Morning light
I glanced out the window this early morning, a break from reading emails and blog posts, and realized the world outside looked black and white.
Before the day’s light brightens up the yard it was a study in bare trees and snow cover. For a moment everything seemed so simple, obvious. Black or white.
But as it does every day, the light changes and colors become more visible and nothing turns out to be either totally black or totally white.
And isn’t that a good thing.
Morning watch
This week amid record snowfall, wind and excruciating cold I have been wistful for warmth. I’ve been dreaming of Florida beaches, remembering the smell of orange blossoms, longing for the feel of sun on my shoulders, and squinting up into reeling snowflakes to look for any sign of our own, long missing, sun overhead. So when I saw this week’s photo challenge, juxtaposition, I immediately connected the heat of a Florida orchard with the snow blowing past my window.
And came up with this:
It’s still snowing today. What was once beautiful is now viewed as something to get through. I know spring is not that far away…but from where I sit right now it feels like an interminable, never ending struggle.
I look forward to checking out other photographers’ version of juxtaposition. You could have all sorts of fun with this topic. It should be a great diversion from focusing on the weather. Give it a try! You have till next Friday to post your own juxtaposition composition. If you click on any of the links in this paragraph you’ll see a few of my favorites from this week.
I hope you go out and find something that shouts juxtaposition to you, I can’t wait to see it!
This week the WordPress photo challenge is something I have always really liked. It’s window. As soon as I saw the word I was excited; there are so many options with a word like that. I think back and realize I’ve shown you lots of different windows in previous blogs. Here are a few I remember off the top of my head.
There was a blog about Washington DC last spring where I showed you all kinds of windows.
There was a window in my blog about the family farm.
I used the reflection in a window for a previous photo challenge,intended to represent ‘inside.’
And of course not too long ago I asked you what was outside your window.
So I was a bit stumped about where to go to find a window I’d never shared with you before. As you know I like nothing better than to go on a little road trip looking for a photo, but the weather here is less than perfect and the roads aren’t perfect either, so I’ll have to settle for something close to home.
There’s a village cafe in the next town over. Sometimes I drive to work though the town and notice the warm welcoming light shining through it’s front window. So this morning I drove over to see what might be photographed. And I ended up with this:
Morning at the cafe.
You notice the warm light first, but if you look carefully, through the picture window, you might see the waitress in white taking an order, or a woman in a booth holding her face in her hands. Perhaps she’s reading the morning paper, or maybe she’s contemplating her coffee. Windows often allow part of the story to emerge while leaving the rest of it up to our imagination.
Go to the WordPress link above and see what other window entries have been submitted. I think you’ll find several you like. I liked this one and this one and this one, last time I looked. There are many more now.
And look again outside your own window. I bet the view has changed some since I last asked you about it.
This week’s WordPress photo challenge is beginning.
After much thought I realized that many things begin with this…
…so I boiled up a dozen in celebration of beginnings.
Stop by the link above and check out a few entries. See what’s your favorite. Or better yet…show us your interpretation of beginning.
Here are a few of my favorites…and I only clicked on a few random entries. There are probably lots more if I take some time and explore. Given we’re sitting under at least a foot of snow I just might do that!
The WordPress photo challenge this week is Joy. I’ve thought about this; looked around, searched for that one image that expressed joy around here. In the end it was obvious.
Hey there Katie girl. You express joy every day. Thanks for being you!
Stop by the link above and check out a few other expressions of joy. Here and here and here are a few of my favorites. And of course stop by Robin’s blog where she shares beautiful images of joy in her part of the world.
Enjoy. And look around…what do you see that is joyful?
Main street lit up
Want to see a last little bit of holiday cheer? Well come along with me as we visit Rochester Michigan, a small town that puts on a show you won’t want to miss.
Santa’s on the roof!
We visited Saturday night, an almost balmy evening which brought out the crowds and added to the festive feeling.
Doesn’t the purple building look like it’s smiling?
We walked up one side of the two long city blocks and then down the other side.
Street of color.
The shop windows were decorated for the holidays and each building glowed in a different color.
Window shopping.
All the restaurants and coffee shops were full of happy people enjoying friends and family, good conversation, good food and good feelings.
Massive color.
It was magical. Everywhere you looked people were smiling. Little kids were giggling. So were grownups. No one was in a hurry.
Shades of fun.
Millions of lights were making lots of people happy. Maybe we should do something similar in the summer.
Holiday sparkles.
Who says lights have to be confined to December?
Green light for fun.
Katie here. My Mama is too busy cooking and stuff so she asked me to tell you all how much she appreciates your support and all your comments on her (my) blog.
From up here in Michigan, which currently looks like a winter wonderland, we’d like to say Merry Christmas!
We hope you all have a lovely day with family or friends, or just with your fur-kids.
My Mama and Dad are going to have a quiet dinner here at home with Mama’s Aunt and then they’re going to go visit my Dad’s Aunt. I guess I’m not invited to go visit Aunt V, but I’ll be under the table for dinner. Just in case someone happens to drop something — wouldn’t want it staining the floor. Like there’s a chance of that anyway.
So Merry Christmas to everyone!
Love, Katie. (and her Mama and Dad too.)
This week the WordPress photo challenge is One. We had an ice storm Saturday night and I decided to take advantage of the sadly beautiful devastation in my own backyard to show you my interpretation. You can click on any photo to see more detail.
Many of our trees are hanging in low curves over the bird feeder. Sunday the birds tried hanging out on ice covered twigs only a few feet from my window while waiting their turn at the feeder. I thought this solitary finch was perfect for the concept of one.
I thought about stopping there, but I had a plan, even before the ice storm, to hang a single holiday ornament on a tree in the yard. I thought I’d wait until after the storm and pick a snow or ice covered spruce. But Sunday morning I couldn’t resist using the ice on our toppled birch tree as a foil against the red.
The ice is beautiful, but my heart aches for the loss of our lovely birch trees. They’ve all been damaged, most will have to be cut down this spring. I’ll have these images as memories of how beauty can be so damaging.
I suppose this could be a Wordless Wednesday photo. But it needs some explanation so words will accompany it, thereby rendering it ineligible for an official Wordless Wednesday post.
As most of you are aware it’s cold here. Not as cold as ‘up north’ or ‘out west’ but plenty cold. So we weren’t surprised to see Mr. Cardinal hunkered down in the middle of a privet shrub just outside our breakfast window. What was surprising was how puffed up he could make himself in order to stay warm.
And how long he sat there letting me photograph him. I think he was asleep. Still, I moved slowly and didn’t get too close to the window. Luckily my camera with the long lens was sitting right next to me. Even Katie cooperated and didn’t bark.
He sat there for a long time, and then when we made a bit too much noise he flew off looking for a little peace. Or some supper.
I’m so lucky to have beautiful birds visiting us regularly. So I thought I’d share him with you!
Enjoy!
Change Is Hard 