“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant.” ~ Anne Bradstreet
On the day before the first day of spring, I thought I’d post just a few photos of winter in my woods. I always feel peaceful when walking in the woods.
After a heavy snowfall, that turned the world into a fairyland…… *click on image to enlarge*
The winter woods.
The spruces stand tall..
Winter leaf… A fall leaf shows strength and perseverance as it clings to a branch through the long winter months. I made this photo into B&W, then brought the leaf color back.
Foggy winter morning… Sometimes fog greets us on winter mornings. I’m always trying to capture fog!
My husband and I spent a few hours driving along the west coast of Michigan several days ago. The skies were a clear, deep blue, and the water was a very icy blue! Snow was piled at the edge of the beach, deep in some places; the wind was
strong, but the sun was bright and warm on our backs.
We decided to stop at Tunnel Park, near the town of Holland, MI. At Tunnel Park,
you can walk through a tunnel in the dunes to get to the beach, or you can climb over the dunes on the wooden stairway. We chose to climb. Unfortunately, the stairs were
mostly covered with snow, so we had to grip the railing and use a “hand over hand” method of pulling ourselves up the steps! The other choice would have been to slip backwards down the stairway! It was good exercise!
And indeed….the view at the top, and down the other side of the dune was worth it!
Climbing over the dune at Tunnel Park, Holland, MI.
Beautiful Lake Michigan.
Looking up from the beach..
I hope you enjoyed our cool Lake Michigan trip! After all, it’s not spring yet here!
Thanks for bearing with my infrequent posts as I struggle to keep up two blogs and
one photo class….a second photo class begins soon. I appreciate all of you!
If you’re interested in seeing my classwork…my other blog is:
I have been incredibly busy with community, church, and home “work”. I’ve had many things on my “to do” list and I have no idea what happened to January! Did anyone else feel that way? I kept trying to get here….but ran out of time.
I also started an online photography class with Kim Klassen. If you’re interested in seeing what I do, I have a new blog for those assignments. Most of it is learning! My blog is: http://dancingwithlightandshadow.wordpress.com
I’ve finished editing my photos from Siena. I love the interior of that beautiful black and white marble cathedral. Enjoy!
Well, it IS that time of year in Michigan. And it IS much better than looking at brown leaves, brown and gray tree trunks, brown weeds in the woods, and dormant grass. It also means that skis and snowshoes can come out of their hiding places soon!
So LET IT SNOW!
Like hands reaching toward the sky, viburnum leaves catch snowflakes within their outstretched foliage.
The porcupine grass becomes heavy with its headdress of snow.
I love to photograph porcupine grass during every season, but wind is the “grass” photographer’s enemy! The wind during the snowstorm played with the “porkies”, making it difficult to capture a clear shot! *click for larger image*
Happy New Year everyone! May you be Blessed with good heath and happiness!
Hello to my fellow bloggers! I’m sorry for my long absence. I’ve missed all of you and missed reading your blogs too.
I was unfortunate enough to get the flu twice. But then I was really fortunate to fly to NYC with some girlfriends last week!
I’m sharing some of the New York City holiday spirit with you today. And I’m wishing all of you a very, very wonderful holiday with those you love. Enjoy! ** click to enlarge**
Approaching Manhattan on the Staten Island Ferry.
Looking down a row of angels toward the Rockefeller Plaza Christmas tree.
Huge red ornaments piled on a fountain in front of a business in New York.
“Believe” sparkles on the side of Macy’s Department Store.
Sending love and Blessings to you and yours this holiday season….
Judy
While visiting the kids in Omaha we took a short trip to the Loess Hills in Western Iowa. It was a short trip from Omaha, NE. Council Bluffs, IA, is actually located in the Loess Hills.
The Loess Hills is a geographical area of porous, gritty, lightweight material and minerals covered by grasses, trees and plants. Loess (pronounced “luss”) is not unusual, but what makes this area in Iowa so important, is because of the depth of the loess material. The only other area that has loess of this depth and more can be found in China.
On this trip, we visited the Hitchcock Nature Center in the Loess Hills. The nature center is a wonderful place to learn about raptors and other birds of the area. There are many hiking trails around the center and an observation tower makes a good place to watch for the birds, too.
Loess Hills
bird watchers!
** click for a larger image.
Even though it was November, there was a lot to see. Grasses glowed with golden hues, bare-branched trees reached toward the sky, hills showed off their rounded or angular shapes, and the occasional bird soared by.
We did see an eagle on our hike, but I missed it with my camera!
I was just nominated for the Inspiring Blogger Award byPrego and the Loon. Thank you so much for bestowing this award upon me, Prego and the Loon. I am truly honored and humbled that you chose me amongst the many fine people who comment on your blog, and those who are also nominated for this award.
You are not alone.
Prego and the Loon’s blog tells the story of her horrific life with domestic violence at the hands of her ex-husband. She recounts her stories in beautifully written prose; the most frightening events, the fear, the haunting memories, the worries for her life and her son’s, the “what if’s”, the never ending terror, her efforts to straighten out records, and her recovery.
Please seek out Prego and the Loon’s blog. You will read about a a strong woman who broke loose of the horrifying life she was in. You will learn more about domestic abuse, and books that helped her begin a new life. If you are a victim of domestic violence yourself, please visit her blog. Reading her words can help you gain the strength to break loose, too.
To those who suffer from abuse of any type: You are not alone. There are people to support and help you everywhere, even people you do not know yet. Take a chance. Knock on a door. Reach out to another blogger, pick up the phone and call a number in your community, speak to a friend who will help you, a pastor, a counselor, a doctor or nurse. If the first person doesn’t work out, try another one. Don’t give up.
We need to spread the word about Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, and all other forms of abuse, until people no longer have to deal with such atrocities. When our fellow human beings are suffering from abuse and its accompanying elements: fear, stress, threats, nightmares, depression, terror, injuries, death, etc, it should be our top priority to help and support them, and then work to rid the world of it.
Let’s work together to help people live happy lives, fulfilling their dreams.
“There is pleasure in the pathless woods, there is rapture in the lonely shore, there is society where none intrudes, by the deep sea, and music in its roar; I love not Man the less, but Nature more.” ~George Byron
My surroundings~the pathless woods.
Never more beautiful than in fall…
Click images for a larger view.
Thanks for visiting my surroundings!
If you’d like to join Jakesprinter’s Sunday Post, click here to go to his site and read all about it. There’s a great challenge every week for photographers, writers and more!
The stats are in. I should never post late at night. I got the history of Siena’s Cathedral mixed up in my last post. The cathedral we see today was built between 1215 and 1263. Years later, the Sienese planned … Continue reading →
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