It’s a sleepy sort of day at my house after a rather hectic week. I am so excited that the weekend is nearly here.
I have chicken divan bubbling in the crockpot and am reminiscing about a freezing but gorgeous walk I took in Amsterdam one stormy December.
The ice storm was fierce and left glorious ice sculptures in its wake. Strolling through the ice-coated neighborhoods made me feel like I had been dropped into a Dutch Fairyland.
Snow was piled everywhere, big puffy chunks falling off wrought iron gates, over-loaded tree branches and telephone poles.
Vondel Park was exquisitely beautiful. Normally filled with the sounds of bicycle bells, running feet, and the shrieks of playing children, it was almost silent under the heavy weight of snow. I absolutely loved the colored lights dangling between the snow-covered trees.
I was delighted by the Dutch kids making sliding runs out of the steepest hills they could find: the numerous little bridges crossing frozen streams and lakes. It reminded me of my childhood on the prairies of Alberta, Canada. We too could make a sliding run out of anything in that flat country.
Stopping for rum-spiked hot chocolate was the best on that frosty day. I clambered up slippery steps to a tower overlooking the park and sighed happily as I sipped my boozy drink and looked out over the wintry wonderland.
Heading back to town I passed one of my favorite cafes and smiled to see that in spite of the snow, ice and biting winds, someone had thought it a good idea to sip their coffee at one of the sidewalk tables.
Back in civilization the signs of Christmas popped up outside front doors and on the stoops of brightly lit shops.
I liked this fat little Christmas tree standing so cheerily by the bright orange door, and the sprouting pussy willows made me smile. It didn’t feel like Spring, but it was lovely to think about it.
I returned home with red cheeks, snow-covered boots and a very happy heart.
Where is your favorite snowy place?
My favourite snowy places would have to be from my childhood since we know I have no use for the “stuff” as an adult perhaps… although I do remember many weekends taking my daughter and her friends snowboarding, walking with difficulty and almost peeing our pants as we were bogged down in snow up to our hips, making snow angels and tobogganing. Having a hot chocolate at the end of a snowy day is just the icing on the cake.
Oh Val, you made me laugh with your memories. 🙂 I LOVED snow when I was little, but now that I’m older, I only like it for short amounts of time. 🙂 I DO love tobogganing though. Always scary and exhilarating. 🙂
Certainly makes a marked contrast to outback Qld at this time of year 🙂
It sure does, @google-01bbdd9fc7f53cd54265810538a0c5c5:disqus 🙂 A gorgeous contrast to my way of thinking. 🙂
Gorgeous Krista. I don’t have a favourite snowy place, I’m happy to live vicariously through you 😉
Perhaps one day we can go adventuring together in a snowy spot, @wanderingsheila:disqus 🙂 Wouldn’t Sweden or Norway be fun?! 🙂
Either of those places sound great Krista – what a good suggestion 🙂
Hopefully soon! 🙂
Without a doubt Wengen in the Swiss Alps. 🙂
I’ve never been to Wengen, @google-9c2cabc6737d76d3ba841e28d670a9c0:disqus 🙂 Now you’ve got me curious. Hopefully one day I will make it back to Switzerland and get to see it. 🙂
Love those icicles in the first photo – magic!
Aren’t they brilliant, Andrea? They were like something out of a fairytale. 🙂
OMG icicles and hot chocolate…perfection!
Thank you, @facebook-500212569:disqus 🙂
I’ve been transported this morning with your beautiful photos Krista…. what a gorgeous time of year, plus, I could use one of those rum hot chocolates today, delicious! I hope we will have some snow when we travel to the north of France in a week… that’s my favorite place to find it, along with family and the spirit of the holidays!
Your impending trip sounds so beautiful and familial and cozy and wonderful, Tuula. 🙂 Wishing you an absolutely wonderful time! XO