We had a January thaw, where we despaired that winter would ever really show up here.. But then... we got a bunch of snow, and I for one, was very happy to see snow, and winter make their entrance!
However, sadly, after all this snow, we are now again in a thaw! Once again, we have experienced temperatures up into the 50s, with all the snow melting very, very quickly.
So I wanted to share with you some pictures that I took just before all this beautiful snow began to melt away!
I had taken the dogs for a walk on a very unusual day... the sky was brilliant blue with hardly a cloud anywhere, against the backdrop of the sparkling white snow, and it made for a beautiful walk outside!
The dogs were thrilled to be out for a walk on this beautiful day.
We walked along the road a bit before turning into the trail across the road from our house.
The snow was pretty deep through the woods.
Someone had taken their vehicle through the trail, which made it much easier to walk than having to step through the deep snow.
The dogs, as usual, were busy about their detective sniffing work.
Annie would run ahead of me, and then turn around, and wait until I reached her, before taking off again.
Here, she was playing some kind of game with Cosmo, where she would lay down and wait until Cosmo got close to her, and then pounce on him. Silly dogs!
A stately view of the mountains in the distance draped in their purplish-blue colors.
More pictures of the woods as we walked.
Finally, it was time to head back to the house.
The dogs were walking sadly along, as they knew that our short hike was about to end.
A few days later, we were out at our property, and the weather was changing, even as we were walking around enjoying the beauty there. The temperatures were rising to a balmy 40 degrees, and the snow had become very sticky and wet.
Because of the weight of the snow as it became wet and started to melt, some of the tree limbs were bowing and breaking under the weight of the wet snow.
The snow was very deep out here, up to my knees in places as we walked.
I had put a little bird feeder up hoping to attract some birds, but my feeder was still full. My dad had advised me to spill some of the bird seed onto the snow, and that maybe birds would be attracted to the feeder that way, so I dumped out quite a bit of bird seed on the snow. We will have to wait and see whether the birds will find a new food source or not. As we walk through the woods, it is very quiet and still, with no birds at all, except for the occasional crow. I am hoping that come spring we will be able to have more birds stopping by to visit us.
This is the tree that went down in the wind storm we got back in January. Now it is covered in snow, and appears as if it has been like this forever.
The snow was up to Annie's belly. She didn't seem to mind it a bit!
We saw evidence of squirrel activity here with fresh acorn droppings just outside of a tree stump covered by snow.
Stately fir trees covered in a blanket of snow.
I love the lacy look that the snow leaves on the trees.
Poor Cosmo was not enjoying the wet snow very much at all. It looked as if he had white pantaloons on... the snow was sticking to his legs, in balls and clumps, making it difficult for him to walk. He looked so sad!
We walked over to visit the horses. They were happy to see us!
She gladly let me rub her nose as I talked to her.
Annie thought that the horses should play with her, and didn't understand why I wouldn't let her through the fence to play.
The other two horses came up to the fence to see us as well.
Not too sure what to think about us! She just kept looking at me very sadly, and would not let me pet her.
Annie wanted to play with them, and kept begging.... and she didn't understand that they wouldn't play nicely.
Poor Cosmo! This wet snow was really dragging him down, he could hardly move! It was attaching in balls all over his fur, and he looked so bedraggled, and worried!
He was begging to go home so that he could dry off, and so... that is what we did!
We loaded up in the truck to go home, so that the dogs could dry off. There was a puddle of water on the seat by the time we got home, as the snow began to melt off his fur!
As we headed for home, this was how the river was looking today... frozen over!
But, it was already raining, and the temperatures were rising, so this ice was about to melt very, very soon...
This may have been winter's last stand.... as the higher temperatures moved in... now all this ice has melted... but that is the nice thing about living in an area with the four seasons.... we must enjoy each season as it arrives, and departs!
However, sadly, after all this snow, we are now again in a thaw! Once again, we have experienced temperatures up into the 50s, with all the snow melting very, very quickly.
So I wanted to share with you some pictures that I took just before all this beautiful snow began to melt away!
I had taken the dogs for a walk on a very unusual day... the sky was brilliant blue with hardly a cloud anywhere, against the backdrop of the sparkling white snow, and it made for a beautiful walk outside!
The dogs were thrilled to be out for a walk on this beautiful day.
We walked along the road a bit before turning into the trail across the road from our house.
The snow was pretty deep through the woods.
Someone had taken their vehicle through the trail, which made it much easier to walk than having to step through the deep snow.
The dogs, as usual, were busy about their detective sniffing work.
Annie would run ahead of me, and then turn around, and wait until I reached her, before taking off again.
Here, she was playing some kind of game with Cosmo, where she would lay down and wait until Cosmo got close to her, and then pounce on him. Silly dogs!
A stately view of the mountains in the distance draped in their purplish-blue colors.
More pictures of the woods as we walked.
Finally, it was time to head back to the house.
A few days later, we were out at our property, and the weather was changing, even as we were walking around enjoying the beauty there. The temperatures were rising to a balmy 40 degrees, and the snow had become very sticky and wet.
Because of the weight of the snow as it became wet and started to melt, some of the tree limbs were bowing and breaking under the weight of the wet snow.
The snow was very deep out here, up to my knees in places as we walked.
I had put a little bird feeder up hoping to attract some birds, but my feeder was still full. My dad had advised me to spill some of the bird seed onto the snow, and that maybe birds would be attracted to the feeder that way, so I dumped out quite a bit of bird seed on the snow. We will have to wait and see whether the birds will find a new food source or not. As we walk through the woods, it is very quiet and still, with no birds at all, except for the occasional crow. I am hoping that come spring we will be able to have more birds stopping by to visit us.
This is the tree that went down in the wind storm we got back in January. Now it is covered in snow, and appears as if it has been like this forever.
The snow was up to Annie's belly. She didn't seem to mind it a bit!
We saw evidence of squirrel activity here with fresh acorn droppings just outside of a tree stump covered by snow.
Stately fir trees covered in a blanket of snow.
I love the lacy look that the snow leaves on the trees.
Poor Cosmo was not enjoying the wet snow very much at all. It looked as if he had white pantaloons on... the snow was sticking to his legs, in balls and clumps, making it difficult for him to walk. He looked so sad!
She gladly let me rub her nose as I talked to her.
Annie thought that the horses should play with her, and didn't understand why I wouldn't let her through the fence to play.
The other two horses came up to the fence to see us as well.
Not too sure what to think about us! She just kept looking at me very sadly, and would not let me pet her.
Annie wanted to play with them, and kept begging.... and she didn't understand that they wouldn't play nicely.
Poor Cosmo! This wet snow was really dragging him down, he could hardly move! It was attaching in balls all over his fur, and he looked so bedraggled, and worried!
He was begging to go home so that he could dry off, and so... that is what we did!
We loaded up in the truck to go home, so that the dogs could dry off. There was a puddle of water on the seat by the time we got home, as the snow began to melt off his fur!
As we headed for home, this was how the river was looking today... frozen over!
But, it was already raining, and the temperatures were rising, so this ice was about to melt very, very soon...
This may have been winter's last stand.... as the higher temperatures moved in... now all this ice has melted... but that is the nice thing about living in an area with the four seasons.... we must enjoy each season as it arrives, and departs!
One evening a week or so ago, the sun was setting, and creating a dramatic picture outside my door. I grabbed my camera. It seemed as if the treetops had been dipped in glittering gold paint and were sparkling and shimmering in the late afternoon rays of the sun, while the clouds painted a dark, chaotic backdrop.
It looked as if the trees had been dipped into a huge pot of gold paint... an incredible scene to behold!
It seemed as if the very clouds themselves were dancing with joy at the beauty of the moment spread out before me!
The different shades of the trees as the rays of the sun played games across my horizon with the clouds...
The stately Douglas Fir remaining untouched by the gold paintbrush, against the backdrop of the whirling dark clouds...
What beauty and majesty have touched these trees that they appear to have turned into pure gold!
The sun was fading quick, and the darkness was quickly upon us. But just for a few moments, my world was enriched by the beauty of the golden trees!
Here is another random event that I wanted to share with you. We were taking a drive into town on a very icy/snow-covered road. The sun had somewhat melted the snow, and then it had refroze again, and it was slow going on these treacherous roads.
As we arrived in town, the recent cold snap that we had had created ice buildup that almost completely covered the river.
We've lived here several years, and we've not seen the ice freeze up in the river like this before.
As we continued our drive, I spotted this fellow up in a tree. By the time I got my camera out, I didn't have time to zoom in for a close-up... but you can see this stately eagle perched here close to the river, no doubt scanning the waters for his next meal...
It was a rather grey, overcast day... and not the best day for snapping pictures... but since this is a random post of random events... I'll share these random mountain shots with you...
The world had taken on a silverish-gray color, and with the ice forming on the water... everything was colored in shades of gray.
The trees had frost still on them from the cold, and everything was shrouded in grey loveliness.
And, just so you'll know that the "golden tree" sunset was unusual... this is another sunset that took place... and although it wasn't quite as spectacular, I still loved the stark contrast between the dark trees, and the brilliant blue sky.
The shows that nature puts on through the creative handiwork of our Master Artist, never ceases to amaze me, and I live every day very thankful for all the blessings HE has put in our world for us to enjoy!
It looked as if the trees had been dipped into a huge pot of gold paint... an incredible scene to behold!
It seemed as if the very clouds themselves were dancing with joy at the beauty of the moment spread out before me!
The different shades of the trees as the rays of the sun played games across my horizon with the clouds...
The stately Douglas Fir remaining untouched by the gold paintbrush, against the backdrop of the whirling dark clouds...
What beauty and majesty have touched these trees that they appear to have turned into pure gold!
The sun was fading quick, and the darkness was quickly upon us. But just for a few moments, my world was enriched by the beauty of the golden trees!
Here is another random event that I wanted to share with you. We were taking a drive into town on a very icy/snow-covered road. The sun had somewhat melted the snow, and then it had refroze again, and it was slow going on these treacherous roads.
As we arrived in town, the recent cold snap that we had had created ice buildup that almost completely covered the river.
We've lived here several years, and we've not seen the ice freeze up in the river like this before.
As we continued our drive, I spotted this fellow up in a tree. By the time I got my camera out, I didn't have time to zoom in for a close-up... but you can see this stately eagle perched here close to the river, no doubt scanning the waters for his next meal...
It was a rather grey, overcast day... and not the best day for snapping pictures... but since this is a random post of random events... I'll share these random mountain shots with you...
The world had taken on a silverish-gray color, and with the ice forming on the water... everything was colored in shades of gray.
The trees had frost still on them from the cold, and everything was shrouded in grey loveliness.
And, just so you'll know that the "golden tree" sunset was unusual... this is another sunset that took place... and although it wasn't quite as spectacular, I still loved the stark contrast between the dark trees, and the brilliant blue sky.
I think there is a song to the effect "Keep on the sunny side of life"... or perhaps it is just a familiar term that I've heard throughout the years, to always try to look on the "Sunny" side of life.
Today, I intend to do just that!
Meet Sunny!
That's right! We live right next door to the "SUNNY" side of life!
Sunny, our next door horse, is a sweet 20-year-old horse. She loves to come over to the fence to be petted, and especially to see if we have any treats.
I thought it was just dogs that like to eat snow... but Sunny introduced me to the fact that this is just not so!
Horses LOVE to eat snow too!
I could hardly get her to lift her head up long enough as she ate the crispy, crunchy, icy snow...
... to let me get a good picture of her beautiful Sunny face!
The sun was shining brilliantly, and the snow was reflecting that brilliance.
Ahh!! There we go Sunny!!! A beautiful picture of your face! See how her fur is very fuzzy and furry. I always worry about the poor horses who have to stay outside in this bitter cold weather, but when I see how the Lord so perfectly clothes them for every season of the year, I don't feel so bad!
Ok... she is feeling a bit shy today...
Or perhaps we are just interrupting her snow-eating delight!
Annie desperately wanted to play with Sunny. She whined, and begged, and whined some more... she wanted under the fence so badly!
She didn't have a great attitude, but she did remain obedient!
Sunny continued her snow-eating, after we petted her for a while. Not sure what it is about the snow that tastes so good... but she was sure enjoying it!
We talked her a bit more, and then Sunny decided to move on. Thanks Sunny... for being the Sunny side to our life today!
Today, I intend to do just that!
Meet Sunny!
That's right! We live right next door to the "SUNNY" side of life!
Sunny, our next door horse, is a sweet 20-year-old horse. She loves to come over to the fence to be petted, and especially to see if we have any treats.
I thought it was just dogs that like to eat snow... but Sunny introduced me to the fact that this is just not so!
Horses LOVE to eat snow too!
I could hardly get her to lift her head up long enough as she ate the crispy, crunchy, icy snow...
... to let me get a good picture of her beautiful Sunny face!
The sun was shining brilliantly, and the snow was reflecting that brilliance.
Ahh!! There we go Sunny!!! A beautiful picture of your face! See how her fur is very fuzzy and furry. I always worry about the poor horses who have to stay outside in this bitter cold weather, but when I see how the Lord so perfectly clothes them for every season of the year, I don't feel so bad!
Ok... she is feeling a bit shy today...
Or perhaps we are just interrupting her snow-eating delight!
Annie desperately wanted to play with Sunny. She whined, and begged, and whined some more... she wanted under the fence so badly!
She didn't have a great attitude, but she did remain obedient!
Sunny continued her snow-eating, after we petted her for a while. Not sure what it is about the snow that tastes so good... but she was sure enjoying it!
We talked her a bit more, and then Sunny decided to move on. Thanks Sunny... for being the Sunny side to our life today!
Here is a random event that my camera and I have witnessed together. I was driving into town one afternoon, when this incredible display in the skies unfolded as I drove. I had one hand on the wheel... and the other holding the camera, and snapping pictures. The view was so incredible before me, as I drove slowly to try and capture it through the lens of my camera.... and the windshield of the truck!
It seemed as if there was a storm brewing in the atmosphere, and the clouds were creating a masterpiece of emotion across the sky.
The trees were holding their breath in icy stillness as the clouds battled across the horizon...
The clouds were roiling and rumbling across the mountains with great ferocity...
The sun was wrestling with the clouds, and at times, you could see the rays of the sun breaking through with mocking defiance of the cloud cover.
The icy-snow covered roads, and the pine trees with their lacy covering, and the angry blue of the clouds in the distance made for a breathtaking moment as I traveled along.
Can anything be more beautiful than an approaching storm with the world clothed in white, reflecting the brilliance of the approaching storm clouds? I think not!
Oh, the vehemence of these clouds bespoke of the coming storm...
From this vantage point, it certainly seemed that the storm was imminent on the horizon... and its fury most certainly was about to be felt by me!
But then.... when I turned the corner and began the descent down the hill into town... another picture awaited me...
The sun was winning the battle on the north side of town, and in fact...
... as I descended the hill towards town...
The sun literally wrestled the clouds, and swung them far, far away, until blue sky was dominating the landscape, and the river began to reflect the sky in all its brilliance.
Isn't it amazing how you can just turn a corner, and suddenly the world takes on a whole new perspective!
It was hard to believe that just moments ago, it seemed as if a terrible storm was about to descend upon the world, and now.... the sun had won the battle, and was doing her best to outshine every dark cloud on the horizon.
Isn't that how life is sometimes! We can see the storm clouds ahead of us, and it seems as if all hell must be about to break loose on our lives, and we see every detail, and just "know" how awful it is going to be. But miraculously, there is a battle going on behind the scenes, of which we are unaware of... and at any given moment, our lives may take a turn, much as the road did that I was on... and suddenly... the storm clouds had disappeared, and the sun was shining.
There are times in our lives where we anticipate, worry, fret, and stew over the impending storm clouds that we see approaching. Even while we are wrestling with our fears of the unknown, of the approaching darkness, and danger, we are unaware that the SON is working behind the scenes in our lives, and it could be that we are about to turn a corner that we cannot foresee... and once we turn that corner, unimaginable beauty, and joy await us.
While we stare at the storm clouds, and cower in fear, and despair... we must keep walking, and keeping our eye on the SON... because we just don't know when that corner will be turned... and our fears, terror, and angst, will be turned into joy, gladness, and abounding peace much like the river I crossed above.
I needed to hear those words I wrote above myself, and honestly, the Lord has just spoken to me, even as I wrote this post. I had originally named this post something totally different, but now, I know that the Lord was teaching me something too... even as I wrote this post, and began to think about the significance of the clouds. and then the turning of the corner into the brilliant sunshine... it calms and soothes my heart to know, that no matter what troubles, difficulties or fears we may encounter on our journey of life... we must never take our eyes off the SON, our dear Lord Jesus, because HE leads us on a pathway that is not always clear to us, but there are corners, hills, and trails that we cannot know.... but as we trust and follow Him... even though there are storms in the distance, or storms surrounding us, or storms upon us... at any given moment, the sunshine of our lives, the Lord Jesus Christ can break through every one of those storm clouds into a brilliant, and beautiful place that we are not expecting... what a wonderful thought, and yes, it is so true!!!
So... I hope this little post has blessed you today, even as it has blessed me just now... as I wrote it! May the SON of God, roll the clouds out of the situation that you may see on the horizon, or may be traveling through.... and that the brilliant sunlight of His love would shine bright and clear into your heart today, so that may you feel the PEACE like a river today in your heart, life, and soul!
It seemed as if there was a storm brewing in the atmosphere, and the clouds were creating a masterpiece of emotion across the sky.
The trees were holding their breath in icy stillness as the clouds battled across the horizon...
The clouds were roiling and rumbling across the mountains with great ferocity...
The sun was wrestling with the clouds, and at times, you could see the rays of the sun breaking through with mocking defiance of the cloud cover.
The icy-snow covered roads, and the pine trees with their lacy covering, and the angry blue of the clouds in the distance made for a breathtaking moment as I traveled along.
Can anything be more beautiful than an approaching storm with the world clothed in white, reflecting the brilliance of the approaching storm clouds? I think not!
Oh, the vehemence of these clouds bespoke of the coming storm...
From this vantage point, it certainly seemed that the storm was imminent on the horizon... and its fury most certainly was about to be felt by me!
But then.... when I turned the corner and began the descent down the hill into town... another picture awaited me...
The sun was winning the battle on the north side of town, and in fact...
... as I descended the hill towards town...
The sun literally wrestled the clouds, and swung them far, far away, until blue sky was dominating the landscape, and the river began to reflect the sky in all its brilliance.
Isn't it amazing how you can just turn a corner, and suddenly the world takes on a whole new perspective!
It was hard to believe that just moments ago, it seemed as if a terrible storm was about to descend upon the world, and now.... the sun had won the battle, and was doing her best to outshine every dark cloud on the horizon.
Isn't that how life is sometimes! We can see the storm clouds ahead of us, and it seems as if all hell must be about to break loose on our lives, and we see every detail, and just "know" how awful it is going to be. But miraculously, there is a battle going on behind the scenes, of which we are unaware of... and at any given moment, our lives may take a turn, much as the road did that I was on... and suddenly... the storm clouds had disappeared, and the sun was shining.
There are times in our lives where we anticipate, worry, fret, and stew over the impending storm clouds that we see approaching. Even while we are wrestling with our fears of the unknown, of the approaching darkness, and danger, we are unaware that the SON is working behind the scenes in our lives, and it could be that we are about to turn a corner that we cannot foresee... and once we turn that corner, unimaginable beauty, and joy await us.
While we stare at the storm clouds, and cower in fear, and despair... we must keep walking, and keeping our eye on the SON... because we just don't know when that corner will be turned... and our fears, terror, and angst, will be turned into joy, gladness, and abounding peace much like the river I crossed above.
I needed to hear those words I wrote above myself, and honestly, the Lord has just spoken to me, even as I wrote this post. I had originally named this post something totally different, but now, I know that the Lord was teaching me something too... even as I wrote this post, and began to think about the significance of the clouds. and then the turning of the corner into the brilliant sunshine... it calms and soothes my heart to know, that no matter what troubles, difficulties or fears we may encounter on our journey of life... we must never take our eyes off the SON, our dear Lord Jesus, because HE leads us on a pathway that is not always clear to us, but there are corners, hills, and trails that we cannot know.... but as we trust and follow Him... even though there are storms in the distance, or storms surrounding us, or storms upon us... at any given moment, the sunshine of our lives, the Lord Jesus Christ can break through every one of those storm clouds into a brilliant, and beautiful place that we are not expecting... what a wonderful thought, and yes, it is so true!!!
So... I hope this little post has blessed you today, even as it has blessed me just now... as I wrote it! May the SON of God, roll the clouds out of the situation that you may see on the horizon, or may be traveling through.... and that the brilliant sunlight of His love would shine bright and clear into your heart today, so that may you feel the PEACE like a river today in your heart, life, and soul!
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