What do you do when almost everything attractive is closed except the essentials which you’ve already stocked up for the next week or two? To the woods I go, to find relief for cabin fever and a breath of fresh air despite the crisp -12C (10F) weather on this winter day.
Dust of Snow
The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.
–– Robert Frost
Frost is right. A dust of snow can dispel a stuffy mood. Also birds, mosaic of dried leaves on the ground, wavy patterns of the icy river, chickadees and downies on branches are some other natural remedies.
Or this bluejay in the tree which occupied me for half an hour or so. Why, such a common bird, you might say. But for me, not so, not on a cold, winter day.
Or, this swirling pattern of frost on water, where I spotted a goldeneye swimming by, oblivious to the cold. Don’t see her? Right by the rock:
But it’s this scene that mesmerized me most, entry to an imaginary place, where the escapist in me can flee:
***
Ripple Effects 
Arti,
During many trying times in my life, Nature has proved she can help me through it with her incredible raw beauty. It is like visiting a cathedral and breathing in God’s grace.
I’m so glad you take your nature walks!
Heather
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Yes, Heather, we’ve been talking a lot here about what constitute ‘essentials’, and debate on which stores should be classified as such to stay open, I’m so glad I can just step out to the Pond and the woods for my fix. No need for arguments there. 🙂
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nature draws you in and keeps you there. it doesn’t understand the level of cold, it understands the need to provide you comfort.
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I’m sure the ducks don’t have the word ‘cold’ in their dictionary. 🙂
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Thanks for sharing the gorgeous photos! I love blue jays. They don’t hang out here in winter though so I get my colorful bird fix with cardinals 🙂
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Stefanie, I seldom see Bluejays in the winter time either… that’s why this particular one drew my attention, as well as another birder, who was also trying to take a photo of this rare occurrence. We don’t have Cardinals here, so have to depend on the Bluejays to get a little colour out of the overwhelming white.
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You found the most beautiful things to take photos of on your escape into the forest. Looks like a great way to change a mood!
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Thanks, Ellen. You’re in a warmer zone so maybe you don’t need a mood change as I do here, with both Covid restrictions and the cold winter. 🙂
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That last one made me think of a doorway into Narnia. A lovely post, Arti. We’ve finally gained a semblance of “winter” here with lows in the 30s (F, of course) and certainly not 10F daytime temp…
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nikkipolani, you know, that’s exactly what I thought of, Narnia and the Snow Queen.
Actually, the last couple of weeks we were much warmer, hovering around the freezing point, like your 30F. This winter has been relatively warm for us. Hope it will stay the same as we go into February. And before we know it, March will come… 🙂
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Oh, it looks like the entrance to Shangri-la. So beautiful. I’m no winter fan but when I see photos like this I fall a little bit in love. I wish the little yellow and gray bird was bigger — he’s really beautiful and that jay is a stunner. Your world is indeed a gorgeous one these days.
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You mean the bird in the smaller collage of photos? That’s the Black-capped Chickadee, probably the most common bird, here all year round, yes, even in -20C. They don’t migrate. I’ll post more of them, bigger ones, next time.
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Your walk looked cold but so beautiful you probably forgot you were shivering! The bird images are spectacular. I usually get a blur.
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Vic, this winter has been relatively warm for us… Usually, winter temperatures can dip down to -20C’s. The Chickadee in that small photo on top of the post is the most common bird here. I’ll post more and bigger bird photos next time. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
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Oh, Arti. I would dress as if walking in the artic. Your images are just gorgeous!!
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Arctic. Sorry.
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LOL, Arti and Arctic are so close! Actually, it’s not as bad as the numbers tell you. We’re all used to this sort of weather, just layered clothing and a warm winter jacket will do. It’s dry cold, not damp like in the East coast. Definitely no need for ‘arctic wear’. 🙂
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Dear Arti, Your words and pictures are sooo beautiful!! Just looking at them is wonderful!!
Thank you and God bless, C-Marie
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Welcome back, C-Marie! Always happy to have you visit the Pond. Indeed, on a calm and sunny day, the temperature doesn’t matter much. But on an overcast, grey and chilly day, I’d rather stay home and read. 🙂
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Wow, I really like the picture through the branches, and the pattern on the water. Such complexity and cool, contrasting colours.
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I’m curious to know what your winter is like, Denise, I mean Nature. News from the UK are mainly about the Covid variants, grim news most of the time. Hope you’re staying safe and keeping well.
I’m blessed with a huge provincial park of natural environs in proximity. Will share more photos in the coming post.
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I love the Robert Frost poem, having grown up in a woods full of hemlock trees. Snowy winters were the best. 🙂 And chickadees, blue jays and woodpeckers… Love the picture of your blue jay! And the entry to a winter wonderland. ♡
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I don’t think we have hemlock here. I just checked, they are mostly in the Eastern part of North America. Here in Alberta in the west, our conifers are mostly spruces. We have lots of chickadees. They stay here all year round, even in -20C’s temp. And yes, the downie woodpeckers I still see as well as nuthatches. Blue jays are mostly a summer bird for us.
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That last photo is stunning. Although it has a little more color, it reminds me of the photos of the ‘ice palace’ from the film Dr. Zhivago. Maybe that’s your film-maker’s eye at work! I had to search a bit for the goldeneye, but I found it. And right now? The chickadees and bluejays already are busy at the feeders, trying to pluck a bit of seed away from the squirrels.
The robins have gone, though. It was a pleasure to have them here, but spring’s on the way, and north they go!
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You know, that photo on the site I was merely attracted by the arching branches with snow, so I took it. Only when I uploaded it did I see the whole view which looks like an entry way to a different place… you could say it’s a kind of cinematic framing effect now that you mentioned it. Purely a serendipitous find. 🙂
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Lovely photographs Arti, really beautiful.
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