photos + stories, #2 of many more to come

post #470
          Welcome to almost the new year, with a return for me to doing my post every Sunday! Today is very wet, after a week of warm that included Christmas. 
          I seem to be more and more distressed by the current scorched earth elimination by our so-called leaders of environmental safeguards. I especially fear the ones that would otherwise address the effects of our warming globe. Our one and only globe. Every weird moment to do with weather causes concern; every discarded regulation gives me the shivers.
          I have absolutely no understanding about the political determination to deny the reality of rising seas, increasingly severe storms, coral damage worldwide, and the human price here in the Appalachians of polluted streams and dirty air. I can't even make light humor, like asking "What are they thinking!?", when the only possible question, really, is "Why have they forgotten totally how to think?".
          
          Anyway, now that winter is actually here, I am going to celebrate it by sharing photos I made in 2015, during two major snow storms. It was the winter that I divorced, after 46 years of marriage; I had quite a bit of maintenance to handle on my house and driveway. Luckily my neighbors helped out, and some local teens helped me as well. Resourcefulness training is always handy. Making art from the world that surrounds me brings me great pleasure and satisfaction. I don't remember that time being anything but interesting. After all I was a New England girl until my early twenties; I grew up loving to play in the snow with my sister, Cathy. 

views of the steps from car down to the house -- a good judge what work the snow will require

Thanks forever, Melva, for all your help during that March visit with that surprise storm.

        In my former house, where I lived over 40 years, I often felt I was living in a nest, with life happening outside of it and around me. The birds especially came by to visit. And if the light were right, which it often was, I could make photos from inside the house. I will talk more about this aspect of my work in another photos + stories post.

a Coopers hawk, passing by and taking a rest

experimenting with the light and the snow, at night (did not achieve mastery....)

morning snow and sun

I'll always wonder what went on overnight -- who ate whom.....

     

 For this last photo, I see another path, other steps, to a home, and I celebrate the mysteries in the natural world. 

             With wishes for a new year with fewer lies, more truth, less disregard for the world we all share, and with more kindness, curiosity, and occasions for laughter.  Also, my thanks for looking at this blog post!   Ann