The hot new trend among my travel blogger friends is journeying to Antarctica. Given that I have a new baby, that trip is not gonna happen over here for a while… But never fear! The Polar Vortex is alive and well here in Boston, and with it comes Antarctica-style dramatic ice.
Today I walked around a quiet suburb of Boston, shivering in the biting cold and gazing at all the frostiness. In particular, the icicles caught my eye. These spiky dangle-doos are everywhere now, since Boston has had an ongoing pattern of: 1) Eight inches of snow falling, followed by, 2) Sun and warmth, followed by, 3) Another major snow storm. Thus, the snow snuggles up onto the roofs of houses on the storm days, then slides into icicle formation during each sunny spurt. Repeat.
Icicles are awesome for a variety of reasons. First, they’re beauty and danger combined. They refract the sun in rainbows, while glinting with the threat of hurtling down to pierce you. They loom like claws or jaws, making a walk under them… exciting.
Second, they are the perfect metaphor for time. They drip into existence, but you can never actually see them coalescing. You only notice once they’re there. Similarly, people keep telling me, “Enjoy your newborn baby… Time goes so fast!” So my husband and I stare at our beloved infant and cuddle him and try to be in the moment every second, but drop by drop (of milk), he’s coalescing into a man!
Ahem. Back to the icicles. Something else I noticed today was their often-diagonal nature. Rather than hanging straight down, so many icicle bunches actually tilt to one side, following the prevailing wind of the day. It makes it hard for a gal to straighten her photos, because it seems impossible that the ice could be formed in that non-perpendicular fashion! See the tilt in this photo?
So there’s my little slice of Boston-Antarctica for you. It has fewer penguins than the actual Antarctica, but at this rate, it has about the same amount of ice!
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Travelogged says
We had a crazy winter like this one when I had my son 3 years ago so I was also snowed in… We were such hermits but a very special (and snowy) time nonetheless.
Wow Charter says
Awesome, Stunning, Amazing!
I must say you are fantastic photographer I have came across. Really I loved you blog posts but now I’m a big fan of your photography too… Thanks for sharing!
Kadri says
Love the photos, looks like a perfect winter.
Bama says
I’ve never experienced snow that much, let alone icicles. I’ve been wanting to see so much snow in one place since I live in a tropical country. Weird I know, but I’m always curious about snow and ice. And those icicles do make Boston more beautiful!
Cheryl Howard says
Winter is definitely beautiful in it’s own way! But I’m about ready for summer now. :)
Catherine says
Ah, I’ve never noticed that icicles form at an angle before, that’s pretty interesting. They’re so beautiful :)
amelie88 says
As beautiful as they are, the icicles have my permission to melt and come back where they came from (meaning oblivion). The last straw for me was when my car key decided to have a sense of humor when I inserted it into the slot for the trunk after grocery shopping to load my groceries and bent into a shape that only Superman could have twisted it into. Pretty sure the metal in the key slot contracted thanks to the extreme cold we’ve had this winter and that is why my key is so disfigured.
Your pictures are beautiful though. :) I am just very ready for winter to be O-V-E-R (have been since the first snowfall).
Mary @ Green Global Travel says
Icicles really do seem magical. There has been some crazy winter weather the past few weeks. A piece of Antarctica came to you! Thanks for sharing.
Side note: Your little one is ADORABLE!
Lillie says
Thanks, Mary!
Wandering Educators says
What beautiful photos! I love icicles!
Danielle Kempe (@DJDiG) says
MA weather is driving me a little nuts.
I was walking in Allston on Sunday, quoting the internet comic, “The wind hurts my face! Why do I live where the wind hurts my face?!”
Lillie says
It does!!!
Cat of Sunshine and Siestas says
Yep, definitely not missing that winter stuff in Chicago!! Stay warm!