Tuesday Morning

I went out for my morning snowshoe trek in the woods yesterday and was pleased to find that the snow is still clinging to the trees despite the wind we had on Monday.   It was 3 degrees above zero, the sun was out, the sky was blue with just a few thin clouds, and there was no breeze at all, so it was very peaceful and still and all I could hear was the chickadees and some very distant, occasional traffic.  In other words, a perfect morning for a walk in the woods.

Here my faithful companion can be seen patiently waiting for me to quit taking pics and get moving again.

A little bit different perspective here.  And of course, what shot would be complete without Axl in it?

I wasn’t holding the camera crooked on this one, that’s just the way the terrain is on the trail going down the logging grade that I’m on.

Well, it’s 8:00 a.m., the sun is breaking through the clouds, and it’s 3 degrees.  Time to hit the trails.  I’m outta here!

Happy Trails!!

Old Homestead

Yesterday I went snowshoeing at an old homestead that belongs to some friends of mine.  The snow is still clinging to the branches, so I got some nice shots again.

Happy Trails!!

Winter Wonderland, Cont.

This is a continuation of my post from yesterday.  I had so many pics I decided to make 2 separate posts.  I posted 16 pics from my snowshoe trek yesterday morning, and now I have 16 more from the rest of the day.  After I got home from my walk yesterday, I ate, changed into dry pants and long johns and went right back out in search of more photo ops.  I took a ride out to the Popple River at Big Bull Falls.  The falls were frozen over, but I did find a few open spots.  I was hoping that the skies would stay blue all day, but it clouded over before I got to the falls.  On my way home I took a ride south of town to the Armstrong Creek.  I also went out to the Popple River on Morgan Lake Road in Fence, WI.  I went snowshoeing at an old homestead today, but I’ll save those pics for tomorrow.

These two pics were taken on Highway 101 on the way to the falls.

Open water on the Popple River downstream from the falls.

Standing at the falls, looking downstream.

I could hear water on the other side of the big rocks across the falls, so I snowshoe’d across to check it out.  There wasn’t much to see.  The falls would normally run right behind where my snowshoes are sitting.

Facing upstream.

Fenceline by the armstrong Creek.

Armstrong Creek

Shorty Shack.  This little shack is less than a quarter mile from the creek.

I think this is an old square baler.

North branch of the Popple River in Fence, WI.

Happy Trails!!

The Christmas Guest

It happened one day near December’s end
Two neighbors called on an old friend
And they found his shop so meager and lean
Made gay with a thousand boughs of green
And Conrad was sittin’ with face ashine
When he suddenly stopped as he stitched a twine
And he said “Oh friends at dawn today
When the cock was crowin’ the night away
The Lord appeared in a dream to me
And said ‘I’m comin’ your guest to be.’
So I’ve been busy with feet astir
And strewin’ my shop with branches of fir
The table is spread and the kettle is shined
And over the rafters the holly is twined
Now I’ll wait for my Lord to appear
And listen closely so I will hear His step
As He nears my humble place
And I’ll open the door and look on His face”
So his friends went home and left Conrad alone
For this was the happiest day he’d known
For long since his family had passed away
And Conrad had spent many a sad Christmas day
But he knew with the Lord as his Christmas guest
This Christmas would be the dearest and best
So he listened with only joy in his heart
And with every sound he would rise with a start
And look for the Lord to be at his door
Like the vision he’d had a few hours before
So he ran to the window after hearin’ a sound
But all he could see on the snow-covered ground
Was a shabby beggar who’s shoes were torn
And all of his clothes were ragged and worn
But Conrad was touched and he went to the door
And he said “You know, your feet must be frozen and sore
I have some shoes in my shop for you
And a coat that’ll keep you warmer too”
So with grateful heart, the man went away
But Conrad noticed the time of day
And wondered what made the Lord so late
And how much longer he’d have to wait
When he heard a knock he ran to the door
But it was only a stranger once more
A bent old lady with a shawl of black
With a bundle of kindling piled on her back
She asked for only a place to rest
But that was reserved for Conrad’s great guest
But her voice seemed to plead “Don’t send me away
Let me rest for awhile on Christmas day”
So Conrad brewed her a steamin’ cup
And told her to sit at the table and sup
But after she left he was filled with dismay
For he saw that the hours were slippin’ away
And the Lord hadn’t come as He said He would
And Conrad felt sure he’d misunderstood
When out of the stillness he heard a cry
“Please help me, and tell me where am I!”
So again he opened his friendly door
And stood disappointed as twice before
It was only a child who’d wandered away
And was lost from her family on Christmas day
Again, Conrad’s heart was heavy and sad
But he knew he should make the little girl glad
So he called her in and he wiped her tears
And quieted all her childish fears
Then he led her back to her home once more
But as he entered his own darkened door
He knew the Lord was not comin’ today
For the hours of Christmas had passed away
So he went to his room and he knelt down to pray
And he said “Dear Lord, why did You delay?
What kept You from comin’ to call on me?
For I wanted so much Your Face to see”
When soft in the silence, a voice he heard
“Lift up your head, for I kept my word
Three times my shadow crossed your floor
And three times I came to your lonely door
I was the beggar with bruised, cold feet
And I was the woman you gave something to eat
I was the child on the homeless street.
Three times I knocked and three times I came in
And each time I found the warmth of a friend
Of all the gifts love is the best
And I was honored to be your Christmas guest.”

~Helen Steiner Rice~

Winter Wonderland

Yesterday, when I was coming in from snowshoeing, the snow was starting to melt off of the trees, but we ended up getting more snow overnight and it stuck to everything even more than it was before.  Needless to say, it was breath-takingly beautiful out in the woods today.  My walk this morning was, well…magical.  I was just in awe of the beauty at every turn.  My planned one hour snowshoe trek ended up lasting 2 1/2 hours.   I have quite a few pics to share because I find it impossible to share any less than what I have picked out.  To anyone using dial-up, I apologize, but I urge you to be patient and let them all load.  It will be worth the wait.  I promise.  After seeing these pics you will know why I love snowshoeing so much and why I have what I call “Snowshoe Madness”.   I just can’t get enough of it and I certainly can’t get enough of the winter beauty that I saw today.  When I was out this morning, besides the obvious beauty, it was also very calm, with no breeze at all.  The peace and serenity of the world around me filled my soul in a way that is very hard to put into words, but I try to convey these feelings through my photography.   All I can say is, you really should experience it for yourself, if you haven’t already.   It will be worth it.  I promise.

My faithful snowshoeing companion, Axl, patiently waiting for me to stop taking pics and get moving.

Same little tree from yesterday’s post, but with different lighting.  I think I like yesterday’s pic better.

Happy Trails!!

White Christmas

We had some interesting weather this Christmas day.  When I got up, it had been sleeting, but stopped by the time I left for church.  After church it was sleeting again, and it changed to snow around noon.  Of course, because of the wind, it was snowing almost horizontally.  I looked outside and saw that the snow was sticking to the trees and I knew it would be a beautiful walk in the woods, so I went snowshoeing.  Besides, Axl was pestering the heck out of us and I knew there’d be no living with him until he got his walk.  It was windy but not very cold and when I got in the woods I was amazed at how beautiful everything looked.  Needless to say, I stayed out for two hours and took about a hundred pictures.  I’m glad I went out when I did because by the time I got back to the house the warm temps were causing the snow to melt off of the trees.  So anyway, here’s about a dozen pictures or so from my Christmas walk in the woods.  By the way, Axl’s been sleeping since we got back over 3 hours ago.  Good dog.

Have a very Merry Christmas.

Happy Trails!!

Merry Christmas!

Good news from heaven the angels bring,
Glad tidings to the earth they sing:
To us this day a child is given,
To crown us with the joy of heaven.

~Martin Luther~

Frost

I completely forgot I had these pictures to post.  One day last week when I was snowshoeing, I got a lot of nice shots, some were of “hearts”, which I posted already and the rest were of the frost that was on all the trees.

Happy Trails!!

Awesome Frost

We had a very frosty morning yesterday.  I went out snowshoeing and when I got to the top of the ridge behind our house, I found the most amazing frost on everything that was ground level.  It wasn’t up in the trees, but only on all the dead plants.  I was hoping for a good, solid hoarfrost, but no such luck.  When I got to work yesterday afternoon, (30 miles away), they told me that when they went on morning break there was a beautiful white hoarfrost on everything.  Made me wish I was on day shift instead of second.  Anyway, some (but not all) of the ice crystals I found were very big.  Some were up to 1/2 inch long, and some were 1/2 inch long by 1/2 inch wide.  Almost all of the ice crystals were on the backside of the plants, away from the sun.  I don’t know what causes the frost to form this way, I only know it was a beautiful sight, and I’m thankful I was there with a camera to capture it.

Happy Trails!!

Heart Of Nature

I went out snowshoeing Friday morning and it was beautiful, peaceful and frosty.  I have some frost pictures, but first I want to share the “hearts” that I found.  I have many times found “hearts” in nature; in flowers, clouds, and in shadows on the snow.  On Friday morning I found 4 more hearts.

Happy Trails!!