Category Archives: Winter

GRAY

Posted on January 13, 2013 by

Today I’m suspended in gray. Ash mostly, a bit of slate, a sprinkling of charcoal. Other days there’s mercury and fog or if I’m lucky silver and gunmetal. Rarely do I glimpse other hues. Cursing under my breath, frustrated with … Continue reading →

Posted in Depression, Iceland, Reykjavik, Uncategorized, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Winter Solstice in Iceland

Posted on December 21, 2012 by

We live in the darkness, sharing our blackened world with troll-like creatures that sneak into our homes. At night, these trolls lick our pots, steal our sausages, slurp our Skyr and leave small gifts for the children. In the waking … Continue reading →

Posted in expat, Holidays, Iceland, Reykjavik, Winter | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

ICELAND AIRWAVES: Soul, Funk, Folk, & Gale Force Winds

Posted on November 4, 2012 by

Waves crashed over the seawall littering the roads with seaweed and stones, rooftops blew off homes forcing the main street to close, and hundreds of bands arrived into Reykjavik ready to rock it.  Despite gale force winds blowing straight from … Continue reading →

Posted in Festival, Iceland, Music, Reykjavik, Uncategorized, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

ICELAND’S MOST POPULAR THINGS: Going to Feed Ducks

Posted on October 28, 2012 by

A guest blog by my daughter, R, age 6 1/2 I was with my mom and we walked to the ducks and we found lots of interesting things. And in this story, you’ll find lots of them. And if you … Continue reading →

Posted in expat, Hiking, Iceland, Motherhood, Parenting, Russia, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

WOOL, COTTON, and CASHMERE: Dabbling in Icelandic Fashion

Posted on March 15, 2012 by

Spotted on the streets of Reykjavik: *a tall blonde in a long black cape *a leggy lady in leather pants *a teen in hot pink tights with a short red, green, & blue striped dress *a mother in a black … Continue reading →

Posted in expat, Fashion, Foreign Service, Iceland, Reykjavik, Spring, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

WINTER ESCAPE

Posted on February 20, 2012 by

Sometimes the best thing about winter in Iceland. . . is to escape. The screaming wind, the too-dark days, the waist-high snow drifts, we had to flee – all the way to Southern California, to my city of angels. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Foreign Service, Holidays, Ojai, Pacific Palisades, Santa Barbara, Winter | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

COFFEE & MY HAPPY LIGHT

Posted on January 20, 2012 by

Lots of coffee and time with the happy light needed today–it’s back to howling wind and blizzard-like conditions after yesterday’s beautiful sun.

Posted in Foreign Service, Iceland, snow, Travel, Winter | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

THE SMELL OF THE SEA & THE SNOW

Posted on January 13, 2012 by

First was the smell of the sea and the snow then a sighting of swans on my midday walk in the land of perpetual twilight.

Posted in Iceland, snow, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

TROLLS, BONFIRES & PUTREFIED SKATE—Surviving the Holidays in Iceland

Posted on January 2, 2012 by

I spent December talking about trolls: the one with the big nose that sniffs doorways, the peeping tom troll, the one with an unusually long tongue that licks empty bowls, or the sly one that steals Skyr (yogurt). Staying in … Continue reading →

Posted in expatriate, Holidays, Iceland, snow, Travel, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

GOING DARK: WINTER SOLSTICE IN ICELAND

Posted on December 20, 2011 by

My days are dark. In Reykjavik, the world’s northernmost capital, we move from one black space to another. Snow falls, hail is intermittent, wind howls, clouds part and soar, sometimes there is rain, and always there is the absence of light. … Continue reading →

Posted in expat, Foreign Service, Iceland, snow, Winter | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments