The Start of 2024

It actually begins with 2023 when the Netherlands recorded its wettest (and warmest!) year since official records began in 1901, with December also the wettest on record.  You might recall in my last post, about son Mark's visit from December 9-17, that we had lots of rain!

And because Astrid is the early bird (who gets the worm!) for walks, this is a post of HER iPhone 12 photos (in my collages) to show how we've started this new year weather-wise. 

On December 26, our 2nd Christmas Day, she walked our citadel wall to get the lay of the land,

itching to see what the high-water mark was, after all the news about it.

That's a lot of water, especially when you see trees in it.

Gorinchem, our city, sits on the northern bank of the Merwede river, which needs water, of course,

for its constant traverse by barges to and from Rotterdam and Germany.

But even this was a bit too scary for comfort.

By January 9th, when the rain was stopping but the temps were dropping to freezing point,

Astrid's emphasis changed to the rising sun, as Gorinchem awakened.

All 3 of these last photos are her "manipulations" for our Shutterchance photoblog.

Don't you just love them!

Then, guess what!  On January 15, this past Monday, it started snowing.

You might be thinking, "So what," but we can go years without snow here.

So Astrid went out early the next day to take these photos. 

Each day she returned, I told her I was envious!

I really am...even if I don't make the effort to go out early (8-ish) with her.

I'm more than eager to praise Astrid's efforts here and give her the glory.

She deserves every bit of it, as you can see.

And I want YOU to see it all.

THANK YOU, ASTRID!