Winter?

I'm not complaining... Not one bit!!

Especially remembering last years snowfall

So far this year Nada... But it's supposed to get very cold by 

New Years Eve. 

Pictures from last year at this time. 

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas.

I'm looking forward to the New Year!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing everyone a Very Merry Christmas!

These are old pictures, I haven't been downtown yet this year.

Planning to do so next week

Be safe and warm!

Light

I don't mind that there isn't any snow, really but...

The lack of sunshine has been seeping in.

It has been so dreary

and I have had a stupid cold all week.

So... 

I went into the archives to find some things that make me smile.

Here is the random offering from my goofy brain

Walking distance to a beautiful sunset

My best bud

A break in the clouds

My best bud... In the SUNSHINE

My backyard

Her again

Homemade soup

There... now I feel better!!

White House ~ Good Fences

Not sure whether this is good for keeping people in or out!

Nice little 200 year old house

Linking to Good Fences

Christmas scenes ~ Photo Challenge

I tend to create this little scene each year

My trusty little owl behind the bell 

with the sleeping bunnies right in front of her.

There is something very comforting in the repeat.

Joining in Donna's Photo Challenge

December in Appalachia

Winter in Shenandoah National Park 

Should I cross the road?

 Naaahh...

The grass is fine right here.

Nobody around but the deer!

The Ring of Beara ~ Good Fences

The first two of these were taken through the windshield

I wasn't so concerned about getting great photos as I was just documenting this place so I wouldn't forget how magical it was.

This is the road on the Ring of Beara in Ireland

It's  like going back in time at least one hundred years.

The day want from overcast, to rainy, to partly cloudy

 over and over again.

We saw many rainbows while on this very narrow road.

Linking to Good Fences

Sleepy Summer Days

Time for a cat picture

Doesn't she look sweet and comfy.

She loves that raggedy old rug!

Night Critters

In the spirit of yesterdays post,

since there were so many comments about 

what goes on while we sleep...

I remembered this photo that I posted way back when.

They are a busy lot at night.

~

As far as the Possum is concerned, I actually think they are nasty little things. 

Very smelly if they decide to take up residence close by.

I will be trying to catch a shot of the local raccoon though. 

He is stealthy and about the size of a small Volkswagen.

A Possum

Had a visitor Sunday night.

IPhone pictures through the glass, no flash.

They're a bit grainy but fun.

I love seeing the night critters as long as they don't take up residence under the deck.

like that silly rabbit did last year. 

This guy was not afraid of me one bit.

Have a great day!

Hello

 Wow... This week went by pretty fast.

a lot of working late to prepare for a week off... Yay!!!

~

This is my Magnolia preparing for spring

In more ways than one. 

No snow yet, as a matter of fact it is raining right now. 

I'll take the rain!

After all that wonderful fall color it's hard for me to shift gears and find beauty to photograph in the drab and dreary.

but...

I'm really not looking forward to the millions of show shots,  as pretty as they may be.

Take Care

Warm

Well, it's been brutally cold this week all over the Midwest and I'm not liking this one bit!!

So I thought I'd skip back a few weeks and cheer things up.

 These shots were taken just about a month ago.

Since then the Perennials in pots are stowed away in the garage.

The leaves are raked up. 

We've had a dusting of snow

  and the temp tonight will be 17 deg.

Uhg!

Trees

 Looking up at the silhouette

Looking down at the reflection

Looking closer

All of these were taken today on auto. 

I cropped a bit and adjusted the white balance on #2

#3 is all about texture so I made it black and white. 

#1 I adjusted the highlights to bring out the clouds.

Linking to Donna's 

Personal Photo Challenge

Back Yard ~ Good Fences

Not sure if this qualifies as a back yard but it is a neighbors land.

I'm always surprised when I slip down a little back road I haven't searched before.

This property is about a mile from my home tucked away on a little narrow road.

I took the liberty of playing with this one in BeFunky.

I wanted it to be dreamy, like I felt when I was there. 

Linking to 

Good Fences

Walking

Last Sunday I went to a place nearby called 

Independence Grove

Another leg of the Lake County Forest Preserve

along the DesPlaines river.

I don't visit here often because I prefer trails that are more

 "in the woods"

However, with two cortisone shots in my feet/ankle and a serious bit of pain the past few weeks I am opting for safer terrain.

Here the trails are paved for those who are in wheelchairs,

strollers, on bikes, etc. 

Determined to keep my chubby butt moving!!

The sky was a vivid blue and the colors were just winding down.

The lakes here are spring fed and full of water foul.

It was very windy!

but the temp was in the 70's (won't be seeing that again soon)

I walked (hobbled) around for a bit and then just put my face up to the sun and enjoyed the warmth.

All week it has been windy as hell and this morning 

there was a heavy frost.

No leaves left!

Gotta switch gears, make soup.

Happy Halloween

This is my tiny porch

It faces west so is shady in the morning.

Great for a cuppa and a read.

Here is Spidy

My mom made this ceramic pumpkin probably 35 years ago.

It has never been so precious to me as now.

And... even though he is smiling, when the light is on at night he is scary.

Mom was an expert at the scary smile!! 

Happy Halloween!

P.S. There was snow on my deck this morning... Good Grief!!