the deer eat these

winter sky

but sometimes there's this

there's been lots of this

what really cold water looks like

When Does Water Turn Into Ice?

a notice to santa

Follow Directions

it was snowing. . .

. . . And the Sun Came Out; Well, a Little Bit. I Saw It.

the other day, the sun came out

Snow and Sun on Road

LOOK!

It's March 1st and the daffodils are coming up in my backyard here in upstate New York. See them?! Now those are hardy plants. Right now it is 21° out and supposed to snow, but the sun is out and higher in the sky every day. I've had enough of turtlenecks and winter coats.

birds and ice

One view today of Lake Ontario.

And the birds.

winter boat launch

Erie Canal water was drained back in November. What was left has frozen and been covered with snow. Waiting for the thaw and the fill, then the peace of paddling on the water in early morning will return.

winter wind

Somedays are just perfect to hang out the laundry to dry. These sheets nearly flew away; it was that day of remarkable winds coming ahead of the cold arctic air that we have today.

de-icing in milwaukee

This morning was very snowy in Milwaukee; all the planes were getting de-iced, which took about 20 minutes per plane, which explains many of the delays at airports. Chicago was clear. Rochester was sunny. Funny winter systems.

optical game

Cartographers have always known that the direction of light on a topographical object affects how we see it, whether it is seen as a mountain or a hole in the ground.

Here is a wonderful example of this.  These are goose footprints as I photographed them on the Lake Ontario shore the other day.

And here is what they look like turned 180°. Pretty cool, eh?

winter on lake ontario

Noon on the Lake Ontario shore. West wind. Mid-20s Fahrenheit. Sun. Clouds. Ice on the beach, the water. Open water beyond. Cold.

Perfect winter day.

merry christmas

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, during those days when less and less daylight lightens our days, this plant on top of my refrigerator does all it can to brighten the nights.

I look at the blooms every time I open the fridge door.

snow in december

A near-monochromatic day, it was, with temperature about 17 degrees Fahrenheit. The snow was crispy, the sun was hiding.

ah, cold softness

And now, winter. So much for that forsythia...