warm winter wishes...

winter came early this year...

if it stays this pretty, i am looking forward to it.

if it gets any colder (it was below zero already), 

i want it to end soon.

meantime, i will appreciate the beauty :)

 

a beautiful morning...

i love the snow, when it clings to the branches. 

it makes everything beautiful...

 

 

 

 

foggy weekend...

the weather has been spring-like all week.  and with snow still on the ground, it made for a foggy weekend...
after the week from hell at work, a little fog to slow things down was a very good thing...

 

 

 

 

 

31 days...

november is coming...

the time of year where work takes over every minute. 

awake or asleep, there is no escape. 

so for the next 31 days, i plan to absorb, appreciate and

embrace AUTUMN...

 

I am going to enjoy the flowers while they are still here.

and i am going to watch nature in all its glory as the world turns to

orange and yellow and reds...

it's gonna be a blast :)

 

 

i am going to play with the pictures

in photoshop and snapseed and picmonkey and whatever else i can find...

and then, at the end of the month,

i am going to be all filled up with color :)

 

and that should help when it comes time

to face november...

 

 

 

bring it on,

october,

i am ready for you

 

 

september colors...

a month of transitions...

 

 

 

 

 

soft surroundings...

the Texture Tuesday challenge this week is SOFT...

 

all images were enhanced with Kim Klassen's textures,

including little things, grungedup, plaster squared, not-too-shabby.

you can follow Kim at http://www.kimklassencafe.com/thecafe/

fragile beauty...

back in late October, we got clobbered with 14 inches of snow.

because the trees still had leaves, the weight of the snow was devastating...

four months later, there are still broken trees everywhere you look.

i'm worried that this very strange winter is going to take a second toll on the damaged trees -

they're looking like they think it's late march, not mid-february and they're starting to show buds...

the magnolia tree in our front yard took a major hit and lost multiple branches.

it doesn't have a beautiful shape anymore, it's lopsided and funky...

and yet,

the little tree makes my heart smile :)

there she is, showing us all what true beauty and strength looks like.

as she bravely puts forth her buds,
i can hear her say...
"i am stronger than you think"

she gives me

hope,

strength

and faith...

i love this little lady

enhanced with kim klassen's shine texture



winter beauty...

it was supposed to snow on saturday, not a blizzard, but somewhere between 3-6 inches.  thinking it would be perfect timing for some winter pictures, i got up early to photograph the snowfall at daybreak. 

 it was disappointing to see there wasn't a flake in sight.  

a year ago, we had 3+ feet on the ground; this winter, the only significant snowstorm was in october. 

finally around 7am, a few flurries fell but by 9am the sun was glowing behind the clouds, ending any hope for a winter wonderland...   

despite the disappointing accumulation of nothin', i went out to take pictures anyway. 

and on a grayish brown day, that looked pretty boring at first glance, there was a whole lot of beauty, everywhere i drove...  

apparently, i needed that lesson :)

a winter garden...

enhanced with kim klassen's textures 'awaken' and 'organic' (i think)

sweet angel in stone...

the sun glowing thru the clouds...

bending can make you stronger...                                   a horse, alone in morning flurries...

color on a gray day...

a door with a view...

enhanced with kim's 'simplicity' texture...

keep it simple...

simple beauty in an unexpected place...

found this very cool tree in the drive-thru

at mcdonalds today :)

enhanced lightly with kim klassens 'awaken' texture

a new life...

T
h
u
r
s
d
a
y'
s

word of the day was BABY.
nature is a powerful force and today's word was a reminder of the cycle of life.
it was a day to celebrate a new beginning.

from the buds on the trees, to the shoots poking up through the ground, to the foals on the hillside grazing in the sunset... mother nature is forever giving us new life. i ended the day with a much needed attitude adjustment.

oldies but goodies

friday
march 26

today's word of the day was old. besides the obvious self-portrait, i was surrounded by old stuff. i went on a ride around town and thoroughly enjoyed celebrating OLD.