Sunshine, Snow, and My Mystery Bird

We woke up to blue skies and sunshine sparkling on the little covering of snow that had arrived yesterday. It was the kind of snow that has no chance of sticking around once it meets full daylight. So, in boots and pajamas, I went out to take a few pictures before it disappeared.

I liked the thin line of snow framing the edge of the fence and also the way the top of the tree was bent over from the weight of the snow. It reminded me of something I might find in Whoville- Thursday, February 9.

I was busy trying to take pictures of the sunlight shining through some branches, when I noticed a familiar outline high in a tree a few houses away. I quickly abandoned the whole sun through the branches thing and zeroed in on the return of my mystery bird- Thursday, February 9.

I had to zoom in so much that just pushing the button to take the picture moved the camera enough that I couldn't get a good shot. So, in I went for the tripod. I wish I would have thought to have one of the kids take a picture of me taking these pictures. I am sure it was quite a sight. But I did get some clear images of this guy's back and legs, which is what I had been hoping to do. That said, I still can't say for sure what kind of bird it is. Sharp-shinned or Cooper's Hawk, your guess is as good as mine. Hey, maybe way better. If anybody reading this happens to be an expert bird watcher, and has not yet told me for fear I will bombard you with questions and beg to come along on your bird spotting expeditions, I promise, in exchange for a positive I.D., that I will not bother you. Well, maybe just a few questions every now and then and some subtle comments about how I would love to look for birds with someone who could be blessed by sharing their years of knowledge and experience with someone new to the pursuit. Now how bothersome could that be? -Thursday, February 9.

I love the perspective in this picture. The trees in the foreground grow along the fence that the bird had been sitting on when I took his picture before. I enjoyed watching him today in my neighbor's tree much better- Thursday, February 9.

When I made myself stop taking pictures to go inside and do the motherly thing of making sure First Grader was ready for school, I noticed this little bit of evergreen at the base of our deck steps. I couldn't just walk by and leave it there un-photographed. After all, one picture (Okay, three. Really,who can take just one?) wouldn't make her late. And if I waited, the perfectly dusted snow would surely be gone by the time I got back to it. So I did what any good multi-tasking mom would do. I cracked open the back door, yelled in something about teeth-brushing, homework, and a backpack, and then scurried back to the patio to get this picture. (In case you are wondering, First Grader was ready for school with time to spare). It was a great morning- Thursday, February 9.

Imagining

"And then she saw that there was a light ahead of her; not a few inches away where the back of the wardrobe ought to have been, but a long way off. Something cold and soft was falling on her. A moment later she found that she was standing in the middle of a wood at night-time with snow under her feet and snowflakes falling through the air."

"[she] felt a little frightened, but she felt very inquisitive and excited as well...She began to walk forward, crunch-crunch, over the snow and trough the wood towards the other light."

 "In about ten minutes she reached it and found that it was a lamp-post. As she stood looking at it, wondering why there was a lamp-post in the middle of a wood and wondering what to do next..."

Thanks, C.S. Lewis. How fun to live in a world of imagination- Wednesday, February 8.

(Quotes in italics taken from The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis)

Car Washes and Snow

I should have figured the prediction for snow would be right today. I spent all morning and early afternoon driving around town in a van that had just gone through the car wash on Monday (It was almost 50 degrees and sunny then). Oh well. The van was clean. I tried.

Here are some shots of the snow.

 Snow falling in front of the fence- Wednesday, February 8.

White branches against more white branches against a white sky. Too much white in this picture, not enough contrast. So I tried to create some in P.S.E., contrast that is- Wednesday, February 8.

 Detail of a branch covered in snow- Wednesday, February 8.

Surprise Snow

Pictures were easy to take today. We all woke up to an unexpected covering of snow. The last of the precipitation had been freezing rain, which covered everything with a perfect crust of ice. Footsteps crunched and bare branches glistened. A great day to be outside- Saturday, January 21.

Two pictures of my butterfly bush.

I loved how the snow and ice nestled down into the pine needles. I also liked the footprints in the background.

The muted look of the colors in this picture is what caught my eye. I think it is pretty.

I love this picture. But I must give credit where credit is due. I had stomped the heart outline into the snow, it was perfect footprint snow! When First Grader noticed it, she proceeded to arrange this picture. She put herself just so in the heart, posed, and fixed her gaze on somewhere far away. If she knew how to put the kid camera on a tripod and use the timer, she wouldn't have needed me at all. But I am glad I got to shoot it and that she still needs me, at least until she figures out how to use the tripod!