Sunday, February 28, 2010

Winter Miscellany

For the first time since early December, we're getting hit with a significant snowfall. All things considered, there's not too much to complain about. Besides, it's melting quickly.

Below are a few snowy, icy photos taken over the last few days - with a couple of colourful breaks for good measure. Please remember to click on them to enlarge.





Temperatures rise and fall creating melts and refreezes. This tiny branch is delicately coated with a fine layer of ice.





A curious chickadee watches as I play with my camera settings.





What's left behind when the ducks and geese leave the mostly-frozen pond for a swim in the open waters? Well lots of webbed prints, and a few other unmentionables.





Something about these snow-covered burrs reminds me of a little monkey clinging to a branch. Please tell me that I'm not the only one who sees this.





A very thin sheet of ice barely clings to the rusted iron railing. Seconds after I took the photo of this droplet, I inadvertently knocked the ice to the frozen pond below.





This is the textured edge of a tunnel wall. The passage allow us to continue walking along the paths, under a busy road without worry of traffic.





One very cold morning, this pair of squirrels stayed close to one another for warmth. One of them eventually noticed me toss some peanuts out for them, and they soon scampered down the tree, and ran across the yard to collect them.





A bowl of strawberries waiting to dress up a yummy dessert.





A colourful bouquet of flowers. I bought them for myself when I felt the need for a bit of cheer.

I'll be out of town for a few days - some of which will be without computer access. Wednesday's POTW may suffer since I'll come up short-handed but I'll be back around to visit your blogs later in the week and I'll try to make up for it on the next POTW. Thanks for your understanding. Catch you in a few days - hopefully with new photos. Until then, there's another scheduled colour coming up Thursday.

58 comments:

Maggie May said...

I saw the *monkey* straight away.
Lovely photos ...... as usual.
Strange that the squirrels are so different in colour. The darker ones we don't have but the other one looked like a squirrel that could be found in the North of England & in Scotland.

Nuts in May

Grayquill said...

I going from one great picture to the next and all at once there were strawberries. I almost broke my neck but they were nice:)
Good job on the flowers.
I hope you have fun.
How's your arm? - (ask Frank):)

Anonymous said...

I love the duck prints - You have some amazing shots there :0)

Jinksy said...

I thought a cross between a monkey and a meercat? But instant recognition of creature, not burrs! Strawberries made me drool...and birdie footprints made me want to splosh in the mud too!

Anonymous said...

Lovely Pictures Hillary!

Brian Miller said...

i see the monkey! isnt he cute! thanks for the warm up pics there at teh end...i was shivering....

Carol Murdock said...

Beautiful shots! Love the black squirrel ! Have fun!

Shrinky said...

You are far from alone in seeing that little monkey! Enjoy your break, and don't forget to take LOTS of photo's back to share with us.

Sueann said...

Yup!! I saw the monkey too!! I loved all your photos...especially the tunnel one. Beautiful!!
Hugs
SueAnn
Have fun on your trip!!

Steve Gravano said...

Beautiful photographs, I see a monkey in the snow covered burrs...strange. I love the chickadee photo. Have fun!

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

These are fabulous photographs Hilary!! Love the tunnel one - and all the shots of ice on branches.

Pauline said...

Burr monkeys, toothed tunnels - it's always an adventure coming here!

Country Girl said...

You are not the only one who sees the monkey. Glad you enjoyed some snow. Your squirrels are so much different from ours. There are black ones?

Zuzana said...

Beautiful pictures of winter details and shapes.
I think this year we are having your winter. The arctic freeze we are experiencing is unusual and at this point very difficult for us.
Therefore I love the bowl of strawberries; my mouth is literally watering seeing these. What a colour!
Still, all your photographs are masterpieces in their own right.
Have a lovely Sunday dear Hilary,
xo
Zuzana

Mental P Mama said...

Love those web prints! Well, I love it all! Have a nice and safe journey!

solarity said...

I saw a koala before I scrolled down to the text. Not a monkey, no.

The bird feet makes me want to go quilt something.

Mary Anne in Kentucky

Anonymous said...

I've had enough of winter but not of your pictures...so beautiful. I saw a Meercat...'simples' All uk bloggers will get that reference.

Unknown said...

Your second snow fall of the season looks so pretty : ). I think ice makes things look magical! LOVE the duck footprints that are frozen. Hope your trip is wonderful! The picture of Kaish with your racoons is up on the blog today.

Daryl said...

Not sure its a monkey but there was for sure some sort of faux little critter there .. enjoy the get-away!

ellen abbott said...

Excellant photos as always Hilary.

Display Name said...

I love the footie prints!!! :) What a great shot, even with the unmentionables, lol! I see a little dog, maybe a chihuahua, clinging to the twiggy branch! Definitely big eyes! :) And what a lovely surprise to see a burst of red in your strawberries! :)

L. D. said...

You always have such great photos. I can't pick out a favorite, except I really like to see birds and color.

ds said...

I saw the monkey's face, yippee! Love that chickadee (they are too quick for my sluggish camera-finger). And the strawberries in the yellow bowl, so cheery!

Enjoy your break. You have most definitely earned it!

Louise said...

Oh, I love the chickadee and the duck/geese footprints!

Unspoken said...

Love the duck and goose prints!

Have fun Hilary. Computers will wait and so will we :).

Land of shimp said...

I loved these pictures, as usual Hilary. Seems unfair to sort of say, "Loved, as usual" because it really is a meaningful thing, and not something I take for granted.

I can say that I'm ready for Spring though! Looking at the frozen images, I just felt this yearning for new growth, and warmth. Pleasant breezes instead of ones that make me shiver.

Enjoy your trip, Hilary! Be safe, and warm, plus happy. Happy is good :-)

Anonymous said...

I saw a monkey but more so a meercat. Always lovely pictures Hilary.
Lisa

Tammie Lee said...

Hilary,
These are all wonderful images. That bowl of strawberries sure stands out next to winter wonderland!

Mage said...

Have a great trip. Yes, there were those strawberries. :) I always like what your eye sees.

~JarieLyn~ said...

You are not alone. Those icy burs do look like a little animal. I love your photos and your posts are always so sweet.

Have a nice time out of town. See you when you get back.

Anonymous said...

I love the webbed prints, the warmth of the bouquet, and your composition on the tunnel wall.
There is just something captivating about thin sheets of ice that cling tenaciously to objects.

blunoz said...

LOVE the chickadee photo! Have a safe trip - look forward to next week's POTW when you get back.

abb said...

Have fun!

järnebrand said...

I can see the monkey! I can! :) Just really wanted to say that. I loved these pics, they are wonderful. It is a treat to get to look at the world through your eyes every now and then. :)

the Bag Lady said...

LOVE the monkey weed! :)

Unknown said...

Love the frozen geese tracks. The tunnel wall makes me think of an old radiator... not working, of course.

Leah J. Utas said...

Where you see monkey I see meerkat.
Love your take on winter.

LadyFi said...

I see that monkey... it also looks a bit like a caterpillar!

Such gorgeous winter shots.

Unknown said...

Fabulous.
And I love that you bought flowers for yourself.

Looking forward to the colour posts, and your return.Although I may be away from the computer at that point, but we'll catch up ! :)

Clowncar said...

Hey, that picture of an icy railing looks like a picture I posted of one of Saturn's moons! :)

Wendy said...

I love the little duckie feet on the ice. And the strawberries. Yes, I saw monkeys - and I think that tunnel looks like spiders legs. LOL! Have a nice holiday.

Anonymous said...

Great pics as always... The last two are so beautiful in colors.
Congrats on Canada in the Olympics..14 golds... fanastic job!
:) The Bach

Nancy said...

It was so nice to go from snow and ice to eye candy with the strawberries. How very clever!

I totally saw the monkey!

Have fun.

Maria said...

Great contrast, icy pictures and splashes of colour. I particularly liked the squirrel picture.

Joanna Jenkins said...

I always wait to read your posts until I have time to enlarge each photo-- Then I let out a big sigh with each one! You always knock me out.

Thanks.

Have a great vacation. I hope the weather cooperates for you.

Safe travels,
jj

Russell said...

Checking in here at about #279!

I noticed the black squirrel -- we don't have such creatures down here in Iowa. Well, we have what is known as a black squirrel but it is not all black -- just has black markings on a brown / grey body.

And, yes, I join with some others in saying I enjoyed the monkey burrs. At first I really thought they were a small animal.

Hope the snow and ice melt away fast. It is March!

Cricket said...

No, you're not the only one who sees the "monkey."

Strangely, though your title is Winter Miscellany, with the chickadee, the strawberries, the melting, and the flowers, what I see is overtures of spring.

Perhaps Miles Davis' Springsville might fit the bill here?

p.s. Congrats Canada. Well played!

Shammickite said...

Have a good time away from blogland, Hilary. We've had hardly any snow so far this winter, and you've made the most of the latest snowfall with your pictures. But I predict that spring is on the way....

Redbush said...

I definitely saw the monkey. The icy pictures show the kind of weather patterns you have been experiencing. Hope your weather warms up to spring run-offs soon. I especially like your sweet chickadee and the bowl of strawberries. Visualicious! Lovely photos!

Dianne said...

I saw the monkey
I also saw bumble bees ;)

love the ice shots

jdsanc said...

Those are such pretty pictures. I went out and took a few the other day here. I know I already have a lot of snow pictures, and I doubt they will much different from the ones last year, but the day was so lovely. As was yours! I didn't see any animals or birds though. Definitely no monkeys!

ethelmaepotter! said...

Ah, you got the ice, we got the snow. It's normally the other way 'round. No complaints here, though!
Yes, I definitely saw the monkey straight away, and a wooly worm, too! And I was quite surprised to see that you have common brown squirrels associating with your exotic black beauties - magnanimous of them, I think.
Have a happy little break!

Unknown said...

Many, many nice photos here that bring up memories of the past, but also of looking forward. Nice! :)

Midlife Roadtripper said...

I never mind having to ogle your photos. Very jealous of your eye - and I think your camera also.

photowannabe said...

I saw the monkey first thing. I love how the snow formed around the burrs.
Umm yummm, I love strawberries. Terrific pictures.
Enjoy your break. Hope you get your batteries recharged.

Anonymous said...

I am so glad you took a break Hilary. This gave me the opportunity and pleasure of meeting you. Janet

Hilary said...

Hi folks! Thanks so much for stopping by to visit while I was away. Between this and the following two posts, I don't think I'll be able to find the time to respond to each comment separately but I sure do appreciate everyone's kind words. I hope to be back on schedule posting, visiting and commenting in the next few days.

Anonymous said...

What a great resource!