When the yearly calendar turns the corner into December, I generally rejoice because November is like the mean drunken uncle no one likes but everyone must suffer through during his annual visit.

Can’t stand November, except for the Grey Cup.

Now December is a completely different kettle of fish.

December is when the light slide hits fifth gear and plunges downward to the start of winter, when the whole process begins anew at the Winter Solstice.

And along with increasing amounts of light to each day comes the Christmas season with its lights and colours. The drab, dreary trudge of winter that lies ahead is tempered with beauty, inner and outer.

Living where we do – the East Kootenay – can make for some spectacular vistas in December, if you can position yourself properly for shots. We had some brain-smashingly amazing sunsets and sunrises this past December.

The month began with a little snow and cold followed by a stretch of warmer than usual weather and no snow; a brown and green Christmas threatened. But the white stuff came with a vengeance right before Christmas and carried us to the New Year.

Despite the rapid descent of gas prices, we didn’t get out much this past month, so the monthly photo collection is a bit more ‘static’ with more emphasis on light and moods, with a ‘throw-in’ from the inaugural Regional District of East Kootenay Board of Directors meeting, including communications person extraordinaire Loree Duczek bagging a photo of the 2015 board.

Images were captured in and around Cranbrook, as well as Fort Steele, Grasmere, Jaffray/Elko areas.

Lead image: A look through the trees to the early evening sky over Cranbrook on Dec. 30.  Social media erupted with posts of the brilliant sunset, from all over the East Kootenay.

Please click on an image to enlarge and to begin self directed slideshow…

Ian Cobb and Carrie Schafer/e-KNOW

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