Take a tour with me –
Iceland – the ultimate Frozen landscape
A snow bunny in the frozen Norwegian countryside
Delicate frozen-ness atop the Swiss Alps
Icy vastness in the Antipodes of New Zealand
Even in Australia, one can find frozen Gum trees
The snow was icy and ‘sharp’ this day. If you fell skiing, it really hurt!
A face that could freeze hearts!
Linking to the Travel theme: Frozen
A few days ago, I saw this meme referring to those who love snow. Yeh, that’s me, for sure! My hand’s up, waving frantically in enthusiasm for snow and the colder elements. People in the northern hemisphere must think I am stark raving mad, and I can see where they are coming from, when cold surrounds them for the majority of the year. However, not only do I love the snow and cold, I crave it! I am even married to a man whose nickname was Snowy!!! My holiday destinations usually encompass snow in some form as you will see here.
A friend who knows me very well saw the meme and said, “This is SO you, Amanda!”
She knows! I thought.She knows me so well. She knows for instance that I have a preference for low light, that I hate the blazing sun and glare and suffer from the effects of it; and she knows that I feel energized when it is cold and finally she knows that being in a snowy place fills my heart with contentment!
You think I am crazy too? Then I challenge you to find me a person that feels energized on a 37 degrees plus day (97 for Fahrenheit readers), and I will be genuinely surprised. Even the Spanish/Mexicans etc need a siesta at high noon!
There are many that claim they crave warmth and heat. Chionophile deniers, I accuse them, under my breath! These are the people who can’t wait to travel to tropical island destinations for holidays or go out in the heat and glare of the midday sun, without hats and sun protection. And yet, it is these same self-confessed sun ‘worshipers,’ who are spotted at these tropical destinations – exactly WHERE, I ask?
Mostly you will find them languishing on a hammock/bar stool/ beach towel/ or a day bed dotted with cushions in trendy colours. Yes, languishing in the SHADE of course! Why? Because it is SO HOT, they state wafting their limp hand back and forth in front of their face in a vain attempt to create some a cooling air flow.
They seek out a beach umbrella, covered verandah, or simply the protective branches of a shady tree, out of the sun they so dearly love, and they sit, often accompanied by cool drinks, lathered with swathes of ice, sipped in an effort to do what….. to COOL down! A little hypocritical, don’t you think? Perhaps the sun-worshipers are closet chionophiles at heart?
Of course, my comments are only in fun. (These days in social media platforms, words can be misconstrued so easily!), so I want to make it clear that I am only having a friendly jibe at these sun ‘worshipers.’ For whilst I love the cold and it gives me energy to get about and do three times as much as I would have accomplished on a hot and sultry day, I too crave a bit of a balance. I can be out in the snow all day but do enjoy coming home to a wood fire and a warming cup of cocoa or wine!
I hope you enjoy some of my travel photos from my contented or snowy places! They make me feel cool just looking at them.
Linking to Ailsa’s Travel theme- Snowy
Snowy places are Something I always Ponder About
When it comes to darning socks, almost no-one does it anymore. Cheap items and time poor couples with high disposable income, have relegated simple repairs to low priced essentials, to the pages of history books.
Shouldn’t we be overjoyed that we are freed from the yoke of menial tasks?
If so, why do I feel relaxed when making something with my bare hands; why am I so drawn to up-cycle items where possible, or feel desperate to create an individual item that was designed and made by me even though it is not so appreciated in today’s world? I am hopeful that design trends may come full circle and a retro movement will one day re- introduce hand made objects in preference to ready made, shop- purchased, mass- produced items? Or am I just ‘dreaming?’
Factory made items lack the durability and quality of hand made and not only do they not last, but are sterile and you can see them duplicated in almost every home. Is this really what we want? No need to travel except to see the difference in natural landscape as no cultural individuality will exist?
Children are not taught practical hands-on skills either at school or by their overstressed, time-poor parents, so we are fast becoming a consumer in all senses, and are no longer creating. Where will this end? Do we realise fantastic one offs such as this wood carving will no longer be obtainable?
For these reasons, and more, I am drawn to any hand-made items on my travels. For these are items usually developed from crafts, that have evolved, in a small locale and been handed down over many generations. They scream workmanship, love, beautiful, naturally-synchronous ‘form’ and function. They inspire me to create – more and more!
Ailsa’s Hand made travel theme was a no-brainer – I had to participate. How about you?
Something for our hands and brains to ponder about?
Archway from the time of Ancient Rome
Join in here
More entries:
http://decocraftsdigicrafts.wordpress.com/2014/11/08/travel-theme-arches/
http://drieskewrites.wordpress.com/2014/11/07/travel-theme-arches/
http://politonomicsandtravel.wordpress.com/2014/11/09/weekly-travel-theme-arches-11-09-14/
Something to Ponder Under
Lens and Pens has a different phoneographic challenge each week. My choice for challenger’s choice is a travel theme.
Norway has been my dream destination and the Dalen hotel is famous for the resident ghost.
The Dalen hotel is a photographer’s dream come true. It was an experience like no other staying there, and I hope to go back one day.
Nexus 4 – no filters
Something to Ponder About
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