Monday, February 17, 2014

Sunshine

Yesterday the sun came out for a while, and we all rejoiced. Shortly afterward, the clouds rolled in, but surprise ~ they dissipated by mid-afternoon. Beautiful!

I sat outside in the sun for a bit, which felt really good. I cannot walk on the property right now – too treacherous. The snow is frozen and is about 12 inches height in most spots. You can walk along the top of it but you never know when a leg will go through to the bottom. Not a good feeling ~

So I sit inside by the kitchen window and wait for a bit, or sit outside if it’s bearable enough. The driveway is still tough to navigate, so I am still limiting my excursions out into the world. Tomorrow, however, it’s back to work and back to business as usual. I am really looking forward to it after five days off.

Here a few photos taken yesterday.

 

DSC_6799 copy 2

Female red-winged blackbird.

Really.

Thanks, [Kerri], for confirming my hunch.

 

 

DSC_6778 copy 2

Dark-eyed junco.

 

 

DSC_6817 copy 2

I am not even going to tell you this one.

I have said it enough.

 

 

DSC_6847 copy 2

I went to the movies today to see  The Monuments Men. I cried, I laughed a little, and I left the theater feeling good. Highly recommend.

I saw a lot of previews that left me wanting to put my hands over my ears and close my eyes tight. I can’t stand loud, bomb-blasting trailers. Am I showing my age? I mean, it was just SO LOUD.

 

Mandolin - Nelly Nero copy

This is a panorama shot. I created it in Photoshop using two photos I took with the camera turned sideways (lengthwise).

 

And then I took a couple of portraits of my buddy.

 

DSC_6860 copy 2

Looking regal.

 

DSC_6866 copy 2

And being really careful where he walked on the snow. At any given second, one paw through the snow would go up almost to his shoulder. It’s only about 12 inches or so, but it feels like so much more when you’re walking on it.

 

DSC_6869 copy 2

Here’s hoping for a good week to come. For all of us ~

Thanks for coming by.

123 Signature[5]

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

Love that panorama shot! And the last shot of George...fabulous! We got 9 inches of snow today...*sigh* Enough already!

Dawning Inspiration said...

I bet the sun felt fabulous! Keep hearing about the storms out that way and think of you. Gorgeous portrait of your buddy!

Cloudia said...

Wise George.
and that's it. We are experienced and know what's good, so empty effects and too loud junk makes us wince. I'm with you.


ALOHA from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
=^..^= <3

thecrazysheeplady said...

Um, I'm not sure it would have ever crossed my mind to do a vertical panoramic shot. Love it!

JaneK said...

I've been known to put pieces of napkins in my ear to soften the sound a bit in movies.

Love the very tall tree picture.... You're a clever one, you are!

I can't imagine maneuvering around snow that deep. Our rinky dink 3" melted in a few hours.....

Have a good week

PerthDailyPhoto said...

You certainly are getting more than your fair share of snow Kate, you still managed to capture a brilliant set of images though.. so envious of your birds! What a fab idea with the tree panorama, has inspired me for the next time I go down south to our Karri forests in Pemberton, the trees are so tall and magnificent.

Annie said...

Here's hoping for a better week..slightly less snow to worry about shoveling!!
Thinking of you!
Love the winter photos, and the birds. lovely!

Connie in Hartwood said...

We got a dusting of new snow overnight ... it was snowing when I let the dogs out for the last time at 11pm. The sun is out and the weatherman says that we should get to 45 or so today. I hope some of this predicted warmer weather melts your driveway enough so doesn't freeze into an ice rink at night. (always love George!)

The JR said...

I love your buddy! Makes me miss my old girl. She was part border collie.

Lisa Gordon said...

Love your feathered friends, Kate, and of course, George!!

We're getting more snow as I'm writing this. I'm very close to saying, "Enough already!"

Happy day to you!

Daryl said...

you are so clever with PS ... i detest it almost as much as i do Excel ..

mrs mediocrity said...

Ah, when the red-wing blackbirds show up, then you know spring is just around the corner. (Not that they've shown up here, yet, but I did see a female blue bird over the weekend)

It's snowing again here, my naughty kitten is bored to tears, but every time the sun does creep out, well, rejoice is exactly the word for what I do.

Glad to hear Monuments Men is so good, it's next on my list.

xo

Carolynn Anctil said...

I'm running out of ways to tell you how much I love your bird photos. Exquisite, as always.

Carolynn
A Glowing Ember

Kerri Farley said...

LOVE your birdies Kate! and of course George....what a sweet sweet boy :) It's warming up here ....but I'm thinking it's going to take a LONG TIme for 20 inches of snow to melt!

Country Gal said...

Beautiful photos Kate . I am glad you have sunshine to . It is sunny now after a night and a morning of some snow which has melted from the top of all the other snow everything is dripping with the warmth of sun now and temps are rising slowly to 0 or above Come on spring . Thanks for sharing . Have a good week !

Jeanne Walker said...

First and foremost, I love George and his photos! Secondly, I love the panoramic photo...cool how you were able to combine two photos into one! Thirdly, the birds told me to tell you how much they love and appreciate you! Last, but not least, were you able to get down the drive this morning for work! It's pretty warm and humid down here...have my flipflops on as well as the air conditioner!!! Hugs and have a blessed week!

beth said...

i swear you have "bird whisperer" in you….or something like that!!!

right now flocks and i mean huge flocks of robins are all over the place "here" and i know that means something good…..

always thinking of you!!!!
xo

Donna S. said...

Why does it have to be so loud at the theaters? I am getting old, too. We had quite a bit of rain yesterday so majority of our ice & snow is gone....yea. Had sunshine today & felt so warm on my neck when I took Penny out. Now that it is warm we are right in the bullseye for severe weather Thursday with possible storms &/or tornadoes.

wayne15575 said...

Great pictures as always Kate.

Unknown said...

I like looking through an article that can make people think. Also, many thanks for permitting me to comment. watch The Wolf of Wall Street online

Tammy said...

Everything feels better when the sun is out, it doesn't matter if it's cold or there is snow on the ground, you just feel good. I would love to spend a few hours in your yard and just watch all those gorgeous birds!!

sharon said...

I am so with you on the movie previews. They are way to loud. Ya feel like standing up and saying "Hey, can you turn down the volume a little up there?'. George looks like he is on a mission and he is in the don't bother me phase, I'm concentrating.

Debbie From Illinois said...

We finally have sunshine and warm temps for a couple days!!! Well, 40 degrees is the warmest we have felt in a long time.

Love the tree panoramic!

Reena said...

Cool trick with that panorama shot. I'm thinking of taking a Photoshop class while up here in Maine. Better than teaching myself! Love that Georgie! So ready for spring. I sure do miss taking photos of my Philly birds. Not many here for me ... but lots of seagulls!

GailO said...

Here, the sound and sighting of a red winged blackbird is one of the first signs of spring...I can't wait to see them!

Gorgeous, gorgeous photos! Hang in there....only 27 more days until spring!

Unknown said...

Everyone loves it when people come together and share views. Great website, stick with it! watch A Stranger In Paradise online

Bluebird49 said...

Did you finish 'The Gold Finch' or whatever the heck it was, about the boy and the art-whatever? Am I even close? Was it good? Need something to read, and the last 2 kindle books I've ordered have been thorough disappointments! But...I'm a mystery and crime buff, and maybe P. Cornwell needs to stop writing now, as she must have made her fortune many times over! James Patterson, too! Yes, very light reading I know, but my mind can't take much more right now! ;)
George's winter coat looks so pretty, and I hope you are taking care to take care of you as well as you are those plump birdies! Blessings, Kate!
"Sybil"

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Lili said...

The lady red-winged black bird I would have never known...very striking in her own rite! Oh and that last shot of George caught me by surprise, almost like I just saw him turn his head and look right at me. He is so darlin'! xo