Cold and Wet: Happiness is Snow

Even though it means lots of digging to get the truck out and shoveling the driveway in order to get to work, I am always thrilled when it snows! The warming of the climate has caused so many worse things than alot less snow in Southwest Virginia, but even still I am saddened when we don’t get any. Ten days ago, we had the first snow of the year, and even though it was just a few inches, it made me happy.

This was my view on the way to work at 7:15am

And this was my view on the way home 12 hours later

This past weekend, the forecasters began calling for a significant snow fall, and the predictions started a full week ahead of time. Usually that means that the snow won’t happen but this time, the weather dudes were right! The wet stuff can cause misery, especially for the homeless and the less fortunate, but since it started on a Sunday, I was lucky enough to be able to just enjoy it, and photograph it, even if the photos were from my cellphone.

The frigid temps gave the beautiful fluffy stuff an icy coating, but we shoveled enough to get the vehicles ready for the morning commute.

Love it or hate it, you have to admit that snow makes for a beautiful landscape.

Stay warm and safe, ya’ll!

Cleanse Our Earth, Soothe Our Spirit

Most of us in the United States are in a state of anger and disbelief.  I won’t desecrate this blog space like the insurrectionists desecrated the US Capitol and our country.  I will however share the beauty of the snow that fell the day after, snow that helped to soothe our spirits to a small degree.

It wasn’t much, but it was a heavy, wet snow that clung to the leaves and branches.

We took a walk and felt the snowflakes on our faces, and the fresh, cold air gave us energy and gave us hope.

The next morning, I was outside in my PJs trying to capture the early sun on ice.

Even an error in camera settings somehow was a good thing.

I hung my new RBG Ornament in a tree and reflected on her words and the work we need to do.

We are worried.  We are angry. We are frightened.  We are appalled.

But somehow we must find the energy to keep on fighting, keep on persisting, and keep on resisting hatred.

One Red Ball

Happiness = The first snow of the season

Plus, since my office is closed, I have a few hours to visit all of you!

Fresh

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It is hard to tell, but the snow was still falling when I took this image, allowing us, as my friend Jim over at Poetry in Motion said, to walk on virgin earth.

As I write this post, quickly before leaving for work, I am pondering if after 4 1/2 years it is time to freshen up my blog. I’ve not changed a thing since I first stepped onto the virgin earth of this blog space. Perhaps it is time.

Pondering.

A Different View

As I write this post, I realize that several of my blogging friends are not the fans of snow that I am.

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Yes, I have lived up north.  I loved the snow then and I love the snow now.  And the less attractive parts of winter make the warmth and new growth of spring all the more welcome.

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The best part of this particular snowstorm?  It happened on a Saturday and I didn’t have to dig myself out at the crack of dawn to drive to work!

We didn’t get much, maybe 4 inches or so.  Yet still my heart is happy as I worry about the day when snow is a only a memory.

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The question is: how do you photograph the snow in a different way?  How do you avoid the same old snow scenes?

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Especially when you’ve not left the house and are still in your jammies.   When you stand on the porch in your slippers, where just a bit of snow has collected, and try to capture the glory of snow.

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And then, you wander back inside and enjoy the quiet day, and the opportunity to play with photography.

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Stay warm, my friends, and enjoy the day.

Surprise!

Illness visited my house last week, and because of that, I was not paying attention to the weather report._MG_1536-2

 Okay, let’s be honest, I never pay attention to the weather report.

Needless to say, I was surprised when I opened the curtains Saturday morning to see snow on the ground.

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We’ve all seen Daffodils push up through the snow, but I’m pretty sure my Redbud Tree had not seen the white stuff before.

Between spring snow and upcoming travel, my bike will remain quietly on the carport for another week.  Sigh …

Opportunities

Having the opportunity to take a walk in this,

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is worth having the “opportunity” to do this once the storm has passed and the snow has begun to melt.

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The ERA and the Art of Snow

I’m a day late for the Valentines Day love, but I’m right on time for the snow love.

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Southwest Virginia is in the midst of another winter storm.  So far, we’ve got 6 inches of unexpected snow, which is soon to be followed by an inch of ice, and I am missing the Equal Rights Amendment Rally at the State Capital.  Did you realize that the ERA has STILL NOT, 100 years later, been ratified?  I’m bummed about that and about missing the rally.

In an effort to keep a positive attitude, I decided to show the snow in a different way.

 How ’bout a little Through the Screen photography?

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Or even some Screen Art?

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or the abstract Snow on Leaves?

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Hang in there, my friends.

After the Shoveling

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By the time these images post, the snow will be gone and the East Coast will have moved on to the next big story.  Thanks for checking in this week.  Hope you’ve enjoyed my #JonasBlizzard2016 images.  And remember! I’d love to see yours, so please share a link!

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Why the VT cup?  Much hydration is needed when shoveling a long, steep driveway, and I just liked the way the cup looked in the snow.

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All Over But the Shoveling

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Sunday dawned bright, with that crystal clear blue sky that often follows a storm.  The temperature hovered around 20, but the sun made it seem much warmer.

My Weber Grill, forgotten and uncovered, became a work of art.  Or so it seemed to me.

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It’s been fun sharing a few photos at a time, and I very much appreciate you stopping by to take a look.  To see other images from the Blizzard of 2016, please visit #Jonas, Snowbound Bike Chick, The Lull, or Keep The Feeder Full.