Winter? Now? Totti would have loved it!
What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.
―
Lake Taupo, New Zealand. Christmas Eve, 2011
Winter is not the same in any corner of the world…and maybe most significant is the difference when you compare the Northern Hemisphere with the Southern Hemisphere. – So, your winter is not mine, my winter is not yours.
Let’s enjoy the differences! Being different and different experiences give us more strength and brings variety to our lives. This week – Winter rules.
I decided to get nostalgic about this theme – as our winters have changed much over the years since I was a child…even in the last ten years, three years, year… Climate change has also made every season more unpredictable. We live in changing times in all aspects. A bit of nostalgia comes over me quite often these days – I guess you might feel the same?
For many years we went skiing every winter, in Dalarna, Sweden. We always stayed in Fryksås, at an old mountain farm – or Shieling (Scottish Gaelic) – overlooking Lake Orsa.
Mille, our first Lagotto (Milo look-a-like, isn’t he?) was a cone collector…he could easily run with 5 (five) cones in his mouth without dropping a single one. He loved going to Fryksås every year – knowing he could play around every day in that cold snow.
The last time we rented one of these 18-19th century cottages, was in 2010. No electricity, no lamps, no technical devices…Only open fires, candle light, reading, playing card games and board games. Knitting, crocheting, discussing… The children (18 and 20 by then – and still loving this concept!) slept in the beautifully painted box-beds.
In Skåne, where I live, (the most southern part of Sweden), winters used to have at least a month of snow, and skiing was often possible. Today’s winters offer only forest walks. And this last winter, for the first time in my life, we had no snow at all.
– And no ice breaking up, letting the brooks sing and the smooth, velvety stones reflect the sun. But I am deeply grateful that we all have these wonderful memories – and that the children share them too. We still talk about going to Fryksås again. Together. Just the four of us. Maybe some day…
Announcement: We are happy to welcome Xenia of Tranature as our Guest Host for August 1 !
And thank you, Patti, for hosting a beautiful Autumn week! Thank you for so many colourful and beautiful posts from friends all over the world!
Despite the fact that winter will come to all of us – whether we like it or not…we are looking forward to seeing Your Winter! Meanwhile – stay safe and well out there.
Have you seen these:
- Thoughts and beauty from Philo of Philosophy through photography
- At Murtagh’s Meadow you will get all you want for autumn!
- The Magic of Autumn is manifested at Bren’s…
Leya 
Amazing photographs 🙂
Thank you kindly!
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♥
Winter is stunningly captured in these photos. Truly enjoyed them
Glad you liked them – I miss the snow.
WOW!
Well, very belatedly, here’s mine, A C : https://suejudd.com/2020/08/01/lens-artists-photo-challenge-107-winter/
Well, it is not belatedly! Two hours left for the new one to pop up!
Teehee!
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Just lovely … haven’t seen this much snow since the winter 2010-11 and 2012. This is how I want our winters to be … winter should be winter … not extended autumn like it has been for years now. Thanks for bringing the winter back to me in the middle of the summer. *smile
I agree with you, Vivi!
I must agree, Viveka…but I don’t think we will ever get there again. Maybe a short flalre – but no. It’s very sad. We are lucky to have had it through our growing up years.
…. it is so sad. That all the seasons goes into one more or less. Nature is totally f…ed up. It doesn’t know if it’s coming or going. The winter when I went to school was real Skåne winters. *smile
It was.
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Hi Leya! I’ve never met a dog that didn’t absolutely LOVE to play in the snow!!!
https://lindylecoq.com/2020/07/31/lens-artists-photo-challenge-107-winter/
Neither have I! But I imagine those naked dogs at least have to wear clothes!
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Such wonderful images … love the shot of Lake Taupo! 🙂
A lovely day and a special experience!
Beautiful cold crisp winter images! Sweet stories as well – love the cone collector. The memories of the cottage are priceless as well. 🙂 It’s the memories that mark the seasons in the end.
http://oneletterup.com/2020/07/30/lens-artists-challenge-winter
I agree about memories to mark the seasons – thank you!
You’re welcome 🙂
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Beautiful images, Leya 👏 Love the shot of Mille & his cones 😃
He was a lovely guy – glad you liked it!
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There is so much yearning, tenderness and warmth in your winter photos, Ann-Christine. I enjoyed them very much. I guess you must get used to so much snow?
Thank you for scheduling the winter theme for the end of the month as I already had something that would suit. Kind regards. Tracy.
Happy you enjoyed them, Tracy – and yes, you get used to snow just as you gget used to heat. I prefer snow…
I think I could learn to love snow too …
Your dogs would lead the way!
They would. 🙂
Ann-Christine, you have such a lovely variety of winter shots ranging from the ice on the brook, the image of the cottage in the sunlight, the peaceful bird, your header and, of course, Mille!😊 Beautiful!
Here is my post: https://mycolorfulexpressions.com/lens-artists-photo-challenge-107-winter/
Thank you s much, Sylvia!
Awe, such beautiful images. The robin and Mille are so cute.
Thank you – glad you liked them, Rupali.
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Beautiful Winter images Ann-Christine, I especially love the ones from Dalarna, a place with many happy memories (we spent three Summers there when I was young). Like Sweden, we didn’t see any snow this Winter and I’m linking an earlier post that features a part-frozen loch: https://tranature.com/2020/01/12/haiku-heavenly-portal/
How lovely! You spent time in Swedish summer! Dalarna is the epitome of Midsummer celebrations here!
It was beautiful there and it made a lasting impression on me 💚🐎 xxx
♥
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Beautiful clicks.Love Mille.Thank you for the inspiration
Here is my contribution-https://philosophyvia.photos/2020/07/29/winter/
Thank You!
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Love the pictures..My take on the challenge
https://travtrails.com/2020/07/28/winter-imaginary-palette/(opens in a new tab)
Thank you!
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Thank you for this! I’m sitting here in a boiling hot, 70% humidity room and DREAMING of snow (which I, sadly, have zero hope for in Tel Aviv 😦 ). I miss winter magic…
Some day you will return and live it again!
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Here’s my contribution to the final season. I’ve enjoyed the series although I found selecting photos for winter the hardest by a large margin. I suspect that it was because I have so many favourite winter images:
https://davidmsphotoblog.com/2020/07/27/lens-artists-photo-challenge-winter/
Glad you have enjoyed this, David! So happy that you are joining in.
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Here’s mine, https://thankfulbylily.ca/2020/07/27/lens-artists-107-winter/
So nice; a great selection. I really like the photo of the cute bird.
Thank you – yes, he is a welcome guest!
😊🌻
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I cannot get my comment to post on your blog. Loved the serenity and the colours – feels like a storm is coming!
Beautiful!!
Real winter is – thank you!
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Your winter photos are absolutely spectacular. We don’t get snow like you do. I’ve always thought snow was beautiful, but I really don’t like living in it. 😀 😀
Here is my entry. Enjoy!
https://ceenphotography.com/2020/07/27/lens-artists-photo-challenge-107-winter/
Haha, well, that is the most common reaction! Beautiful from a distance!
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gorgeous photos as always, Ann-Christine! a little bit hard to think about winter right now as we are well into summer 🥰 here’s my contribution: https://lolawi.blog/2020/07/27/winter/
Hard it is – but that’s life…Thank you!
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Your photographs are beautiful, but it’s your take on the challenge that aligns with what I’ve been thinking, too: our winters are changing. We used to have snow days in Knoxville, Tennessee, when we took our kids out for snowball fights, building snow men, and making snow ice cream. But that doesn’t happen often any more. Now, we have ice — and that closes schools quickly, but it’s not much fun to play in! Here’s our entry to this week’s challenge, a few pictures we’ve collected over the years of blogging: https://ohtheplaceswesee.com/2020/07/27/lens-artists-photo-challenge-107-winter/
Loved your entry. And yes, we will have to treasure our memories. I am so grateful my children had these opportunities. We still built snow men as long as we had real winters. They were grown-ups then – but we played like in the old days.
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Strong capturing of winter with a great presence of quietness in many of the photos.
Perhaps stillness would be more appropriate to say. Great shots regardless.
Here’s mine:
https://stupidityhole.wordpress.com/2020/07/27/overlooking-surry-hills/
Thank you for the great comment!
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So many great images – I love the bird and the dog and the log cabin covered in snow.
So glad you enjoyed them – winter is beautiful!
How beautiful the winter images are. Snow is gorgeous but from a distance 🙂 And what a stunning Lake Taupo sunset.
It must be alarming to have no snow. I think the northern hemisphere is seeing the effects of climate change more rapidly than those of us in temperate southern regions. Sobering!
You are right – the effect is most obvious here. But it will reach us all. Loved Taupo.
I had to ”dig” deep in my files for some winter images!!😀. Your captures are inspiring.
https://pilotfishblog.com/2020/07/26/lens-artists-photo-challenge-107-winter/
♥
I can see you love the playful side of winter, Ann Christine. Beautifully presented 🤗💕💕
Thanks, Jo!
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My entry – https://transitionofthoughts.com/2020/07/26/photography-winter-time/
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Winter sports at Minnesota: https://cxianliu.wordpress.com/2019/12/24/downhill-ski-at-hyland-on-christmas-eve/
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Here is my entry to this week’s photo challenge: https://cxianliu.wordpress.com/2019/02/02/polar-vortex/
Thank you for joining in, Yan!
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An absolutely beautiful post Ann-Christine – your snow pictures are awesome and that little bird is SO sweet! It’s so sad that climate change has had such an effect. It’s interesting, we don’t notice it year to year but if we look back 20 years it becomes suddenly very clear. You’re right, the wonderful memories are the best thing there is! Personally I was in Sweden the year I studied in France and my most vivid memory is the kindness and friendliness of the people there. I can remember sitting on the sidewalk curb with my friends (we traveled together with other students) eating shrimp from the boats as they came in from fishing. A magical visit.
Thank you, Tina – memories, yes…we also used to sit there eating shrimps when I was young. I’d loved to have sat there with you and your friends. I am happy to hear you enjoyed your days in Sweden and that your memories include kindness and friendliness. Good to know.
also true we can look back to find how different the seasons where – they are changing. And the fastest changes are found close to the poles, where the warming up is so clearly visible.
I know you are no snow lover – thank you for loving it in images!
Perhaps one day we WILL sit together to enjoy the fresh shrimp – whether here or there I suspect at this point we may need to have chairs 🙂
Ha – I guess we will need those chairs! A lovely thought!
May I join you for some shrimps – I will bring my own chair
;-D You are very welcome – with or without chair!
Such wonderful photos Ann-Christine. Here is my take on the topic..as wintery as I can get. https://mywanderings.travel.blog/2020/07/26/my-winter-celebration/
And I love it! The feeling well captured, Teresa!
👍🏼🎅
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Aw, such beautiful memories! I can’t pick a favorite out of your selection. I do love the little bird. All of the photos are framed so nicely. That’s so interesting that your dog would carry cones around? I’ve never heard of that. But my dog is too little and doesn’t like the snow much at all. Our Golden Retriever loved it though. He’d love to play with the kids in the snow. Thanks for hosting the challenge and for warming us up to the idea of winter and families getting together again! xx
Thank you, Shelley! Well, Mille wanted me to throw cones so he could collect them again – this game could go on forever.
You’re welcome! That’s so fun – I love a dog that knows what they enjoy doing!
😀
What a beautiful place to spend a winter holiday.
It was, John – and hopefully still is. Thank you.
You’ve highlighted beautiful places and memories of winter, A-C. I especially love the image of Mille with a ”beard” full of snow! Did she eat the pine cones or just collect them? Your post shows the sharp clarity and beauty of winter. Lovely!
Thank you, Patti! Mille collected them…but also ate some if I stopped playing along with him. He wanted me to throw them so he could find them again!
That is so funny!
♥ ;-D
Those cabins sound quaint but a bit of a rough way to go.
Rough is sometimes positive!
Beautiful memories and photos.
Here is mine:
https://photographias.wordpress.com/2020/07/26/lens-artists-challenge-winter/
Thank you!
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I only ever seem to visit Taupo in winter, so am used to the biting cold off the lake and seeing snow on Ruapehu. I image on Christmas Eve it would be wall-to-wall camper vans and holidaymakers.
Yes – typical when you have beautiful areas close to you in your own country, isn’t it? But there were not many campers when we were there…I think. I only had eyes for the volcano, the sunset, the Pohutukawa trees and – the red and white Christmas clothes!
Sounds idyllic. I glad you enjoyed your visit 😀
♥
In total agreement, climate change is a fact, although some do not accept it. Very curious those houses to spend a few days, without technology, sounds good.
Great photos!
Yes, but as some do not accept it – we might not be able to act properly to save what is left. Yes, a week without devices brings you back to what was normal a hundred years ago – and covid has helped us try it again… Glad you enjoyed my memories!
It is wonderful to see these photos and read your stories of winter in Dalma and Skåne. Reminded me of all my Swedish friends, all of whom love winter. I’ve only seen Sweden in spring and summer, but hope to be there for a winter some time.
Winter in my part of the world is a little different: https://anotherglobaleater.wordpress.com/2020/04/27/the-six-seasons-6/
I hope you will return to see it some day!.
Wonderful shots! Though I dislike the cold and the grey sky, I still love winter most. Probably because I was born in this season 😛
Haha, then there are two of us!
Great captures Ann-Christine!!!
So glad you liked them, Paulo!
This is my entry: https://balance440.wordpress.com/2020/08/01/lens-artists-photo-challenge-107-winter/.
Have a nice weekend Ann-Christine!!!
Thank you, you too, Paulo!
I love this set of winter photos. The sunset is glorious. The bird capture is truly beautiful. The snow images are like post cards. Thank you for sharing, Ann-Christine.
Thank you for loving them, Amy – memories are good to have and treasure. And when it is 25 below zero, the sun makes a great difference!
It makes me soo sad to see climate changing so rapidly. I may complain about the snow sometimes, but I really am incredibly grateful for it. The cottage experience sounds wonderful. Love the images AC 🙂
somehow you managed to get me in the mood for winter 🙂
https://i-choosethis.com/2020/07/26/lens-artists-photo-challenge-107-winter/
Haha – somehow…😉
Pam – I am very sad over what is happening to our planet too. I am always grateful for what we had and for what we have – or trying to be. Thank you for a lovely comment.
Mmmm, New Zealand in winter: if one lucks out with some decent weather, it is pretty there. Love the shots of Swedish winter. If climate change brings less snow at mid-latitudes (and pushing snow events farther to the poles), I wonder if people in the future might view winter with some regretful nostalgia.
New Zealand is very beautiful – and we had wonderful weather for a whole month.
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You have wonderful winter photos, Ann-Christine. I love them all, especially the header, the New Zealand Christmas Eve and Mille. Thank you for sharing. Here is my north and south winter.
https://theshowersofblessings.com/2020/07/25/lens-artists-photo-challenge-107-winter/
Thank you, Miriam!
You’re welcome, Ann_Christine!
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Lovely photos! I have never seen snow …. only those on the mountain tops!
I am glad to provide you of what we once had!
Thank you!
Great winter scenes. A C!
Thank you, Sue – a bit too soon though…
Oh, totally agree
With lots of heat and humidity right now, it’s nice to think about winter!
Love your chilling collection!
Well – I am glad to have sent you some cooling down, Sandy!
https://fairplay740.wordpress.com/2020/07/25/lens-artists-photo-challenge-107-winter/
Beautiful captures Ann-Christine. I Let Totti come to South Africa I might even find some snow for him.
Ha – I bet you would!
Here is my contribution via my new blog: https://thisandthatthenextpart.wordpress.com/2020/07/25/lens-artists-photo-challenge-107-winter/
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Those cabins look so inviting. What a special place for a family holiday!
Here is my contribution. Snowy pictures and an acrostic poem:
https://bendbranches.com/2020/07/25/resplendent-with-crystals-of-snow-lapc/
Thank you – and I learned a new word!
Anne-Christine, these winter photos are wonderful! My favorite is the log cabins with the deep snow and snow covered trees. Yes, I am very nostalgic these days.
Mmm, thank you, Beth for a lovely comment! Stay well.
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Nice winter photos! I will have to see what I can dig up.
Thanks! Looking forward to it!
Fingers crossed that the four of you can take time and go to Fryksås again together.
We’d love to go!
👍🏻😀😀😀😀
Beautiful winter images. I’ve never lived in a place where snow fell and stayed white and fresh. I loved your written reminiscences. They suited the images perfectly. Stay safe.
Anne, thank you for a lovely comment. I do miss the whiteness, the serenity.
Absolutely Ann-Christine, I do feel very nostalgic about the change of seasons and how the seasons have changed. I miss the snow and the winter in the North. If we go home to Norway in winter it might be cold, but it might also be warm and wet. 😢
Totti and Mille look so good in the snow and the snow suits the Robin so well, better as any other season. Beautiful wintery scenes, a true delight to see. x
Thank you, Dina, so happy when you drop by! And yes – missing the snow terribly. Season lost.
Season lost indeed. Now it looks like we have lost summer … 🌧🌦 although we have had so tough droughts we appreciate the rain. Last year, on the 25th of July, Cambridge had the record warmest day ever; 38.9. This year; 16! With my Nordic temperament I can cope better with the lower temperatures so no problem at all 😊
I cannot but agree, Dina. And neither have I any problem with these lower temps – at all. Nordic we are.
Wow. Beautiful winter scenes. I always love dog shots, too. Excellent.
It was easy to think about autumn last week, but winter is a bigger jump for my mind. Beautiful images you have shared, and thank you so much for the ping back too😊
🙂 Yes – half a year ahead…!
Dogs – cannot post without them…it seems! Thank you, John.
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