Ode to Winter’s Blue Sky

The frozen Hudson River this afternoon.

Today, the blue sky, sunshine, and a walk to Saugerties Lighthouse gave me the boost I needed. I’ve been in a funk this week. I want to hibernate has been my refrain to Andy.

When your job is taking care of a four-year-old, however, hibernation isn’t exactly an option. So I decided to do the opposite this afternoon and take advantage of the bright, blue day. I announced We’re going on an adventure!, made sure coats were zipped and mittens were secured, and we had ourselves a mood-lifting walk along the Lighthouse Trail.

Our adventure awaits!

The cold and lack of color is precisely what keeps us snuggled up indoors in the wintertime. In the spring, nature’s greenery arrives and we rejoice. In the summer, we take sunshine and blue sky for granted because we are blessed with them most of the time. And in the fall, everyone wants to get outside and appreciate the colorful foliage and outdoors before winter comes.

As soon as I stepped outside today, I felt myself becomes brighter, more alert and purposeful. Blue sky! Not gray, not overcast, no low clouds in sight. I felt brand new! Yesterday I said to myself Everyday is a new beginning, and today it actually felt that way.

Boardwalk + snowy woods: not an everyday sight.

The starkness of winter only helps to accentuate the rare blue sky even more:  bare trees, clean snow, and icy river are all perfect contrasts.

I loved those tree shadows.

Even though it was quite cold today, I loved our walk next to the Hudson. The sunshine probably played as much into my lifted mood as the blue sky did. When it’s sunny, it’s fun to explore the sheets and chunks of ice, marveling at the layers and myriad shapes. On our usual overcast days, the nuance of nature’s details are typically lost.

We loved watching the sheets of ice spontaneously crack and shatter.

Those huge ice chunks broke up nicely into small, throw-able chunks

And who needs toys when nature provides plenty of ice chunks to throw out into the frozen river? We broke up the larger pieces and took turns, cheering when we made a hole or sent countless tiny ice particles skating across the surface.

Upside to nature walking on a cold day: you’re the only ones there!

Sometimes we raced each other, and sometimes we walked side-by-side, content to sing “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” with the creaking ice as our accompaniment.

These acted as our “sweepers” along the trail 🙂

The old hold-something-up-to-the-sky trick.

At last, after a 1/2 mile walk, our treasure!

A great excerpt from this New York Times article about the color blue:

According to psychologists who explore the complex interplay of color, mood and behavior, blue’s basic emotional valence is calmness and open-endedness, in contrast to the aggressive specificity associated with red. Blue is sea and sky, a pocket-size vacation.

I couldn’t agree more.

The lighthouse tower was built in 1869 and is 42 feet tall. I love the Italianate architectural style!

Life is best when you’re giving yourself opportunities to shift: to move, to see things differently, to step away from stagnancy. I am constantly re-learning that if I want to feel better, or change my perspective, I need to do something about it. Make something happen!

Step outside and create adventures: sort of my unofficial goal for the next month. Care to join me?

These spiky seed pods are scattered by the dozens along the Hudson River.

It was strange walking along the boardwalk when there’s usually water gently lapping underneath.

The scenic picnic area on the other side of the lighthouse. A thermos of hot chocolate would have been nice…

I actually got this kid to stand still long enough to take a picture! Incredible!

Sunlit ice bubbles.

Are you noticing any of winter’s beauty lately?

Clean snow makes for such a nice backdrop.

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I thank you…for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes.    –e.e. cummings