Never-ending Beauty In the Sky

As February comes to a close,let's look a some interesting sky scenes. 

I am so often watching the sky and finding so much beauty there.

The following pictures were taken on an evening when I was hoping for a spectacular sunset,but instead I got the subtle beauty of cloud patterns in the sky.

From a distance I could see the ripples in the clouds.

Of course,I zoomed in to get a better look.What else did you expect?

In another area of the sky was this scene.Not colourful,yet so pretty.

Once again,I took a closer look.

 The highlight of that evening was this shot.Can you see the colors in the sky.

I am not a weather specialist,nor a scientist,so I have no explanation for this.The beauty of something like this is that I don't need to know the why,to be able to enjoy the moment.

Closing Thought:

For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens,and Your truth unto the clouds.

Psalm 57:10

Winter At It's Best and Worst

A couple of weeks ago,I had a visit from several Goldfinches.They are still in their winter plumage,but the males are showing a little bit of brighter yellow on the throat.

These pictures are taken through a less than sparkling window,so lack some quality.

I have to share just one more shot.I think these guys are cute at any time of year.

I can't allow those of you who live in warmer areas to forget what my winters look like.I happen to believe that there is so much beauty in the wintery,snowy landscape.

Not all life is perfect,especially in winter.I was photographing these deer and marvelling at how healthy they looked.The one in the foreground moved and it was then that I noticed that it had one hind leg missing. I can only guess at what might have happened,but whatever it was,this deer l\has learned to walk on three legs and looked healthy.

I much prefer to see the deer like this.This one has a much better chance of survival in the along run.

Closing Thought:
How many are your works,Lord!I wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
Psalm 104:24

Winter Snowscapes

Well,let's have some more fun with photo edits.

Today's pictures were all taken early in February of this year.

This old wagon has shown up on this blog before,but I think it is worth revisiting.As any photographer will know,a scene looks different under the varying skies.

This first picture is as I saw it that day,a clear blue sky and nice light on the wagon.

This is the same picture,only I turned it into a black and white.This puts all the emphasis on the wagon.

Still the same picture,but this time I added a slight sepia tone and a vignette.

Do you have a favourite and if so,why.

Once again,I can't pick a favourite,I like them all.

On the same Sunday afternoon that I got the previous pictures,I was able to capture some snow drifts in the roadside ditches.

This one shows an old homestead in the background.I remember the folks who lived there and I'm sure they would have been able to tell us many interesting stories.

Closing Thought:

 All the earth worships you

and sings praises to you;

they sing praises to your name

(Psalms 66:4 ESV)

The Piano Tree

Since it is still winter here in Manitoba,I am showing more wintery scenes.

I will start with a couple of pictures taken in January.I believe it was on January 1st.Yes it looks cold,because it was cold.I do like the light of the evening sun on the drifting snow.

The posts sticking up in the foreground must belong to some piece of farm machinery.

Here is one more scene from almost the same location and it was the same day.

Now let's go visit,what I like to call,the piano tree.

Why this piano is standing in a field,under a tree,I may never know,but it makes for interesting photos.

This was taken earlier in February and is the way I saw it that day.

I used that same picture and changed the color somewhat.The change came from using one of the filters in Lightroom.

Still the same picture,but this time I turned it into a black and white.

 Do you have a favourite of these three pictures and why is it a favourite of yours?

I will say that I like all three and each one for a different reason.I like the natural look,but the second shot has a special softness to it.The black and white seems to add an element of drama to the shot.

Now let's hear your reasons.

Winter's Splendour and God's Love

I am sharing pictures of winter beauty today and thought that I would leave my words to a minimum.

I will instead share lines from the beautiful song called The Love of God.

The love of God is greater far

Than tongue or pen can ever tell.

It goes beyond the highest star 

And reaches to the lowest hell.

The guilty pair,bowed down with care,

God gave His Son to win;

His erring child He reconciled

And pardoned from his sin.  

Could we with ink the ocean fill,

And were the skies of parchment made;

Were every stalk on earth a quill,

and every man a scribe by trade; 

To write the love of God above

Would drain the ocean dry;

Nor could a scroll contain the whole,

Though stretched from sky to sky. 

 O love of God,how rich and pure!

How measureless and strong!

It shall forevermore endure—

The saints' and angels' song.

Join me in praising God for His endless love for all of us.

Winter Beauty

Winter is not over just yet. I am looking forward to spring,but while we still have winter,I will look for the beauty that this season holds.

Although there are no flowers blooming outside,I can still have  some color inside.My Amaryllis was lovely while it lasted.I am thankful for a camera so that I can capture that beauty and enjoy for years to come.

Back about the middle of December we had quite a good layer of snow.I decided not to remove the snow from my deck railing.I wanted to see how much would accumulate.You can see for yourself how tall that layer became.

Sunlight streaming through the evergreens and casting shadows on the snow,is a beautiful sight.

This is the kind of scene I do not get tired of,no matter how often I see it.

No frost on most of my windows this year,because I had new ones installed,but I found some frost on the single pane of the screen door.These are such intricate and delicate designs.

I think we need more snow,but I am reminded from God's Word that this too is in God's control.

He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’

and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour. ’

(Job 37:6 NIV)

Anticipation

I read somewhere that in order to have good mental health,we should always have something to look forward to.It may be something big,like a dream vacation,or it could be something small,something that to many people would be  insignificant.

I trust that I am not the only person looking forward to spring,that's not to say that I don't enjoy each day and try to find joy in each day.

As we look forward to spring,join me in looking back to spring and summer of 2015.

The Kaleida Marsh usually yields something of interest.The calm water is only slightly disturbed when a Canada Goose takes off or lands.

The Lesser Scaup have arrived and are enjoying the open water.

At St.Vital Park,Winnipeg,the male Wood Duck shows off his splendid plumage. This is a beautiful duck and one that I enjoy seeing and photographing.

Back on my yard there are birds of all sorts.I think this is a Ruby-crowned Kinglet,but I am open to correction.Whatever the name,he is a little cutie.

Of course in spring the yard is alive with the twittering of the Dark-eyed Juncos.These birds may not be brightly coloured,but their cheerful twitter always brightens my day.

Closing Thought:

Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world. ~Virgil A. Kraft