The new year is just around the corner and the “old” year has just about completed its journey. For some, the past year was a difficult one with the forces of nature destroying homes and lives. This barn weathered nature for years but in the end, it lost the battle and will no longer be able to stand tall in the coming year and soon all its former existence will fade from the landscape.
The End
“Red sky at morning, sailors take warning; Red sky at night, sailors’ delight.” This rhyme is an ancient rule of thumb for for weather forecasting, dating back over 2,000 years, based on the reddish glow of the morning or evening sky, caused by haze or clouds related to storms in the region. My grandmother would substitute the word fisherman instead of sailors and shepherds was one of the earliest phases used.
Well the red sunrise may not have brought a storm but it sure brought some frigid temperatures so the shepherd had better found shelter for his flock!
Red Sky Warning
Red barns against the white snow can look pretty, even if I prefer green grass instead. But someone was brave enough to go out in the cold and add some holiday cheer to the barn. The green, red and white makes a pretty sight.
Green, Red and White
Merry Christmas Everyone!
It definitely is a very white Christmas this year and I wish everyone a very wonderful Christmas.
(And all those of you singing “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas” or “Let it Snow”, will you please be more specific where you want it to snow as I have to head out now again to shovel show and I haven’t sang either of those songs as there is enough snow at my place already!)
White Christmas
Christmas Star
On a winter Christmas night,
the trees were covered in white.
In the sky a star so bright,
that it gave off such great light.
Stunning and beautiful sight,
with its long tail like a kite.
SAE 12-24-13
Christmas Star
The winter days at the pond have a different look and sounds than the summertime. No frogs croaking or ducks quacking but instead the rattle of ice is heard. And the wood duck has headed south and the house remains empty except for mice or squirrels trying to stay warm.
Different Pond Look
According to the calendar, in the northern hemisphere, today the sun is the lowest, the night is the longest and winter starts. Except winter started weeks ago here and it looks like it will be a long winter so hopefully this log house has a supply of wood stacked up for the cold nights.
Start of Winter
The sunlight is short as the official start of winter approaches and even the few hours daylight may be cloudy or hazy sun. And with enough ice crystals in the air, even a ring appears around the sun reminding me it is cold outside.
Sun Circle
Icicles come in all shapes and sizes and they can reflect the view around them as well as reflecting a tiny star by the captured sunlight. But even though they are reflecting the sunlight, they are not giving off any heat and to me they are only reflecting the bitter cold temperatures.
Reflecting Cold
The pink sunset adds some color to the white landscape but it also reveals the lingering ice on the limbs.
Pink Ice Glow
