Karen, yesterday on my drive to work I was considering this post. The skies were gray and foggy. I realized how unusual it was for our area, and could understand more your reflections on a gray sky. I tend to think of winter as cloudy skies, which are definitely much more beautiful than a gray sky. But the point is this, I was thinking about your struggle to embrace the gray skies. And the thought occurred to me, that you struggling to enjoy a gray day might be much like me trying to enjoy dark and yellow skies during fire season. I don't like them, and I'm never going to like them. They depress me for any number of reasons. And I think that's okay. The best I can do with them is accept them, and turn my attention to activities that I can accomplish and enjoy inside. For whatever it's worth, I just wanted to encourage you to embrace your feelings without judging them or yourself. Go ahead and rage internally at the gray skies, and when you're done, go do something you love! 💟
Thanks for the question - always in gratitude. When i catch myself in the gray of it - i slow down and appreciate even the stillness of a quiet moment. And most often, i come back to the birds who don’t seem to mind almost any weather. I also remind myself some times when I need to, that the sun is up there above the clouds and I need only imagine it’s warmth and light.
Just what I needed on this gray day of ours. I may not see any gulls here, but the single, visiting winter-plumaged American goldfinch cheers me. And so do your words...and stunning photos. Thank you.
Karen, dear, it is such a gray time in so many ways. I am determined to see the light & beauty. I'm paying attention to Christmas lights & kind things that people do for each other. I also see hope in your amazing photographs. Much love.
There’s a tiny lake near our town that is too small to allow motorized watercraft (I wish we could be free of that more often), and it’s fun to take the kids there and watch the loon pair disappear and pop up again all over the little lake while people paddleboard or kayak around.
Commiserations on the gray. My town is gray most of the winter and it gets a lot of people down. I don’t really mind it, but when the sun *does* come out I can feel the difference--I get all happy and hyper. I wouldn’t want that more than occasionally but it proves to me that the effects of gray vs. sunlight are very real 🌞
As always dear Karen, lovely reflections and photos. As much as I love the bright blue-skyed days, I have a soft spot for this time with short days , long nights and so much gray. I think this is because deep rest was so elusive during the first half of my life (who am I kidding- sometimes it is elusive even now! :) I find in the lengthening darkness and soft gray days a softening of my edges, an invitation to rest. May the longest darkness of the Winter Solstice bring us all deep rest and creative dreaming.
Just a thought: Growing up in the church, the Holy Spirit was always depicted as a dove more akin to a white pigeon. But seeing your "angelic hoverer" gull, perhaps it was a white gull from around the Jordan River or just in from the Dead Sea who became the epochal symbol for the Holy Spirit at Jesus' baptism. It certainly could qualify with its beauty and grace. I kinda like this idea! :-)
Karen, yesterday on my drive to work I was considering this post. The skies were gray and foggy. I realized how unusual it was for our area, and could understand more your reflections on a gray sky. I tend to think of winter as cloudy skies, which are definitely much more beautiful than a gray sky. But the point is this, I was thinking about your struggle to embrace the gray skies. And the thought occurred to me, that you struggling to enjoy a gray day might be much like me trying to enjoy dark and yellow skies during fire season. I don't like them, and I'm never going to like them. They depress me for any number of reasons. And I think that's okay. The best I can do with them is accept them, and turn my attention to activities that I can accomplish and enjoy inside. For whatever it's worth, I just wanted to encourage you to embrace your feelings without judging them or yourself. Go ahead and rage internally at the gray skies, and when you're done, go do something you love! 💟
I felt like I was meandering with you. Do do marvel at the magic of birds. The photos added a lot. Thank you.
You make learning more about our creatures so beautiful.
Thanks for the question - always in gratitude. When i catch myself in the gray of it - i slow down and appreciate even the stillness of a quiet moment. And most often, i come back to the birds who don’t seem to mind almost any weather. I also remind myself some times when I need to, that the sun is up there above the clouds and I need only imagine it’s warmth and light.
Just what I needed on this gray day of ours. I may not see any gulls here, but the single, visiting winter-plumaged American goldfinch cheers me. And so do your words...and stunning photos. Thank you.
Lovely writing and observations ❤️
Gray days/weeks are hard… glad you found birds to lift your mood and a little slice of sun❤️☀️
Karen, dear, it is such a gray time in so many ways. I am determined to see the light & beauty. I'm paying attention to Christmas lights & kind things that people do for each other. I also see hope in your amazing photographs. Much love.
There’s a tiny lake near our town that is too small to allow motorized watercraft (I wish we could be free of that more often), and it’s fun to take the kids there and watch the loon pair disappear and pop up again all over the little lake while people paddleboard or kayak around.
Commiserations on the gray. My town is gray most of the winter and it gets a lot of people down. I don’t really mind it, but when the sun *does* come out I can feel the difference--I get all happy and hyper. I wouldn’t want that more than occasionally but it proves to me that the effects of gray vs. sunlight are very real 🌞
As always dear Karen, lovely reflections and photos. As much as I love the bright blue-skyed days, I have a soft spot for this time with short days , long nights and so much gray. I think this is because deep rest was so elusive during the first half of my life (who am I kidding- sometimes it is elusive even now! :) I find in the lengthening darkness and soft gray days a softening of my edges, an invitation to rest. May the longest darkness of the Winter Solstice bring us all deep rest and creative dreaming.
Thanks, Karen, for a delightful photo-prose essay that brightened my day in a rather drab week.
Peace! Bill
Great post and photos. Can you share some insights into photography and equipment?
Thanks Karen, the Bonapartes have such a lovely shape. Remind me of two of my favourites: the Cory’s Shearwater and the Storm Petrel.
Just a thought: Growing up in the church, the Holy Spirit was always depicted as a dove more akin to a white pigeon. But seeing your "angelic hoverer" gull, perhaps it was a white gull from around the Jordan River or just in from the Dead Sea who became the epochal symbol for the Holy Spirit at Jesus' baptism. It certainly could qualify with its beauty and grace. I kinda like this idea! :-)