New Year's Eve

Party 'til the cows come home!  And drink milk!  : )

Sunday Morning Grace

And Not That Long Ago . . .

Glow!

When Life Hands You Sticky Buns..... Roll With It

Home For The Holidays

Security.  Warmth.  Belonging.  Acceptance.  Love.  Aren't all of these contained in the idea of "home"?  Here's hoping we all find our home, our deepest connections of the heart, this Christmas.

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Peace On Earth

I love this sheltered little birch branch supporting the recent snow.  Frequently our snow is horizontal in the Midwest; not like the "real" West, of course, but not for wimps, either.  So it's necessary that another tree take the brunt of the wind for the one behind it to "blossom".  I'd draw some deep philosophical comparison to the human condition but you've done that in your mind already.

And then . . . you know how it is:  it's an artist's prerogative - no, her duty! - to never leave well enough alone.  So I added a border from a William Morris silk tapestry, and a drop shadow to make the photo stand out.  Always messing with nature, that's me!  With amazement, wonder, and gratitude.

Frolicking Is Serious Business

Seat Cushion

Is It Just Me?

Or do you see a reindeer wearing snow boots???  It pleases me to see pictures in the ice on the window after our first blizzard.  It's a balmy 17 degrees with a stiff wind still blowing.  The power is still on, thankfully, and it's a beautiful day to be inside looking out!

Fleeing From Winter

I'm posting this in the midst of our first winter blizzard, hoping the power stays on long enough for me to do so.  My usually adequate windows are rattling and horizontal snow grasps the side of branches and fences that were saturated from the preceding rain.  It's way too wild to get out and take pictures.  So here's one I've been saving for this moment.

The Kiss

Charlotte Was Here

Pause To Look

Ready Or Not

It's coming.  Winter.  Some people are filled with excitement, others with dread.  There just doesn't seem to be a middle ground:  you either love it or hate it.  I used to love it but this year can't make up my mind.  I'm inclined toward welcoming it.  But the hesitation worries me:  does this mean I'm growing older mentally as well as physically?  What a horrifying thought.

Oak Antlers

Who knew oak trees had antlers?!  And no, I didn't have anything better to do . . . (grin)

Piano Keys

Relish The Glow

The Test of Time

One of a few remaining round barns, lovingly preserved at Johnson's Sauk Trail Park near Kewanee, Illinois.  It makes me tired just to imagine all the cutting and fitting involved.  But it's a treasure and I'm thankful it wasn't replaced by the rectangular ugliness of sheet metal.

Expecting Tom Bombadil

Hi, Friends!  A warm greeting and sincere apology to all, er, both of you.  I've been so lax about posting and feel bad about it.  The strange thing is that there have been no major events to stop me; just a bunch of little bits of 'life' that added up to putting my photography last on the priority list.  It's made me a very grumpy camper.  Expressing myself in pictures is just part of my make-up, like the color of my eyes.  So I've been only partly alive these past few months.

Anyway, I'm making a commitment to myself, primarily, although you sweet people are in my thoughts as well.  From now on I'll be posting a picture a day, every day.  I've been playing with Photoshop Elements and getting better at it, so there will be some manipulated pictures as well.  As I see it, it's the glory of nature seen though my personal, quirky style, as it always has been, of course.  I just now have more toys to play with!

Play is good.  Appreciation for our world is vital.  I hope you'll come along for the joy of it.