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Cold Outside, Warmth Inside

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As it is where many of you live, it’s a wee bit chilly here in Southwest Virginia.  The subfreezing temps with furiously whipping wind, provide the perfect excuse to stay inside, work on photography, catch up on my own blog, and with yours, too.

Sadly, the bike sits outside in the cold, waiting for the temperatures to rise.

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Yesterday morning, instead of being in my office at 8:15, I had a meeting at Radford’s new locally owned coffee shop.  Radford Coffee Company is located in an historic building, recently renovated by a favorite local developer, Joe Fortier.

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The Company gives its profits to help in the education of over 1200 students in 14 communities along the Rio Coco, the river that is the boundary line between Nicaragua and Honduras.

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The details of the renovation and the warmth inside the shop allow patrons to forget the chill for a little while.

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The furniture and decorations include a curved church pew and a Whizzer Motorbike.

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And on this particular day, a Radford mentoring program called CAMP was holding a fundraiser.  CAMP “offers a chance for Radford’s kids to explore their community and to discover how many opportunities are out there just waiting for them”.

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Soon enough, though, it was time to head to the office.  With the warmth to sustain me, I stopped to take a shot of the cold, beautiful sky.

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And at the end of the day?  An opportunity to warm up with a little single malt scotch and time with a friend.

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Stay warm, my friends.

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Hiking Surprised Me

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My friend Karen has joined WordPress! Karen was present at the blogger gathering last April, so a few of you will remember meeting her. Karen will be sharing her hiking adventures in a new blog called The Unassuming Hiker. Pay her a visit if you have a moment to spare.

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I used to avoid the outdoors at all costs.  I don’t like bugs and crawly things and was not too crazy about walking in the woods.  Also, having knee issues, I doubted that I could actually climb mountains.  When I had my 59th birthday, I decided to try something new. First I had to lose some weight to take pressure off my knee and then I was motivated to try hiking after looking at pictures of my husband and daughter on top of McAfee’s Knob – probably the most photographed spot on the Appalachian Trail.

That first hike hurt.  My entire body was exhausted after the almost 8 mile adventure. But the feeling I got when I finally dragged myself to the top of that mountain was worth the pain.  I did it!

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McAfee’s Knob

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It was amazing!  Since then, I have become a regular hiker and I love every new adventure.

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Barbed Wire 3 Ways

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Well, why not make a quick stop on the way to an early morning grocery run?

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I purposefully removed clarity to emphasize the frost on the wire.

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 Admit it, you love frost on barbed wire, too.

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I mean really, what’s not to love?

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Feeding The Senses

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It was just 24 hours, maybe a few more, but it was 24 hours of joy for the senses.  All five of them.

After taking care of a few errands, I packed up the truck and hit the road for Richmond.  On the way out of town, I couldn’t help but stop to capture the Sight of Glencoe.  Built in 1870, Glencoe was the home of a Civil War General, and currently houses a museum and art gallery.

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Soon enough, I was on the way to see the Girls Of August.  Some of you may remember that the GOAs are the women I attended the Medical College of Virginia with over 20 years ago.  We meet every August for a summer getaway and we also meet for what we call our Mid Winter Sanity Check in February.

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What a Weekend!  The Sound of laughter, of stories being told, and of the neighbor’s laundry flapping in the breeze. (okay, okay, I couldn’t really hear it but I liked this image and wanted to include it).

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The Smell and Taste of a delicious meal (thank you, Becky; you are a master in the kitchen!),

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and of several yummy beverages, including this glass of wine, showcasing a neat reflection of Jan.

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There was beauty,

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and opportunities for photography.

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Do you think it’s better in monochrome or color?

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And finally, there was the feel of the cold snow on my feet as I took this picture.  So yes, Touch was there this past weekend, too.  The B&W version of this will be my contribution to Monochromia soon.

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A feast for the senses, and for the heart and the spirit, as well.

And oh yes, the bike started up just fine today!  The battery tender did it’s job though the frigid temps (so far).  Maybe the weekend will offer a ride!

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Go Red for Women!

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Hello my WordPress Friends! I’m re-blogging from my practice site, New River Women’s Health.  Please Go Red / Wear Red Tomorrow to help spread the word about the #1 Killer in Women!

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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.

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Keep The Feeder Full

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During much of the storm, I was inside working on Nurse Practitioner Continuing Education Units.  I’d dash out to take a photo, and come right back in to work.  Very early on Saturday morning (2:30am), I was outside shooting and was intrigued by the sight of this chair.

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You just never know what will catch the eye of a photographer.

To see other images from the Blizzard of 2016, please visit #Jonas, Snowbound Bike Chick, or The Lull.

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The Lull

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On Friday, there was a lull in the storm; a few hours when the snow stopped falling.  I was dismayed!

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Yes! I love the adventure that comes with snow.  There is excitement in the air.  A change of pace.

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As David Dudley of The New York Times said, snow “briefly hides everything – the plastic grocery bags and mini-marts and dog poop and salt grimed Toyotas and sundry disorder of modernity.  Watching the quotidian American crudscape transform into a fairy-tale kingdom is a legitimate wonder.  Name another disaster that leaves an afflicted region more attractive in it’s wake”.  It’s a great opinion piece; you should read it!

To see a couple more images from the Blizzard of 2016, please visit #Jonas or Snowbound Bike Chick.

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Snowbound Bike Chick

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If you found time to visit yesterday, you know that I am posting an image a day this week, all of which showcase the beauty that was the Blizzard of 2016. Visit #Jonas to see yesterday’s image.  I’d love to see your winter photos as well, so please feel free to leave a link to your snow images.

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I am not immune to the fact that those without power / heat, and others stranded on highways, spent time suffering.  Most of us though, had an opportunity for time with family, books and games, exercise (ie shoveling), cooking, and were mostly just inconvenienced.