W-w-w-whoa!

Intrepid.


...16 degrees,
and 64 mph
wind
gusts today.
It is brutal out...
punishing.
I am bundled
beyond recognition.
The wind is howling
in the highest tree tops
causing even the dog
to look up.
The house creaks.
Mini twisters form
on the road with
swirling snow in spirals...
Overhead, the trees knock
and bump together
like chattering teeth.
I take refuge on the
back side of the
mountain
today.
Lakhi
doesn't
seem
to mind.

They say

'They say'
on the
Appalachian
trail
what today
proves
to be true:
"Just when
you get used
to
the weather
being
one way~~
it changes."
Top: The
puff ball
tree is back :):)
(snow filled
little
cups~
like hands...)
Top of
the mornin'
to 'ya!

Lichen

Top Photos: Appalachian
winter lichen. I have several trees that i can see from my own window
~they stand out so green amid the wintry gray all around. See the pale green colors and the gray hues?...a beautiful miniature world of its own living on our tallest trees :)





Bottom photo: a gray day...

A Winter Sky Offering...

Saturated
winter
morning
skies.
Today
is cloudy.
I like the
purple
hued
borders;
a study
in
winter
strata~
black
gray
blue
purple
white.
:)

We
~again~
are
expecting
snow.

Voila!

A continuation of...

my mountain top obsession.

Logging Path Comparison

For Fun: This speaks
for itself :) ! I call it
"Kickin' Back;"
an altogether
different location...
Above Post Pic:
Obsession :):)
Middle Pic:
Long winter shadows















































Bottom Pics: I've been wanting to
do a summer/winter comparison
of the logging path that goes
further up the mountain
across from our drive so
here it is...

For my son...

Yesterday's ice is melting

Top Photo: An old leaning barn
(a gift for Talon :)); a shot of mine taken last (early) fall.

Middle: The front wreath is looking better with fall colors from a winter beating. I will 'have to' take it down I suppose. :(
Bottom: Ice melting e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e. It was 47 degrees here yesterday :)

Mountain Tops Today; a humble offering :)

...wordless~~
yet they are
speaking.
:)

Winter Views (with Lakhi Girl)

There was ~beautiful scenery~ all around us today. I could sense the brilliant sunshine outside as I was scurrying through my morning routine.
Eager to feel the sun~~
the dog and I set out!

It is bright and a brisk 31 degrees.
The sun lights up the sky and warms us as we slosh and we slip down the mountain. Well~ I slip. The dog (Lakhi girl) has superb traction and a totally fearless nature. Lakhi is undaunted by any and all harsh conditions the winter has thus far thrown our way.

I tried to take the logging trail across from our drive with the dog (my first impulse here) but got one leg stuck in about 30 inches of snow. It punched through the crusty top layer.

This is the neighbor's home (top photo)~
we visit daily...
around and down the knoll.
It's a picture book perfect home.
Look at the mountain peeking
through from just behind
their roof.

Each day~
the clouds
the mist
the sun
and the color
of the mountain tops
present themselves differently.

Sometimes I go to see them~~
and they're 'not there' at all.

We have found that the snow
covering (and the sparseness
of the winter tree line)
helps us to see each mountain
top's distinctness and full form,
thus helping us to identify them.

(Middle photo)
What's a dog to do?
(She is perched on top
of a 3 foot snowbank
and she is trying
to smell through
to the earthy ground
she knows is below.
She stops often
and smells very carefully.)
:)

Random winter photos today

Top: How wondrous this is to me. I love the proverbial Christmas tree; here in N.C. we have Christmas tree farms; many of them. I also love the lighting in this picture.
Second From top: I promise, I won't leave you here; I know~it's mind boggling really.


Third Photo from top: A protesting Bird Friend who stopped by...:) maybe he was warning us!
Bottom photo: Before the snows~~ now (for at least the time being) they are M.I.A.

Early Morning Snowfall

My morning walk
(bundled up)
is peaceful.
The mountain area
where we live is very
~~very~~
quiet.

If it were possible to hear
the snow fall--here--
methinks that i might.
And so-- I listen.
I am still.
:)
Can you hear it?

The trees speak of the
wintry velvet-white
snow
as it falls softly
like a blanket.
They remark...

"How gracefully
it falls! 'Tis grace!"

Puffy flakes
sprinkle down.
I am bewitched.
The wintry white
snowfall
distills
me
down
and I am
~yet again~
part child.
"'Tis grace! 'tis grace!
and I am snatched away!"

All that thrills my soul~

A Gift to you today!
[...the above photo is the
~actual color~
coming through our strangely
woven trees at sunrise.
This small photo --here--
(both taken by my husband)
was taken after the
-red sky-...
Simply amazing-eh?
Will nature's splendor
ever cease? Today~
(Tuesday) we have 40-70 mph
winds this morning in blizzardy
conditions @ 16 degrees.

I wanted to get this photo out to you early
as I am concerned (at times)
when the winds gust that we will
loose our power.
No school here (again also...)

To the photo:
...methinks it 'tis truly
scrumptious; the red color thrills my soul. :)]
God Bless you!

P.S.S. :) I sent this photo out for
~Valentines Day~ [but not everyone
got it so here my offering is, again. :) :)]
We are peas in a pod snug
'on the mountain' today.