December 20, 2009

Winter Tree.

Today is the fourth Sunday in Advent, which means Christmas is imminent. As I light the fourth candle in my advent candle holder, I remember my family and the holidays of my past.

In my childhood, last week before Christmas was so very special. It was the time when all the scents and decorations became so much more distinct. The atmosphere of happiness and joy so very obvious, the excitement and expectations so strong.

It is a long time ago that my family was all gathered under one roof for Christmas Eve. And it is even longer, perhaps decades by now, when we all lived in the same city. Today we are spread all across Europe and at times it fills me with certain melancholy when I ponder this fact.
However, in spirits we are always together, as we all carry on with the same traditions.

This week the snow has given our landscape a true holiday feel. It has been a while since we had any December snow. There is still an uncertainty in the forecasts, whether the snow will last through the 24th. In fact the suspense grows by each day.

Interestingly, the heavy snow blanket indeed finalized the series of photographs I took in August through November, as a part of my progressive photography. These documented the changes in the foliage of a beautiful Birch tree, which grows just outside my kitchen windows. The winter picture I took this past week completes its three seasons.
In a few months, when the light slowly returns, and with it the warmth of the air, I will return to document its awakening in the spring.

(Please click to enlarge.)

20 comments:

Elizabeth said...

Hej Zuzana,

How are you? I'm having a lazy sunday. My bread is almost ready to come out of the oven, the house smells wonderful. In my ear Brian is singing, my thoughts are filled with sitting by a campfire. (A way of meditating)

Your birch tree is looking beautiful, think it is a great idea to follow it full circle. Wish I could make such a beautiful collages as you do.

Well, let me just wish you the most relaxed sunday you can wish for.

Bye, Elizabeth

Kath said...

Lovely photos of the beech, what a fabulous idea. Kath in England

Anonymous said...

Zuzana,
Wow... what a nice creative idea to have the same tree viewed in each of the 4 seasons. I love it. Yes, winter does have its own beauty; however, I'm looking forward to your spring picture also. The candle picture gives out warmth and glow. Thanks for aharing! The Bach

Kat_RN said...

Thank you, that was exactly the sentiment I needed. My family is spread all over the country here, probably similar distances to yours. In order to visit my Sisters, for instance, I would have to drive for three days. I miss them. You are so right about shared traditions bringing us closer. Just the thought helps.
Hope you are warm and cozy.
Kat

Jill from Killeny Glen said...

Love your advent candle holder.

The contrast photos of your birch tree are fabulous!

Phivos Nicolaides said...

Always, so good your photos !

Julie Hibbard said...

Absolutely spectacular!! The Birch tree is incredible to watch...doesn't seem real.
With all that is so temporary and fleeting and unpredictable in the world, it's so great to see that nature can still be counted on!
Have a lovely Sunday! I'm headed to work for a wedding out on the beach!

steviewren said...

Zuzana, the blue light that bathes the landscape makes the snowy scenes seem even more magical. The first picture is my favorite. The more I look the further I can see. Maybe the snow will last until the end of the week. I hope so!

I received your lovely card yesterday and was so excited. I made a point of showing it to my daughter when she came over. I had meant to do the same for you, but discovered I had been careless and had not saved your address. The first thing I did was put your address in my book. I won't lose it again.

Brenda Pruitt said...

Love the progression of nature in your photos!
Brenda

Kata Wagner Berg said...

Wow! Really nice picture the last one! Nice view from the kitchen!

Reading Tea Leaves said...

Oh how I love the progress of your wonderful birch tree - I think the December photo is simply beautiful ...
The traditions and values of your family and homeland will always stay with you wherever you are Zuzana and I'm sure you all appreciate each other so much more because of these absences ...enjoy this last Advent Sunday evening. Jeanne x

Blogaire said...

Your progressive photos are amazing Zuzana and I await the final chapter in the Spring. The snow makes your garden look like a Christmas card and I just hope it lasts for the next week to make your Christmas extra special. Brrr - it looks cold there though, so keep the logs burning and keep Batcat indoors!

Betsy Brock said...

Ah, beautiful! We lit the 4th advent candle this morning at church. Only one more!

Cat in the road said...

I like how we’re both able to share our own private Christmas of 2009 with each other. I give you the sights and sounds of NYC and you take me on a magical journey through Denmark.

Unknown said...

I love your progressive shots of your tree and many other things in your area that you keep track of. I do remember also the excitement when I was a child at Christmas time. it is so different now.

Merry Christmas and a very blessed New Year!!

Hazel Designs said...

I LOVE the series of photographs with the tree to show the seasons passing...I can't wait to see the spring one! I was actually thinking of doing something similar to this too!

Gal Friday said...

You should turn that winter birch tree photo into your next year's Christmas card! It's gorgeous!

We are having a White Christmas, finally, here too becasue of the weekend blizzard.(usually we get cold rain in Dec.)

Zuzana said...

Elizabeth, Kath, The Bach, Kat, Jill, Keith,, Phillip, Julie, Stevie, Brenda, Kata, Jeanne, Blogaire, Betsy, Scribe816, Doreen, Hazel and Tina – so great to hear that you enjoyed seeing my birch tree in three different season. It is a majestic tree and worth posting pictures off at any time.;)

I am also happy that some of you recognize the sentiment of being far away from your family – travelling during holidays is not the easiest thing and thus during this time of the year I find myself missing my loved once the most - as Christmas is all about being with the ones we love.

Thank you all for your ALWAYS kind words, they mean the world to me…

Xoxo
Zuzana

Claus said...

I love the contrast! green, autumn-ish and not covered in a beautiful white, with a lot of blue in it, have you noticed? Our view is grey. And there is a lot of green now that I carefully look through my office window. I wonder, though, if this cold environment will last through Thursday and Friday? Or will a sudden change back to our tropical Christmas happen? It's all possible these days :-)

sprinkles said...

I love that progression of your birch tree! My favorite one is the winter one. While I hate snow, I love the look of it in pictures and the blue hue adds so much!

It never occured to me that you won't have any family visiting to spend the holiday's with. It's good to know how much you appreciate them. I'm sorry you won't get to see them, hopefully you'll get to visit with them sometime soon.