Kindness & Snow

“Kindness is like snow –

it beautifies everything it covers”

Khalil Gibran

Technically this isn’t snow in this image, it’s hoarfrost (which we’ve been delightfully blessed to be having quite a bit of here lately), but who’s being picky? Certainly not me. 😉

So HI YOU GUYS!!!

Sorry for ‘shouting’ all in caps, but I’m excited!

But I’m not excited with this new editor thing. Ugh. Probably old news to you all by now, but it might take me a while to get used to it.

So, I’ve sort of been away from here for months and you know what? I’ve sincerely missed you all! ❤

I have no explanation really, but I did start back to work in the beginning of October. I feel like I’ve been on survival mode for like, ever. You may relate, yes? And that doesn’t promote much inspiration or creativity. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had many moments where there’s been both of those, but I guess maybe I just haven’t been able to take the time nor had the energy to share. Plus, do you ever get tired of yourself? Like, do you ever feel like you’re always sharing the same thing and have nothing new to offer? I don’t know, like I said, I don’t really have an explanation. And then new habits and routines form and before you know it, it’s been months since you’ve shared on your blog…

Even now, I’m squeezing this post in before I have to hurry off for work. But I saw this quote and just had to take this time to share. I’m feeling it so much…

I have more to say, but I’m gonna have to leave it there for now. I hope you all are well. I’m sending out so much love to all of you!

 

 

✿~Peace & Love~✿

“Baby it’s Cold Outside” and I’ve Got the Frost on My Windows to Prove it

We tend to talk a lot about the weather here in Minnesota and yesterday was no exception.  It was downright frigid!  I saw one local weather news headline that called us Minn-Arctica.  That’s exaggerating a bit, but it made a point, the temperatures here yesterday were the lowest they have been in two years.

Here in the Twin Cities, I woke up to minus 11 degrees and farther north they had morning wind chills of minus FIFTY.  Yikes!  But we are hardy folk and take it all in stride.  😉

But as much as we like to discuss the weather in Minnesota, I’m not here to give you a weather report, I want to share some photos that I snapped yesterday of the frosty ice crystals that I discovered having a lovely little winter party on my bedroom windows.

On these first couple of photos, the sun wasn’t quite up yet and I was so tickled with the way the lighting of the sky set off the frost so beautifully.

(Click on individual images for larger viewing)

This one is my favorite…

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But I also love the spiked edges on this one, they remind me of pine.

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Then my stupid batteries died so I went to put them in the charger and snatched my daughter’s camera out of her room while she was sleeping.  The sun had risen a bit more by then so it was shining brightly into my windows for these next few.  I wasn’t as pleased with how these turned out, but they are still very pretty and I do love the way the light catches.

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Of course, I realize that having this frost on my windows indicates poor insulation, but it sure is pretty to look at and there’s only a slight breeze coming in.  😉  Plus it’s always nice to look at the bright side of things ~ if it’s gonna be so dang cold outside, we may as well enjoy what beauty of it we can find, right?

And if all else fails… we can always go lay on the floor of the bathroom in front of the heating vent.  Wha?

Look what I found when I walked into the bathroom the other day.  My silly cat!  She may be keeping warm, but this doesn’t look very comfortable to me…

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Well, try and stay warm people!

And be sure to watch for the beauty that is most certainly all around you if you only look, even when it’s freezing cold.  😉

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Among My Branches

In the mornings I like to sit and look out the windows of my room while drinking my coffee.  I have a huge Sycamore tree right outside that my Grandpa planted way back in the 1940’s, and its branches basically cover the span of all three of my bedroom windows.  It’s an odd shaped, but interesting looking tree, they are not commonly grown here in Minnesota so I feel special to have one.  The branches are barren right now in the winter, well except for when they are  covered with snow, 😉 but when I moved back home here this past fall its branches were filled with gigantic leaves that filtered the light in through my windows so beautifully.

Aside from the tree itself, one of the other things I really enjoy about it is watching the little creatures that sometimes occupy its branches.  Two of my favorite species of birds, the Cardinal and the Chickadee often come to visit and it’s always such a delight to watch them flit about.  I wish they’d sit still long enough for me to snap a picture of them, but they are busy little things and always on a mission.

However, I did manage to catch this shot of a huge crow cawing the other day…Seriously, the size of this thing was massive!

Crows are not a favorite bird of mine, but they are really cool and also quite intelligent.  My daughter says she is going to try “befriending” one this summer, but not if I have anything to say about that, I don’t need crows coming around bothering my vegetable garden this summer.  I had enough trouble with squirrels!

And speaking of squirrels, those of you who have been following my blog for a while may remember some of the trouble I had with a certain particular squirrel, an evil, diabolical, and thieving little creature who really gave me a hard time in my garden.  First it was just digging holes in “Adventures in Gardening Part 11 ~ Darn Squirrels!”  and then once harvest time came it got downright ugly in “Adventures in Gardening Part 31 ~ That Thieving Squirrel: the Epic Battle Continues…”

I recommend reading both of those posts to give you some background on what I’m going to say next here because the funny thing is…  I grew to become quite fond of that naughty little squirrel.  Seems impossible, I know, after joking around about ways in which to dispose of the little thief and sharing about my recurring nightmares about squirrels, but once I put my garden to bed for the winter, and began spending my mornings in front of my bedroom windows with my coffee, I became fondly attached to him in watching him prepare his home for the winter in the trunk of my tree.  Scurrying among the branches, gathering those giant Sycamore leaves in his tiny little paws, and rushing off to stuff them into his hole = sooo cute!  Those grubby, thieving, little paws that once made me so angry became so adorable and so much fun to watch.  You know, I really do love all little creatures, even the ones that make me mad.

Well, the other day, the day that I caught that photo of the crow, I think my squirrel got run over by a car.  😦  I can’t be for sure that it was him, but for days and days now while I’ve been sitting in front of my windows having my morning coffee, I haven’t seen hide nor hair of him.  I joked around about wishing he’d get run over back when he was stealing my vegetables, but now I am so sad at the thought of it.  RIP “Little Thief” (as he has now has been named), I will miss your cute little antics.  Well, not your vegetable stealing ones, of course.  😉

So now, after many days since Little Thief’s untimely death, I think someone new is considering moving in because look what I just saw…Mr. Opportunity, no doubt.  And that is as he shall now be named.

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He’s not as cute as Little Thief (not that I can really tell the difference ;)) and I have resolved that I will not become attached to him, other than for practicing my photography skills on him as he dwells among my branches.And I must say, I am quite proud of this shot.  😀

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Nature is Inspiring

A few weeks ago, I shared some various images that I came across while I was on deviantART.  Well, I’m still finding myself completely sucked into it.  I just can’t help it ~ the creative and artistic expression of others is so interesting and amazing to me.  It makes me want to tap into my own and see what might be lying dormant there just beneath the surface.

Today I’m in a “nature” sort of mood and have been perusing through deviantART looking at nature photos.  It could be because it’s February in Minnesota and I’ve missed being able to be outdoors.  Although there are tons of fun and festive things to do outdoors here in the winter, I can’t partake in them because I’m allergic to the cold.  And not in a joking way ~ I literally break out in hives and have an asthma attack from the cold.  Wait… why do I live here?!  😉  Or maybe it could be because I’ve been feeling down lately and nature always inspires me and makes me feel better.

Either way, feast your eyes on some of these awe inspiring photos of nature…

May as well start with a wintery scene.  We haven’t had much snow this year and I’m realizing that I’ve missed it.  This photo is so pretty!  I find myself looking upward when I take pictures sometimes so I appreciate this shot very much.  Mmm beautiful blue skies and frosty tree tops.

©2009-2012 ~vincentfavre

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Although this wasn’t taken in Minnesota, this next photo depicts a lovely representation of our state ~ “Land of 10,000 lakes.” I’ve been in a canoe on a calm lake at sunset a few times and it’s so very peaceful.

©2010-2012 ~jay-peg

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Speaking of sunsets… here’s a glorious one!  And I’ve been here!  This shot was taken on the Oregon Coast.  (Not by me of course, heck I wish!)  The first time I ever saw the Pacific Ocean, I wept.  I was so moved by the vastness and the sound of it that I was completely overcome with emotion.  One of my favorite moments of my life to be certain. ♥

©2008-2012 ~MarcAdamus

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This forest scene was taken in the Redwood National Forest.  I’ve been there too!  I love being in any forest or wooded area in general, but walking among the gigantic ancient trees in the Redwood Forest had a hushed, reverent, and mystical feeling that was almost tangible.

©2008-2012 ~tch

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Some day I dream of seeing the Northern Lights in all of their glory like this.  One time many years ago, I did see some wavy hints of green in the northern sky from my kitchen window and started completely freaking out with excitement, but it looked nothing like this.  Anything to do with the sky or space always inspires me ~ such an expansive universe we live in!

©2010-2012 ~uberfischer

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At first glance in looking at this next photo you may think “wait a minute, this isn’t a nature scene,” and you’re partly correct ~ it’s mainly a photo of the city of Seattle.   But then you notice the pretty sky and then you see the mountain in the distance!  That’s Mount Rainier and it’s unbelievably wonderful when it makes it’s rare majestic appearance as a part of the city’s skyline ~ like a special surprise!  My sister lived in Seattle for about 20 years and I went out there numerous times to visit.  Much of the time “the mountain” isn’t visible and as the story goes… it rains a lot there, but the mountain always peeked out, even if for just a few moments, to say hello to me whenever I came there. ♥

©2011-2012 ~Latefor

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And because nature not only includes beautiful landscapes, but also little creatures too, here’s one of my favorites.  Hummingbirds have that sense of specialness when they make their appearance too.  I always felt like I was witnessing something special when one would visit my feeder.  This is an awesome shot.

©2011-2012 *kayaksailor

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I took this next photo myself a few summers ago and asked my daughter to edit it just a bit using some special software she has on her computer to add a blurry affect to give it that professional look.  I was so thrilled to catch a shot of this brief moment when a delicate Swallowtail butterfly landed on one of my lilacs to sample some nectar as I was drinking my own nectar… I mean coffee, out on the patio one morning.

©2012 ~jewels4665

Even the smallest things in nature are beautiful and inspiring.

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