We celebrated the winter solstice last week:
The longest night and shortest day.
Because from here on in
The light, no matter how muted, is returning.
As I walked in the lovely light of sunrise (8.30 am or so!),
I heard a loud screeching: it was the heron
Flapping its huge wings
As it flew off into the rainbow clouds,
Reminding me that now is the time to dream and hope.
For more dreamy skies, please visit: Skywatch.
Lady Fi 
Love that monster!
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Delicious flight that beautiful sky, I love the silhouettes of bare trees, beautiful photos.
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Oh… How gorgeous! I would love to fly high too into a beautiful world …full of dreams, hopes and aspirations…
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Beautiful,
The Winter Solstice is something special. I love winter but I like the light coming back also.
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superb takes!
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Halleluja the light is returning! It´s the worst part of living in Scandinavia- the darkness of the winters. I understand fully the celebration when the light returns….your photos are stunning as always Fi :-)))
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your photos are wonderful but the first one gets my vote. 🙂
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It is always time to dream!
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Aww… You and your paradise, eh? 😉
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oo nice capture of his flight…and what a beautiful backdrop…come on light….
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Une belle serie, avec une preference pour la derniere
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Great shots. It’s so late that sunrise is 8.30. I can see sunrise at lease 6:30. 🙂
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Such a lovely capture of the beauty!Just amazing!
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Your first shot is amazing ! So romantic and so calm.
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Truly beautiful the Heron in the skyline.
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Beautiful pictures.. you are an amazing photographer.. 🙂
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Ahhhh…… these take my breath away! Outstanding!
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J’adore le premier image Lady Fi, the blues and lilacs and the branches in silhouette, superb!
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Herons…so fortunate you are to have them around…such grace….ours have flown south to Florida or South America!
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These photographs are simply gorgeous!!
Beautifully captured.
I wish you a very Happy New Year.
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Such a beautiful set of photographs. I love the variety of colors and scenes you shot.
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—I wish I were that Heron Flying…
Peace & Love to you, Lady Fil Xx
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gorgeous shots! the purple and pink hues are my favorite!
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That tree in the water is fantastic! Gorgeous shots.
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Beautiful pictures and light. It is a great time when the sun turns:-)
Hope you have nice days these Christmas.
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lovely shot of the tree branch in the first shot.
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thank you for sharing these delightful images. i always look forward to coming here and seeing what you have in store for us.
have a fantastic new year.
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Love the first one!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
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You are indeed surrounded with breathtaking beauty and more important, you have the eye to see and the ability to capture it! And the best for us is that you share it! Wishing you and your family a wonderful and very Happy New Year, Fiona!
Sylvia
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Love the sight of the heron flapping off into the sunrise!
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That sky is beautiful with its different colors and your photo’s are the best,
Happy NewYear
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how wonderful!!! ♥ it
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Ohhh great captures & the colors are sooo beautiful! Love the tree trunk partially submerged, awesome silhouette! =)))
Happy Happy New Year to you & your family!
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I love the thought of the light returning! Seems to me like you’ve been having a somewhat mild winter so far.
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Very very mild with plus temperatures!
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These are beautiful photos as always. I have the exact same thought around the winter solstice, that from here on out the days start getting longer. Although I must admit that I enjoy the beauty of winter, especially a fresh snow covered in the Colorado sunshine and blue skies.
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Have a great New Year Ladyfi!
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Beautiful images, Fi. Their simplicity stirs the imagination. Happy that you have longer days to look forward to, but also delighted that you find beauty in your surroundings regardless of the season or conditions and are willing to share your captures with us. Do hope you have a wonderful 2012 and continue snapping and sharing.
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Terrific captures.
Wish you Happy and Prosperous New Year.
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Your last photo is almost like a watercolor painting. Happy New Year, LadyFi.
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These are gorgeous shots!
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Beautiful captures, so serene and calm…
May you have a wonderful New Year!
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Stunning shots!
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Loving that the light is returning too …..
Makes a big difference!
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Love your dreamy skies! I’m a light person, too. Happy New Year!
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It won’t feel like the days are getting longer for some time but it’s a good reminder that indeed we head toward longer days again instead of ever shortening ones. The first picture is lovely!
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And on the other side of the world, I am so grateful that our Summer Solstice is gone, and we are slowly and steadily approaching the cooler months.
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really really stunning! I love everything!
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Beautiful skies and such a treat to see that beauty!
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Truly beautiful images!
Loved this post!
Thank you for sharing! 🙂
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What great colours – love the heron as well.
Don’t wish the winter away too quickly – it will mean our summer will be over!
Cheers
SM
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Oh, I’m not wishing the winter away… I am wishing it would come with snow and frost!
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I’m with you! Winter, bring it on!
Lovely shots. We are quite frozen here, with -20C. temperatures.
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Your photos are just breathtaking as always. Have a Happy New Year filled with many blessings. Mickie 😉
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Love being able to walk along with you! Beautiful!
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Happy New Year! I enjoyed looking at the beauty you see. Keep on shooting in 2012. I’ll keep watching.
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Beautiful capture of the tree branch submerged in water.
Happy New Year to you and yours!
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These are superb captures. You always capture the right moments.
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What a nice series of shots. I especially like the first one. Hope you have a wonderful New Year and I wish you all the best for 2012
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I am going to thank Sean again, what fantastic photographs .
Have a Happy New year.
Cathy
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Vakkert med silhuetter av trær og fugl mot en drømmeaktig himmel…
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Don’t believe I’ve ever heard an egret’s call. Beautiful, poetic photos.
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Magnificent !
Wish you a happy New Year!
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I absolutely love the first shot – the silhouette of the bare tress.
Also, wishing you a very happy new year…
Cheers,
My Third Eye
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Lovely shots of the sky and heron, Lady Fi! I am glad to see the light returning. I wish you all the best in 2012, Happy New Year.
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Fabulolus photos celebrating the light, thanks for your kind comments on my blog
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Sniff. One person’s returning light is another person’s light departing.
But yours in prettier.
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Ha…But I kinda prefer your paradise. 😉
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I love the tree resting in the water
herons are majestic
as are your photos
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That last shot says it all — the sky’s the limit! 🙂
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Happy New Year!
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Just gorgeous, don’t need to say anything else,
Gill in Canada
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Wonderful shots again with breathtaking colours.
The first one with the impressive silhouette is my favourite.
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Nydelig
Godt nytt år
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Magical photos!
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Gorgeous photo you’ve taken. Beautiful :0) I wish you a Happy New Year ! :0)
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Wonderfully beautiful photos ~ Happy New Year to you ~ ^_^
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the colors you saw and captured are mystical to me, so lovely and inviting. what a gorgeous world we live with.
lovely New Year and beyond to you~
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Lovely hues and captures. May we share many more skywatches in 2012.
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We want to wish you and yours
A HAPPY & HEALTHY New YEAR
enjoy New Years Eve with your family
Hugs from your Dutch friends 🙂
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Staggeringly beautiful images of sky and light! I love the Emerson quote too. Coming your way from Tammie. Happiest of New Years! Carol
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Happy New Year to you and all the family! I hope all your days are filled with light and joy!
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nice shots. 🙂
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Hi Fiona, 8:30 for a sunrise is not bad at all:):) My favorite is the 3rd pic -stunning!!! Have a very happy New Year! Jesh from FB
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What a peaceful looking sky. Winter is nice because the sun rises so late! Happy new year to you and yours!
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Dream and hope, what a way to do in such picturesque atmosphere! Lovely shots. Happy New Year and may your hopes and dreams come true:)
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Aaaaaaaaaah! The beauty that surrounds you!! How can you not dream and hope… LOVELY post and that first shot Is AMAZING!! How wonderful to live there- you are so blessed!
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So beautiful Lady Fy!
I really love it.
I wish you and your beloved ones a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Greetings from Holland,
Anna 🙂
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Three cheers for the RETURN OF THE LIGHT!!!!
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aw, wonderful captures of his fly!
here’s wishing you and yours the best for 2012!
happy new year!!
big hugs!
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So beautiful. I wish I could step right into that first shot. 🙂
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The skies make a beautiful back drop for the magnificent heron. Welcoming the return of the longer days here as well. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
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Wonderful photos..8:30 AM..it gets light about 8AM here..I looks forward to one more minute of light every day!! 🙂
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These are lovely..yes now the days can start to get longer…Happy New Year..!!!
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Now is the time to dream and hope. Amen. Wishing you another year of beautiful captures… thank you for sharing your lovely gems, Fiona.
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Just beautiful.
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I just adore that first pic of the limb restin’ in the water. Your photography is simply the best girl. Thanks for lettin’ me tag along on your quite mornin’ walk. I just love early mornins.
God bless and have yourself an awesome week sweetie!!! :o)
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Those are so gorgeous, you’re making me feel guilty for not getting out in the dawn more often!
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