :)

13 comments:

Karen said...

So sorry to hear you are feeling poorly Dana. I know it must be a pain in the butt to live with but that snow looks SO beautiful.

Me....? At the moment I get to look at a brown, dusty vista that shimmers with the heat. I'll trade you.....

Get better soon my lovely friend but in the meantime, enjoy meeting your kids from school.

awareness said...

thanks Gypsy....i thought of you when i posted the flower photo....it's the same colour as your beautiful reunion dress!

I do appreciate the beauty, but honest to God, this kind of snow is beautiful in December. At the end of February (with -20 degrees C.) winds? It's just a pain in the ass.

BreadBox said...

Your turn now, huh? Get better soon: this round of the flu-ish stuff makes you feel like cr*p, but it does go away eventually.
Good luck with it!
N.

Andi said...

Beautiful...the snow and the flower. I have been thinking about a trip to a greenhouse. Michele sent me. :-)

Disillusioned said...

Sorry you are ill - here's hoping for a very speedy recovery.

Love the snow photos. So beautiful. My girls were bemoaning the fact that we have had no snow at all this winter - I'd better not show them your photos! Mind you, I think I would be sick of it too by this time!

awareness said...

thanks N. It gives me hope. I am feeling a bit better this morning, but have had very little sleep all week, so i'm tired, tired.....the symptoms keep moving around, but the hacking cough remains... i feel useless.

b butterfly....i wholeheartedly recommend a trip to a greenhouse. in fact, as soon as i can get my ass off the couch I plan to head right there. It's a balmy -30 with the windchills today.....i need some colour and warmth.

Caroline....thanks...by all means show your girls, but tell them also that the temps are so cold today that the inside of your nose FREEZES as soon as you walk outside! That'll gross them out. :)

Shaz said...

I am sorry your feeling awful but I love that you are making the most of it by doing the things you cant usually do. These photos are awesome you know how jealous I am of never seeing snow but your photos are just beautiful.

Praying for a speedy recovery xx

Rainbow dreams said...

as the others say it is beautiful to look at and play in for a bit, but I wouldn't want it for as long as you guys get it.
Who would think germs would thrive in such cold conditions?... get well soon, x

Mark said...

Thanks for sharing your pictures and your adventure to the bus stop. Looks like way too much snow.
I used to live in an area that had snow like you have and I don't miss it at all. Hope you are on the mend!

awareness said...

Shaz......I am learning from YOU my beautiful friend who is THE most optimistic person on the planet......when I think of the year you have endured and HOW you did it, I am marvelled by it.

katie.....this is beyond my patience level. maybe we've had it easy over the past 10 years or so......and guess what???? ANOTHER storm is coming tomorrow!! I can't believe it.

Mark....hope you had a great week vacation. Glad to see you back. it's way too much snow for me too. Believe it or not, we've had a few melts too.....if we had ALL the snow accumulate that has fallen since November? I have no idea how high the drifts would be. At least twice as high, no doubt.

Thanks everyone. I'm on the mend. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be 100% back to normal. I slept all day today......

Kate's Typewriter said...

oh snow!!! Makes me want to watch white christmas...

Disillusioned said...

Oh yuck - it certainly would!

Next time they moan about our lack of snow I'll be sure to tell them...

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Gorgeous pictures, Dana...You may have been feeling rotten, but you didn't let it stop you being 'the artist' you are!

I know it must be a heartache to NOT be at home when your boy gets home from school....So sorry it cannot be that way all the rime!