snow photos, guest photographer Rebecca Wright

post #476
       We had snow two days ago, briefly but definitely, and Rebecca and family didn't waste any time getting out in their woods, while the snow lasted. I really enjoy these photos; I trust some of you will like them as well. No rants today, just sharing the fun part of snow.

Ahh, snow angels

imagine the sled on this hill, passing the barn on its left side

happy snow explorer

the first waterfall, dressed for the occasion

the trees for this week's post, bare but striking even so

 

I happen to love this photo, bravo to the photographer.

I'll try to find out the story for this moment. I can see they are on a small bridge and looking down on the beginning part of the creek,  I doubt she is thinking of jumping into the water!  Stay tuned. I wasn't able to be there, so I really appreciate getting to share their outing and the magic of that morning.

   THE STORY: T. is throwing out snow into the creek to see if it melts before the water where it landed goes under the bridge....

Miss Elaine E-us

post #462. 
       My plan for today was to feature photos that I want to share but which have never had a place in any of my "themes."  It turns out I am not fully ready to show those yet. So, instead, here are some of the unconnected photos I also want to post.  They may be strange bedfellows, as the expression goes, but so be it for today. (It's possible that all the current impeachment upheaval, sadly, is having repercussions in my own day to day life, just from trying to make sense of so much that is terribly hard to reckon with.)

So, some quiet moments, for now, with additions for this post during the week to come: 

sometimes known as Quaker Ladies

This moss was in bloom, for a day or two, and one year I happened to see it!

In London, at the British Museum, some books we might never GET AROUND to reading....

my Norwegian friend Reidunn with the Elgin Marbles in the British Museum

standing room only....

This past week, George Ella's beloved editor, Richard Jackson, whom she worked with since early in her publishing career, died in Baltimore, MD. He took a chance on me for the photos for George Ella's Counting on the Woods, and I am one of many who loved working with him. He will always be a treasure.

summer

our old barn in winter (not made as a black and white photo)

nine for now, more to come, laugh with a friend today, and have hope

* * * *  * **. * * * * * ** * * * * ** * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * *. * ** * * * * * * * *

Monday's Add-ons:

Friday's Add-ons:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY this week to this garden maven!

last week the ride from the barn, today the barn by itself

post #441
          I have kind of a fascination with Gary's barn.  I've posted photos in the past from when Jonathan was renovating the building.  Yesterday -- the week after the memorial ride I posted about last time -- I stopped by to make some more barn photos. Jonathan happened to be there, after feeding all the cattle and the horses! It turned out that this had been the day he separated the calves from their moms. These calves were in the barn but not at all in the mood to have their photo taken.  But the horses were in the barn as well, and they were delighted to stand around contentedly. Perhaps my presence was like desert.... (That's a joke..)
             The light for making photos (bright sun) wasn't as good yesterday as it was before the memorial ride (some cloud cover) but anyway, here are some of my takes, so to speak.

 inside the barn, with Jonathan

The oldest horse, Tiffany but nicknamed Tiff, is around 30 years old and beloved:
 

Tiff is mom to the bigger horse next to her, and I think the dark colored horse is Tiff's granddaughter:

 

my only half decent photo of some of the calves, looking huge to me:

  The repaired roof amazes me. What a piece of work. Bravo, Jonathan!

 storage area -- the old plow, now in the rafters:

 looking back toward the shed and the house:

      The last photo, of the door on that shed, is an attempt at art -- the door has been in use for over 50 years. Everyone realizes it needs to be replaced, but it is latched in place with memories and stories:

Some things are like old friends, and we get attached and even defined by the familiar despite the changes of aging....

some Feb. 24s

post #420
          Last week's picks from exact years ago was so much fun for me that I am going to do it again. It's actually helpful to review these earlier moments and be reminded that some things stay the same and some things change. And I suspect that's what the rest of my life will do, as each year becomes part of whatever path I'm busy discovering I have been on.
         In any case, here's some of the fun:

2018, February 24 --

This photo is at my gallery house the same day as the next four photos taken by my daughter at what is now her house.

photo by Rebecca

photo by Rebecca

photo by Rebecca

photo by Rebecca

THE YEAR BEFORE, 2017:
 

creek training, while I was photographing near the waterfall

NOW another year earlier, 2016: 
 

I now have a car that has room for bumper stickers. I will try to find this one in my piles somewhere and paste it on. Please, everyone, trust in the wisdom of this proverb.

This barn stood for ages while becaming increasingly wobbly. One day on my drive to town, soon after taking this photo, I found the barn demolished. There is now an empty space. I often see the shadow of its stories when I go by, the years of hay or cattle or horses, and the hard work of farming not occupying the same place in the lives we currently are leading. I love the lines of snow on the roof, like in a poem.

ONE MORE YEAR BEFORE, this time 2015:

These steps make up for all the work they require by being very photogenic....

I remember distinctly being totally taken by the way the shadows of the trees worked with the bare tree trunks, providing there was both sun AND snow at the same moment in time.

sharing the woods with others

         On a personal note, I would like to pay tribute today to my step-sister Haven, on her birthday. She passed away last month after many years with a less common kind of breast cancer that she took to task with every means possible over 8 or 9 years.  She was a tiger, and she had earlier written several books on how to live a saner, healthier life.  And she loved California where she had lived for almost 50 years.  I send my love to her husband, Robert, and to her son, Steve, his wife Piper, and their two very young children whom Haven was grateful to have been with as much as she could.

My version of fake news: snow photos from LAST YEAR (the truth)

post #408
        Big news week, big community events, big rains. And a big surprise today. After a walk up and back along Sideway Road, I found what I think is a Barred Owl waiting for me on a tree limb, at the bottom of my driveway. I had stopped to look around, before going up the driveway, and I saw the owl, almost by accident. He or she just looked at me, then looked to one side and then the other. (I figured that was a very owl-ly thing to do.) I was holding two soda cans in my right hand, ones I had found along the way.  We looked at each other long enough for me to think I could maybe get my cell phone out of my pocket and take a photo, using only my left hand. However, realistically, that was not to be. I can't even write my name with my left hand. 
       I hope I have another chance to be with that owl. I felt so honored and amazed. 

       So now a few snow photos, as promised, though it's weird since today was 60 degrees and no rain. (Now that I think of it, maybe the owl was confused by the sudden change of weather and was out doing some reconnaissance.  Whoooo knows....)

Actually, this is just like what my driveway looked like a week ago! For a single 24 hours.

This is my favorite photo in this set. There's a lot going on despite its natural monochrome colors.

This winter, I won't have this car -- it died last week. Long story. Funny in parts. So I'm including this photo in tribute to the 184,000 miles of good service every winter, and the shared adventures.

Meanwhile, at the older house, there is also snow. I think this photo has been used once already on this blog, but I love it. This house is still in the family, and this view is special.  It's in the same time frame as the others; it was taken by my son-in-law, Jeremey.

The community events will have to wait a week to share because I am recovering from the work of getting ready for yesterday's Arts and Crafts Festival at Morehead State Univ. -- and in the evening, a special concert by Morehead's own Cave Run Symphony Orchestra.  It was fantastic. There was a chorus of 130! All from the community. Bravo to everyone.

Here's thoughts to those in Alaska regrouping after an earthquake - and to the children still separated from their families at our southern borders which is against any humanitarian impulse that is supposed to define the values of our nation. The snow falls everywhere, on us all, where it's cold enough, and it creates both beauty and extra work. I like to think it's a blanket that can nourish the soil and our souls, despite the inconvenience it causes.  Here's a snowball to everyone. The truth is that we haven't had such a snow yet in this season.