springing spring

a real snow bird

This morning it snowed. Again.

It started in January and it hasn't stopped. 

Piles and banks of snow.

And this morning it snowed again. 

Many Nova Scotians woke up bitter at the sight.

As for me,  I've done what I've done for the last two months- I've decided to see the beauty in it.
And then I take photos. 

even the birds be like "what the f-??"

But there is another reason I'm not bitter about the weather. 

Tomorrow I won't have to worry about the snow. 

Tomorrow I will see Spring. 

Tomorrow I will head to Washington, DC for the Cherry Blossom Festival. 

I realize I may sound smug. That is not my intent. 

We've all hated those people hitting the tanning beds for trips to Cuba, DR or Jamaica this winter.
I don't mean to rub it in. 

But at this point it is every snowman for himself.
It's not about a Caribbean vacation, it's about seeing something bloom. 

Although I've been to DC before, I have never been during cherry blossom time and I look forward to taking so many many pictures.

not my picture, but I hope to take lots more like it

The last time I was there I lost all my photos of the monuments so I look forward to getting those shots again.  But mostly, I'm looking forward to the smell. The fragrance of grass and mud and blossoms. The smell of Spring. 

I'm also looking forward to not wearing boots. Or coats. Or layers of clothing.
And temperatures above 0 °C

um.. I'll take the one on the right please... my right.. 

So Spring, if you won't come to me, I will come to you.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow it will be Spring. 

want to spring ahead but keep falling back

This is the winter that doesn't end.

Today is the first day of Spring, and yet here in Halifax we are still digging out from a series of colossal snow storms. We are now called Snova Scotia.

It's interesting to see the effect that winter has on the psyche- the psyche of people and of place.
It is apparent in how people act, speak, move.

this bus stop ad doubles as instructions.. climb the other side? YOU climb the other side- I'm done

you don't say

The heavy snowfall and bad weather take tolls on our moods as well. Personally, I have noticed a sadness, a discontent, a crankiness and a fatigue that I know is climate induced. We live part of the year in winter, so I try to embrace it as much as I can. Photography helps see the beauty in it. But even that can only go so far

yes, yes, it is pretty..

Now I am tired.

I am tired of boots and coats and layers of clothing. I am weary of feeling weighted down in body, mind and spirit. The urge to hibernate, to stay in bed or in the house is so strong. But that only breeds more sadness. Even I know that too much time spent in my own head is not good. Even my solitary nature  says ENOUGH.


I want to feel grass. I want to wear sandals and feel the air on my feet, to see my pink painted toenails peeking up at me. I long to hear sounds that are not the sliding of car tires spinning in snow and on ice. Or the scraping of the snow plow shovels hitting pavement. I long to feel light, not claustrophobic to the point of panic.

yes, yes, it can be inspiring..

In two weeks time I will take a trip. This is not to a tropical place, but a more moderate one.
Washington DC will be treated to nearly 4000 cherry trees in blossom, and I'm going to be there. I'm going to feel warm spring and smell fragrant air and leave my coat and boots and baggage behind.







But for the next two weeks I will try to breathe and think warm thoughts and hope it is enough to melt the snow.