According to the 72 divisional calendar of Japan, Jan.25 to 29 is the coldest time
水沢腹堅 meaning "ice thickens on streams."
Unfortunately, the coldest, driest season is the best time of life to COVID.
But let's not be intimidated to enjoy the season in possible ways with all the preventive measures.
Albert Camus, the author of The Plague, wrote in his Return to Tipasa ;
"In the middle of winter, I at last discovered that there was within me an invincible summer."
He realized the powerful life-giving source like the summer sun within him in the depth of winter.
As for myself, the darker, or the colder, the more I become aware of the light inside of myself.
The first snowfall of the season is one of the most exciting things regardless of age.
When you live in a place where it rarely snows despite all the frigid days,
you can't miss the precious opportunity.
I hurried to the nearest park in my neighborhood with a camera last week.
I hadn't thought the slide of the park (the photo below) was so eye-catching till then.
There's something serene and uplifting about walking alone in the falling snow.
The beautiful, smooth barks were soaring straight to the pearly grey sky.
In the hushed world, trees, swing, slide...., all were covered with snow.
I thought of the snow days in my childhood and I felt like that I heard children's joyous shouts.
The first grader Y told me later that he enjoyed snowball fighting with friends at the noon recess.
The back of the slide is Chinese Tallows with brown cracked skins of white fruits.
Birds often come to the seed-like fruits.
Tiny buds to bloom in spring attract more attention in the snow, and so do the withered flowers,
telling us the constant life flow of coming and going in nature.
As a reflection freak, I didn't miss the frozen reflection of cherry trees on the windshield.
In an hour, snow turned to sleet and I walked back home.
My daughter sent me photos of M's first experience of snow in her life.
Linked to Mosaic Monday
Hello,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful winter wonderland. Your granddaughter is adorable, I hope she enjoyed her first snow. We may have snow/sleet and rain later today. Gorgeous photos. Take care, enjoy your day and happy new week ahead!
Beautiful photos. We’ve had no snow this winter which is so very strange. Wishing you well and have a grand week.
ReplyDelete同じ日とは思えないくらい沢山の雪が降ってますね～。
ReplyDelete同じ時間に私も近くの公園を歩いてましたけど、ズームを持って行ってしまい全部ぶれてしまいました。
レンズ交換の為に家に戻ったころは雪が止みそうだった（笑）
お孫さんも楽しい雪の日でよかったですね。今年はもう雪は降らないかな。でも早くコロナ終わって春になってほしい。ではまたね。
Amazing photos!
ReplyDeleteYoko, Love the snow photos. I would enjoy ours more if it lasted a few and was gone but we have cold and snow for months in Canada. Love the second picture of the slide. Thanks for sharing and have a great week! Sylvia D.
ReplyDeleteStunning pictures!
ReplyDeleteDear Yoko!
ReplyDeleteOh what beautiful winter photos. Although I don't like winter, I admire the world of the "Snow Queen" with great pleasure.
Your granddaughter is lovely. Was she delighted with the first snow?
Hugs and greetings.
Love your snow photos Yoko especially the first one - when I see the first snowfall it lifts my spirits and I remember times past when I was a child, but very quickly I am happy for it to depart and go away.
ReplyDeleteDear Yoko, you have captured some very nice images of the snow. I don't like long, snowy winters as I grew up where we had about 6 months of winter. But where I live now we don't get a lot of snow and so I do like it when it arrives. This weekend I was expecting snow and I was looking forward to it but it never arrived. I was hoping to take photos just like you did. Thank you for sharing yours. Happy week ahead. xx
ReplyDeleteYoko - the cold and dark of winter do not bother me. As you aptly demonstrated with your glorious photos, winter has a beauty all its own. My favorite shot is the one the slide from the side, the blue making a bright contrast with the snow. Our daughter, like M, did not experience her first snow until she was a toddler - I still remember the laughter and sheer amazement - only kids can show such pure joy! Thanks for bringing this winter wonderland to everyone at Mosaic Monday!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous pictures !!!! Snow give a new perspective of everything...Nature is wonderful and men don't see how much we have to preserve her...
ReplyDeleteYour mosaic is cute !
Have a cozy week !
Anna
Dear Yoko, thank you so much! An enjoyable walk in silence and beauty. The one I missed after yesterday night heavy snowfall, because of the online class in the morning. Not only did you capture the beauty of snow, but also contemplative mood it sets.
ReplyDeleteLittle M seems to love the snow. Our Y has also touched it already, can you imagine? He looks happy on daily walks in cold weather with red cheeks kissed by frost. I’m happy, Yoko, that you shared this special winter magic with us.
Separate thanks for Camus’ quote. As for your feeling, ‘the darker, or the colder, the more I become aware of the light inside of myself”, this makes two of us.
Take care, dear friend.
Your winter scenes are lovely. I live in a tropical country so we have no winter season
ReplyDeleteNice mosaics
Much💖love
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ReplyDeleteI really like your photographs. Especially those bare trees and that big red slide.
Snow beautifies all landscapes.
I really liked the Albert Camus quote.
Greetings from Spain
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Two blogs:
LaMiradaAusente · & · CristalRasgado
Beautiful snow shots!
ReplyDeleteYour photos show how lovely it was. Your words deliver the peace and quiet you felt. So lovely that you got to experience that. I also love that Yoko.
ReplyDeleteAwesome article guys :)
ReplyDeleteYour pictures catch the beauty and the excitement of snow. The brilliant colours of children's play equipment, or the more subtle shades of forgotten flowers add a touch of colour to black and white. Someone ran down my street during the first snowfall, and looking out of the window all I was a streak of rainbow colour. She was wearing a striped jacket of so many bright colours. When I was a child I lived in a place with hard snowy winters. I was so excited when I saw the first snow. I wish I could recapture the excitement of sliding down the road, which was my favourite thing. I hope your grandkids continue to have the chance of playing in the snow for a while yet, while their elders stay safer and warmer inside.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing these beautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteThey are all fantastic but the photo I loved the most was the 6th for the contrast of colors. Unfortunately where I live (Lisbon) it doesn't snow. Your granddaughter must have loved playing with the snow.
Take care and have a great week.
Your love and excitement at seeing a white word shines through your photos, Yoko. I love the graceful limbs of the tallow raised toward the sky as though they're also celebrating snow. Little M is as excited as her Grandma to play in snow for the first time. I believe there is an invincible spring in all of us, though we sometimes forget it's there.
ReplyDeleteYour photos of snow are like a dream come true. The first snow is pure and it paints over the gritty gray landscapes while highlighting the brightest of colors. Although it can cause a lot of trouble for travelers, it is fun to play in when it is this fresh. :)
ReplyDeleteThose photographs of your snowfall are really lovely. I love to walk in the snow, but at the moment it's very cold outside, so I am staying in my warm house!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post:)
ReplyDeleteyour images of snow are mesmerizing dear Yoko !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeletethis is amazing how you chose your clicks so profoundly while keeping in mind the colors which are smiling through the cover of snow so beautifully ,EXCELLENT job indeed!
thank you for the sharing quote ,so true that once we are enlightened inside ,everything outside reveals it's genuine color and our inner light when embrace to the darkness around us and transform it into light for us ,this is miracle though reason and wisdom make it possible
thank you for glorifying my day with lovely sharing dear friend!
happy for your granddaughter's first snow experience
blessings!
How magical and gorgeous! (I love snow.)
ReplyDeleteWonderful snowy Japan. Can't take my eyes od this. Fantastic Mather Nature.
ReplyDelete