After The Storm

After our snow storm last night our trees are covered with a layer of freezing sleet then a couple of inches of snow. Of course I had to take some images to share.

As I walked into the woods the sounds began to change.
A few months ago I went to see The Road. I was immediately reminded of the sounds in that movie. A low, deep, unending roar. Then the trees began to creak and moan under the weight of the snow.

It was so eerie, I felt the desolation I felt during that movie. I really had to keep my mind on how beautiful the contrast of the snow in the trees was. Everything was so strange because there was no color. Everything was black and white.

It was truly amazing.
As I walked home, I came into a thicket and life came alive again.
Several sparrows and 2 red birds were playing among the tightly woven branches of the bushes and trees.

To hear their song was a welcome sound!

Ah, back to the living!

Isn't the contrast and textures of the snow and branches interesting?
Hope you enjoyed the photos, especially if you live where you don't get snow.

Images of Frost

I am playing with the idea of adding some quotes with my images on my etsy shop. Wanted to put something fun on here. Hope you enjoy it. I'll be sharing some good quotes with you for the next few post. These embellishments are from Sunshine Studio Scraps. artist - craft-tastrophic

Uncertain Future

Tonight it is late. I should be in bed. I am sleepy but the house is so quiet and peaceful I just want to enjoy this moment.
Like my photo I feel like I am living in a fog with no way of seeing what is up ahead. At times it is exciting to think of starting over and beginning again but the unknown sometimes seems just to hard to bear. I know God has a plan and I have peace most days. Actually almost all days but for some reason tonight I just wish I could have a small glimpse of hope. I small taste of what He has waiting for us. I so desperately want to do something new, I am tired of what I have been doing and I just want to follow my heart...

but,
it is scary.

How will we pay the bills?
What about my daughters last year of high school?
How will our family feel if we up and move away?
Why should I be allowed to just take time off to try art?
What about being responsible?
Doing what will make everyone happy?

What about me?

I'm tired of doing what everyone else wants me to do. Doing what is expected. I'm tired of having so much responsibility. Is this bad? Sometimes I just want to run away.
For tonight I guess I'll just go to sleep and think about it tomorrow.
Tomorrow is another day!

Things That Go Bump In The Night

On my walk today, Cooper decided to go into the woods. Since all the foliage is gone, I can see to follow the deer paths through the inner part of the woods and follow him. I get to see areas I normally can't see in the summer.

The weather has been a bit gloomy lately and today was drizzly and dark.

The twisted grapevines and gnarly bushes made for an eerie site.

I was beginning to feel how eerie the woods seemed when a hawk cried out as it flew out of a tree above me. Warning the animals of my arrival.

But

as he continued to circle I wondered if he was warning me of something

lurking in there.

As I wound myself around the path to get out into the meadow

I heard a strange sound.

not quite an animal sound

not quite human either.

Then I heard it again

a

screeching

sound

still not sure what it was.

I

stopped,

looked

up,

the bare trees were swaying against the dark foreboding clouds

and they were moaning with the wind.

There really wasn't anything scary there. It was all in my imagination. It was just nature making winter sounds. I am thankful for my imagination, it made my normal walk a little bit more interesting today.

My word for 2010!

After visiting some of the blogs I like to follow, I wanted to do a blog entry about my word for 2010.

I really wanted it to be a positive word.

A good word.

I wanted it to be one to encourage you as well as me.

I really wanted it to be Peace. Then I thought about it some more and what is happening in our lives and I came up with Perseverance.

This wasn't real up lifting but a more positive take on the difficulties we have been encountering lately and it described how we have been living.

But...

on a walk with Cooper the other day as I was praying I just kept thinking, wait, wait, wait.

Why are we always having to be in a state of waiting? I thought I had learned this one already! I actually thought I had mastered the art of waiting pretty patiently. I left that with God and decided I didn't want wait or waiting to be my word.

I'd just have to give it more thought.

Tonight my pastor made a statement that was very inspiring for me and I saw how I was looking at things in a negative light. [again :( ].

Instead of waiting I am now Anticipating what God has in store for our family

and

Expecting His promise to not forsake us and to deliver us from our affliction to be fufilled.

so

I am now Anticipating!

I can't wait to see what He does!

Baby It's Cold Outside

I woke up this morning to see this scene across the street. We had a frozen fog all around! It was beautiful.

It is 3 degrees right now. I grabbed my point and shoot and went outside for a few quick shots. Even the snow did not stick to my socks! Woops, you caught me. Yeah, I sleep in socks.

I couldn't get very good shots so I put on some boots and a sweatshirt and ran out for these. Not great with this camera but I think you can see how beautiful the frozen fog looks on all the plants

Even the birds are enjoying the pretty snow and fog.

Really?

I think, maybe not.

They are probably contemplating flying south a bit further.

I will be putting food out later today for them.

I just love how fuzzy everything looks! Have a great day! Stay warm if you are in the US. It seems to be cold everywhere here.

SNOW!

Yesterday afternoon it started to snow.




My daughter and her girl friends did a no-pants snow dance the night before

(Don't ask, I didn't.) But it worked!




We got over 4 inches and it was soft and powdery. Everything looks so magical.





It was to cold and windy to walk during the storm but this morning I couldn't wait to get out with Cooper and take some photos.







It was still lightly snowing and it was so peaceful. As Cooper ran and sniffed out all the small animals I looked around to see what I could photograph to share with you.



I was a bit nervous to get so close to this groundhogs hole but alas, no one was home. Or at least not ready to come out while I was there.
I spied this cozy nest up in the tree. I don't suppose the previous occupants are actually still here but it did look nice and warm all covered up like that.


And then I came upon this exit from one of the large trees on the golf course. Nature was nice to leave the opening clear so the squirrels could get out later if they felt so inclined.



I took a few more photos of interesting things I hope you will enjoy.

These little snow covered weeds reminded me of Marie Antoinette's hairdo. What do you think?

While my oldest daughter was here for the holidays we made some ice wreaths I saw at http://resurrectionfern.typepad.com/. She has such great ideas! I made matching candles to put on my front porch bristo table.

These were so much fun to make! We never have tempretures low enough for these last but I think they will last for several more weeks this year!

Who says winter is dull and ugly? Just take a walk and look around, there is beauty and wonder all around.

Have a great weekend!