April (snow) showers delay May flowers

April (snow) showers delay May flowers

I've photographed this stand of trees many times on my morning walks. This morning, I was off to an appointment but I had to stop the car, because this sight was just too breathtaking, and I'm not talking about the wind chill.

Despite the fact that it's April 6, and it should NOT be 16 degrees F (-8C), even in Wisconsin. Despite the fact that we were literally trapped in the house during Tuesday's blizzard, without cat food of all things. (Plenty of milk and bread, though.) Despite the fact that it seems like Spring is never gonna get here.

Because the swirling snow, the rising sun, the poofy clouds - they are beautiful. And unless we make an effort to stop and look, we won't see the magnificent beauty that surrounds us on a daily basis.

Did I mention I'd forgotten my gloves? BRRRRR!

"Resting."

“Resting.”

There’s nothing like a Sunday afternoon stroll in the winter, when you have to wear your boots and snow pants and winter jacket. But after trekking for awhile, you might find yourself tired, so tired that you need to lie down in the sun for awhile. The cool air emanating from the snow is very soothing and you could almost take a nap. But you can’t, because you’ll get hypothermia. Still, it’s nice to lie there awhile, soaking up that vitamin D.

"Sparkles"

Sparkles

Winter is beautiful, even in February. And on some mornings, the sun, wind and snow combine to create a magical effect. Almost like living within a snow globe.

“On the Horicon”

On the Horicon

I was returning home from Milwaukee last summer after a family wedding. The drive home can be quite tedious on the freeway, and I had my camera along and no impatient passengers, so I decided to take the scenic route. I won’t detail it here, but it was a meandering journey that turned the quick five-hour freeway trip into a 12-hour trek which included a few state park drive-throughs and some new discoveries for future outings.

This was a photo I back-tracked for. I glimpsed it as I drove through a town and turned the car around to head back and capture the moment. The quiet reflection of the white boathouse in the afternoon sun, the weeds bending in the slight breeze, this was a place that I could imagine sitting near with a glass of wine or a good beer, maybe playing my guitar. This would make a great oil painting, and for you artists out there, there’s room to set up your easel.

This photo is featured in my 2018 calendar, and is also slotted to be available in my second edition of Seasons of Wisconsin cards (in pre-order, for release later in 2018.) You can obtain both by contacting me.