Zara sweater (similar)
Mavi jeans (c/o)
Anthropologie beret
Daniel Wellington watch (c/o)
Keltie Leanne Designs ring (c/o)
Etsy ring (similar)
Location: Assiniboine Park – Winnipeg, Manitoba
My thoughts on winter are hardly secret. It is not my season. When I was in elementary school, I longed for days when it would be deemed too cold for us to go outside for recess. I dreaded the alleged Winter Fun Day, because I could never figure out what anyone found fun about going outside in the winter. (It was worst when, on Winter Fun Day, I found myself in a group that had all its outdoor activities scheduled in a row, with no indoor breaks in between.) I could muster enthusiasm for tobogganing for about ten minutes on my best day. My interest in building snowmen and snow forts was still more limited. Playing outside didn’t tempt me at the best of times, but in the winter it felt like a form of torture.
I have tried to embrace winter since our return to Winnipeg. But the results of my efforts have been, admittedly, mixed. I still avoid the outdoors most days, unless I have errands to run. Out visit to Ice Castles was beautiful, but brief. I’m afraid that, mostly, I still don’t see the point. Winter is tiresome and I am just waiting it out.
Winter is also beautiful. I can admit that without hesitation. All of the glittering white snow and bare trees practically beg to be photographed, I just wish I didn’t have to go outside to do it. Skating, especially, looks breathtaking. I grew up on skates; I think I got my first pair when I was two, just after I learned to walk. To be honest, I can’t remember a time before I knew how to skate. But that doesn’t mean I do it regularly. The last time I recall going skating was on our honeymoon. The city of Paris, in their infinite wisdom, put up a skating rink outside Hotel de Ville. Paris is too warm for skating and the ice was always melty, but as Canadians, we couldn’t miss a chance to go skating in the French capital, so that’s exactly what we did.
I didn’t give much thought to skating when we moved home, though. My dreams of being a figure skater died after a particularly bad fall when I was about nine. The incident was traumatic because I don’t think I was even moving when it happened. All I remember is landing, face first, on the ice. I didn’t lose any teeth, but the impact was hard enough that I recognised my lack of talent instantly. I let my parents buy me hockey skates again after that, and although they are nothing if not clunky and unattractive, I was happier for it. But the last time I laced a pair up, I was seventeen.
The reason why I did go skating, of course, comes down to a photo opportunity. I spotted a beautiful old figure skating snapshot on Pinterest and the next thing I knew, I was calling my mom to see if she had a pair of skates. As it turned out, she still had mine – the pair I fell off all those years ago in my figure skating class. And they still fit.
We drove to Assiniboine Park early one morning when it was less cold than usual. After nearly a decade, I was a bit wary and wobbly when I first laced my old skates up, but once I got on the ice, the motion came back to me quickly – a bit like riding a bike. I didn’t just remember how to skate. I remembered that skating is the one winter activity I actually enjoy. (Which is not to say I didn’t get cold and insist on going inside in half an hour, because I did. Some things never change.) You can practically see it on my face in these shots – because for once, I’m actually smiling.
Winter is still tiresome. I am still just waiting it out. But every once in a while, I go skating, and it’s wonderful.
You know I absolutely adore winter and, yet, I don’t have much of an affinity for outdoor winter activities either. I don’t ski or skate or like sledding. And from what I remember I was pretty much always that way. I did some figure skating as a child and dabbled with speed skating in junior high but I wasn’t terribly good at either and gave both up (although childhood photos of me in red sequin figure skating garb and a horrendous Dorthy Hamill haircut (seriously) bear silent witness to those days). I’m honestly not even sure I could skate anymore if I were adventurous to actually try. No, for me the glory and fun of winter is, weirdly enough, just about being outside and not really doing much of anything. Just breathing frigid air and having it hurt a bit, taking in all the pristine beauty even as it hurts your eyes a bit to do so from the wind and cold.
Courtney ~ Sartorial Sidelines
I live in Vancouver and already I can’t stand the cold here. I don’t know how you do it in Manitoba haha! I also wish I knew how to skate though! Clumsy me always trips and falls and hurts myself LOL. Thanks for the post! Winter in Manitoba definitely looks awesome!
http://www.thuybydesign.com
I’m glad your story has a happy ending, because we all need to have as much joy in our lives as possible during the winter. Skating is always kind of a marvel to me. To see how swiftly, gracefully and beautifully some people can move across the ice (the olympics have been on, afterall) fills me with the idea that maybe I could enjoy skating. I’ve only skated a handful of times, the most recent being for a blog post a couple of winters ago – and only because it was a sponsored post where I needed to choose a winter activity! I haven’t skated since, but seeing your post makes me want to go again.
Chic on the Cheap
This is my motto these days: “Winter is tiresome and I am just waiting it out.” But seeing you look so happy and beautiful skating does remind me that this season has its merits. I haven’t been skating since I was a little girl, but I may have to give it a chance before spring finally makes an appearance…
Adventures and photos opps are the best! And I love that you went skating – it’s so fun, isn’t it?! I haven’t been in ages but I used to go on the weekly with my mom and we always had the best time. Such fond memories! But of course, I never managed to look quite so stylish!! 😉 As for winter? I can’t say I’m very fond of it either, I’m always cold, and never last outside for long. But thankfully, the new car, and hot cups of coco… make it a little more enjoyable!! xo
http://www.girlandcloset.com
When I was a kid I was the opposite I HATED summer. First I do not handle the heat well and in particular humidity makes feel light-headed and sick and I was afraid of the water and swimming (still can’t swim to this day) and I did not like the way I looked (too thin) so summer was awful. At least in winter I could hide my skinny arms and legs.
I like summer more now but still not a fan of humidity. Ugh. So glad you put the skates back on for this photo op, turned out GREAT. Love these photos! 🙂
Allie of ALLIENYC
http://www.allienyc.com
Once I fell down so hard with ice skates, barely avoiding a huge edge that would have removed my teeth! This never stopped me though, I love ice skating although I am not very good at it and when I saw your photos I fell in love with them Cee, the chunky knit sweater is so cozy and beautiful <3
I can ride a bike, but I’ve never been able to roller or ice skate. So i applaud you Cee. I think it’s beautiful. I was watching all of the Olympic Figure Skating for the past two weeks. It’s a wonderful sport. I sometimes feel people don’t realize how much it entails. You look beautiful in these photos.
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