November 22, 2008

Winter Is Just Around The Corner.


Today was one of the first days of the autumn when the temperature during the day did not go above 0C (about 32F). That means it was freezing cold. Inland and in the east part of the country the first snow has fallen. Therefore I decided to haul in large quantities of wood, so I would be set for at least the next month with enough firewood for my fireplace. This took most of the afternoon and most of my energy. It is at times like these I wish my Irish roommate was a permanent one.
The sunset occurred at exactly 4PM, making the day not just cold, but also very short. I managed to capture the setting sun just before it disappeared. Winter is truly knocking on the door.

12 comments:

Mahmud Yussop said...

I have never experienced winter. Here in tropical Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo,we have a uniform climate throughout the year, typically hot and humid and very wet towards the end of the year like now.Daily temperatures fluctuate from 23 - 35 degrees C. We have no 4 seasons. Our forests are always evergreen. I hope to follow more stories about winter in your blog.

Tom said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Tom said...

This post and your pictures brings back so many memories of my childhood! I now live in a climate similar to Mahmud's and miss the seasons very much, although I never really liked the winter daylight ending so early. Strangely enough, I actually loved the cold then! Must be something in my genes...

(apologies, I mispelled Mahmud's name in my original comment)

Diane said...

Our winter is knocking, too, and I love it :). I do miss having a fireplace, though. The next time your Irishman visits, you'll have to have him stock the woodpile ;)

Michelle H. said...

It's been snowing off and on here for the past week. I have a fireplace in one room and woodstove in the other. I've lived in cold weather all my life. I wouldn't know how to adapt in a more temperate area.

Melanie Gillispie said...

I finally turned on my heat two days ago. I just couldn't put it off anymore since the temps were dropping to 20 at night. It seems like we went straight from shorts to freezing pipes in less than 2 weeks. I just love NC! :)

Donna said...

It's cold here too! We've been piling up the wood for the fireplace.

Have a good weekend!
Hugs,
Donna

Zuzana said...

Mahmud, I will make sure to post seasonal post in the future.;) We usually get bad snowstorms in January/February; sometimes so bad, we cannot leave the house. It is at times like these I would wish to live in your part of the world.:))

Tom, I am sure the genes play a role. Many people living here in the north love the climate. I to do not mind the cold that much either, being born in the mountains myself. But I do dislike the dark and the howling wind.;)

Diane, I love my fireplace.:) When you visit, we will share a bottle of red in front of it.:) Yes, my Irishman is the one who chopped the firewood in the first place and helped me stack it. Unfortunately only a small part of it can be stored in the basement of my house and considering the cold, I go through it quiet rapidly.:)

mlh, that is incredible, so you know all about the bitterly cold climate. Isn’t a warm fire just the best? The only good thing about winter is a cozy fireplace and snow for Christmas.:)

Mel, That is how I remember NC! The crazy changes in temperatures. At times I would have to scrape the car of frost in the morning before work and during the day we could enjoy a cup of coffee in a t-shirt. That is unthinkable here, the Gulf Stream and the proximity to the sea keep the temperatures very stable.

Donna, I guess as Mel said, it is getting cold in your neck of the woods as well. Hope your weekend is great too!:) Glad to see you back online.:)

j. said...

Thank you so much for the compliment. :-) I just randomly take photos.. I think the spontaneity makes everything better.

Winter! Sometimes I wish we had that season here too.. as Ive always found fireplaces to be quite wonderful..

That photo!! The sun peeking through those trees is absolutely beautiful! but sunset at 4pm?? wow. That is one short day indeed. I think Id be pretty gloomy if days were that short.

*hugs*

Zuzana said...

Valentine, you are an artist anI love your blog.:)
It is funny how we always want what we do not have; I for example sometimes (often) wish to live in a place with eternal sunshine.:)
Thank you for the compliment on the photograph.;)

Hilary said...

Wintry weather has arrived here too. Our daylight persists for about an hour beyond your sunset time for now. I would not be happy with 4pm darkness. But those lovely sunsets sure are a bit of a consolation, eh? :)

Zuzana said...

Hilary, I just saw your beautiful pictures, I can see indeed you have some snow by now. They are lovely by the way, as always.
And I have to agree, the sunsets make up for the darkness, they totally do.:))