Sunday Stills: December #Chill is in the Air

,

Today we welcome the first day of the last month of this decade! Traveling back from our Thanksgiving holiday road trip to Spokane Washington, we certainly got our fill of chilly weather!

road to Spokane
Wintery frost along Hwy 84 in Northern Oregon

Chill December brings the sleet, blazing fire and Christmas treat.

Sara Coleridge
icy twigs

The icy twigs you see in the above image demonstrates the chill of a foggy, icy morning. Frozen fog…”frog”?

I am used to “cold” Northern California weather this time of year with average daytime temperatures holding at 50 degrees. Although it does not snow in Sacramento, the night-time temps easily drop to freezing for most of the month. I know many of you scoff at such warm winter temps, and you should!

Fewer than 90 miles away in the Sierra Nevada mountains, the ski season got off to a slow start. With an unusually warm fall and little rain, the slopes are just now singing their siren song after a winter storm hit the west.

snowy bough
Fresh snow graces this lovely bough

Technically, it is still Autumn until the Winter Solstice on December 21, but this poor leaf experienced the December chill a little early.

Frozen Autumn Leaf

Welcome and please visit five bloggers who were new to Sunday Stills in November. Travel with Tech Blog; The Platinum Line, Sharing Thoughts, The Photography of David and Victoria Slotto, and Sharon McConnel Redux.

Please visit the Sunday Stills page for December’s themes. There will be no challenge on Sunday, December 29.

I am looking forward to your chilly images. If you reside in the warm southern hemisphere, please share one from your archives.

Until next week,

© 2019 Copyright-All rights reserved-secondwindleisure.com


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88 responses to “Sunday Stills: December #Chill is in the Air”

  1. It’s been chilly here in Southern California as well, but we rarely get frost. So I’m really enjoying your gorgeous photos as I sit here in my house getting warmed by our furnace. How lucky we are to live in such times that we can enjoy the beauty of icy weather from the warmth of cozy homes.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I’ve heard it has been cold there. We got lots of snow in the Sierras so we are off to a good start for our water levels for the year!

      Liked by 2 people

  2. […] up with Terri at Second Wind Leisure for #SundayStills – pop over and see Terri’s chill shots […]

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  3. Every one of your macros is perfection Terri. Totally worth a Pin!

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Aww, thanks, Lisa! I love capturing those close-ups!

      Liked by 1 person

  4. […] Terri’s Sunday Stills Challenge: https://secondwindleisure.com/2019/12/01/sunday-stills-december-chill-is-in-the-air/ […]

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  5. […] theme for her Sunday Stills Challenge this week is Chill is in the Air.  Each year, for the past few years, we have traveled to Palm Desert for Thanksgiving. Often it is […]

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  6. […] Sunday Stills: Chill […]

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  7. The ice crystals are very beautiful! Happy Happy Birthday my friend ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Maria! I’ll bet you have more ice crystals than you can count there 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Hi Terri – the leaf photo at the end is abstract and clear and has so much to explore. feels a bit creamsicle like – but also has the Sunday chill for sure –
    and the snow on the bough is perfect for a greeting card –
    but I also love the opening shots – highways int he US have a special mood and you captured a chilly time – and it was fun to sorta be with you on this trip (like when you prepping to go – not we get the retiring …))

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much, Yvette! We had a very chilly drive home, ice on the Oregon Hwy 97 roads, but toasty warm in hubby’s truck!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Ice in roads is not cool. We have black ice in Virginia and last year I minimized it – thinking I was from buffalo I could endure – but it is unique and not like a blizzard – and now I respect and properly fear ice –

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Those ice crystals are so beautiful! Having spent so many freezing winters in NYC, I don’t scoff at your “cold”! I think it’s similar to a Buenos Aires winter! Just what I’m looking for!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Aixa! I’m sure you are ready for a mild winter! Enjoy!

      Like

    1. I know! Thanks for linking!

      Liked by 1 person

  10. […] Join Terri’s Sunday Stills: A December Chill is in the Air […]

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  11. Lovely pics as always, Terri. I particularly like your icy twig photo. It’s like winter just hit the Sacramento area last week (finally!) with the long-awaited rains. It can’t possibly be winter until we light off the first burn pile. : )

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Cathleen! Seems like fall never happened then winter hit! Glad the threat of fires is over for this year.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. […] SUNDAY STILLS PHOTO:  December-Chill […]

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  13. Gorgeous images that really put the cold into Christmas for this California girl!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Jacqui! Living so close to the Sierras, we get much colder here!

      Like

  14. Nothing like taking in a deep breath of chilly air on a cold day, Terri. These frosty, foggy, chilly days certainly make it feel festive, especially when you see people dressed up in hats, gloves, scarfs and a big, warm coat. Far better than the mild, rainy days, we often get at this time of the year.
    Here’s my take of Chill

    This was Austin taking a dip in the sea ice when the ‘Beast from the East’ hit the UK for two weeks in March 2018.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Great shot of the icy sea, Hugh! I handled the cold Spokane weather fine. It was definitely COLD!!

      Liked by 1 person

  15. Hi Terri, I’m not sure where my comment has gone but I know I wrote one! I love your icy shots and can’t believe there’s been snow already! I have linked to your post with mine https://debs-world.com/2019/12/01/feeling-chill-for-sundaystills/

    Liked by 1 person

    1. How strange! thanks, Debbie, snow was right on track for this time of year in Northern California. We are too low in elevation for snow, but it gets to freezing.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I’m just glad this comment worked Terri!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. I found it in my spam folder :/

        Liked by 1 person

      3. OK that explains where it went to then!! Thanks for letting me knowTerri.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. I had to get on my laptop to even see it, it doesn’t show on my tablet.

        Liked by 1 person

  16. Amazing photos, Terri – and thanks for reminding me that this is the last month of the decade. No chill where I am, though. Toni x

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Toni! I’m sure you are enjoying your summer!

      Like

  17. Lovely photos, Terri, especially the one with the snow on the bough. We haven’t got it too cold yet here in the South of England, but there’s definitely a nip in the air.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. It’s actually been chilly here in AZ. Nothing like what we are used to, but it makes me glad I didn’t give away all my sweaters!!!
    XOXO
    Jodie

    Liked by 1 person

    1. When we come out there, I will bring my warm clothes!!

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  19. Loved your pre-winter photos! I lived in northern california for over five decades and know so well that 50 degree temps in San Francisco are bone chilling cold. The winter has hit the Coachella Valley and all of a sudden we’ve gone from 80s to the 40s. You know the desert…cold in the morning, cold at night! I do love the change of seasons and never got much of it growing up in San Francisco.

    Thanks again for the wonderful photos!

    Susan Grace

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Susan! We do get 3.5 seasons in Sacramento, which was nice after I grew up in San Diego. Our winters are cold, cloudy or foggy, but no snow unless you want to drive to the nearby Sierras.

      Liked by 1 person

  20. Hi, Terri – Your photos were so effective, I had to go grab a sweater!!
    We have had an extra mild autumn so far with no snow yet. Fingers crossed for a nice December as well! Wishing you a great holiday season!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Donna….I think! Beware of the mild Autumn, winter may exact its yearly fee soon. We’re quite grateful for the winter storms which means fire season is in the rear view mirror!

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  21. Thank you, Terri for December Chills. I was about to post my sad story and felt the chills. Hope you allow me to share that as part of yr December Chills. Your photographs are lovely. They are a comfort to my chilly and broken heart. Here’s my story.

    A life so beautiful but far too short

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m glad you shared, and I am so very sorry to read of your losses. 😥

      Liked by 1 person

  22. […] Sunday Stills – December Chill […]

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  23. […] heart chills as December Chills on the other side of the world, thank you, Terri, for allowing my sad story to be honored and flow amongst your beautiful photographs on Sunday […]

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  24. Gorgeous! Four feet of snow in our local mountains. Unheard of!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Wow, Cindy, and a major dumping in our Sierras!

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  25. I love the ice on the leaf photo! Very cool! (Pun unintended…but I like it, LOL!)

    We’re back to being cool and snowy! Yay! http://frostonthemoosedung.com/2019/12/01/sunday-stills-chill

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Poor leaf, almost flash frozen, it happened so quickly! Thank you!

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  26. Love all the photos and especially the one with the sparkle of the frost/snow/ice bits on the pine needles. So lovely!
    It is raining ice outside right now, but the heat is back on after going out of commission all day yesterday, and it is nice and cozy indoors.
    Here’s mine, with a photo both timeless and a few years old.

    Chill’s Reveal


    Na’ama

    Liked by 1 person

  27. […] For the Sunday Stills photo challenge: Chill […]

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  28. Here, on the other side of “our” mountain, we’ve been having a steady onslaught of snow that, this morning, is mixed with rain.

    Here, on the other side of “our” mountain, we have been getting a stead onslaught of rain which is now turning to snow. I will try to jump in this week. Been too busy.

    Liked by 1 person

  29. […] Entry for Terri´s Sunday Still Challenge. […]

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  30. Wow Terri, that looks really cold! I love your ‘frog’ – frozen fog combination, it makes complete sense to me! And those icy shots do look like lace to me – just beautiful. I’m enjoying being cold at this time of year as I’ve mentioned in my post for Sunday Stills this week, as normally I’m feeling a bit warm!!! Here’s my post https://debs-world.com/2019/12/01/feeling-chill-for-sundaystills/

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  31. We got the first layer of snow on Friday. And with the snow came clear sky and sun! Lovely after a long and grey November. Great shots of frost and snow for this week!

    Liked by 1 person

  32. Lovley pictures and can you believe it hadn’t occured to me it’s nearly the end of a decade!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, and yes I can believe it!

      Liked by 1 person

  33. Your pictures are fabulous. My picture feels nowhere near as cold as yours.

    I can not believe it is December already…

    Liked by 1 person

  34. […] frosty white scene (Picture below for Cee’s fun photo challenge which this week is white and Sunday stills which this week is December […]

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  35. I think I could stand to live there in the winter.
    Love that top pic the best. It’s my top pick..haha 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Dawn, it was very cold, 16-20 degrees, but sunny. When it got a little windy, I bundled up and walked the dogs.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. 16-20 is pretty cold! Yikes!

        Liked by 1 person

  36. Nice pics, Terri! No sign of snow here 😎 but it is getting chilly. My husband had to turn on the heat this morning so I’d get out of bed. Did you do any preliminary house hunting while in Spokane?

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Janis. We did look at some houses and almost made an offer. It was fun to learn more about the various neighborhoods. Plus we worked with a real estate agent and got pre-approved fine do find something…looking at some land on which to build. Glad you are staying warm in SD. It does get chilly and with this winter storm passing through, I imagine the Cuyamacas will get a bit of snow. We’ll have to try to meet for coffee while we’re there!

      Liked by 1 person

  37. Looks like we’re of the same mind with the chill in the air Terri. Loved those red berries in the snow

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Tina! Ice and snow make for some spectacular images!

      Liked by 1 person

  38. […] sunday-stills-december-chill-is-in-the-air/ […]

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  39. Looking at your photos, I’m getting chilly. We’d be lost without our electric heater in the camper this time of the year in Kentucky! We’ve had snow once and lots of rain, but in general, it’s hasn’t been too incredibly cold the last week. Although Maya’s outside drinking bowl froze a few times two weeks ago. Enjoy your time in the Pacific Northwest!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I think snow hit nationwide in most areas, Liesbet, glad you are staying warm! We are home now but winter hit our area hard with days of rain and lots of snow in the Sierras. We had a great time and even our 16 hour drive back home did not dim those fun memories!

      Liked by 1 person

  40. I always love these icy photographs, Terri.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Robbie! Winter storms hit the west coast with a vengeance in time for Thanksgiving travel. We drove home a day earlier to miss most of it!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I had heard there were winter storms. I am glad you are home safe. Here is my contribution.

        Liked by 1 person

  41. Nice photos Terri. I had to put a sweater on. I like the ‘frog’ idea. I hope you had a good time in chilly Spokane. Here’s my somewhat less chilly-looking offering: https://grahamsisland.com/2019/12/01/high-surf-and-low-sky/.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hehehe, frog ! You have vog! I recall putting a light sweater on when we visited Hawaii in January once.

      Liked by 1 person

  42. […] This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘December Chill.’ (See more offerings here.) […]

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About Me

I’m a former university adjunct Professor and retired recreation & parks practitioner living in North-Eastern Washington State near the Idaho border. Second Wind Leisure Perspectives is my blog about living a leisure lifestyle, including photography, friends, fitness, and fun.

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