Saturday, March 15, 2014

The Week That Was....


After seeing a glimpse of Spring on Monday & Tuesday, Mother Nature decided our winter and snow was not over yet.  But this time she gave us a glorious, magical snowfall.  The kind of snowfall that can spell danger for possible heart attacks because it is filled with ice crystals and wet, wet snow.  As beautiful as it may look, it is the worst kind for clean-up.  But since I am not part of the clean-up crew my perspective is more positive.  I am seeing pure beauty.  You know the kind of snow I am talking about, the kind that clings to everything it touches leaving behind blankets of pure white snow.



Now we have had our fair share of snow this past winter....what am I saying fair share??? I mean we have almost topped the all-time record for snow this year, but it has always been that light puffy snow, easily removed, but not the good snow-ball - snow man making kind of snow.  I need to go on a treasure hunt to find some good home-made snowmen, but unfortunately I think because everybody is so fed up with winter and snow, that not even good packin' snow is enticing many to venture out as it would have earlier in the year.  Even the ducks and geese are ready for this winter to "be gone"...



Well, it is now Saturday, didn't even finish this post that I began on Wednesday....oh inspiration please return.  Even tho I have moaned and complained (and by the way I am definitely not the only one complaining about this winter, just to be clear) one good thing that has returned to my life is my love of reading.  There was a time that I literally devoured books, finish one, immediately start another.  But then, something happened, don't know what, I stopped reading.  Well, not completely, but the only books I read for probably the last 4 years was whatever my book club was reading for the month. And many times I skipped those.  Books enrich your life, so why did I stop?  Still a mystery to me....but anyway with this lengthy winter I began reading again and it's brought me a lot of the joy I used to feel as I read good books.  I love the way some authors can just literally mesmerize you with their style of writing, their way with the written word.  And with the lightweight of the Kindle it makes it easier to hold books for long periods of time.  I gotta admit as this aging process takes over my body, the arthritis in my fingers has progressed to the point where it just downright hurts to hold a book, especially a hard back book for long stretches.  I still would prefer to have the "real" book sitting by my bedside table, but for comfort and ease I have fully embraced my kindle.

Spring is on it's way....slowly, very slowly.  After the wet snowfall we had on Tuesday night, it began to warm-up again with the melting snow piles getting smaller.  And ofcourse the mud, and the dirty paws, but that comes with Spring, part of the ritual.  The birds are returning, you can see them gathering bits to begin their nesting, green is beginning to make an appearance underneath the melted snow.  I know winter is not over yet, but at least we are on the downhill swing.
 
 

And one last pic.....I couldn't resist.  The only thing that Cinder cannot  pass up is a piece of paper that has fallen on the floor.  A napkin, a paper-towel brings Cinder to inspect and and begin to rip and chew until I stop her with just a word.  She usually does this in secret, but somehow one of the "pieces" caught on her tooth and there was no hiding the guilt.  It's like the proverbial "kid caught with the hand in the cookie jar".


And another Lenten thought.....

Do more than belong: participate.
Do more than care: help.
Do more than believe: practice.
Do more than be fair: be kind.
Do more than forgive: forget.
Do more than dream: work.  ~ William Arthur Ward


Until next time.....


22 comments:

  1. well I enjoyed ready your wordy post Deanna, as always. There might be 'a book' in you one day? I loved the goose photo, your snowy pics, and Cinder made me laugh too. Take care, oh, the quotations were excellent.

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  2. You post such excellent photos and I enjoyed reading about your days.

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  3. This has been a winter to try one's patience. I am just beside myself with the forecast of snow tomorrow night - enough already!!! I also used to read a lot, like 2-3 books a week at one point, and then nadda. I think it was because I started spending more time with my camera, playing with pictures, and eventually the internet. Soon you will shake the cabin doldrums and venture out in search of beautiful barns and flowers and nifty new little shops with the most awesome nick-nacks.

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  4. Cinder is so cute with his stuck paper . . . Caught in the act, indeed.
    Beautiful snow . . . did you find a snowman anywhere?
    I go through those read everything streaks and then a drought. No clue why. The long winter treated me with reading passion too . . .i hope it remains for porch sitting days!

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  5. Such wonderful photos. So sorry to hear about another dumping of snow. I am in Sunny San Diego and it was over 80 degrees today. Unseasonably warm for this time of year. At least that's what the news is saying. Mother nature is playing with us that's for sure.

    Hugs~

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  6. Yay! It's you! Help me make it through this winter. We. Can. Do. It. That shot of Cinders made me laugh. And yes to the ereader, same here for my hands. I liked your Lenten segment at the end. Yes, indeed. Keep posting. I miss you when you don't. And I get all crabby.
    Pam oxoxoxoxoxox

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  7. Good talking to you this morning, miss you my dear one. Love Cinder she is a cracker. I love the snow images but I know you could do without them at this point. Have a wonderful week.

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  8. laughing at cinder. love your house finches and the sweet mallards and goose. beautiful snow, but, yes, i'm sure you're ready for springtime.

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  9. Oh I love those snowy pics! I can sooo relate! But Cinder is the cutest today - how adorable!

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  10. You caught the beauty of that snow fall. Now onward to spring. Cinder made me laugh. Enjoy your reading.

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  11. Yes, that is definitely the kind of snow that a photographer can love. Beautiful snow photos, Deanna! Our weather has also been up one day, down the next. 60's yesterday, winter storm watch beginning in a little while. I love that shot of Cinder! She does indeed look guilty. And the Kindle. I, too, have picked up my reading pace since I got my Kindle. I'm never without a book going. It's just so easy to download another when you finish one. {PS-We're having a discussion on our FB page about our Galveston travel plans.}

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  12. What a lovely post - I believe you & I are both suffering from "white out" condition. The pure whiteness of our world for the last 3 months has totally washed our minds of any inspiration. I'm trying to find it as well.
    Let's look forward to the bright, sunny days of summer and a walk along the shoreline of Lake Michigan together at some point this summer - k?

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  13. You find the the best place/creatures to photograph to enhance your lovely snow scenes. I like just the hint of color in some. I get so much joy from reading, too, and can't imagine life without the Kindle anymore. So handy to "shop" for books and have them delivered whenever I need something new to read. I always sample first, and I like that feature, too. Love Cinder's "uh-oh!" look - caught in the act!

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  14. Beautiful snow pictures.
    Cinder is such a cutie. Dogs think they can be sneaky....sometimes doesn't work.
    And, I love your Lenten thought...very nice.

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  15. How adorable is that little dog!

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  16. You have had your share of old man winter sure-and boy-your photos tell a story-a beautiful story. There is something about pops of red in pure virgin snow. And Cinder? She's just cuteness overload here!!!!

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  17. Your snow photos are beautiful, Deanna. We had some snow on the ground this morning, too. I hope this is about the end of it. Love that little Cinder, she's just so cute!

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  18. Your photos of this "last snow" are just lovely, but have to say that my favorite shot is that of Cinder with that guilty look on her face. Dogs are so funny sometimes. my Zeke also loves chewing up the paper. HOping that spring is going to come really soon, and that we will actually see some blooms on our photography excursion! See you soon!

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  19. Yes it's time to get our spring on....I do have perennials coming up and my lantana survived several hard frosts here and has signs of life, but I have a feeling we just may skip right through spring temps from colder to hot. I look forward to this time of year for the mild days and less humidity, but I guess I had better not hold my breath. And my dog loves to steal paper towels and kleenex and has figured out how to get toilet paper off the roll!! ;)

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  20. My Scout has the same problem that Cinder has except that he isn't sneaky about it. You know the second he has something he shouldn't because he stomps around and makes little gurgling throat noises with the prize in his mouth.

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  21. Beautiful photos, Deanna! The snow is finally beginning to melt here. Out little Maggie likes chewing paper too. Cinder looks so cute!

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  22. Oh my goodness, Deanna, that photo of Cinder is the absolute best!!!
    "Who, me????????"

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