Magical Morning in January

This little chickadee drew me outside.

The wonder of hoarfrost kept me in my wintery garden for a bit.

My purple birdcage is only partially covered.

Our backyard fence, bent from heavy snowfall earlier this winter.

I counted six nuthatches at our feeders today along wit a multitude of chickadees.

When the sun appeared, the glistening hoarfrost was magical.

My garden ‘Buggettes’ prove to be colorful bright spots this time of year.

Hoarfrost looks downright prickly here!

Another nuthatch, ready for his turn at our feeders.

Trying to capture the glistening as hoarfrost is struck by sun’s warmth.

My glass Ladybug is another bright spot in my winter garden.

Clusters throughout my garden were covered with hoarfrost, but the sun was fading fast.

Joe Pye Weed covered with hoarfrost in front of my blue chairs.

For a minute I didn’t recognize this!  Metal obelisk waiting for spring plants to emerge.

As the sun disappeared, I snapped this last shot & faded into the warmth of my house.  Thanks for stopping by!  Especially in the depth of winter!!

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays from my  heart to yours!

Why I say ‘Happy Holidays’:  Rest assured my Christian friends, to you I say ‘Merry Christmas’ and completely understand the concept in it’s entirety.  That is… from my failed Catholic, Lutheran perspective. I happen to have friends and relatives who are Jewish, Buddhist, Pagan, Atheist, Hindu, Wicca, Shintoist, Rastafari, Bahá’í, Jains, and more. Personally, I cherish these differences and choose a combination of them all to practice (except Atheist – I do believe there is a higher power & from personal experience know that we are not in control of everything). I say ‘Happy Holidays’ joyfully and wholeheartedly to encompass the entire range of religious, spiritual, giving season of peace toward all mankind. And womankind. Wishing you “Happy Holidays” is my way of saying ‘I love you all’, no matter your religious/spiritual preference.  From my heart to yours. xoxoxo

January Storm in the Columbia River Gorge

Icicles formed the first day of this January storm in the Columbia River Gorge and I realized I’d never tried to photograph one up close.

Looking through icicles hanging off our roof into the forest, I put on some rose colored glasses for my own amusement.

Then I got back to work, shoveling decks.  This side takes all my energy because snow falls here from the roof.

One side of our front deck before shoveling.  This is usually the last to get done because it’s a step down & if it doesn’t get shoveled, nothing is at risk.  My kilns are below the back deck, so I do that one first.

Heavy snowfall the first day, it was gray and dreary, but makes a pretty picture.

I needed a little color, so found my yellow glass garden fairy to photograph.  It was snowing hard, but you can still see her.

Day two of our January storm gave us 24″ of snow, overnight!  Treasure loved it!

Looking at the same half of my deck on day two, even my red glass ladybug is covered with snow.

My glass garden fairy is getting worried about the snow level rising!

Forging a path to the road where our cars are parked.  I throw snowballs, Treasure chases them.  All the way to the road.

From the front, my blue chairs are buried, but I can still see blue behind them.

Treasure chasing snowballs in the back yard.

Day two of the storm and I’m running out of shoveling steam.  Back to the rose colored glasses!

Everyone has a job to do during a snowstorm….well, except Critter.  “You can’t make me” is her mantra.

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope your winter is warm and toasty!!

 

Avalanche

We had an avalanche of snowfall over the last 24 hours.  I went out this morning to catch a glimpse…trudging through knee high heavy snowman-building snow with camera in hand……..

The day before I noticed too many buds for January.  And little sprigs of green poking out of the ground.

Our daytime temperature had soared into the 40’s and some might have thought spring came early.  But I knew it was far to0 early to start thinking spring.

Alas, my beautiful blue chairs need some snowpeople to enjoy them.  Perhaps I’ll make that my plan for today.

‘Dawn’ is still showing color in her buds, that remain in spite of our last icy freeze.

My little glass garden fairy is usually pouty on a good day, but covered in snow…..

…she is downright annoyed!

Then I heard the crash of snow falling off tree limbs as the sun came out.  I was happy to have seen the action before dashing back inside lest it fall on me!

Thanks to the snow plow drivers for keeping our roads clear!

And thanks to you for stopping by!  Until next time…….