51/365: Snowy Germany

51/365: Snowy Germany, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

February 20th

A photo from the train ride home. It was very crowded, but we had seats because we got on at the first stop, in Dresden. After the border, people were packed like sardines.

20/365: Snowy trees

20/365: Snowy trees, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

January 20th

So, even though I am trying to win a trip to the North Pole (your votes are welcome, by the way) it's not because I don't get to see any snow at home. Mid-deluge, winter decided to make a comeback.

I just happened to have a riding class today, and it's way out on the edge of town, right by the airport, where there's lots of wilderness. I'm happy I was up before the snow melted off the branches.

Some more photos from that day:

This is where I was glad to have my big tall wellies:



The quickest way for me to get to the stables is to take the bus to the airport and then follow a shortcut around the fence.



The Lodz airport is very small for a city this size, with only one runway and a handful of planes a day, so it's nice to catch one without planning for it.



Like I said...very glad I had my wellies.

7/365: White

7/365: White, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

January 7th

Someone covered up football club graffiti with white paint.

340/365: Under the willow tree.

340/365: Under the willow tree., originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

December 6th

When I was still a teenager, someone, I don't much recall who, planted a willow twig in my parents' back yard. Everyone said it would never take.

195/365: Olga's weird little creature

195/365: Olga's weird little creature, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

July 14th

"Quick, quick! Does anyone have a camera? There's a really strange and cute bug in the bathroom!"

Said Olga from work.

130/365: On the way home

130/365: On the way home, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

May 10th

One of the best things about my new job is that the easiest way to get there and back is to ride through the biggest park in Lodz, formerly a forest- and in most places, still as wild and natural as it once was. I see such pretty things on my way to work.

73/365: Oh, March.

73/365: Oh, March., originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

March 14th

Didn't I say the snow would be back despite the lovely sunshine and spring weather? Didn't I?

It pulled this same trick on us last year:

and the year before:

so why wouldn't it do it again?

Ho hum is all I can say. Snow is nice but it is time for some green.

63/365: Birches in Arkadia

63/365: Birches in Arkadia, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

March 4th

I've already put a picture of birchwood in my 365 this year, but the sun was so fantastic today I just had to do it again. Spring is coming. Despite this sunny proof there is no doubt we will have snow again this March, as previous years have proven, somewhere towards the end of the month. My mother tells me it was snowing on my birthday, 27 years ago, and my birthday is in March.

There is a saying that goes "W marcu jak w garncu", and I call upon it every year: it means "March is like a pot of broth", ergo there will be sunshine in March, and snow, and rains, and whatever you please save any semblance of meteorological sanity. Furthermore there will be no respite come April, as folk wisdom gives that month just as bad a reputation: "Kwiecień, plecień, bo przeplata, trochę zimy, trochę lata", which in English renders: "April weaves summer and winter together."

In any case, it is nice to see some sunshine, and the birches look their best when bathed in it. The Silver Birch (Betula Pendula) is the most popular birch in Poland, and something of a symbol for that; whenever I see white bark I know I am home.

Here are some more. From January this year, birches in winter:

A birch in autumn:

Birches in spring:

And birches in summer:

51/365: A feather

51/365: A feather, originally uploaded by Magic Madzik.

February 20th

A tiny feather in the snow. I wonder whether it was lost, or stolen.

Here are some more feathers; one in the grass...

...and one in the sand.