01/26/2026
{ W I N T E R L U S T }
Slow January. And in someways it seems like itās been passing by just as it should. I have been nerding out in the best way over all the beauty that this cold dark month has brought. If you live in the North, youāve likely been seeing the incredible ice crystal formationsā¦. A result of some mid month rain paired with some plummeting temperatures & some divine nature magic.
In December I was gifted a beautiful book - Winterlust by Bernd Bruner. A whimsical mix of historical lore, admiration, poetry, science and ultimately fascination with the longest, darkest & coldest months.
To be clear, this is not a page turnerā¦ it is a slow and intentional read. Iāve been reaching for it in the early hours of morning, candles lit & paired with my first cozy beverage of the day. With each chapter I learn something new and as such see each day with new eyes as I walk Orville through the Winter landscapes of our neighbourhood. Admiring the birds that only visit us in Winter and all the little tracks across the snow, the ice crystals glittering in the sunshine like a starry sky of shimmering jewels, the stillness of the coldest nights occasionally punctuated by the incredible hues of Aurora. And of course, the beautiful textures and silhouettes which find their way into my little creative wanderings with watercolours.
The knowledge throughout this beautiful book has inspired many conversations under our roof; sharing tid bits of information that were otherwise unknown. (Snowflakes for instance form around 10,000 feet and can take 3 whole days to reach us here on the ground!) š¤
As I near the last few chapters, I think I can summarize this book as a love letter to Winter. A devotion to both understanding and appreciating what can be an unrelentingly brutal and incomparably beautiful season.
If you live in the Bulkley Valley area and are interested in this beautiful book, my copy came from the Hazelton Visitors Centre which reopens in February.
I hope this little note finds you all cozy, coping, and cups full of tea š¤
