Blue Shadows and Crunching Ice

I am well aware that most Ontarians are fed up with winter’s assault this year.  I have
to admit that I was glad to see snow and cold temperatures for a couple of weeks in
March when we got back from our California/Arizona trip.  I mentioned in the travel
blog that Dixie was overjoyed to be able to roll and frolic in her beloved snow. 

I was pleased to experience some of my favourite blue shadows.  One can become
quite glum during a long, grey winter.  But when the sun paints shapes of trees and
foliage atop a layer of smooth snow in azure, ultramarine, prussian and cornflower
blues, the heart can’t help but soar!



The Group of Seven, inspired by the French Impressionists adopted the use of blues in
their iconic Canadian winter paintings.  Blue became the trademark for Lawren Harris.
Many artists and photographers have successfully captured the “spirit of the blue shadows”
that I believe make a magical combination with the tiny sparkles of light upon a snowy path.

Arthur Lismer

Lawren Harris

L.Harris

Tom Thomson

Print, Fred Hummel

Photograph, Linda Wilson


Painting, Wendy Storey

There is nothing quite like the unique sound of thin ice shattering across the surface of a
frozen puddle.  Ditches and puddles freeze in the patterns of oil on water but rather than
rainbows of colour, they show the hues and textures of what lies beneath and often are
decorated with iced bubbles or lacy white.  Since a fairly young age, I have not been able
to pass one of these winter delights without first observing and then destroying them.
I must step onto the crystals with my full weight, not to purposely harm nature’s art but
to hear that sound!  For me, that crunching is a pure and amusing voice of winter.
How many of you can pass a frozen pool of water and leave it be?