still catching up

         This is my last chance (I hope) to share winter photos that are part of the SIXTEEN DAYS of ice, then snow, then more ice, that we've had.  Most of that time there was with no phone or no electricity because of the amount of territory covered in order to provide repairs.  I'm so glad our electricity is back, though I remain somewhat wary.  There are still trees and limbs ready to fall over wires. In any case, thanks be for all of the hard work across our region that eventually put us back together again. Now there are horrible floods across southern Kentucky.

         Some photos, not all picture perfect, but when the photographer is iced in, every other warm body is fascinating and picturesque.  When I first met this opossum, he or she was badly wounded with an open wound across the back. It looks like it healed, and I wonder if a white back is natural or simply showing the healed area.

If anyone wonders why I don't have my taxes done yet, they can blame the competition and surmise which I find to be more interesting....

By the way, Cardinals are Kentucky's bird.

It was very cold outside, and I assume the puffed up chest had something to do with that.  I don't have camera equipment to do birds, but I enjoy even this much of their presence.

This downy didn't move for many minutes! Did the rare feel of sunshine captivate him?

This is my favorite bird photo from the storm.

        At last I made it back home. This photo is me showing my friend/hostess, before leaving,  how I had found the most comfortable place in the whole house.  Thank you again, Tom and Molly, for 7 days of TLC.  Sorry I won those early Rummy 500 games.  Very rude of me. And sorry I didn't really get to take over your whole house.  Just a lot of it.  My blog is being contrary tonight, or I would add two photos of you making that delicious naan.

Happiness is kind friends laughing with you.

 Happiness is also seeing electricity repair trucks in every driveway when I am almost home:

 

very icy times

     YES, there has been a lengthy and damaging ice storm in Kentucky.! I still don't have electricity at home, so this blog is being put together at the home of friends in Morehead -- night three.  I don't mind the cold or the isolation at home, but it's a worry not to be able to have a working phone or keep food frozen in the freezer.  On the other hand, I'm fortunate to have water there, and great neighbors.

    I love some of the photos I have made during this time. I wish everyone could have a warm and dry place to be, with food and water.  We all sure have to do a better job managing our resources, and preparing for the on-going changes in weather patterns!!

ENJOY --

The thrill of actually seeing the sun, even if only briefly!

Then there's the time honored delight of imagining the sun...

early days of the storm

 

Thank you dear neighbors, out checking on neighbors.  I loved our snowy visit!!

Spending time in the car, under the carport, to charge up the iPhone,

and the view from the driver's seat during the charging, seeing some of the pond past the snow, and the tire tracks from the Rhino....

 

from inside

another time sitting in the car

that same ex-Christmas tree, now a tree for the birds, from inside the house

riding the ridge to go to town for a warmer night and internet time

The next day, on the ridge again, after going to the house to check the pipes and get some clean clothes. 

    So many thanks, Tom and Molly, for taking me in from the cold, despite how very well I thought I was managing. It's indeed much better, however, to have access to your working telephone and wi-fi, if needed, and then there are the feasts that keep appearing!! Tonight was, for me, a very thanks-giving dinner.  

    Now the hour is late, so more next week.  I am so conscious of all the many people who are not equipped to be in a good situation during this cold winter time. Please be safe while we all wait for spring.

admitting how much I still need to learn

post #477 -- warmer today, but still feels like winter. 
          Between the cold weather, some ice, and changing schedules resulting from being wary about the roads -- plans changing and such -- my photo making has been somewhat reduced.  Even so, after gathering some recent photos to share today, I noticed that somehow I must have changed a setting on my Canon -- the images don't have as many pixels as usual. I have no idea what happened though I'm pretty sure it's pretty obvious to almost anyone.  Luckily I am friends with almost anyone, so I look forward to learning more about my camera. I just mention all this because my blog intro, from 8 years ago, states these posts are about photography as well as about Appalachia; I get to share the glitches as well as the glamour of doing photography.  
         So some snow, ice, shadows in my attempts to capture the unusual:

      Still near home, the view from the mailbox after the ice and during the days of snow:

       Watching the red-bellied wood-pecker using the porch post for a seed opener.  There's just the single bird of his kind, or otherwise I'd have to discourage him from his efforts.

   This is the view beyond him, still during the snows.  No longer any ice on the pond, but now the driveway is covered, overnight.  No shoveling required.

       During this series of crazy weather days, I took a walk in a nearby field, scouting out the goings-on, looking for clues.  I believe this is evidence of deer:

                and this is evidence of beauty along the road, along the bank by the road.  It's all really just hanging there. It's wonderful to see the intrepid greens.

 

        During these last couple of weeks, we had a great visit with N and H -- walks in the woods with cats and cozy moments on the couch.  I was able to see them more than usually happens, and I'm glad I managed to make two good photos of them. I'm thankful for family.

       I wish everyone safe travels, good health, and relief from floods and the many kinds of storms. I'm thinking this day of friends in England and Scotland, during the major winds and rains they are having.  I copied the following photo from a news story about England.  I admired the photo, bracketed by the ducks and the woman on the phone -- one of those lovely photos of something terrible.

photo by Oli Scarff/ Agence France-Press, Getty Images

ice appreciation #2 -- now that spring is a mere week away

post #422
       

ice forming on the pond, last winter, at my house

another other moment of ice forming on the pond

The next two photos were posted on my blog a few years ago, but they are special. The photographer is JOHN FLAVELL. This is the same waterfall of last week's photos, but they were even more beautiful the day he was there.  I love the second photo, which shows a detail from the middle of the first photo. Magical. Thank you, John, for loving these woods of ours, and for sharing your views of this place.

 

creek ice, up close and personal

also along the creek

This photo was made by Rebecca --  the same waterfall, last week's version.

Please remember that if you click on any photo, they all line up like ducks at the bottom of the screen. If you then click on them one by one, they are seen larger and sharper. Enjoy!

I'm still looking for two more photos that I want to include in these two ice-themed posts. I hope to post them very soon.  I should make a sort of pun by including the fact that I'm trying NOT to have a melt down while looking for them......

Ice is nice when not on the roads or breaking branches.

post #421
           Slippery times. We are once again not getting the worst of the storm of the week, but it will be very cold for a few days. 
           I hope somehow everyone has at least seen some of the beauty outside. In case not, I've decided to post some ice photos, all made during the past 5 years. 
           I always am conscious of being privileged to have a warm, dry place at my home. 

Please note: Soon you will realize this post had to end rather abruptly because I can't get the space to expand. My apologies. I would rather post it now, however, and fix it later, or perhaps do a second post on this subject. 
           

It rarely happens that the top and the bottom of this frozen waterfall meet in the middle. Here is an example of making ends ALMOST meet. One time a friend and I heard a big crash on our way to "the big waterfall".  We surmised that the top section has simply fallen off all of a piece.

cliffs and rhododendrons

the white ribbons of frozen creeks

ice mystery in McCreary County, in southeastern Kentucky

delicate shapes for the moment

 

 

two glorious shapes from under the waterfall in the next photo

overhangs, along the creek

spray art

back up at the pond