Dwindling Daylight

There’s truth in the old Joni Mitchell song that says: “Don’t it always seem to go/that you don’t know what you got till it’s gone?” Perhaps that’s one reason why we seem to pay so much more attention to sunlight in these days approaching the Winter Solstice, when daylight dwindles.

December sunrise over Coast Range, Alaska

Sunrise over the Coast Range across from the Zeiger Family Homestead (Photo: Mark A. Zeiger).

We’re in an extra warm period right now. November ended rather cold, but now, in the first week of December, we’re seeing temperatures that rivaled the coldest August days this year!

We almost always see a warming trend right about now, which plays havoc with our romantic notions of a white Christmas, but this year we’re apparently experiencing more warmth—and with it, more rain—than usual for this time of year.

December sunrise over Coast Range, Alaska

I love how the low light makes the mountains cast shadows. These are called “The Pickets” (Photo: Mark A. Zeiger).

Still, there’s beauty to be found wherever one looks. More so toward the end of last week, when we had a couple mornings of stunning (if sailor-warning) red sunrises.

December sunrise over Coast Range, Alaska

A few moments later. Thankfully, it was warm enough to stand around watching it change! (Photo: Mark A. Zeiger.)

Plenty of beauty, whether it be rare, or dwindling daylight, or not.

December sunrise over Coast Range, Alaska

(Photo: Mark A. Zeiger.)

December sunrise over Coast Range, Alaska

(Photo: Mark A. Zeiger.)

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2 Responses to Dwindling Daylight

  1. Angie says:

    Mark, I’ve always loved the quality of light this time of year (what there is of it, when it isn’t so overcast that there isn’t any). It never really becomes a full white daylight; more of a warm golden twilight that doesn’t quite reach the ground. Yes, there is beauty to be found everywhere.

  2. Mark Zeiger says:

    I absolutely agree with you, Angie! (Headed Straight into Darkness) (Season of Darkness, Season of Light).

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