SHADES OF TWILIGHT...

As an early riser, I treasure my twilight walks. I awake habitually around the same hour shortly before 4:00 a.m. I practically inhale my first mug of coffee and leisurely sip my second mug. In the sweet morning light as the moon sets and the sun has just barely begun to peek over the horizon, I breathe in deep the freshness of the air. I let my senses absorb all the sights and sounds of nature bathed in various shades of twilight blues.

All of these photos were from the past few days, and on each of these days I spent about a half hour to an hour outside enjoying the darkened surroundings.

Each twilight hour brought forth its' own shade of blue, as well as varying intensities of color. Of course, the longer that I linger, the twilight glow brightens. This garden statue was a gift to me. I call her my Celine statue, named so, after my granddaughter. The light reflecting across the pond towards my "Celine" is that of an automatic photo-sensor light that turns itself off in daylight.

In this wee hour of morning... each tree, plant and rock along with the water and sky almost lose some of their identity but are connected as one in the shades of twilight. Just briefly, they all share the colors for a harmonious sight.

'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS...

SPELLBOUND...

Need I say more?...Standing on my porch was this view, it was as if the trees themselves were holding the full moon captive. This was taken very early this morning as the sun was just beginning to rise on the opposite side of the woods.

The clouds gracefully moved across the sky in their finest shades of peaches, pinks and grays. This point here was between the full moon resisting is setting, and the sunrise barely rising over the back hill...

and the new dawn begins...

I couldn't decide which to post, so both are shown, this was the capture prior to cropping. The glow on the underside of the clouds was just heavenly.

These next three photos were from this weekend, as I gaze at the moon in awe, it's hard not to feel as if I'm under it's spell. My mind clears of all else...I'm totally drawn into it's mystery. I'm in solitary confinement with nature...totally surrounded by the crisp, dark night. Comforted by the towering, silhouetted trees of the woods, as the moon casts her spell on me.





One more sunset coloring the sky.

INTO THE BITTER COLD...

This past weekend our temperatures dropped to the lowest so far in this early winter season. It was bitter cold, and old man winter threw in a good dose of wind chill effects just to make sure he got his point across! This first image shows the coneflower seedheads(left for the birds), with the sun low in the sky, casting it's beam across the frozen pond. I'm seeing some interesting shadows created across the pond...and as I've mentioned in many posts, the pond "scape" changes all day. I never would've thought that our pond would bring me the amount enjoyment, on a variety of levels, as it does.

I discovered this small nest on one of my walks this weekend, it's nestled among an overgrown wild rose bush. The bush is probably 12-13 feet high, yet this cozy home was about 6-7 feet above ground. Whatever feathered friend calls this home, sure has protection from predators with all the thorns from along the canes of the bush. It appears to be occupied, I think I'm seeing an eye peeking out there. Recently, I've spotted Cardinals and Finches on the bush, more than likely for the rose hip berries. If anyone has an idea who may be in that nest, please give your guess. The entrance is on the side.
Looking out my kitchen window, there's a tree fairly close to the cabin. It is dying and has an inevitable date with a chainsaw. I am holding off taking it down because I enjoy seeing the birds, squirrels, owls and raccoons that frequent the tree. Here's a couple of titmouse, this photo came out pretty good considering I took it from in the cabin.
This photo didn't turn out quite so good, again, taken from indoors. Perhaps because it was snowing, I'm not sure. I was watching these little ones pick up the cat food and bring it to the branch and break the food down with their beaks to eat it. Here the titmouse was eating snow, ahhh...nothing like a little ice cold snow to wash down cat food!

Here's a taste of my photography skills!! This is a capture of two deer on the damn, just before dark....O.K!...so you can't see the deer, but you CAN see their eyes! I really need to find my manual for my camera!! I debated on showing this blooper, but hey...what the heck!

SUNRISE, SUNSET...

This first photo is the sunrise in the wee hours of Thanksgiving morning, which the rest of the day turned out equally beautiful as well. I'm not sure if you can see the white plastic bottle in the pond at the farthest end, but if you do, that is where we moved the waterlillies to overwinter. Hopefully that decision comes through for us next spring, it was either place them deeper or take the plant out and store elsewhere in cool storage.

I am mesmerized by moonlit nights, a starry sky, thunderstorms, the sunrise and a sunset. These captures were just too beautiful not to share! This first sunset photo was taken after I walked halfway up our pinehill. It was taken on a different night as the other sunsets shown here. It really irks me that I am hesitant to walk my own woods due to wandering hunters. On Thanksgiving day we drove up north, three counties away to be with family. Upon our return the next day, I hadn't even got out of my truck when I saw a hunter close to the pond. Which means he was fairly close to the cabin. He was hiding behind a tree, but I happened to see him quickly take off his bright red-orange cap. My husband walked over to him, with our two large dogs. The hunter ended up being a neighbors' nephew, at least not a total stranger. My neighbors are aware of how I feel about hunting, and my neighbors all hunt. It would truly upset me to see an animals' life taken in my woods.

These last three photos are of the same sunset, just look at the changing blues, oranges and reds all within about a 15 minute time frame. The vivid colors that are produced in nature never cease to amaze me. The reds and oranges this evening were on fire! Almost unreal looking...too bad the sunsets don't last longer, but that just makes me appreciate them even more.

In this capture, at the lower right hand corner, you'll see the snow on top of the very first structure we built here in the woods. This is a simple wood storage barn, if my memory is correct, it's about 10 x 16. This is where we stayed and camped when we'd come out and build the cabin every weekend. That little building had it all! Cooking utensils for over the firepit, sleeping bags up in the loft, even a makeshift bathroom. On the back of our barn, we built an outdoor shower. After heating water over a fire, we'd pour it into a camping shower bag and hang it on the hook. I actually loved taking a shower and looking up at the treetops. My granddaughter was quite young then, she loved camping there and called it the E-I-E-I-O barn.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING...

I know that I've already posted this wild turkey photo, but I felt it deserving of another shot of the spotlight...especially since many of us will be enjoying the turkey on Thanksgiving. Interesting note on this creature...last year, there were probably thirty turkeys up in the trees one day. Something spooked them, and they all took off in flight at once. For some reason, one became disoriented and landed in the pond. Of course, I panicked thinking it may drown, as it was struggling. I yelled for my husband and he came over with heavy duty work gloves in an attempt to save the poor thing. Surprisingly, it managed to "swim" to the edge of the pond within a few feet of me, and fly away. I didn't know turkeys knew how to swim, if that's what you call what it did!
Here's a decent size doe wandering just behind the cabin, the rest of her family took off when they spotted my husband at the window, she was a little curious...
and so was this squirrel.

Even though my woods bring me my calm, hey...I have my moments of stress! Every time I see one of my cats crossing the pond! I just lose it with worry that they will find a weak spot...so far they've been lucky! Look at Patches...just strolling the pond...no worries!

WINTERS' ICY GRIP...

We have felt the cold air and the snow flurries on sparse days of November...

that was until yesterday when winter came barrelling through the woods, his frigid breath pounding on the cabin...then proceeded to properly introduce himself! Howling winds raged through the trees, temperatures dipped in the teens during the night, and big, fluffy snowflakes raced in circles every which way!
He is here, in all his glory...

and from the looks of it, plans to make himself at home!