Weekly Photo Challenge: Perspective

I like my deck water feature way more in the winter than in the summer. In the summer I can put plants in it, and have some mosquito fish to eat the mosquito larva. (They are currently waiting patiently in my laundry room for the winter to end while eating fish food flakes). But I have to watch it carefully when it rains because the fish wash over the side onto the deck. That is not good for a fish. I have to tend to it like any garden. In the winter the water feature has a life of it’s own, and it maintains itself. It reflects the weather and tells us the temperature more beautifully than a thermometer. These photos were taken the other day in the morning and it was 29*. Most of this winter it has been frozen solid. Hovering near freezing the ice waxes and wanes. I didn’t get to see much of the delicate ice formations when the temperature goes from above to below freezing this winter. The designs are exquisite! I have had photos of them on here before. The way the ice makes leafy patterns as well as sharp lines is beyond my comprehension. Here are 3 different views of my lovely water feature. What a difference perspective makes. Keep this in mind in your relationships too. Some people see beauty and some see murky leaves drowned in dirty water. And, some people aren’t even paying attention, daydreaming while staring off into space.

Ice Follies

This winter has been so lovely; I will hate to see it leave. Here are some of the really cool ice formations we saw at Alum Creek the other night! It was beautiful. It was muddy in spots, but no one lost a shoe. 😉

Winter Passion

Looking out my window, almost ALL the snow is gone. 😦 Boo. I really love winter, the quiet solitude, the unusual beauty. We didn’t get any snow here in Ohio last year at all. This year we got a lot! It was really great, even though most people (especially the weathermen) complained about how “awful” winter was. Our weatherman always rates the day’s weather, and even if it is beautifully sunny, he gives winter days under a 4, on a scale of 1-10. What is up with that? Winter haters. It was a great winter! Full of snow and ice and cold and just the way a winter should be. I will miss you winter! I will take a day under freezing over a day over 80 any day of the week!!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Object

First off, I have missed my blog! Things happen, time used elsewhere, etc., etc. No excuses, just facts. Second, the photo challenge “Object” features a really cool phenomenon with snow that I have never seen before! Snow Rollers! The conditions need to be just right. Loose snow on top of a harder layer of snow and enough wind to get the ball rolling (haha)! At first when I saw them, I thought it was something the birds had done, or kids, but there were no footprints. Then, everyone said they were talking about them on the news! Well, I have NEVER seen them. And I even lived in Buffalo and Minnesota. So, I am pleased to show you the magnificent snow rollers. You can pick them up, they are light, but don’t fall apart. Too cool. I didn’t see them actually rolling. But you can see their paths. More blog catch-up tomorrow! I am tired after my big 2 hours of shoveling heavy, ice covered, snow today. I should sleep well.

Icicle

Yesterday the sun was shining yet it was still cold. Eventually the icicles fell to the ground. They are pretty, but can be deadly. I even remember a Columbo episode where the murder weapon was an icicle. So, they are not as innocent as they seem. 😉

Night and Day

We had a beautiful snowstorm last night. It started coming down around 9pm or so and was snowing at a hard and steady pace. Almost like rain coming down in snow form, if that makes sense. As such, it was very wet snow, and the weight of it was making tree limbs bend. In my front yard, half of my 13-year-old Rose of Sharon snapped at the bottom and my baby pine trees hung all the way down. Everything  but the Rose of Sharon sprang back up after I knocked the snow off this morning, with a lacrosse stick. Both last night and this morning were so pretty! In a few days it is supposed to be 55* and all of the snow will be gone. This could be the last of the season. I wonder if the deer like it, or if they prefer some other weather? I know the kids like it, as today is a snow day.