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A Winter's Tale

December 06, 2005

ph_dec_bishopstree.jpg
In the depths of winter I finally learned there was in me an invincible summer.
~ Albert Camus

I rose early to shoot the sun rise over a very snowy Bishop's Garden this morning. As the first rays of light seeped in through the window shades, I rolled over in bed and thought for a just a moment the morning could be better spent sleeping in perhaps, and drinking a home-made gingerbread latte. And then I remembered ~ SNOW. It snowed last night, and the sun's rays were most likely quickly making their way across the east side of the Bishop's Garden at the national cathedral. A good snow shot of the cathedral and it's close would certainly round out my portfolio... sleeping in wasn't an option.

So I slid out of bed and padded over to the window, peeking through the crack to assess any wintry damage the storm may have done to Foxhall Road.

"Not bad," I thought. "No shoveling required. I can make it out there in about 15 minutes."

I pulled the jeans from yesterday off the top of the antique hamper next to the bedroom door, slid into my worn out Merryls, tied the fuzzy purple scarf mom made me last Christmas around my neck, and was spiraling down two flights of stairs within only 10.

I do this sometimes, I don't even bother to put on makeup, throw a hat on my head, grab the camera and just GO. Mother nature doesn't reward sloth photographers, especially not in the morning.

I immediately remembered all the reasons why I work from home. Traffic ~ although by DC standards, it was remarkably light. I kept my eyes peeled for out of control SUV drivers with cell phones nailed to their heads, and was pleasantly surprised not to find a single one.

When I pulled into the Cathedral drive, I was delighted to find it sprinkled, as if with powdered sugar, with a wet layer of delicious December snow. In all my years of coming to "my" cathedral, I had never seen it like this. Cold and wintry, yet bathed in an incredible golden sunrise. It rarely gets better than this... and aside from a quiet, methodical group of sidewalk salt-throwing Latino workers, I had the entire grounds to my little self.

Bliss.

I shot off a couple of exterior shots and then made my way through the quaint arched doorway. How many times have I passed under the keystone since I moved back to DC? 60 times? At least. I love the place. I love it in every season. The master gardener lovingly conducts a sort of floral symphony here as the months go by. It's never the same, and it always transports me to a place of enchantment, no matter what mood I've chosen to greet it with.

This is the shot I took as I walked down the upper pathway before passing the thistle spout. This is a garden who has witnessed a pilgrim's walk toward healing. And now I see, sparkling with light ~ piercing the darkness of winter ~ this is my secret garden of the Advent season.

More images to come ~

Posted by vincent at December 6, 2005 09:21 PM

Comments

It's beautiful, Susan...

Posted by: dan at December 6, 2005 11:38 PM

Lovely Susan... your description made me feel like I was experiencing it with you. I've never been to the National Cathedral, but would love to go some day. Thanks for letting me visit vicariously through you.

Blessings,

Jayne

Posted by: samtzmom at December 7, 2005 06:24 AM

"this is my secret garden of the Advent Season". Oh how I wish I had one of those!! Good for you getting up and out there. What a reward!!

Posted by: candy at December 8, 2005 08:13 AM

Truly a holy path and beautiful in every respect.

Posted by: janet at December 8, 2005 12:58 PM