A LITTLE AFTERNOON DRAMA...

March has finally arrived...and it has begun in a whirlwind...literally! These first two weeks in March the weather has been seasonably variable, but wow, have we ever had the wind gusts going. What has impressed me is the action going on in the upper atmosphere. Clouds changing and reshaping at such rapid pace...at times I felt as if I were watching a documentary on the climate. You've all seen clips where the speed of the film is increased to show the changes of the weather in quick time...well, it has been somewhat similar to that. Personally, I'm not a fan of strong wind here in our lower atmosphere...but up in the clouds, it's just fine. These captures were all taken between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. on March 5th and 7th. The skies changed from bright and sunny to a mixture of bright sun and dark clouds...and everything in between. I have upcoming full moon photos were you can actually see the speed of the clouds as I'm photographing (well, trying to photograph!) using the tripod.

AN EXPLANATION TO MY GUESTS..........

Many of you may have noticed that I haven't been visiting your blogs as often...I have...and I haven't! Most of you know of my weak connection as we don't have high-speed. Some of you, I have explained the amount of time it takes for me to blog due to my regular issues with our location and poor internet connection. Well, here's the scoop to anyone who cares!

On any given day while blogging, ONE page may take several minutes to load, I'm lucky for it to load in 40-60 seconds! Even then, the page may load, but not fully. Sometimes in the middle of reading a post, typing a post, leaving a comment or preparing a post, I lose whatever it is completely...and then have to start the whole process over! You should see how much time is involved for me to prepare a post (today was a doozy!). On a regular basis, I have a couple of good days a month with few problems, usually the fore mentioned is the norm 95% of the time. It is extremely frustrating!

These past couple of weeks, my issues have been worse with connection problems to many other sites, usually the blogs. Some blogs I can get to, but can't leave a comment....some blogs I can't get to at all. My dashboard hasn't shown my followers, nor has my blog. I contacted blogger, maybe they took care of this recently, now it's showing.
I'm spending hours on this computer a day, attempting to enjoy as many blogs as I can. I am tired of struggling with this computer and need to spend more time getting things done! I've had a few people try to drive these DEMONS(can't think of a better word!!) away.

So! Now that I've vented, I hope you all understand my dilemma. I will try to visit you all when I can on my better days, it won't be as often as I would like, believe me! I've got to manage my time better here in the real world and not spend hours a day on this computer...and stressing so much over it! I know that I will probably lose followers over this and I understand. Who knows...maybe someday this will all click into place! My fingers are crossed.

WOW!!!....talk about afternoon drama!?!?!

EDIT...After publishing these past few posts, I viewed my blog...my followers are gone again.

I give up!

REMAINDER OF FEBRUARY...1

This woodpecker claims this branch as her very own. Several times a day I can look out the window and there she is. Sometimes her eyes are completely closed.
More of the patterns that I enjoy in nature...here the early evening sun casts the long shadows of the tall trees across the pond. Contradicting that effect are the vertical images of the cattails.
Watching me... watching him!

One VERY large cloud!

MISSING THE SUMER SEASON...

Here it is, January 4th, and I don't want to talk about winter. Usually, at this time of the year I'm O.K. with the cold still. We haven't been that far into winter. Maybe it's the extreme ups and downs of the temperatures lately. We have had a few unseasonal warm days here and there which casts a bittersweet feeling. Although I sure appreciate the milder temps., part of me then longs for the warmer weather all that much more. The cattails swaying in the breeze, my dragons playing around the pond and the butterflies skipping gingerly bloom to bloom. I miss the colors of summer, the sounds and scents of summer.












I'm not the only one dealing with this whole idea of winter. All of those tiny birds coats fluff up, they scurry to get as much seed as they can and disappear as fast as they came. I wonder if they are ever anywhere close to warm during the cold months? All of my outdoor cats' coats of fur have filled in twice as thick to help protect them. Look at Bandit here, she looks like a little black snowman posing in front of the pure white snow covered pond.

Now here's a seldom seen happening here in the woods. Only once before have I witnessed deer laying down in the woods. Usually they're nervous and on the move from the hunters. The slightest sound may send them off in a hurry. This deer was all alone, she didn't run the closer I moved towards her. I stayed at a distance of about 150 feet away. I wanted to get a better shot, but more importantly I didn't want to scare her off. She was calm and resting, more than likely she witnessed the rest of her family taken down. She needed her calm more than I needed a better photograph. Naturally, I'm out there quietly talking to her. Each time I spoke her ears perked. I was driving into town the other day and the tiniest fawn crossed the road in front of me. No other family of hers was in sight, she ran off all alone. I wish I could've scooped her up in my arms and took her home. That's another "thing" about winter that brings unpleasant thoughts...hunting.

All of these photos were taken from a distance, I was practicing with the zoom of my new camera. I love the silhouettes against a darkened sky...so simple and so eye-catching. This branch looks as if it were wearing a glove as it pointed north.
More pond views...I'm struggling to find color in this predominately monotone season. When the skies are sprinkled with peaches and pinks as the sunset nears...
the results are soothing pastels painting the pond.

Here the ponds' ice is melting and in certain areas has a crackled effect to add texture for interest. Just look at those pastels...almost reminds you of summer blooms!

FALL HAS BEGUN...

Up and early...coffee on the dock...it's a peaceful morning with just a hint of crisp in the air. Nothing that my hubbys' robe can't cure! I ventured out with jammies, "garden slippers", and my husbands' robe. As I was just trying to still focus and function after a fairly decent night rest, I looked across the pond and watched as leaves fell silently graceful to the pond. The sun was barely peeking over the back hill and the sky was still a sleepy blue with subtle shades of pink tinted clouds. The tall pines and hardwood tree tops showing up black against the sky...it was the perfect dawn. After I nearly inhaled my first cup of coffee...I just had to take a little walk around the pond to try and capture what I felt this morning! I was hoping the photo of the leaf just falling onto the surface of the pond would capture the ripples of the water! As I am preparing this post, it's a bright, warm and sunny day out. I do love fall...and even some winter...just not SO much of the latter. My waterlily photograph was put in the mix just because I can't get enough of them!! The lily was not yet opened at that time of the morn. Actually, that photo was late evening. Just so pretty all the same!

A MASTERPIECE...