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Driver’s side sunrise
This image I actually captured in March, but don’t tell anyone. It was an assignment image – “abstract.”
I love assignments, so I headed out several mornings to see what I could find. Wouldn’t you know it, I discovered this one on the first morning of the hunt.
Woodland Wonder.
I came of age in the suburbs, but there was a large, undeveloped area of field and woods that my group of friends and I just called “The Field.”
Its paths and trails were our playground. We rode mini-bikes, found hollow-tree hiding places and in general pretended we were country kids in another place and time. We spent hours there over the course of our preteen and teen years, and it was also my shortcut to my piano lesson.
We had names for the different landmarks, including “The Devil’s Hill Tree,” a popular meeting spot for the beginnings of many an adventure. It was a familiar, if mysterious, landscape to us, and we were heartbroken when the land was be divded for home building.
Here’s to the wild places of our youth. May they ever be available and not too far away.
April wild winds
The wild winds of March and April create so much drama in the sky. It’s quite distracting while driving.
It’s hard not to be entranced by multi-layered clouds of so many different hues of blue and purple with just a hint of orange. And when the sun breaks through something like this is is simply magical.
I solve the distraction problem by driving about 5 mph or less. Yes, I’m the one who is putt-putting along the country roads. Maybe I need one of those bumper stickers that reads, “this vehicle stops at all chances for an amazing photo.”
But the mud from Lake Krentz (see previous post) would only obscure it. So I usually just pull over, put my hand out the window and motion those who need to get by to pass. I don’t want to miss a good sky.
Is this the last year for Lake Krentz?
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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!
Crocus hocus pocus
There is some famous poem about the crocus, but in my Google search to find it, my internal voice kept chanting “fungus among us,” and I know that’s not it!
Love finding crocus under the snow, its white or purple blooms a spring surprise. In these cold climes, I’ll take any sign of spring!
Thoughts turn toward the yard at this point in the year, and for a few short weeks, anything seems possible. Maybe we’ll have a new area or two with interesting plants and new colors. Maybe this year, I’ll keep up with the garden! Anything seems possible as April bursts forth with new life and wet feet!
It’s really too soon in Wisconsin to plant anything, but we eagerly wait for the danger of frost to pass, gathering our seeds and straightening our trowels.
And here to cheer us on is the lovely, persistent and delicate yet hardy, crocus. Happy Easter!
Rein him in!
This photo was actually captured last March at the schooling horse show at Lost Creek Ranch. Nickers (the horse) was not having a good day, and his rider was doing her best to show him off as well as prove her own ability.
I really like this photo: the textures, the determination on the rider's face and the mud flying. It's not technically perfect, or even very good, but it has the ability to take me back to that cold March day, hear the sounds of hooves on dirt, and see the steam coming from the nostrils of the horse, the stubborn tilt of his head.
There were not many blue ribbons that day, but at least a few lessons learned, and that is what is supposed to happen at a schooling show.
Rocky reflections
I love the serenity of water and rocks. Something about sitting quietly on the riverside brings peace to my soul. Listening to the wind in the trees and the calls of wildlife calms my spirit.
Except, while capturing this image, behind me are four rowdy kids throwing rocks and in general up to hijinks on the beach. Their joy is infectious and they don’t sit still for long.
Still, I can dream of my small personal haven when I look at this photograph, and know that peace is largely a concept of the inner world.
“Snow fence.”
Yes, most places are now experiencing some semblance of spring, but in Wisconsin, we know that snow is just a weather-whim away!
Nevertheless, against an early morning blue sky, snow can take on magical qualities and be quite pretty. Plus, even in Wisconsin, March snow is not gonna last!
I love the abstract crystal patterns.
“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.