Tag Archives: snow

George Washington’s Birthday

Posted on by Standard 4

My son Ryan brought two grandkids with him up to Engleville Pond to do some ice fishing. Ellie and Evan got to see the ice auger at work and listen to dad drone on about how to set a tip-up, then they were free to cavort about.  So maybe more cavorting than fishing. It was in the mid-20’s and overcast, and all that snow made for tricky exposures. It’s tough to check pix on the camera screen, too, because of the brightness. Even with all the modern metering, snow is still overwhelmingly bright.  I got too involved looking for stick arms, berry buttons and other adornments, as well as assembling a snowman to put them on. Didn’t shoot as many photos as I could have, and I think I actually fished for a sum total of perhaps two minutes. Cavorting is so much better. I carved a few facial features into the snow, and inventive Ellie colored balls of snow with her blue drink to make eyes. Ryan said “He looks like George Washington!” Maybe the pix don’t show it, or maybe you had to be participating in the cavorting to appreciate it.

From The Pond
Fishers!
Snowbirds
Evan
Ellie
Snow Angels
Manning The Auger
Frolicking
Taste Tester
Ice Stair
All Aboard!
Snow Machine
The Gathering
Rolling The Snow
…Over The Brother
Artists Commence
Progress
Final Touches
Mr. President
Dapper, indeed!
Evan The Mule
Load Out
Spillway Bridge
Homeward Bound
Until Next Time!

I’d like to promise more fotos and less frolic next time, but somehow that seems unlikely.

 

Paz

 

Winter Gallery

Posted on by Standard 2

Some photos of the beautiful, snowy, blowy winter before it fades into spring. 

 

Down The Lane
Snowy Valley
Drifting
Shadow Painting
Sugar Shack
Bowmaker’s
Geese “On” The Pond
Hard Water
Color Of February
Eastern Bluebird
Pom Poms
North Loop Trail
Juney Was Here
Winter Berries
Soft Rock Wall
Evening At Engleville
Robins Return
Glorious Sunset
Snow Geese
Worm Moon
Moon And Snow Geese

An early spring equinox this year, as the sun crosses the equator on the trek northward.

Maybe that means winter will return sooner, too! One can only hope!

These skis are terrible on grass.

 

As of tomorrow, Happy Spring!

 

Paz

Snow Dogs

Posted on by Standard Reply

We were fortunate to have a local dogsledder, Kate Walrath of Run By Dogs, give us a demonstration at the village Library. She told us about different types of sled dogs, including the Siberian Husky and the Alaskan Husky. The latter is a smaller, rather plain looking dog. I was surprised to discover these canine competitors were about the size of my own Sassy June (a Chow-Husky mix called a Chusky). I thought sled dogs would all be big, strong 60-pounders. The small black dog with some white on her face (I wish I could remember her name) is actually a retired racer from Alaska. Racing dogs get a share of race winnings, and they are put into a “doggie 401k”. Kate’s place, called Run By Dogs, is a retreat for retired sled dogs as well as a training facility and a place to learn and enjoy dogsledding. The monies in the 401k’s pay for the dogs’ boarding and veterinary expenses.

Click any image to start a full-size carousel.

 

Kate Walrath of Run By Dogs
Informative Presentation
Hands-On
Siberian Beauty
New Friends
Dog Helpers
Alaskan Husky
Dogs Love Kids
Kids Helped
Another Alaskan
Pink-Coat Was All Business
The Queen-The Retiree
Who’s Ready To Sled?
Let’s Get To It!
And They’re Off!
Who’s Next?
Pink-Coat Gets Her Turn
Kate Coaches Kids & Dogs
Oh! To Be A Kid Again!
A Little Rest
And Another Rider
Snowy And Cold
The Queen Was The Fastest
Snack Time
All Hands Assisted
These Dogs Get A Lot Of Love
Up You Go!
Time To Head Home
Braving The Cold
Clear Trails!

It was very cold that Saturday, as you can see by the apparel. It was in the mid-twenties, but no wind. It didn’t bother the dogs a bit, though. For the retired Queen from Alaska, this is probably equivalent to retiring to Florida! 

It’s good to get a different perspective sometimes.

 

Until next time,

 

Paz

A Winter’s Day

Posted on by Standard Reply

 

Downy Woodpecker
Dogwood
Poms
The Pumpkin Field
Wild Flamingos
Pine Stand
Evergreen Ornaments
South Loop Trail
Glazed
Glass Grass
Patience
Nuthatch
Catbird?
Boughs And Blue
Tundra
Browsers
Caravan
Feeder Friends
Mourning Dove
Thursday Trail
Glitter
Lookout
Unruly Sun
The Wonder Woods
Blizzard
Pines And Snow
Southbound
Geese In The Corn Stubble
Sunrise Fisher
Ridge Runner

Winter Walk

Posted on by Standard 2

We donned our snow shoes and headed for the woods, Ryan and I. He had visited a few days before to check out the trail and break it. It was fairly cold, mid-20’s. The overcast skies would sometimes part enough for a brief wash of sunlight, and were otherwise true to their grays of winter. We stopped at the lean-to for coffee, and stopped from time to time to shoot a photo. Mostly, we were overwhelmed by the beauty of the woods, the snow, the sky and the breeze.

Welcoming Woods
New Snow
Off-Season
American Beech
Beech Detail
Unbroken Trail
Leaf Pool
Snow And Sky
Lean-To Coffee Break
Cat Tails
Winter Rose
Snow On Sumacs
Snow-capped Tree Ears
Hiking Buddy
Coyote-eye view
Overwhelmed
Falling Snow
Winter Reeds
Bird Art
Sun And Snow

Though it occupied barely an hour of our Saturday, it was the highlight of the weekend. New snow, the wind in the woods, and my favorite hiking partner, son Ryan. One hour of perfect peace. It doesn’t get any better than this. 

 

Paz

Farewell Winter Gallery

Posted on by Standard Reply

I am very fond of winter. I like the challenges it brings, and there are few things prettier than a world covered in a fresh coat of gleaming white new snow. When the time finally comes for the snow to leave, I always feel a bit melancholy about it. Well, I know it will be back soon, and that makes the long summer more bearable. This spring I spied a fisher running across a cornfield, and I was quick on the draw with the old Nikon. I snapped a few pictures of the little critter, a youngster, before he dashed off to the banks of the Schoharie Creek. Three of my favorite things came together for some other shots, namely a field of corn stubble with snow and Canada Geese. Somehow, they always look best when surrounded by snow. Ironically, the only shot of Snow Geese has no snow in it! Hope you enjoy this last sampling of the season, now that we’re impatiently awaiting tulips. 

Click any image for a full-size carousel.

 

Accumulations
Down The Lane
Last Of The Snow
Fading Winter
Geese On The Wing
Skyful
Outbound
Daybreak Ridge
Canada Geese
Fisher At Sunrise
Fisher Crossing
Snow Portrait
Squadron
Incoming
Gatherings
Cornfield At Dawn
Snow Geese
Outbound 2
Ascent
Central Bridge Hill
Last Storm
End Of Snow
Geese In Snow
In The Cornfields
Outbound In Snow
Morning Crowd
Hard Water
The Pumpkin Field
Killdeer In Snow
Turkey Vulture
Killdeer

Here’s hoping summer is kind to us. I remind myself I only need to get through five months before the world will start to cool again, and once again we will be greeted by the wonderful world of winter.

 

Until next time,

 

Paz

December Gallery

Posted on by Standard 2

A little sampling for December.

I found it quite interesting when reviewing the Trailcam photos, that the Trailcam decided, on its own apparently, to take a lovely snapshot of the quiet wood at sunrise on New Year’s Day 2018.

It also caught a great shot of a Barred Owl, the moment it landed on its prey.

I was pleased to get my own shot of the owl. 

I’ve also included a shot of Rock Doves, which we all know as Pigeons, taking off from the farm fields of our rural area. This is for Ellen Jennings at Passing By Photo, who told me she’s never seen pigeons outside of an urban environment. Truth is, Ellen, that even in the country, these birds hang around people, their farms and livestock. It seems their favorite place is perched on the silo.

 

Barred Owl
Black Caps
Hello
Chickadees & Titmouse
Red Breasted Nuthatch
Morning Buck
Snowy Dawn
Deer Dash
Thanksgiving Bounty
The Pumpkin Patch
Colors of December
Varsity Max
Hard-charging Lizzy
Trailcam Buck
Down the Lane
December Trail
Bambi, is that you?
Ridgeline
Dinner Conversation
Preening
Finch
Doves for Ellen
“Wild” Pigeons
Pileated Woodpecker
American Kestral
Starling Flurry
Thursday Trail Christmas
Trailcam Barred Owl
Posing
New Year’s Dawn

Grandson Max moves up to Varsity Basketball this year, and provided us with exciting game pix. Younger sister Lizzy is right behind him, Captaining the JV Girls team. Their game was a real nail-biter. Tied, overtime, and a loss in just the last eight seconds!

We did the National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count last weekend, and my prize was a shot of a Pileated Woodpecker. I see them from time to time, but this is my first photo of one. It’s quite obscured by a branch or two, and flew off before I could shoot a second frame.

May peace find you and keep you throughout the New Year!

 

Paz