Winter is definitely not my season. I feel bad in cold weather. Luckily, in my neck of the woods, it's usually a short and mild season.
However, this year , our February has been quite cold and rainy, making me often think of the survival of people in those many places where temperatures drop much below zero. It requires special resilience and preparadness to be able to live under freezing conditions.
I am familiar, of course, with the names of the coldest places in the world: Antarctica, Alaska, Greenland, Canada, Siberia (Russia), the Scandinavean countries ( Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark), and Iceland.
There are some more places of which I knew almost nothing about their very cold winters, until recently while reading an article mentioning them: Mongolia (central Asia), Kirghizistan, Tajigistan (asian Russia), Chili (South America).
Ulaanbatoor, capital of Mongolia is considered the coldest capital city on earth (Yakutsk in Siberia is known as the coldest city, not capital).
Kirghizistan and Tajikistan - two gems in asian Russia, have very cold areas around their mountain ranges.
Chili is the closest country to Antarctica. In its southern part, there are polar frosts in winter.
And yet. even in the worst winter months , there is life , culture, fun and...prosperity in those places. It's mostly due to ski tourism, and all that surrounds it: the beauty of snow-capped mountain peaks, hotels, markets, winter festivals etc...
(AI generated picture)
It has been a mild Toronto winter very unusual -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteI suppose you felt good about that, Christine. Even people used to cold weather, are happy when it gets warm.
DeleteWe need endless supplies of water, sunshine, vegetation, good quality soil, ores and minerals to survive well, but would we suffer without snow? Ski tourism might be just a pleasurable bonus.
ReplyDeleteYou are right about what we need and what is "a pleasurable bonus". Still, God has given each territory and its people various means to hold on and survive. Snow and Ski tourism is one of them.
DeleteWe had quite a spell of very cold temperatures this winter, but spring has arrived early, Duta. Lots of daffodils in bloom!
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Yes, Spring is at the door and brings its optimism and flowers with it.
DeletePlus 6 C here. Unusual for this time of year.
ReplyDeleteIt's the year of the "unusual" in the world; it's called Climate Change.
DeleteDuta I love winter in Georgia. USA. In fact, the winter was too warm this year! It is going to be 75 tomorrow. Way to warm for winter. Sorry it is cold there.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear you love your winter, Sandie.
DeleteOur winter months have been quite wet, the ground is very soggy.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the spring flowers seem to be doing well, with daffodils and crocus in flower.
My favourite seasons are Spring and Autumn.
Keep well Duta, my good wishes.
All the best Jan
My favorite season is Autumn, as Spring might still surprise us with cold, rainy weather.
DeleteThank you Jan, for your good wishes.
We have quite a long winter here, but it's nothing compared to some of those places. I'm not a fa n of cold or snow and would rather stay inside in that weather! :)
ReplyDeleteLike you, Mari, I would rather stay inside on a cold, windy, rainy weather (We have rarely snow).
DeleteWinter here in eastern Canada is a challenge but it has its beauty too. Take care, Duta.
ReplyDeleteAt a certain age, it becomes difficult with challenges. However, winter where you live, certainly has great beauty, and that makes it up for the cold weather.
DeleteI am sorry you feel poorly in cold weather. I actually wish it was colder here.
ReplyDeleteTo each his own, as they say. Oh, well, the weather seems to be improving here, as we approach March and the arrival of Spring.
DeleteWe actually have a relatively mild winter this year..just with lots of rain and grey everywhere..very depressing. I don't mind cold weather as long as the sun shines.
ReplyDeleteThe appearance of the sun in between clouds, rain, low temperatures - actually saves us from depression.
DeletePeople make their pleasure in all season, there is always something to do. I can't imagine living in such cold for a winter, long or short. People that do live in those really cold countries I expect know nothing different, well most of them.
ReplyDeleteMost people get used to the weather in their region and make the best of it. I appreciate them for that.
DeleteI grew up in west Texas and it was of warmer temps but some cold dips in the winter. Then I got to experience living near Canada. And all the friends I made there were saving up to move to Florida. But Decembers were great with snow and warm enough to have fun in but come January it was cabin fever time and I that was like an illness on it's own, too. Still, winter is my favorite season and we did get some winter weather this season in the mid section of the states. But we had our warmest day on record for February yesterday, yet a wintery mix is on it's way. And I've seen some blizzards as early as Halloween and as late as March. Still, it's good to have the snow for the moisture and the river. So yeah, I'm a winter person.
ReplyDeleteI wish you to feel good regardless of the season. Snow is both beautiful and useful for the moisture it provides. If winter doesn't give you the flu, then it's perfect.
DeleteCold and windy with snow a night ago, but all is warmer now..except we get a lot of wind here on the plains.
DeleteA night ago - cold ad windy ; now - warm and windy. Fickle weather!
DeleteIt's not my season either, but unlike yours, ours has been unseasonable warm -- which isn't to take "warm" too literally but as warmer than usual. And we've only had one "real" snow (that lasted). And that didn't last long. But our weather is very schizophrenic. Today will be very warm but they are expecting a big temperature drop tonight. I've given up trying to figure it out.
ReplyDelete"schizophrenic" is ,indeed, the right word. We have to take what comes, adapt to the weather sent, not to the weather expected. We don't know what to expect any more.
DeleteThis reminds me of our area...where he have snow and cold aplenty in the winter...but not all is lost.
ReplyDeleteThe ski resorts around us LOVE it! And in the summer we have our rivers where people travel across the country from the West Coast to our area to do white water rafting.
Indeed, Dianna, each of the four seasons has its beauty and benefits. I personally, as an individual, don't prefer winter. I am not interested in sports in general, and in winter sports in particular. At my age, I'm interested in avoiding the flu and its derivates.
DeleteAt least the days are getting noticably longer here now - and I've spotted the first snowdrops (i.e. the flowers, rather than mix of snow and rain...)
ReplyDeleteYou're right about the days; here they're already longer. As we don't have snow covering, flowers are spotted everywhere.
DeleteHello.
ReplyDeleteJust discovered your blog on someone else's.
I don't like the winter. I had a week-long nasty winter bug this christmas. Yes, during xmas week!!
So, I'm with you in disliking winter.
Welcome, Liam Ryan!
ReplyDeleteHow frustrating to get a nasty bug during Christmas week! Hopefully, you are much better now.
It's been crazy weather here. I'll be glad to get into the warmth!
ReplyDeleteI believe you. I miss the warmth too.
DeletePersonally, I am not a winter fan and this warmer than normal winter has been happy for me. Not so, others. My brother in law has lived in this area for over 40 years (we aren't the coldest but we get a lot of snow in a normal year). He used to snowshoe, cross country ski, and enjoy other winter sports when the snow and cold were consistent. People do ice fishing and play ice hockey outdoors. Apples are a major crop in this area and the trees need winter chilling. Ditto maple syrup making. There's really a lot to do in consistently cold winters. Yes, living in a cold climate has its own joys. And sorrows.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your pro-winter details, and I like your last entence:"yes, living in a cold climate has its own joys. And Sorrows"
DeleteI do not dislike cold weather but miss flowers blooming very few there. In my area, it still cold now but the temperature seldom falls below zero. Plum trees are in full bloom.
ReplyDeleteThe same in my area - seldom do temperatures fall below zero, and yet even 9+ is very cold. Flowers and trees are doing rather well.
DeleteSince we live in New England, friends in other parts of the country also assume we have received a lot of snow during the winter months. It's been the opposite here in recent years with a couple of smaller snowstorms and some cold weather but nothing long lasting.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds a relatively mild winter, as snowstorms and cold weather were not long lasting.
DeleteEn Béjar este año el invierno está siendo extraño. no hemos visto la nieve , solo un poco en la montaña. Y hemos tenido días de 19º. Ahora si tenemos frío que es lo nornal por aquí. La imagen de la IA es preciosa.
ReplyDeleteBuena tarde Duta.
Un abrazo.
I've noticed , many use the word 'strange" when describing the weather of this particular winter. Well, there's Climate Change behind it.
DeleteI remember some very frosty winters in Germany when the river froze and we were skating on it. Being in Germany, soon there was a booth that sold mulled wine next to the river. These are lovely memories, but I sure enjoy living in a much more pleasant winter climate now. The older I get, the less I like the cold.
ReplyDeleteExactly. Age and cold weather don't go well together. I definitely agree with your last sentence: "The older I get, the less I like the cold".
DeleteI'm definitely a summer girl, I don't like the cold weather one bit. It hasn't been too bad here this year, it's been rather mild but wet! I'm glad that spring is just around the corner.
ReplyDeleteOh, Spring... aren't we all glad it's just around the corner?
DeleteI don't like winter, at all, DUTA...very happy it's coming to an end. We've had some warm weather "teasers", and are hoping for a early spring. I, like you, am aging, but I never liked winter, even when I was young. Blessings to you, DUTA.
ReplyDeleteI'm also hoping for an early Spring.
DeleteBlessings and Hugs to you, Bica!
oh I don't like cold winters either. It was fun though as a child when we lived in the Netherlands Ice skating with 20 degrees below and you had little ice pins in your hair and eyebrows. Making snowmen and it looked so beautiful around Christmas with snow and all the lights Now the winters are mild and they only get rain
ReplyDeleteI've got nostalgic memories about winter too, but now I see it as it is: the cold, the wetness, the flu - and I don't like it.
DeleteYes those that live in the coldest cities do make the most of it and I find they are still happy living where they do. Janice
ReplyDeleteProbably, as the places are inhabited and not deserted. People have a great ability to adapt to given conditions.
DeleteWhen the sun shines and it is freezing it is OK, but rainy cold weather... brrr I love your picture. Well done.
ReplyDeleteThe appearance of sunshine, saves us all, but in winter, it'not everyday that the sun makes its appearance.
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