Rough, Rocky, Snowless Shore

    rough 
rocky 
    snowless shore
               bereft of winter's blanket 
       gray
    and naked 
         awaits the raiment of spring


copyright ©2016 Terry Boswell

This year on February 4th, there was no snow at Sherwood Island State Park in Connecticut on the shore of the Long Island Sound.

It was a beautiful day, but I missed the snow.

Last year on February 4th, it looked like this…

Hoping Heart

you can see right through
 
a heart so open hoping

unreserved giver

filled with transparent desire

to empty of all save love

 
Copyright ©2016 Terry Boswell

Last week I had to travel into New Jersey. After driving for a few hours, I stopped to get out of the car and stretch my legs. I was surprised and delighted to find this magnificent heart-shaped tree trunk as I wandered a bit into the Watchung Reservation. Such a find! I’m posting it, along with a tanka that I hastily wrote, in honor of Valentine’s Day.

I hope you enjoy, and thanks for stopping by!

 

 

Snowflakes And Feathers

little bird shivers
crystal falls on beak and down
feathers fluff to warm
surrounded by frosty white
weathering strong winter's storm

I took the photo above from my kitchen window on one of the few days that we had snow this year. So far it’s been a disappointing winter for scenic snowfall. What little we’ve had here in Orange County, New York has not lasted for more than a few days.

Last year was another story. We had several really gorgeous snows. There was one day in particular when the activity at my bird feeders was absolutely spectacular. Throughout the day, a variety of eight or nine different types of birds swooped around the feeders. They were joined by squirrels, chickens, and even dear, all snacking on sunflower seeds in the falling snow.

I took the photo below on that day. Visit my post,  A Day Of Memorable Moments to see the rest of the lively, colorful, flurry of activity by clicking here. Seeing those photos and remembering that delightful day still makes me smile! 🙂

Black capped chickadee. March 2015.

This post is my response to Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Things That Are Cold.

Toasty Fire ~ Content Pup

Right in front of the fireplace is always the best seat in the house on a cold winter’s day… which we haven’t had very many of this year in New York State’s Hudson Valley.

We had a day of heavy snow a week and a half ago, but many warm days followed. The snow quickly melted. Today was very sunny and the  temperature got up to an unseasonable 58°F. More warm weather is predicted for tomorrow, although it will be accompanied by rain.

I’m hoping the weather will turn crisp again, bringing that wonderful clean smell to the air outdoors which becomes scented ever so lightly with the smell of burning wood wafting up out of the chimney. A blanket of white snow would be nice, too!

 

This is my belated response to Jennifer Nichole Wells’s One Word Photo Challenge: Background, and to Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Things That are Hot.

Optimistic Progression

On Saturday morning, January 23, 2016, Winter Storm Jonas had already slammed much of the East Coast with record snowfall, but in Orange County, NY it was just beginning. This is where I live. It was the very edge of the storm.

The area just fifteen miles due south of my home was buried in snow, and fifty miles south-east, Manhattan was crippled.  However, less than thirty miles north there was no snow. None at all. That’s where we my husband and I headed in our four-wheel drive Dodge Ram Truck.

At about 12:30 pm on Saturday the 23rd it looked like this traveling east on Route 17 near Monroe, NY.

As we approached the Harriman toll booths, which had become invisible, it looked like this.
Behind a bus and a couple of cars, in the photo below we were about twelve miles from home and headed north on the New York State Thruway.

winter slumber

dry leaf, brittle twig
     pale white blanket  a l l 
                       a       r     
                       o       u
                          n d
    roots slumber  d
                   e
                    e
                   p
                    l
                      y

                             ~ copyright ©2015 Terry Boswell

This is my response to Jennifer Nichole Wells’s One Word Photo Challenge: Winter.

Silent Storm

summer 
  swing 
    slumbers

 silent 
  storm 
         s
          W
           i
            r
           L
         l
      S
          
 steady snow 
             s
              t  
                a
                C
               K
               S    s
                     o
                     f
                       t
                          L y

copyright ©2015 Terry Boswell

Snow storm, Sugar Loaf, NY, March 2013.

Thank you Jennifer for the One Word Photo Challenge: Storm.

Nature’s April Fool’s Prank

Looking north toward Chester, New York. April Fool’s Day 2015.

Looking east. April Fool’s Day 2015.

Snow, stripes and stone. April Fool’s Day 2015.

Looking south toward Warick from Sugar Loaf, New York. April Fool’s Day snow. 2015.

I thought perhaps I was done with snow shots for the season, but this morning, April Fool’s Day, in spite of spring having arrived on the calendar almost two weeks ago, there was snow on the ground. It seems mother nature has a sense of humor.

I took a walk over to the railroad tracks and became fascinated by the snow that had selectively accumulated about 1/4 inch or more on certain surfaces. The tracks looked like a series of white stripes strung together by two dark ribbons.

In response to Cee’s Which Way Photo Challenge: Week #13. Thank you Cee, for the challenge!

Synopsis Of Photography 101 March 2015

Sugar Loaf, NY