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

Spring Scenes From 2015

The first month of 2016 is all but a memory by now.What will the next month bring or each one after it? It's a good thing we don't know that,all we need to do is cherish each moment.
Today I have a variety of images taken during the early spring of 2015.

An old broken down building is all that remains of what could well have been part of a farm yard,years ago.

This is an iPhone shot.I am treated to a scene like this on many mornings,on my way to work.Because this is obviously taken on the tracks and I am stopped in my car,I don't have a lot of time.I am not happy about the flares,but still like the image enough to share it.

The leafless tres show that this is early in spring,but those clouds look like they might bring a good rain to wake up the earth and speed the growth of new leaves.

As the ice on the small ponds melts,it leaves little fingers of clear ice on some of the surfaces,creating intricate designs.

The Canada Geese don't seem to mind the icy water of a nearby pond.Soon the remaining ice will thaw and the geese can set up for nesting and raising their families.

Closing Thought:
Let us learn to appreciate there will be times when the trees will be bare,
and look forward to the time when we may pick fruit.
Anton Chekhov

Looking Back — Looking Forward

I won't say that I am wishing winter away just yet,BUT I am looking forward to warmer days and the arrival of the birds.

Yes,I know that it will still be a month or more before we can expect these things to happen,but I also know that I can look back to last year and see what I have to look forward to.

 In a few short weeks the rays of the sun will bring enough warmth to start melting the ice on the ponds.

Will I see this many Bald Eagles in one place again? Who knows? I do know that each Eagle is a thrill to see and I look forward to watching them soar over the Pembina Valley.

Once the sun has begun to melt the ice on the lake the sunsets will take on new beauty again.

Before long,this is what we can expect to see over the valley.Bring it on,I can hardly wait.

Of course as the weather warms up,there is work to do as well.

Last year my granddaughter was inspired to give her bike a good cleaning,so she would be ready to ride alongside her Dad again.

Closing Thought:

Happiness isn't about getting what you want all the time.

It's about loving what you have and being grateful for it.

Even as I look forward to spring,I am thankful for each day and the blessings that come with that day.

Frosty Sunrise

What do bus drivers do on their first day of Christmas Break?

This bus driver and her friend and co-worker got up early on December 19,the first day of our Christmas break,and headed out by 8am to take some pictures.

I will share the pictures and you decide if it was worth getting up early on a day off to see this.

Of course we were out of town before sunrise,and had to stop along the way when the sun started painting the eastern sky in gorgeous colors.

A little later the clouds looked like they were on fire.

The frost covered trees were tinted a beautiful soft shade of pink as the sunlight hit them.

Here is another look at these pretty trees,highlighted by the morning sun.

At the side of the road was another photo opportunity just waiting for us.Some old fence poles and few roles of wire,now covered with snow,looked artistic to me.

As we headed further west the frost became heavier and the scenery more beautiful.

 A closer look at those branches heavy with the frost.

And still closer.It was spectacular to say the least.

We had driven quite a few miles from town with one purpose in mind.Up until now,what we saw were bonuses,but my friend wanted to show me a particular tree.

This tree stands out in the field and it has a piano,complete with a bench,standing under it.

I do not know the story behind this,but I do know that it makes a unique picture

It had been a fantastic morning of friendship,music on her car stereo and pictures,but our tummies were reminding us that we had not eaten breakfast yet. We left this beauty,headed back into town and enjoyed a hearty breakfast.This was a wonderful way to start our two week break from school.

Roses and Friends

It's time to brighten this blog with some color.

I can't find color outside in our winter world of black and white,but I can still find color.

In December,my neighbours brought over this colourful and cheerful floral arrangement.By way of explanation.The base is the bottom part of a 'Christmas Ornament' and the piece on the top right,is the  rest of it.When the flowers were gone and I put these two together it was a cheery Christmas ball.

Roses are always welcome in my home,whether at Christmas or any other time.These red ones were exquisite.

Red,white and green,what perfect colors to display at Christmas time,or any time.

I found this quote,think about and see if you can come up with an answer.

I don't know whether nice people tend to grow roses or growing roses makes people nice. 

- Roland A. Browne

One more picture of the arrangement.It was beautiful and because of pictures,it will last for years to come.

Closing Thought:

Roses and friends differ only in name,

for the joy that they give are one and the same.

Author Unknown

More Frosty Scenes

Can you handle more frosty scenes?

We have been blessed with the most beautiful hoar frosts this winter and I am thankful that I have been able to capture some of that beauty.

This post starts and ends with a scene from Lake Minniwasta,the remaining pictures need no descriptions.Enjoy!

Closing Thought:

Nature is but a name for an effect, whose cause is God.

    William Cowper