A Winter Break

Outside the pines are groaning with their heavy mantles of snow as they wait for the sun to draw nearer to the Earth. While the trees are sagging, we walk around in heavy coats and boots and wear woolen scarves and hats - just as burdened. We've bundled up since last October. Winter does weigh us down more in February and March, especially if we're geared to warmer weather. We need a break. :D Vitamin D calls to us.

Here is an autumn photo that was snapped of our two-track. AH! That's better. I'm ready to give up the crunchy snow walks today. Give me an autumn trail where the leaves flutter in the wind all day. Give me the fragrance of the damp rich earth as it prepares to receive its nourishment. I'm soooo there in my mind right now. In the precious days of glory before the landscape became frozen.

I was outside yesterday snapping photos and was knee deep in snow. That's hard walking. My snowshoes won't work in all the places I trek so I post hole dug my way around. My knees were so stiff I could barely move them last night...but that wore off and I am ready to go again.

During the ragged last weeks of winter I am happy to have other seasonal photos to enjoy. :D Autumn and spring are my favorite times of the year. What are yours?

Hugs, JJ

One for Me and One for the Coyote!

A winter season doesn't pass by without Jeff and I roasting hot dogs and marshmallows over an open crackling fire. This photo I snapped reminds me that we haven't done that yet! It's a great adventure and helps us deal with cabin fever. The only big problem we have when doing this is making sure our winter jackets don't end up with spark holes in them. I've ruined a couple of jackets that way.

If we decide to do this at night, we hear the coyotes howl messaging on the ridge as we enjoy the warmth of the fire under a cloud blanketed sky. I always become scared as I stare into the inky night with my imagination at full swing and think... the wild animals are coming closer. That raises the hair on the back of my neck and I grow restless and uneasy and drop my marshmallow into the fire. Jeff will tease me then and call to his beastie friends, "Owooooooh." I then beg dear hubby to douse the fire so we can snowshoe back to the safety of the house. And I holler back from the trail, "Leave some hot dogs so we have a head start!"

We actually have been in our yard with coyotes several times. They have answered the call for our dogs to come back inside. I'll never forget the time Jeff shone a flashlight in the bushes and the wrong eyes illuminated back at us - just feet away. LOL

Jeff stopped the car today and said as he gazed out the window at some straight tracks in the snow, "Boy, that must have been one big coyote."

I know. I know! He's gearing me up for our winter hot dog and marshmallow roast. :D

Have a super day!!!

Hugs, JJ

My New Blog

This photo is of a Northern Michigan pull out. I love overlooks like this. Jeff and I enjoy stopping at them when the sun is rising or setting as we travel. Michigan is full of beautiful scenery with all the lush forests and fresh water lakes and that has led me to having my photos published.

Here is the link to my new blog which tells about this journey I am on. :D

Both blogs will keep going. This one has been my home for over a year. I have the dearest friends in the world!!!

Hugs, JJ/Nancy

JJ on Ice LOL

This photo of myself snapping a photo from an icy perch sums up the winter season in Northern Michigan. Notice the red face. LOL It has been a hardy winter and I am glad to know that March follows February on the calendar. Spring! We have snow falling today...the storm headed our way after it blasted California... but I have seen the signs of spring yawning. The birds bright mating colors are appearing in subtle ways, the tree buds have begun to swell, the seagulls and rock doves have returned, the air has a tang of life to it. The sunshine glows golden.

I'm ready to pack away my winter clothes!!! Ah, but not yet.

I'm ready to snap photos of beautiful fragrant flowers and butterflies and I'm ready to watch the grass grow. Sigh. Just a little more time and I will have my wish.

Dear hubby snapped the above photo. How sweet of him. :D

Good morning, dear friends. I will have my new blog up and running by tomorrow. The book I provided the photos for is now posted at Amazon and Barnes and Noble!!! How amazing and exciting that this happened to me. I will have a link for it on the new Bible inspirational/ nature photo blog.

Never give up on your dreams. Wonderful things do happen. Keep your energy flowing. God Bless You!!!

Hugs, JJ

Wide-Mouth Snowfish

This wide-mouth snowfish sure adapted to his surroundings. LOL I found him on Lake Huron a couple of weeks ago. Of course my imagination ran wild as I snapped his photo. He's an Arctic fish who longs to know the taste of summer minnows. Was worried about finding the St. Lawrence Seaway but is glad now that he made the journey. :D Of course, he's much smaller than when he started out but loves his new image and hopes to find his warm finned mate.

Thought you would enjoy seeing this icy photo. :D

Happy Valentine's Day tomorrow!!! Do you have plans? We have a family visit. One that was put canceled at Christmas because of the snowstorms. WOOT!!!

Hugs, JJ

Frozen Forms

The sun has begun to melt the snow away in Michigan, a welcome sight!, but not before I found this amazing scene waiting for a photo. :D It was a treasure find...something unique to my other photos of the season. I love the shading and lighting and the shape of the ice shard and the tiny snowball. Finding them next to each other had me smiling. God's creation ROCKS!!!

If I would have stayed inside and not walked along the shoreline of Lake Huron, I would have missed this. It makes me wonder what else I have missed when I chose to stay inside.

Have a happy Tuesday. God wants us to enjoy the beauty that surrounds us. :D It brings perspective back to one's life. Many changes are happening in my life this year and this photo tells me to keep focused.

Next I'll show you the "snow fish". :D

Hugs, JJ

Blue Ice on Lake Huron

Mighty Lake Huron gave a great heave this winter and piled up a blue ice pressure ridge for Jeff and I to explore. Traversing around it was tricky because snow covered some of jagged ice and we slipped a few times - feeling the pain of the sharpness on our knee caps.

But, oh, the photo time we had. You can imagine the surreal atmosphere with the the stacked blue shapes of ice and the snowscape looking like the top of a mountain range as we gazed over over the hilly formations.

We wanted to snap more pics a couple of days ago, but after we waded through the deep snow to the lakeshore, we listened to the ice alive with hollow sounds. Jeff pointed towards the long beautiful pressure ridge and said, "Look, it's moving. The whole thing is moving."

There is always next winter. :D Spring, I welcome you with open arms!!!

Hugs, JJ

Coming in for a Bird Landing

Snow Lady has been as busy as an airstrip with all the birds competing for the sunflower seed sprinkled in her aromatic balsam fir hair. LOL Jeff and I have been royally entertained and are happy we added Snow Lady to the bird feeder collection outside.

Boy, are we going through the seed!!! If it weren't for the goldfinches, chickadees, nuthatches, red polls, pine grosbeaks and woodpeckers, it would be quiet outside and ...boring looking at the same white landscape day after day. I couldn't imagine a winter without feeding the lively and cheerful birds!

These shots were taken from inside the house and at times when the sun was too bright but I like experimenting too. :D

Hugs, JJ

Snow Lady Birdfeeder

How do you like my new Snow Lady birdfeeder? LOL I'm waiting for the birds to perch on her balsam fir hair that has been sprinkled with sunflower seeds so I can get some close up photos. Do you like the lady's red earrings? :D Maybe a bird will swing from one of them.

Today the snow conditions were perfect for snowman building. The upper layer of snow melted and that made for easy snow packing. We usually have a snowman feeder each year because it adds to the charm of bird feeding and gives us a new "friend" to cheer us through winter.

On a warmer note, the male goldfinches feather coloring has turned a brighter shade of yellow around the neck area, so they have begun the change that will bring on their spring courtship.


Hugs, JJ