snow in october

October 29th, 4-5 inches, four days without power. But is was beautiful all the same. :)

unexpected beauty

On the second day of spring we woke up to snow, and to the unexpected beauty of the maple buds frosted with a lingering winter surprise.

radiance

"There is nothing in the world more beautiful than the forest clothed to it's very hollows in snow. It is the still ecstasy of nature, wherein every spray, every blade of grass, every spire of reed, every intricacy of twig is clad in radiance."

William Sharp

her dark face

"No one but Night, with tears on her dark face,

Watches beside me in this windy place."

Edna St. Vincent Millay

snow blower

We got about a foot of snow on Sunday night, and we spent Monday shoveling out the driveway while the wind blew the snow in our faces. I took a quick break to snap a few pictures. :)

More White Stuff

This was taken earlier in the season, at my favorite park, Natirar. It seems like we have had a snow storm a week this winter, with another predicted for Thursday.

Whoopty-friggin-do.

Please

OK, I'm ready to admit that the snow can be pretty at times, and I've had a lot of fun playing with vintage actions in Photoshop... but I think I'd like to see some green shoots poking out of the ground already.

Please?

(This is our backyard, btw)

February Snow

Looking through the window to the front yard yesterday. The snow started out slowly, but then kicked into overdrive in the afternoon. I'm not sure about totals, as it's still snowing as I write this, but so far we have at least a foot.

Yippee.

(That was sarcasm, in case you didn't catch it.)

Morning Snow

Yesterday morning we awoke to this scene out the window. The weather reports had said that the storm would pass us by, so this was unexpected. And being unexpected, all the more beautiful. Waking to snow in the morning always elicits that feeling of childhood magic for me. Although I must admit, I didn't have to go out into it like my husband and daughter. lol

I could sit and enjoy it from the window, which is where this picture came from. :)

winter bench

Twenty degrees and snowy, wind howling strong. Not exactly bench-sitting weather, eh? :)

Edited to add: There is a fantastic giveaway on The Savvy Photographer today! Go check it out for a chance to win the wonderful Florabella Actions and Textures Sets.

December Snow

Well, I think we got about 12 inches, although it did blow quite a bit so some areas are higher than others. It is nice and fluffy, though, so not a big deal to shovel. It should be sticking around till Christmas, which will be nice. Although they are predicting showers for Christmas day, which might be a little messy. :(

This was taken on our front lawn late yesterday afternoon. I'm thinking I like shadows almost as much as I like fog. :)

The Sentinels

Winter storm warning here in New Jersey -- 8-14 inches of snow. I guess we'll have a white Christmas after all. :)

Snow

"The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?"

J.B. Priestly

No, we didn't actually get snow yesterday. But wow, did we ever get rain! Sleet and freezing rain.

Lots of it.

Where's my white Christmas?

Winter, Remembered

I sprained my ankle last week, plus I've been busy trying to get a jump on the whole Christmas thing, so I haven't been able to get out and shoot anything. So here is a scene from my favorite park, Natirar, reworked with a little Photoshop magic.

Why is it that snow looks so much prettier when you don't actually have to walk through it? lol

On the Farm

I added a little texture to this photo taken down the road from my house.  And I quite like the way it turned out.  :)  But I'll be very happy to not see any more snow this winter.  We had temperatures in the low 60's yesterday, and there was just a hint of spring in the air.  Yay!

A Little Sorrow

"We do not live an equal life, but one of contrasts and patchwork; now a little joy, then a little sorrow, now a sin, then a generous or brave action."

                                                                                                Ralph Waldo Emerson

Just For Fun

After seeing an absolutely beautiful photo with texture on Char's blog, I decided that it was time for me to learn how to add texture to my photos.  So here is one of my first attempts. (For another attempt, check out today's post on simple things.)  I think I need to work on it a little more.  But it's much easier than I thought it would be, and I can tell that I'm going to have fun experimenting with it.  

I learned how to do it here.  Char, thanks so much for being so inspiring -- your photos and your writing are amazing!

Snowflower

Who says there are no flowers in winter?  ;)

Snow Catchers

We had a few inches of very fluffy snow on Monday, and Tuesday morning was a beautiful blue and white wonderland.  There are still a few rose hips left on the wild bushes, and they caught the snow making fragile constructions of white wonder.

The Tenor of Our Lives

"None of us knows what the next change is going to be, what unexpected opportunity is just  around the corner, waiting to change all the tenor of our lives."

                                                                                                           Kathleen  Norris