Spring's Slow Arrival

In some places of the world, spring's arrival is sudden. Not so where I live. However, we are finally beginning to see some definite signs of winter's thaw here in the High Arctic, and is it ever exciting!

Our days are growing longer. The sun is up hours before we are and sets at around 11 PM. It's incredible how quickly we gain it back. I love this time of year!

Mounds of snow steadily shrinking (these things take time =)

Snow-water dripping from roofs, creating hundreds of spectacular icicles

Aren't they monstrous!? A poor little boy in the village had some icicles land on his face and had to be flown out to get stitches!

The temperatures fluctuate. Some days it's warm enough (20 degrees) to go outside with a light jacket. Some children feel that's warm enough to play in shirt sleeves!

These girls were playing with a long icicle after our Sunday Bible Time. Isn't it amazing what great toys nature provides? =)

Oh, no! As they girls were running closer for a picture the icicle snapped in two! (Aren't they sweeties? =)

Today I plan to walk down to the beach to getting some better shots of the ocean. Break-up should take place in about a month. Looking forward to that!

It's so nice to have natural lighting back into our house. The only time during the whole day that we need a light on is just before we go to sleep. It also provides for beautiful photos of my precious kitty. What a sweet  face! =)

As the snow has been melting, we've also been receiving a good amount of "whale" snow which is common around this time of year (whaling season). Isn't this photo just breathtaking?

The other day we had some huge snowflakes falling from the sky. These beauties landed on my coat sleeve.

"Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow?" (Job 38:22)

"O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches." (Ps. 104:24)

"The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein." (Ps. 111:2)

My favorite time to take photos lately has been just before bed, when I take our dog out for the last time. The shadows are perfect.

I find it SO hard to believe we were plunged in darkness just three months ago! Now all we see is beautiful, beautiful LIGHT. (sigh) We've had such beautiful weather all month long with very few cloudy days. The sky is normally just like this (below), without even one cloud in sight. Amazing! What a blessing!!!

Most of our roads are pure dirt now! It feels strange after walking on snow for so many months.

The sky at 10 PM

Taken a few weeks ago, the last sunset we'll see until August. It was grand.

It will be some weeks yet before spring as we know it has truly arrived. Grass. Flowers. Mosquitoes. (chuckle) Living, moving, music-filled beauty. I long for it, but just now I'm content with the glory-filled days of a long winter's end.

P.S. I heard thrilling song of snowbirds for the first time this week!!! That means spring is really and truly coming. Hopefully next week I'll have some pictures of the cheerful little souls to share with you. =)