uphill

I learned quite a few things while I was on my trip to
Antarctica (and I'm just posting this now due
to welcome-home computer issues).  One of the things
I learned is that you can go almost anywhere if 
you just have sticks—including to the top of a  
snowy, icy, very high hill (though going down that hill
was actually harder than going up).  

[Linking back to Ruby Tuesday
and Our World Tuesday.]

ABC Wednesday—A is for "Arctic"`

Remembering last year's wonderful trip
and the beautiful sights I saw:
like kittiwakes taking off from the very icy waters
of Burgerbukta (Burger Bay), with
Paierbreen (Paier glacier) in the background.

[To see more ABC posts—or join in
for Round 21 (!) of this great meme, go here.]

ABC Wednesday—I is for "ice"

This is Hansbreen (breen in Norwegian = glacier).

We hauled a piece of clear,
clean ice aboard our Zodiac . . .

and brought it to the ship's bartender,
who put it in our drinks later.
(I didn't wait.  I picked a piece of glacial
ice straight out of the water and ate it;
never tasted anything cleaner.)

[To see more ABC posts, go here.]

Today's Flowers

I know these don't look much like flowers
right now.  But in two or three months
the frozen buds on this dogwood tree outside
my window will burst into bloom and 
the tree will be covered with pink blossoms.
Meanwhile . . .

[To see more of Today's Flowers, go here.]

Weekend Reflections

Last Saturday, it snowed—again.
Sunday morning everything was encased in ice.
Then the sun came out and it all began to melt.  
Unfortunately, by Monday morning this 
puddle was solid ice—again.

[To see more Weekend Reflections, visit James's meme.]

ABC Wednesday—I is for "ice"

Makes me shiver just looking at this scene—
welcome to summer in Antarctica.  I
borrowed the picture from my daughter Lila
(who traveled there with her sister last year).

[To see more ABC posts, go here.]

The Weekend in Black and White

The mercury-glass candle lamps
remind me of all the ice we've had around
here so far this year.  The forecast 
for today is temps in the 50s and sun—
but snow again next week.  Oh well.

[To see more monochromes, visit Dragonstar's meme.]

Brrrr!

I've had enough of bundling up to 
deal with this Arctic cold—with lots of
snow and, yesterday, freezing rain—and am so 
ready to wear skirts and cute shoes again!
What's the weather like where you are?

[Today's Thursday Photo Challenge is "cold."
To see more, visit Dale's meme.]