Darkness falls

One thing I’ve learned having this little blog of mine is that I am certainly not alone. I’d been feeling sort of blue lately, which I’m sure is completely normal for this time of year, but when I posted about it yesterday I found out that I wasn’t the only one feeling like this.

Apparently, today was the busiest day for mailing packages, according to NBC Nightly News, and I was one of the millions who stood in line. I also heard on the news that 39% of the US is covered with snow at present, which is pretty amazing considering it’s only December 13.



Temperatures in Maryland are crazy cold and this morning we had some really serious flurries that lasted for several hours yet didn’t stick because of the cold and the wind.



My husband took most of the photos in this post. Because I stopped on the way home to mail my packages, I got home a little later than normal. I was really planning on giving myself the afternoon off and putting on some comfortable, warm clothes and my nice soft slippers but my conscience got the best of me.

Damn you, conscience. Why you do dis to me?

I am not always this good when it comes to walking, but I figured that it was only going to get worse this winter and here I was wimping out and it’s not even truly winter yet.



I bundled in layers and put on my balaclava, which I love because it’s a hat, a neck gaiter and a face mask all rolled in one. I topped it all off with my gore-tex windproof jacket and a pair of gloves and stepped outside. 

Freaking freezing! “What am I, insane?” I thought. But then I put my windproof hood up over the hat and suddenly I felt no more cold.

The wind was blowing at a good clip but the only part of me that was chilly was a small section around my eyes. It was great walking and it felt like an accomplishment when I was done. I kept to what my husband calls the ‘inner loop’ because the outer one that runs along the woods was way too dark for safe walking. (I walk at a brisk pace).





When I came inside and listened to the news, I heard we were having single digit wind chills. Normal temperatures for my area are highs in the mid to upper 40’s.



I love this one of George in the fading light. For nearly all of these photos, I used a little bit of TRA’s Oh, Snap! action. It adds a slight bit of oomph and a little sharpness at the same time. 

Totally Rad Actions





Ouch.

That’s all I’m saying.



I took these last two photos just before I came in. I had the ISO set to 1600, hence the noise (grain). You can see the lights along the state highway at the bottom of the hill to the right.



I’d invite you all in for some rooibos tea but I think I’m done in for the night.

Thanks for coming by today. Hope your week is a good one.