With the new snow over night, the trees look ‘pretty’ but it is not so pretty to shovel!
Trees in White Decorations
Picture of the Day for January 6, 2016
Today some people are celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany, which marks a visit to the baby Jesus by three Kings, or Wise Men. The word ‘Epiphany’ comes from Greek and means to show, referring to Jesus being revealed to the world. According to the Gospel of Matthew, the three kings (Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar) found Jesus by following a star across the desert to Bethlehem and brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
One might sing the song “We three kings of Orient are , Bearing gifts we traverse afar” but as kids, we seemed to come up with different lyrics to songs and some weren’t all that nice. When we were are a sheep sale in Montana, we heard the singing cowboy group “The Ringling 5” and one song on their album was “If Jesus Was Norwegian” with some cute lines about having lefse for communion and instead of Amen, it would be “ya sure, you betcha”. But the last line on why Jesus couldn’t be a Norwegian was that when God searched around Norway “Three wise men were not found.”
Three Wise Men Were Found
Picture of the Day for January 5, 2016
The sun is out bright but its rays are not catching the white petals of daisies but only the white flakes of snow which is blanketing the ground.
Daisies Missing in January
Picture of the Day for January 4, 2016
My visit to waterfalls tend to be mostly in the three warmer seasons, maybe since in the winter the trails to reach the falls are icy or deep in snow and could be 100 degrees colder. In the spring, the waterfalls roar with a heavy volume of water and in the autumn, although the flow may be light, the colors are bright.
Colorful Bond Falls
Picture of the Day for January 3, 2016
When I took a walk through he woods yesterday afternoon, there was several chickadees singing in the trees. They always sound so cheerful and happy no matter if the weather is nasty or nice.
Cheerful Chickadee
Picture of the Day for January 2, 2016
After a snowfall, you notice evidence by way of tracks, just how many critters are visiting your yard. The ‘freeways’ in the snow can be found leading to the bird feeder from the trees as the squirrels attempt to steal seeds. While most of the squirrel tracks go from one tree base to another, the rabbit tracks head towards the thicker underbrush. Varying sizes of bird tracks can be found in the snow under the feeder as they look for fallen seeds. The tiny mouse tracks where running around the outside garage walls, looking for a way inside to stay warm or to get away from the fox who wanders through the yard too. This morning, fresh deer tracks led right up to the house to graze on my shrubs next to the porch. So the “pretty” snow doesn’t stay new looking very long before it turns into a maze of animals trails.
Trails in the Snow
Picture of the Day for January 1, 2016
The start of a new year is here, a day when many make resolutions for changes in their lives and make some new choices. Sometimes it is old things getting a new life or purpose, like this old round barn built in 1895, which was moved a half mile and set on a new cement base in 2006 and in 2012, new siding was added and given a bright coat of red paint. While the barn’s old life as a dairy barn ended in 1944, it has a new life as a historical site for education of agriculture for hands-on learning and museum as well as a gathering place for family celebrations.
New Life for Old Round Barn
Picture of the Day for December 31, 2015
The old father time image often comes to mind when the year comes to a close. This pine pine might not be the father time image, but it sure has turned white like father time’s hair. The pine tree looks like a space creature from the original Star Trek series and looks worn out and old with the white frost covering it.
Tree Space Monster
Picture of the Day for December 30, 2015
This huge building (with only half showing) once housed the provisions for the iron-smelting industrial community of Fayette, Michigan, as it was the company store. With the roof and windows gone after the town was closed in 1891, it no longer shelters items or people from the storms.
The Company Store
Picture of the Day for December 29, 2015
Some people complain that cardinals bring the snow since they are often seen at the feeders before a snow storm and the red birds do stand out more more against the white snow. And with four cardinals in my pine tree this morning, they looked like decoration red balls on a Christmas tree.
Cardinal in the Snow
