Cold water, hot water, cold water, hot water. Do you do that when you take a shower? No? Do you want to try?
Some doctors believe that this is a method of detoxing, improving the circulatory system and the immune system.
I use a contrast shower. Sometimes. But today I am more concerned about strenthening my mind and emotionally preparing for this:
The method is the same. Cold picture, hot picture, cold picture, hot picture.Want to try? Let's start!
Hot!
Cold!
Hot!
Cold!
Blue hot sky:
Blue sky with white polka dots:
Hot!
Hot!
Hot! Again? Someone is cheating! Maine, Colorado, Nebraska, come on guys, you are used to snow!
Green trees:
White trees:
Hot flower:
White flower:
Stop! Someone is cheating again! It was a white but hot flower!
Here!
Oops! Where did it go, the white flower? Well, at least it was a pot where the white flower was supposed to be.
Hot again! We are doing good! Stay with me!
Hot!
Hot!
Very hot! Vermont, Illinois, Massachussets, Canada, I know you'd prefer hot, but we need to maintain the rhythm!
White flowers, white sky:
White sky, no white flowers:
Hot!
Hot!
Hot ...
Hot?
Stop! We lost the rhythm. There should be cold and white somewhere here...
It was white, big white, but hot again
White and hot
That was white and hot again... Here we are! Cold!
We are back on track! Hot!
Cold!
Hot!
Cold! Stay with me!
Breathe! ... Are you breathing? Phew, for a second I thought we lost you...
We are doing good!
Still cold! Stay with me! Push! Push! Oh, what am I saying? Breathe! Breathe!
Texas, Tennessee, Alabama, you guys hold on there! Breathe! Breathe!
It won't last forever! It'll be hot again! Here it is! Hooray!!!!!!!!!!!!
We did it! You did it! Did you? I forgot to tell you that you needed to consult your doctor before doing this workout. I hope you are OK. Are you? Let me know.
P.S. The hot pictures are from Maui and Kauai. The cold pictures are from around my garden.
Tatyana .. OMG !! I had such a good laugh and workout ? with this post .. I have to say at this time of year I lean towards the "cold" pictures because they are just right for this time of year .. but as soon as Christmas is over .. well, those "hot" pictures are what I will be craving for sure .. phew ! I need some water now that I have worked so hard ? LOL
ReplyDeleteJoy
Hi Tatyana,
ReplyDeleteHeidi just stood next to me to make sure I was OK while I was laughing so hard at this post. Thanks for the fun and beautiful start to my day! There is beauty in all seasons, I have to say, but I do prefer hot.
I'm a little out of shape, but I may see what hot and cold pics I can find. I won't have the stamina you did to do that many though.
Fun, fun, fun!
Танюш, ну спасибо, тебе!!! На цветы наглядеться не могла)!!! А контрастным душем иногда балуюсь для бодрости духа и тела)
ReplyDeleteThat was GREAT. Much better than a hot and cold shower.
ReplyDeleteFlowerLady
Ha ha ha...that was a wonderful workout! Now I’m ready to start my day.
ReplyDeleteFantastic photos and what a tiring post! I think I need to do a wet and dry post for our region.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos and a post filled with humor. That fourth photo is "HOT" and the following snow scene is stunning.
ReplyDeleteTatyana,
ReplyDeleteThese photos made my day! This morning the pond was frozen over for the first time this year.
That was a great study in contrasts. Even though the cold was beautiful, I'll stick with hot!
ReplyDeleteWhat a workout for mind and body Tatyana! Hilarious and Gorgeous!! Where did you get all those hot orchids? Beautiful images. I used to sauna and then jump in cold rivers... but no more! The most I can do is splash some cold water on my face after a hot soak and wash. Your photos are so warm in lifting the cold spirit of winter here. Thank you! Carol
ReplyDeleteThank you fellow shower-takers! Your comments warm me up. I made an addition to the post: orchids and other hot blooms are from Maui and Kauai (Hawaii), cold pictures were taken around my garden last December and January.Stay warm!
ReplyDeleteI tried to stay focused....but skipped to the hot stuff! We are seriously cold here...I hate it! we are far too close to the -30C that was forecast...and I hate the cold!
ReplyDeletewhy do I live in Central Alberta again??? lol
That is one of the funniest posts I have ever read. Great. Loved it.
ReplyDeleteNow I am off to my unwilling contrast shower, which is what you get when you live in a condo. Neighbors showering, and flushing toilets make my shower a hub of activity. Jump out of the scalding hot water, jump back in, jump out, scream, shiver, you get the picture.
Jen
Woo! Made me deezy!
ReplyDeleteI don't think all that snow is good for you, hence the extra hot flowers needed for balance.
So many orchids... so little time... - thank you for showing their beauty!
ReplyDeleteI think I have a fever with the chills ;-)
ReplyDeleteSuch gorgeous tropical flowers and orchids. Wonderful pictures of the snow. I just love the shot with the snow and pines. Somehow I just cannot get use to seeing snow on palm leaves though.
Have a great weekend.
Oh, Tatyana, I do love your posts. I gigglesnorted over this one, and it also made me less irritated with the currently frigid weather (complete with still-galeforce winds, day 3. Sigh).
ReplyDeleteIt seems like so long ago we were muttering about being hot, doesn't it? And now we're cold. Going to put on another sweater and throw more wood on the stove.
Tatyana,
ReplyDeleteVery amusing post! And I really loved all the Maui and Kauai pictures to help me remember the "hots". We were there a few times, and keep wanting to go back. It has been so cold here that "colds" have driven me to very "hot" showers only! Kathy
What gorgeous photos! You mentioned in a comment that my blog is slow to come up. I wonder why? Is it just mine? I have a fast connection. Maybe I need to do something. Have to ask around about this. Thanks for telling me.
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Tatyana,
ReplyDeleteWhew! I'm exhausted. I'm going to have to go put my head in a snowbank to cool off. :) Initially, I always find the snow somewhat magical. But, after a couple months of it, I am ready for COLOR!
I'll take the HOT workout anytime, sista! A cool dip in the pool is good for 2 seconds after coming out of a HOT sauna. Thanks for the laugh, Tatyana...I love this post!
ReplyDeleteAnd your amazing photos!
I really don't want it "hot," just more temperate here in Illinois, but then you'd probably prefer it more temperate too, even though the cold photos are lovely. Very Christmasy. Actually, I like a bit of snow this time of year, but like Liisa, my eyes do get tired of all that white around the middle of January.
ReplyDeleteVery funny! Great photos too, are the snow photos all from your area? Cold & rainy here, but if we got snow it would be historic!
ReplyDeleteHi Tatyana,
ReplyDeleteWell, that was fun! For years I was a childbirth instructor, so I can see how all that breathe, breathe, stuff made you want to push. The photos were beautiful, as always.
Татьяна, большинство цветов на твоих "жарких" фотография я увидела впервые в жизни. Спасибо за эти открытия.
ReplyDeleteHey, it's the perfect time of year and season for those cold pictures, and I'm loving them. Esp. that first snowy-trees picture---gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteHi Tatyana,
ReplyDeleteI think I like this excercise best on your blog and not in the shower. All those pretty snow photos are fun to look at as I sit here on my back porch sleeveless with the ceiling fan cooling me off. It is 78 degrees today... crazy Florida weather.
At least I recognized (for a change) most of the hot flowers in your post today. :-)
Meems
Hot all the way for me Tatyana!! I could skip the cold part except on the very hottest of days. Living in Colorado, I'm used to snow but it doesn't mean I like it. (Only looking at your pictures of it). You have some fabulous photos here.
ReplyDeleteI also want to tell you how much I enjoyed your green thumb post. I haven't seen country that verdant in a very long time.
Whew! I'm worn out from taking my coat off and on, Tatyana:) These are beautiful photos--yes, the cold white ones are just as gorgeous as the hot ones. What are those beautiful flowers in the fourth photo?
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone for your comments!We survived the shower. Good! Answering the questions: the flower, 4th picture from the top, can be Tacca chantrieri(Bat Head Lily). The snow photos were taken around our garden last winter.
ReplyDeleteHi Tatyana, I just got my post up. It's not as creative as yours, but I had fun looking at photos of my plants from different times of the year.
ReplyDeleteThat was a beautiful way to tease the mind from too much cold, a long list of cold and hot photos. But even your cold photos are hot in beauty. They are real photojournalist's shot. Your photos are real treasures.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen much of snow, my travels to cold countries are normally in spring, so i cannot relate to how you people feel when the -30Cs come. I also cannot imagine how you feel when instead of the hot scenes, the horizon is filled with cold scenes. That's why my friends who migrated to this kind of scenarios feel lonely and want to go home in winters! So when these months come, try to visit our hot, hot, hot blogs...flowers, plants, butterflies, biodiversity, etc, etc. And you will get some mind massage as well. Thanks.
Well done!
ReplyDeleteI find that the shower at my gym doesn't even allow me to go cold all the way, which is very annoying when you do a sauna, or want a contrast shower.
Regardless, it's really more fun to have both, isn't it?
Tatyana, I have thoroughly enjoyed all your pictures and I am now speechless!
ReplyDeleteTatyana, I just love this post! OMG it sure made me laugh a lot. BUT I have to say that I fell so much better looking at a hot picture than a cold, white one. Hope you'll have a wonderful holiday / gittan
ReplyDeleteGreat post! What is the flower in the first flower (hot) picture, after the (cold) palms with the snow in them? Kind of lavender, negligee fabric type flowers. Gorgeous! I recognized most of the rest of them, but this one has me stumped. I want it!
ReplyDeleteHi Tatyana,
ReplyDeleteI absolutely loved it! Now, I feel like I don't need to go to the gym today ;0) Seriously, your pictures are so beautiful, even the cold, snowy ones...
That was so much fun...hot-cold-hot-cold...all were beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI am so pumped up...
Thanks!
Sherry
Hi Tatyana! That was a wonderful trip.If I had to do it, it would be hot and hotter!
ReplyDeleteWonderful pictures. I just love snow scenes, providing I'm tucked up nice and cosy in the warmth. I do prefer the warmer weather though.
ReplyDeleteYou got a LOT of white .. we only got a trace but it was pretty.
ReplyDelete** please help me find a home for the boys .. stop by my blog and mention them on yours **
Hi Tatyana~~ I'm behind on reading my favorite blogs, thus the delay. What a clever idea. I don't have very many winter photos but my daughters have ones that are as nice as yours so I think I'll try a hot/cold myself. But I'll check with my doctor first. You're so clever, Tatyana!
ReplyDeleteWhew - I'm exhausted from that workout! Great post and such a lovely contrast. I'm glad I live in Vancouver where the seasons change (well, somewhat). It keeps life interesting.
ReplyDeleteHi Tatyana
ReplyDeleteAs we near Christmas I guess the cold pics are very apt, but give me hot anytime.
That second from last photo, the flower looks so unusual.
I love that first pine landscape. You should use that for greeting cards, it is so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteOh, I just love the orchids! Makes me miss the warmer climate I come from. Beautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog and welcoming me back. :)
Hi Tatyana~
ReplyDeleteWhat a great theme! I so enjoyed looking at the contrasting hot and cold photos. Happy Holidays to you!
~Karrita
Ha ha ha!!! Thanks for the workout!
ReplyDeleteYou are so funny...that was fun, and I seem to remember the warm summer, but not much. ha
ReplyDelete